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Radically Included: The Biblical Case for Radical Love and Inclusion: 49 Verses That Will Change Your Life, Change Your Love, and Set Your Heart Free!
"This small, 64-page book is a powerhouse of truth, love and life!" Susan's brand new release! Radically The Biblical Case for Radical Love and Inclusion - 49 Verses that will Change Your Life, Change Your Love, and Set Your Heart Free! "The conservative, evangelical church believes itself to be fairly inclusive—after all, Jesus is radically inclusive! But as we found out when our daughter came too often, it’s not! "I doubt this is breaking news, that many nonaffirming Christians marginalize, oppress, and exclude LGBTQI people—and even their families—based on 6 or 7 wrongly interpreted passages of scripture. Homelessness, substance abuse, the results are tragic. "I did a clear, simple standdown of the 7 'clobber passages' and then I multiplied 7 times 7 to bring you 49 passages that show inclusion as the core message of the Gospel and the very heart of God. The Bible contains hundreds of passages that require love, justice, mercy, hope, encouragement, and trust in God! "This book explores 49 of those passages to get at the heart of the gospel and the heart of how we are to respond both to the Bible and to the call to be Jesus in the world; 49 passages that will change your life, change your love, and set your heart free!" SUSAN COTTRELL, the prominent voice for faith parents of LGBTQI children, was featured on ABC's 20/20, Nightline and Good Morning America, on NBC News Out, on The Advocate Magazine’s National Coming Out Day videos, and on The Advocate’s Out in Left Field with Dana Goldberg. She is an international speaker, author and spiritual director. Through her nonprofit organization—FreedHearts—Susan champions the LGBTQI community and families with her authenticity and tender-hearted zeal. She challenges Christians that love is the foundation of faith. She spent 25 years in the nonaffirming Evangelical church, is the Founder and President of FreedHearts, has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and served as the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin (Texas). Her books “Mom, I’m Gay”—Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith, True Colors - Celebrating the Truth and Beauty of the Real You, and the soon-to-be-released My Coffee with the Building the Vision for Lavish Christlike Inclusion, are endorsed by The Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, The Gay Christian Network and many others. She and her husband Rob have been married for 30 years, have five children, two of whom are in the LGBTQI community, and live in Austin, Texas. Learn more about Susan and FreedHearts at www.FreedHearts.org
- GenresLGBT
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2018
38 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Susan Cottrell
13 books36 followersSUSAN COTTRELL is the prominent voice for faith parents of LGBTQI children through her nonprofit organization, FreedHearts.
Watch her TEDx talk here! https://youtu.be/rP01bH9Ljf4
Susan is an international speaker, writer, theologian, with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorses FreedHearts as the premiere LGBTQ advocate for faith families.
Susan spent 20 years in the non-affirming Evangelical church, served as the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin, TX, and was featured on ABC's 20/20.
Her books “Mom, I’m Gay”—Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith, True Colors—Celebrating the Truth and Beauty of the Real You, and Radically Included—49 Verses that Will Change Your Love and Change Your Life have been endorsed by HRC, PFLAG, Q Christian Network and many others.
She and her husband Rob have been married for 36 years, have five children, two of whom are in the LGBTQI community, and live near Seattle, Washington.
“Susan has this fierce, loving, don’t mess with me, Mom vibe.”—Rev Ashley Harness, Auburn Seminary
“What impresses me about Susan is that she’s not someone who argues and strongarms people into seeing things her way. She’s someone who listens and cares for others really well. Her presence challenges Christians who reject our friends in the LGBTQ community to understand the love of God.” - Michael Hidalgo, Lead Pastor, Denver Community Church
Watch her TEDx talk here! https://youtu.be/rP01bH9Ljf4
Susan is an international speaker, writer, theologian, with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorses FreedHearts as the premiere LGBTQ advocate for faith families.
Susan spent 20 years in the non-affirming Evangelical church, served as the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin, TX, and was featured on ABC's 20/20.
Her books “Mom, I’m Gay”—Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith, True Colors—Celebrating the Truth and Beauty of the Real You, and Radically Included—49 Verses that Will Change Your Love and Change Your Life have been endorsed by HRC, PFLAG, Q Christian Network and many others.
She and her husband Rob have been married for 36 years, have five children, two of whom are in the LGBTQI community, and live near Seattle, Washington.
“Susan has this fierce, loving, don’t mess with me, Mom vibe.”—Rev Ashley Harness, Auburn Seminary
“What impresses me about Susan is that she’s not someone who argues and strongarms people into seeing things her way. She’s someone who listens and cares for others really well. Her presence challenges Christians who reject our friends in the LGBTQ community to understand the love of God.” - Michael Hidalgo, Lead Pastor, Denver Community Church
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 9, 2018
The reason I read this book was to educate myself as to the rationale being used in some churches to support the belief that Christians can embrace the LGBTQ lifestyle without spiritual or eternal consequence.
While I applaud the author's call for community and to be loving and hospitable as well as embracing people who are different than ourselves, (very similar to Rosaria Butterfield's call in both of her books), her doctrinal and theological conclusions are frightening. I'll call out only three points in this review.
1. In Ch 3, #19, the author tells us that the church has been wrong about the definition of the word "sin" for centuries. Sin is merely an archery term for "missing the mark." Curiously, if you are reading this book with an e-reader such as a Kindle, and you click on the word "sin", a very different (and far more accurate) definition will appear: "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." For a short and simple rebuttal to using this flawed archery analogy, please read this: http://christianapologeticstraining.c....
2. Her statement in Ch 7, "...I will contextualize these (verses) for you so they make sense" are the words of someone who has determined that she alone has the intellectual fortitude to determine Biblical hermeneutics and exegesis for the reader. Hundreds of years of Biblical commentaries, written by learned men of God, are easily dismissed by the author because she disagrees with their analysis. A mere two sentences prior to making the previous statement she says, "People who pull verses out to prove a point are not interested in an open discussion in which they might be wrong." Stunningly, this is exactly what the author does in Chapters 1-6 to make her arguments as to the Biblical call to LOVE. Apparently true love does indeed has some boundaries, determined by the author, should anyone venture out and attempt to disagree with her. This is the very essence of hypocrisy.
3. The author makes another staggering remark in Ch7 stating, "Now let us move to the New Testament for remaining 'clobber passages.' Remarkably, none of these passages are from the Gospels, and none of them are from Jesus." Within this last sentence the author denies the very existence of the Trinity. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The whole of the Bible is "God-breathed". God's words were given to selected authors to write down for our teaching, correction and ultimately for our benefit. The Bible is the INSPIRED Word of God. Who is God? God is Father, Son (Jesus) & Holy Spirit. Most Christians acknowledge this relationship to be true. God IS Jesus. Jesus IS God. Therefore, Paul's words in Romans are indeed Jesus' very words. This is a basic tenet of Christianity that is pretty much ignored/discounted by the author.
I gave the book 1 star since I completely disagree with all of it's theological assertions. However, I learned a great deal about a viewpoint that is opposite of my own and feel better equipped to have an intelligent conversation with someone with whom I disagree. However, the author strongly encourages her readers NOT to engage with Christians like me.
The LGBTQ community is not my enemy. I do not "hate" gays and I would never condone violence or hateful antics in opposition to the gay community. In my day-to-day life I interact on a regular basis with a non-Christian, lesbian co-worker. I laugh with her, I share meals with her, and I genuinely LIKE her. As a follower of Christ, I am called to show her genuine human kindness, love, and respect, the same as I would with anyone else who crosses my path.
There are indeed sinful people in the church...as in - EVERYONE! My Christianity does not mean I am sinless. I will not be sinless until the day I meet Christ face-to-face. But sin must be called out as sin whether we are talking about adultery, lying, envy, hatred or same-sex sex. If I were a prolific adulteress - bold in my assertion that I enjoy sleeping with married men and will continue to do so even though I proclaim myself to be a follower of Christ - would this not cause a loving church family some concern for my spiritual welfare? I pray it would! But if we make the same Biblical concessions for adulterers as the author does for LGBTQ's, and we gloss over the true meaning of the word "sin" in order to include adulterers in the category of "Christian".....then why bother reading the Bible at all? If part of it is untrue, the whole of it is untrue. We must stand for Biblical inerrancy if we hope to share the true Gospel message. Bad news: "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (The Law reminds us of this truth.) Good news: "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were YET sinners, Christ died for us."
If you are a Believer struggling with same-sex attraction (a temptation, btw - NOT a sin), and are seeking answers, I strongly recommend you put this book down and instead read the books written by Rosaria Butterfield and Sam Allberry.
While I applaud the author's call for community and to be loving and hospitable as well as embracing people who are different than ourselves, (very similar to Rosaria Butterfield's call in both of her books), her doctrinal and theological conclusions are frightening. I'll call out only three points in this review.
1. In Ch 3, #19, the author tells us that the church has been wrong about the definition of the word "sin" for centuries. Sin is merely an archery term for "missing the mark." Curiously, if you are reading this book with an e-reader such as a Kindle, and you click on the word "sin", a very different (and far more accurate) definition will appear: "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." For a short and simple rebuttal to using this flawed archery analogy, please read this: http://christianapologeticstraining.c....
2. Her statement in Ch 7, "...I will contextualize these (verses) for you so they make sense" are the words of someone who has determined that she alone has the intellectual fortitude to determine Biblical hermeneutics and exegesis for the reader. Hundreds of years of Biblical commentaries, written by learned men of God, are easily dismissed by the author because she disagrees with their analysis. A mere two sentences prior to making the previous statement she says, "People who pull verses out to prove a point are not interested in an open discussion in which they might be wrong." Stunningly, this is exactly what the author does in Chapters 1-6 to make her arguments as to the Biblical call to LOVE. Apparently true love does indeed has some boundaries, determined by the author, should anyone venture out and attempt to disagree with her. This is the very essence of hypocrisy.
3. The author makes another staggering remark in Ch7 stating, "Now let us move to the New Testament for remaining 'clobber passages.' Remarkably, none of these passages are from the Gospels, and none of them are from Jesus." Within this last sentence the author denies the very existence of the Trinity. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The whole of the Bible is "God-breathed". God's words were given to selected authors to write down for our teaching, correction and ultimately for our benefit. The Bible is the INSPIRED Word of God. Who is God? God is Father, Son (Jesus) & Holy Spirit. Most Christians acknowledge this relationship to be true. God IS Jesus. Jesus IS God. Therefore, Paul's words in Romans are indeed Jesus' very words. This is a basic tenet of Christianity that is pretty much ignored/discounted by the author.
I gave the book 1 star since I completely disagree with all of it's theological assertions. However, I learned a great deal about a viewpoint that is opposite of my own and feel better equipped to have an intelligent conversation with someone with whom I disagree. However, the author strongly encourages her readers NOT to engage with Christians like me.
The LGBTQ community is not my enemy. I do not "hate" gays and I would never condone violence or hateful antics in opposition to the gay community. In my day-to-day life I interact on a regular basis with a non-Christian, lesbian co-worker. I laugh with her, I share meals with her, and I genuinely LIKE her. As a follower of Christ, I am called to show her genuine human kindness, love, and respect, the same as I would with anyone else who crosses my path.
There are indeed sinful people in the church...as in - EVERYONE! My Christianity does not mean I am sinless. I will not be sinless until the day I meet Christ face-to-face. But sin must be called out as sin whether we are talking about adultery, lying, envy, hatred or same-sex sex. If I were a prolific adulteress - bold in my assertion that I enjoy sleeping with married men and will continue to do so even though I proclaim myself to be a follower of Christ - would this not cause a loving church family some concern for my spiritual welfare? I pray it would! But if we make the same Biblical concessions for adulterers as the author does for LGBTQ's, and we gloss over the true meaning of the word "sin" in order to include adulterers in the category of "Christian".....then why bother reading the Bible at all? If part of it is untrue, the whole of it is untrue. We must stand for Biblical inerrancy if we hope to share the true Gospel message. Bad news: "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (The Law reminds us of this truth.) Good news: "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were YET sinners, Christ died for us."
If you are a Believer struggling with same-sex attraction (a temptation, btw - NOT a sin), and are seeking answers, I strongly recommend you put this book down and instead read the books written by Rosaria Butterfield and Sam Allberry.
February 4, 2018
A good read - even essential
A clear and well constructed summary of the Christian message based on biblical texts. In one sense there is nothing new, although the message is ever knew. The book's brevity precludes the inclusion of any academic analysis which is well covered elsewhere. It's very brevity means that you can dip it into it when you need to re-orient yourself with a quick refresher course on what Christianity is really about. For LGBTI people clobbered by so many 'Christians', this is a great gift!
A clear and well constructed summary of the Christian message based on biblical texts. In one sense there is nothing new, although the message is ever knew. The book's brevity precludes the inclusion of any academic analysis which is well covered elsewhere. It's very brevity means that you can dip it into it when you need to re-orient yourself with a quick refresher course on what Christianity is really about. For LGBTI people clobbered by so many 'Christians', this is a great gift!
April 6, 2021
This is good for what it is but if you are really wrestling with the "clobber" passages you should read God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines.
January 23, 2024
Good preach
Quick book. More like a really good preach than an actual book. Still though it is a great and easily relatable read.
Quick book. More like a really good preach than an actual book. Still though it is a great and easily relatable read.
December 26, 2022
I'm not really sure how to rate this. I liked it. It included a lot of great verses and made some great points, but it felt a little scattered and assumed a lot of background knowledge in the reader. As a fully affirming Christian, I support this book, but I'm not sure it would be my first recommendation for a queer Christian looking for answers and support. 🤷
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews