The Bible & LGBTQ Adventists

by Alicia Johnston

This book is a theological conversation about same-sex marriage, gender, and identity. It challenges the prevailing SDA beliefs.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

370 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received my PDF copy of The Bible & LGBTQ Adventists by Alicia Johnston yesterday and started reading today. SO well done. I cannot overemphasize how thoughtful and compassionate it is toward both sides of the convo. Must read for ALL Adventists.

[Seth Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a personal friend and a thoughtful student of the Bible. This is a valuable resource for any Adventist working through issues related to the LGTBQ+ community and Christianity/Adventism, and those who want to understand how affirming theology approaches the text and their faith.

[Marci Corea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for everyone who considers themselves in or adjacent to the SDA church. A great starting point for those who may be “struggling” to fully commit to being affirming. I was every pastor, Bible teacher, and chaplain to read this!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the title, you can see that this book is uniquely catered to Seventh-day Adventists; however, someone who is going through or being challenged by the topic of LGBTQ and Christianity, in general, would probably still be able to benefit from this book.

I started out reading this book opposed to LGBTQ marriage for Christians based on my understanding of "Biblical" directives pertaining to this topic. Now, having just finished the book, I am fully supportive of LGBTQ marriage for Christians. The information and arguments (it's not at all argumentative) in this book led me gently, step-by-step, to a conclusion that I cannot disagree with any of the information and arguments the author presented. She gently removed every misunderstanding of the Biblical directives which then opened the way to an much easier acceptance of of what my misunderstanding of the Bible was holding me back from seeing.

PS: This book is not light reading and took me a year to slowly think my way through.

[Matt LeFevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterclass; easily the most thoroughly researched, painstakingly detailed, and philosophically deft exploration of these ideas I’ve come across. Johnston lays out her case methodically and patiently, managing to deliver a staggering breadth of data and ideas while keeping things at all times gentle and readable. She relentlessly shows her work (over 200 footnotes) while never once feeling dry or academically dense, which by itself is quite an achievement.

I’m not an Adventist, so I went into this a little unsure whether I’d find large swaths of the book irrelevant to my own world. By a quarter of the way through, I found myself thinking, “if it weren’t for the specific Adventist focus, this might be the book to recommend on this topic”. By the time I reached the end, I’d decided that it almost certainly still is the one to recommend, regardless of denomination. Selfishly, I sometimes wished she'd taken a broader approach, but truth be told, the amount of Adventist-specific content is relatively modest, and I think anyone from any denomination would find this book valuable.

If you were going to read one book about LGBTQ Christians, it truly could be this one. The detailed contextual analysis of the 'clobber passages' reminded me of Colby Martin's Unclobber; the excellent discussion of merisms in Genesis 1 and the inclusion of eunuchs in Isaiah and Acts recalled the work of Austen Hartke; the penultimate chapter reminded me of parallels that I've seen pastor Ryan Gear and others draw between the scriptural fight over abolition in the 1800s and the fight over affirming theology today. Most of the best arguments I've heard elsewhere, Johnston has thought of as well, and then she has provided many more that I've never encountered before.

The thing I was most struck by, as someone who's been active in the affirming church space for over a decade, is the profound patience Johnston displays for those who are not there yet. In the face of relentless ugliness and ignorance and hate, it can be easy for affirming Christians to feel bitterness and despair towards those on the 'other side', and this book has nothing but understanding for those who feel that way. But not only are Christians called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but Johnston also knows that any hope of reaching those who don't already agree with us is going to have to start with humility and kindness and a good-faith effort to understand where the other is coming from. This book radiates compassion for those who agree with the author and those who don't, while never backing down on the importance of this subject and the real-world impact of our theology around it. I highly recommend it.

[Macayla Statler · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than anything, I appreciate Alicia Johnston’s fierce commitment to upholding the integrity of the entire Bible over anything else. I was moved by her empathy and kindness—how she speaks so highly of the church and it’s individual members (professors, pastors, theologians, etc.) despite the pain she has suffered. I value the conversation she has furthered and her theological thoroughness and integrity. I will read this book again as I continue to learn.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I expected: Here are Bible verses and how you got them wrong. What I got: A respectful approach to the Bible and Adventists understanding.

[Eric Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been trying my best to complete this book but sadly am giving up on it for now. The writing is thick and wordy but does not manage to communicate much meaning nor impact to the heart of the debates on Queerness and religion, Adventist faith and teachings specifically. I am empathetic to the author's struggle to broach a topic subtly and with keen diplomacy that simply isn't possible. Too many punches are pulled for the book to make the comfortable uncomfortable and comfort the oppressed. The implications of the radical changes to core Adventist and larger Protestant doctrine are tried to be shared in delicate ways and these just aren't changes that can be slipped into the systems in place and not completely derail the status quo.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting perspective on affirming theology and how the Seventh-day Adventist church could improve it's approach to LGBT members to a more truly loving theology. As a life-long SDA, I was moved by Johnston's clear love for the church and the ways she didn't skirt difficult texts or conversations. I have been processing many of her ideas for several days. I'm not sure I am sold by every argument she makes about interpreting the Bible, but I am sold on her overall message of affirmation and love. She definitely saves her most powerful arguments for the last few chapters, addressing how the culture has shifted away from "obvious" Bible truths in the past to become more affirming of human dignity.

[Judy Egnew Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much appreciate Alicia's scholarly and thoughtful study of biblical, theological, and historical interpretations of sexual and gender orientation. She has done thorough research and combined this with her ministerial training and personal experience to open eyes, hearts, and minds. This is a very significant contribution to the challenging conversations happening in the SDA church today. I read this rather slowly, over several months, so I could more fully consider and understand her insights. To God, people matter the most. We do not have to choose between loving people and following the Bible, indeed we must not.

[Jane]

I was excited to read this book when I first heard of it. I enjoy Alicia Johnston’s writing. She provides well-researched and thoughtful responses to accepted SDA theology; however, as I have moved away from the Seventh-day Adventist tradition, I have mixed feelings about Johnston's interpretations. I firmly believe that sex is designed for heterosexual marriage and is meant to be fruitful, as this is the biblical formula for marriage. Anything outside of that is inherently disordered. Most of this book is written with Johnston putting feelings at the forefront when examining this doctrine.

[Baley Whary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very specific to Adventists, so keep that in mind when deciding to read it, but it does a very thorough job breaking down all of the texts that talk about sexuality and gender and uses sound theology to paint a picture of a living God who created people with their differing sexuality and gender identities. It is an affirming book and is helpful for people who love God and love LGBTQ+ people. It is not the best writing, and I found several mistakes that kind of bothered me, hence the 4 stars.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read. Johnston's case for affirming theology is clear, logical, and methodical in approach. She shies away from NONE of the sticky texts in the Bible, which makes the case that much stronger. And her approach is inclusive and inviting, particularly vital for persuading skeptics.