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Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea
What do you do when your identity directly contradicts your faith?
The Christian Church has long been one of the most influential institutions in society. Self-proclaimed as God’s representatives on earth, it is ironic to see how a faith of love and inclusion has been the source of wars, genocides, slavery, and oppression throughout the ages. In an era of misinformation and blind faith, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at the Bible and “judge by the fruits” of what is real and what is not. Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea aims to explore one of Christianity’s most marginalized groups and breaks down exactly what the Bible says about queerness through a contextual, historical, and lexicological lens. Bridging the gap between identity and faith is possible when we conclude that perhaps the God preached on the Sunday pulpits isn’t the fullness of who He actually is.
From an author deep in the trenches,
I’ve broken the bread,
it’s time to spill the tea.
The Christian Church has long been one of the most influential institutions in society. Self-proclaimed as God’s representatives on earth, it is ironic to see how a faith of love and inclusion has been the source of wars, genocides, slavery, and oppression throughout the ages. In an era of misinformation and blind faith, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at the Bible and “judge by the fruits” of what is real and what is not. Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea aims to explore one of Christianity’s most marginalized groups and breaks down exactly what the Bible says about queerness through a contextual, historical, and lexicological lens. Bridging the gap between identity and faith is possible when we conclude that perhaps the God preached on the Sunday pulpits isn’t the fullness of who He actually is.
From an author deep in the trenches,
I’ve broken the bread,
it’s time to spill the tea.
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
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July 18, 2022Source of book: NetGalley (thank you)
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if they’re glowing. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book, then write a detailed review about it that some people on GR will look at would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
This is a charmingly written and accessible whistle-stop-tour through the notion that maybe, just maybe, scripture comes with a historical and cultural context and that maybe, just maybe, the Church—as a bastion of institutionalised power—has spent literally centuries stripping away those contexts as well as cherry-picking elements of the Bible that best advance a conservative, oppressive social agenda.
Sorry, that’s coming across as sarcastic. Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea really is a sweet, sincere and potentially necessary book for anyone struggling with reconciling their faith, their community and their LGBTQ+ identity. It’s personal when it needs to be personal, detailed without ever becoming overwhelming, and never positions itself as an authority on the complexities of history Biblical scholarship it attempts to explore.
It's also the sort of book—the sort of faith, I suppose—where God directly speaks to people, makes them feel loved, and encourages them to do things in the world, which is personally rather alien to me (my own experiences of faith growing up were very much of God is an abstract dickhead who is judging you and finding you a failure like your actual father, except this one also died for your sins, yes yours personally, and what the fuck have you ever done, you worthless loser).
Basically, I’m happy this book exists. I want there to be more space in the world for the notion that LGBTQ+ identity and religious faith (whatever your particular branch of it) can co-exist very comfortably, actually. I didn’t especially connect with it, and it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but it was still reassuring to see such things discussed, interrogated and analysed in a non-intimidating way. I also appreciated that while the book was mostly focused on dismantling anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, it also rebutted elements of the Bible that are used to justify racism, misogyny and antisemitism.
Anyway, you’ll already know if this book is for you. It didn’t ever feel especially “for” me but that’s about me and not about the book. If you’re LGBTQ+ and Christian, and you’ve began to doubt your God’s love for you, then I hope Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea can help reassure you otherwise.
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if they’re glowing. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book, then write a detailed review about it that some people on GR will look at would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
This is a charmingly written and accessible whistle-stop-tour through the notion that maybe, just maybe, scripture comes with a historical and cultural context and that maybe, just maybe, the Church—as a bastion of institutionalised power—has spent literally centuries stripping away those contexts as well as cherry-picking elements of the Bible that best advance a conservative, oppressive social agenda.
Sorry, that’s coming across as sarcastic. Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea really is a sweet, sincere and potentially necessary book for anyone struggling with reconciling their faith, their community and their LGBTQ+ identity. It’s personal when it needs to be personal, detailed without ever becoming overwhelming, and never positions itself as an authority on the complexities of history Biblical scholarship it attempts to explore.
It's also the sort of book—the sort of faith, I suppose—where God directly speaks to people, makes them feel loved, and encourages them to do things in the world, which is personally rather alien to me (my own experiences of faith growing up were very much of God is an abstract dickhead who is judging you and finding you a failure like your actual father, except this one also died for your sins, yes yours personally, and what the fuck have you ever done, you worthless loser).
Basically, I’m happy this book exists. I want there to be more space in the world for the notion that LGBTQ+ identity and religious faith (whatever your particular branch of it) can co-exist very comfortably, actually. I didn’t especially connect with it, and it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but it was still reassuring to see such things discussed, interrogated and analysed in a non-intimidating way. I also appreciated that while the book was mostly focused on dismantling anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, it also rebutted elements of the Bible that are used to justify racism, misogyny and antisemitism.
Anyway, you’ll already know if this book is for you. It didn’t ever feel especially “for” me but that’s about me and not about the book. If you’re LGBTQ+ and Christian, and you’ve began to doubt your God’s love for you, then I hope Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea can help reassure you otherwise.
July 25, 2022
#ChristianNonfiction
An essay and a memoir, kindness and linguistical analysis of the 'gay-bashing' Biblical verses - all in one book.
In Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea, Mitchell Kesller offers a new interpretation of the verses usually used to condemn homosexuality.
The author, raised in a family of devout Christians and priests, has always seen his life path as straightforward, connected with preaching God. However, with time, he started to notice disparities between what the Church taught and what it practiced: harsh judgment of misdeeds, exclusion of people based on their sexuality, and superficial understanding of the Bible. Most parishioners never try to study the Bible. In his essay-like book, Mitchell Kesller provides a linguistical as well as contextual analysis of certain verses that are used against the LGBTQ community. He aims to show that the centuries-long view of homosexuality as an abomination stems from the wrong exegesis of these verses.
As with many books that challenge the conventional view of the Bible, I foresee a backlash of hatred and outright denial of the book. I don't have enough knowledge to scrutinize the author's findings from a historical viewpoint. As a layperson, I see his arguments as relatively solid yet open to further discussions. However, the book is also a memoir, and the author's story of being rejected by his family and the Church can resonate with even non-believers.
I recommend the book to people who are open to changes in their beliefs, not fundamental transformation but adaptation to the new reality. If faith is all about love and kindness, why are we so quick to punish?
I received an advance review copy through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An essay and a memoir, kindness and linguistical analysis of the 'gay-bashing' Biblical verses - all in one book.
In Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea, Mitchell Kesller offers a new interpretation of the verses usually used to condemn homosexuality.
The author, raised in a family of devout Christians and priests, has always seen his life path as straightforward, connected with preaching God. However, with time, he started to notice disparities between what the Church taught and what it practiced: harsh judgment of misdeeds, exclusion of people based on their sexuality, and superficial understanding of the Bible. Most parishioners never try to study the Bible. In his essay-like book, Mitchell Kesller provides a linguistical as well as contextual analysis of certain verses that are used against the LGBTQ community. He aims to show that the centuries-long view of homosexuality as an abomination stems from the wrong exegesis of these verses.
As with many books that challenge the conventional view of the Bible, I foresee a backlash of hatred and outright denial of the book. I don't have enough knowledge to scrutinize the author's findings from a historical viewpoint. As a layperson, I see his arguments as relatively solid yet open to further discussions. However, the book is also a memoir, and the author's story of being rejected by his family and the Church can resonate with even non-believers.
I recommend the book to people who are open to changes in their beliefs, not fundamental transformation but adaptation to the new reality. If faith is all about love and kindness, why are we so quick to punish?
I received an advance review copy through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 10, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and author, for the advance reader copy of this book.
“Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” by Mitchell Kesller is an important and meaningful book for the queer Christian community, and its heart is in the right place. As a queer Christian myself, I appreciate the research and courage that Kesller clearly poured into the message behind his book, but some of it missed the mark for me. Perhaps I’ve lost something in translation between Kesller’s denomination and my own, but I found some sections of the book unfocused and contradictory, even when putting aside some of our theological differences (which I feel are unfair to hold against him, considering Kesller is not writing from a Methodist perspective, so some theological differences are simply to be expected).
Before getting into my more negative thoughts, I want to make it clear that Kesller’s perspective is vitally important in the cultural discussion the wider Church is having about LGBTQ inclusion in Christian faith. The more queer Christian voices we have, the more likely it is for queer Christians to find the fellowship we hunger for. “Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” is full of validation, personal growth, and research that is accessible to anyone. Reading books about these topics from religious leaders who attended seminary school is helpful (UnClobber by Colby Martin comes to mind), but laypeople often seek the perspective of other laypeople– and that is what Kesller provides in this book. I particularly appreciate the use of footnotes and references, which are often woefully often missing in this niche genre.
The other thing this book does well is calling out the Capital-C Church as an institution, while still clearly loving the church as a fellowship. It’s a fine line to tread, and Kesller does a great job of it. My favorite parts of the book are the introduction, where he explains the history of knowledge and information sharing (or lack thereof) in the Church, and the end, where he describes the modern church as a group of people sharing faith and fellowship, free to access and understand information at will. As Kesller states in the book, “It is okay to think critically– you aren’t sinning in doing so.” If only every Christian could hear that message.
The main reasons that I felt the need to rate this book at only 3 out of 5 stars were because of sections of the book that I found unfocused or underdeveloped, and some ideas that edged slightly too close to eugenics for comfort. For the sake of brevity, I’ll only go into detail for one example: in Chapter 4, where there is a discussion of God’s creation as described in Genesis, and the existence of good and evil as opposing forces in the world. On one hand, Kesller wisely states, “As I said, our entire existence is too complex to place the blame, or lack thereof, on a single being; faithful believers still get cancer, innocent children still suffer, catastrophes still happen; that’s just the way we see life progress.”
Then, in the same chapter, he seems to contradict this position when discussing The Great Flood. He first explains that there is some archeological evidence of major regional flooding, and themes of large flood stories span across cultures, similar to the Great Flood story in the Bible. What I expected was for Kessler to run with the idea that the Great Flood in the Bible is a story of how people at the time perceived a catastrophe within their religious and cultural understanding of God- similar to the flood stories found in other cultures and religions texts. Instead, Kesller turns to research on generational trauma and epigenetics (how external forces impact our gene expression and potentially inherited traits– which I studied briefly in college), to float an idea that I can only accurately describe as an act of divine eugenics, although I seriously doubt this was his intention. In his own words, “If further experimentation proves these theories to be true, what’s to say the “wickedness” of that previous generation of Noah’s time would have passed on its traumas to the younger generations? If we start looking at the big picture of lift itself, we can begin connecting the dots and make some sense of the questions we have about God’s motives.”
I can’t get on board with this idea at all, and I struggle to excuse it as a minor theological difference. It goes against what I know is true about the nature of a loving God, even when we’re talking about the Old Testament, and especially as a disabled person. Unlike other theological differences we have (like Kesller’s belief in substitutionary atonement and my rejection of it), this isn’t something that I can overlook. I fail to see how it was truly relevant to the overall argument of the book anyway, despite his attempt to tie it together. There are other passages in the book where Kesller seems to waver between Biblical literalism and contextualism (and in that regard, I think his editor let him down a bit), but his inclusion of deluge theory (aka “flood geology” in Young-Earth Creationist circles) surprised me.
The TL;DR of my opinion: “Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” is still worth a read, as long as you keep it under a critical thinking lens. Could the book have been clearer and benefited from longer explanations on some topics? Yes. Do I agree with every theological argument written here? No. Is it an important and worthwhile read for progressive Christians who want to understand the perspective of a queer Christian seeking better understanding of their own faith? Absolutely yes.
“Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” by Mitchell Kesller is an important and meaningful book for the queer Christian community, and its heart is in the right place. As a queer Christian myself, I appreciate the research and courage that Kesller clearly poured into the message behind his book, but some of it missed the mark for me. Perhaps I’ve lost something in translation between Kesller’s denomination and my own, but I found some sections of the book unfocused and contradictory, even when putting aside some of our theological differences (which I feel are unfair to hold against him, considering Kesller is not writing from a Methodist perspective, so some theological differences are simply to be expected).
Before getting into my more negative thoughts, I want to make it clear that Kesller’s perspective is vitally important in the cultural discussion the wider Church is having about LGBTQ inclusion in Christian faith. The more queer Christian voices we have, the more likely it is for queer Christians to find the fellowship we hunger for. “Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” is full of validation, personal growth, and research that is accessible to anyone. Reading books about these topics from religious leaders who attended seminary school is helpful (UnClobber by Colby Martin comes to mind), but laypeople often seek the perspective of other laypeople– and that is what Kesller provides in this book. I particularly appreciate the use of footnotes and references, which are often woefully often missing in this niche genre.
The other thing this book does well is calling out the Capital-C Church as an institution, while still clearly loving the church as a fellowship. It’s a fine line to tread, and Kesller does a great job of it. My favorite parts of the book are the introduction, where he explains the history of knowledge and information sharing (or lack thereof) in the Church, and the end, where he describes the modern church as a group of people sharing faith and fellowship, free to access and understand information at will. As Kesller states in the book, “It is okay to think critically– you aren’t sinning in doing so.” If only every Christian could hear that message.
The main reasons that I felt the need to rate this book at only 3 out of 5 stars were because of sections of the book that I found unfocused or underdeveloped, and some ideas that edged slightly too close to eugenics for comfort. For the sake of brevity, I’ll only go into detail for one example: in Chapter 4, where there is a discussion of God’s creation as described in Genesis, and the existence of good and evil as opposing forces in the world. On one hand, Kesller wisely states, “As I said, our entire existence is too complex to place the blame, or lack thereof, on a single being; faithful believers still get cancer, innocent children still suffer, catastrophes still happen; that’s just the way we see life progress.”
Then, in the same chapter, he seems to contradict this position when discussing The Great Flood. He first explains that there is some archeological evidence of major regional flooding, and themes of large flood stories span across cultures, similar to the Great Flood story in the Bible. What I expected was for Kessler to run with the idea that the Great Flood in the Bible is a story of how people at the time perceived a catastrophe within their religious and cultural understanding of God- similar to the flood stories found in other cultures and religions texts. Instead, Kesller turns to research on generational trauma and epigenetics (how external forces impact our gene expression and potentially inherited traits– which I studied briefly in college), to float an idea that I can only accurately describe as an act of divine eugenics, although I seriously doubt this was his intention. In his own words, “If further experimentation proves these theories to be true, what’s to say the “wickedness” of that previous generation of Noah’s time would have passed on its traumas to the younger generations? If we start looking at the big picture of lift itself, we can begin connecting the dots and make some sense of the questions we have about God’s motives.”
I can’t get on board with this idea at all, and I struggle to excuse it as a minor theological difference. It goes against what I know is true about the nature of a loving God, even when we’re talking about the Old Testament, and especially as a disabled person. Unlike other theological differences we have (like Kesller’s belief in substitutionary atonement and my rejection of it), this isn’t something that I can overlook. I fail to see how it was truly relevant to the overall argument of the book anyway, despite his attempt to tie it together. There are other passages in the book where Kesller seems to waver between Biblical literalism and contextualism (and in that regard, I think his editor let him down a bit), but his inclusion of deluge theory (aka “flood geology” in Young-Earth Creationist circles) surprised me.
The TL;DR of my opinion: “Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” is still worth a read, as long as you keep it under a critical thinking lens. Could the book have been clearer and benefited from longer explanations on some topics? Yes. Do I agree with every theological argument written here? No. Is it an important and worthwhile read for progressive Christians who want to understand the perspective of a queer Christian seeking better understanding of their own faith? Absolutely yes.
April 17, 2022
Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea
is a book that deserves to be on every queer household’s coffee table. Regardless of whether you’re religious or not, this book can equip you with biblical and historical knowledge that can put things into new perspective, answer any curiosities, reaffirm your identity or become the basis of a deep and interesting conversation.
As a person who also grappled bridging the gap between my faith and sexuality, the author does a brilliant job of providing credible sources to back his claims and uses historical and linguistic knowledge to take you deeper into the potential misinterpretations of the church. It’s truly a means to help find peace with who YOU are in God’s eyes.
I had the opportunity to read the advance reader’s copy, and I’m looking forward to having discussions with my friends about it. As RuPaul once said, “If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen?”
is a book that deserves to be on every queer household’s coffee table. Regardless of whether you’re religious or not, this book can equip you with biblical and historical knowledge that can put things into new perspective, answer any curiosities, reaffirm your identity or become the basis of a deep and interesting conversation.
As a person who also grappled bridging the gap between my faith and sexuality, the author does a brilliant job of providing credible sources to back his claims and uses historical and linguistic knowledge to take you deeper into the potential misinterpretations of the church. It’s truly a means to help find peace with who YOU are in God’s eyes.
I had the opportunity to read the advance reader’s copy, and I’m looking forward to having discussions with my friends about it. As RuPaul once said, “If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen?”
August 29, 2022
There is a lot to like about this book and it's the kind of thing I could see handing to moderately conservative relatives who still think the Bible is against LGBT+ folks. Broke the Break, Spilled the Tea is part memoir, part dissection of the "gay-bashing" Bible verses used to support homophobic ideas of Christianity. It's short, very accessible and easy to understand, written by an admitted non-expert but referencing academic texts.
The author is a bisexual man who grew up in evangelical Brazilian churches and comes from a long line of people in ministry, all of which informs his perspective. As a bisexual, ex-Evangelical woman who is still unpacking a lot of religious baggage, I'm glad this book exists but I also have mixed feelings about it. Through textual and cultural analysis, it effectively argues that the Bible has very little if anything to say about homosexuality and it does a good job of unpacking the relevant thorny verses.
This doesn't fix all my own problems with the Bible and the church, but it does offer 1) help for queer people inside the church who are struggling to reconcile their faith and sexuality and 2) creates a potential bridge between queer people who have left the church and their friends and family members who are still inside it. I'm glad this book exists and I think it gets a lot right. One thing it doesn't explore (and to be fair, it might be that the author doesn't feel qualified) is trans or non-binary identities in the context of the Bible. And in fact, some of the commentary quoted in addressing some of the relevant passages could be construed as transphobic, though I don't think that's the intent of the author of THIS book. So mixed feelings there. I also appreciate the way it addresses (albeit briefly) other places that the Christian church has historically used the Bible to uphold things like slavery and anti-semitism. Not a perfect book, but worth a read.
The author is a bisexual man who grew up in evangelical Brazilian churches and comes from a long line of people in ministry, all of which informs his perspective. As a bisexual, ex-Evangelical woman who is still unpacking a lot of religious baggage, I'm glad this book exists but I also have mixed feelings about it. Through textual and cultural analysis, it effectively argues that the Bible has very little if anything to say about homosexuality and it does a good job of unpacking the relevant thorny verses.
This doesn't fix all my own problems with the Bible and the church, but it does offer 1) help for queer people inside the church who are struggling to reconcile their faith and sexuality and 2) creates a potential bridge between queer people who have left the church and their friends and family members who are still inside it. I'm glad this book exists and I think it gets a lot right. One thing it doesn't explore (and to be fair, it might be that the author doesn't feel qualified) is trans or non-binary identities in the context of the Bible. And in fact, some of the commentary quoted in addressing some of the relevant passages could be construed as transphobic, though I don't think that's the intent of the author of THIS book. So mixed feelings there. I also appreciate the way it addresses (albeit briefly) other places that the Christian church has historically used the Bible to uphold things like slavery and anti-semitism. Not a perfect book, but worth a read.
May 6, 2022
Such a heartfelt book that I truly believe will be a light to so many. Also great for anyone looking to learn more about the historical context around some biblical passages. The author is so personable and presents his concepts in an easily digestible format. Definitely recommend!
September 28, 2023
Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is a great read for anyone who might be struggling with faith over their identity or for anyone who just wants to dive into a historical interpretation of some of the Bible's more controversial topics. I felt this book did a great job at blending factual academic writing with a friendly, approachable voice as a guide. Overall, I really enjoyed the thought process of the ideas presented in this book.
August 29, 2022
I read this over the course of a week, limiting myself to one chapter a day. The author is a Brazilian American who was raised in Boston, MA but has settled in Orlando, FL. He grew up immersed in the church in a family that spans generations of highly devout Christians. He has always had great faith in God, but was disillusioned by the church when they rejected him for being bisexual. It was a conversation with his Lesbian aunt that made him realize that he could spend all of his considerable knowledge of the bible and energy trying to win acceptance from the "Christian" and homophobic Brazilian culture, or he could use that same energy and knowledge to help the thousands in the lgbtq+ community find peace, guidance, acceptance, healing, and strengthen their faith in who God really is.
Not too long ago, our pastor led our church on a year-long journey where we studied scripture as a church and together decided we wanted to be a welcoming and affirming church. Much of what we studied completely agrees with what Kesller presents very clearly in this book. I found this book to be very accessible for all that Kesller claims to NOT be a writer. He writes in a straightforward fashion and goes through the "gay verses" one by one and gives us historical context and how that changes the meaning in a significant way.
Not everyone will be happy with what he writes here, but from our own experience, we did have some people leave our church after we made our decision, something we were expecting, although we were hoping it wouldn't happen. But as the author says in the beginning, this book is not written for those who have deliberately closed their minds to the idea that they could be wrong. This is written for anyone who is seeking or who is hoping, and who is willing to keep an open mind coming into this. This is also written for all those in the queer community who have spent their lives doubting their own worth and value in God's eyes. This book is worth reading and rereading and could be used as part of a study for a church that is also seeking.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not too long ago, our pastor led our church on a year-long journey where we studied scripture as a church and together decided we wanted to be a welcoming and affirming church. Much of what we studied completely agrees with what Kesller presents very clearly in this book. I found this book to be very accessible for all that Kesller claims to NOT be a writer. He writes in a straightforward fashion and goes through the "gay verses" one by one and gives us historical context and how that changes the meaning in a significant way.
Not everyone will be happy with what he writes here, but from our own experience, we did have some people leave our church after we made our decision, something we were expecting, although we were hoping it wouldn't happen. But as the author says in the beginning, this book is not written for those who have deliberately closed their minds to the idea that they could be wrong. This is written for anyone who is seeking or who is hoping, and who is willing to keep an open mind coming into this. This is also written for all those in the queer community who have spent their lives doubting their own worth and value in God's eyes. This book is worth reading and rereading and could be used as part of a study for a church that is also seeking.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 9, 2022
If you've ever been claimed to be a "sin" or immoral based off of the Bible, this is the perfect novel to pick up. This goes to say, it can also be viewed as a way to help see the truth behind how homosexuality is written in the Bible. If you're ever struggling with your faith in these regards, it is written in such a personal way that you'll be able to feel the love you so desire.
Needless to say, Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is more of a scholarly deep-dive into religion with light-hearted moments. Typically I wouldn't pick up anything so heavily religion based, but the way in which the material is represented seems to alleviate that overwhelming pressure you would find in most nonfiction religious novels.
The information is introduced exactly as the title goes. It provides a short rundown of the topic, and then delves into the "tea" of it all. In reading these snippets, it leans towards a light-hearted discussion about certain verses that have been categorized as anti-homosexual. You'll find humorous moments depicting said events described, but also serious moments that clarify why these claims are false, why you shouldn't believe so heavily without researching, and why the latest texts have been translated in such a way to provoke such a claim.
All in all, Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is most notably a way to help bridge the gap between identity and faith without becoming too personal by the author. For anyone struggling with this, I would highly recommend giving it a quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC (albeit 6 months after the release) in exchange for an honest review!
Needless to say, Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is more of a scholarly deep-dive into religion with light-hearted moments. Typically I wouldn't pick up anything so heavily religion based, but the way in which the material is represented seems to alleviate that overwhelming pressure you would find in most nonfiction religious novels.
The information is introduced exactly as the title goes. It provides a short rundown of the topic, and then delves into the "tea" of it all. In reading these snippets, it leans towards a light-hearted discussion about certain verses that have been categorized as anti-homosexual. You'll find humorous moments depicting said events described, but also serious moments that clarify why these claims are false, why you shouldn't believe so heavily without researching, and why the latest texts have been translated in such a way to provoke such a claim.
All in all, Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is most notably a way to help bridge the gap between identity and faith without becoming too personal by the author. For anyone struggling with this, I would highly recommend giving it a quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC (albeit 6 months after the release) in exchange for an honest review!
July 15, 2022
I believe reading leads you to a great empathy for the world. I think it aids in understanding and offers a chance to change the perception of certain situations. This book did exactly that, so I gave it this rating (which is rare for me). I grew up catholic and went to Sunday school. At a very young age, around the time when same-sex marriage was legalized in Massachusetts, I didn't understand the outrage from church members. I didn't understand the hate they preached against certain groups while preaching the goodness of Christ. While we still don't honestly know the answer, this book offered some kind of understanding of the bible, one I had been looking for, for some time.
Kesller is a scholar. From the translations of specific words in different languages and the research into the culture and community of the times, Kesller provides context and motivation to continue the research. He also offers accountability while still providing hope for those who may have lost it in the church. I urge you to pick up this book whether you are a Christian, a historian, or just a curious person looking for answers.
Kesller is a scholar. From the translations of specific words in different languages and the research into the culture and community of the times, Kesller provides context and motivation to continue the research. He also offers accountability while still providing hope for those who may have lost it in the church. I urge you to pick up this book whether you are a Christian, a historian, or just a curious person looking for answers.
December 21, 2022
In this well-researched book, Mitchell Kesller breaks down Bible passages often used to harm and provides well-presented alternative interpretations backed by facts to give insight into organized religion’s often hurtful views towards the LGBTQ+ community. Though I’m not religious, I have heard many of these verses used against members of the LGBTQ+ community and enjoyed learning some historical facts and context to provide more insight.
January 7, 2023
Under the radar, well researched, well written.
April 22, 2022
Such a good book! Def recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about religion and the lgbtq community. The author also discusses the church and racism, pro life debates and more.
I will be recommending to many friends and family members who enjoy learning about religion
I will be recommending to many friends and family members who enjoy learning about religion
July 14, 2022
It's taken me some bit to gather my thoughts to try and leave a review that captured my experience. I've been one to struggle with my faith/religion, I wasn't brought up overly religious, but we attended a Christian church on Sunday. I was baptized when I was younger, and my elders have always been one to "pray on it, and pray for it", but where I always struggled with was the way people used religion/the bible. How could I believe in this higher being, when people who also did, wielded it in a way to condemn others? This book helped me heal that disconnect I had, and it brought light to those controversial topics and all the misinterpretations that have come of the Bible's words.
I think this is an important book not only for those grappling with bridging their identity/sexuality with their faith/religion but for everyone, who feels like they've lost their connection to their faith, or find themselves questioning it.
I think this is an important book not only for those grappling with bridging their identity/sexuality with their faith/religion but for everyone, who feels like they've lost their connection to their faith, or find themselves questioning it.
October 11, 2022
Simply put, it's an essential guide for those who desire an honest, condensed, and intelligent approach to LGBT+ issues (and much more) in The Bible.
As those engaging in what's been tagged as Christofascism obviously co-opt Christianity to their own (exclusionary and oppressive) ends, Kesller's work ends up being something far more Christ-like than those groups will likely ever produce: Something not just filled with acceptance and love, but invites thoughtful conversation, spiritual growth, and gives space for forgiveness of all kinds.
It's not an expansive book, and that works to its credit: It starts out with the events that led to the project's conception, dives briefly into the minutiae of why certain banner/supposed anti-LGBT+ scriptures don't add up, and ends with concise, elevator-speech chunks for reiteration/re-visitation.
Not only worthwhile, but reinvigorating, restorative, and worthy of passing along at will.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Promethean Publishing Group for the read.
As those engaging in what's been tagged as Christofascism obviously co-opt Christianity to their own (exclusionary and oppressive) ends, Kesller's work ends up being something far more Christ-like than those groups will likely ever produce: Something not just filled with acceptance and love, but invites thoughtful conversation, spiritual growth, and gives space for forgiveness of all kinds.
It's not an expansive book, and that works to its credit: It starts out with the events that led to the project's conception, dives briefly into the minutiae of why certain banner/supposed anti-LGBT+ scriptures don't add up, and ends with concise, elevator-speech chunks for reiteration/re-visitation.
Not only worthwhile, but reinvigorating, restorative, and worthy of passing along at will.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Promethean Publishing Group for the read.
December 7, 2022
“I remember spending so much time hating myself because of what I had been taught growing up.”
“Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” by Mitchell Kesller offers answers and peace of mind to those who are torn between being who they want to be or staying true to their beliefs. It is a historical tour, where most of the book focuses on denying certain concepts of homosexuality and other controversial issues (such as abortion, women's rights, etc)
Why do I say it is a (religious) historical tour? Because in this book to 'deny' concepts of religion, we must get into it, this was an essential tool for the true understanding of "what god is really like" and how initial messages can change over time due to mistranslation, misused words, and even human wickedness.
Does it works? Does it bring calm to those who believe that being part of the LGBT community is bad in the eyes of God? Absolutely. I was really surprised how the author managed to explain (and practically gut) the verses. Not only did he show us the context of the events, but he also talked about bad translations. It was all very interesting and I found myself sharing certain opinions with the author as well, although in my opinion towards the end the book strayed a bit from the LGBT community.
“As in the Middle Ages, we show blind faith to the leaders who claim to know the truth.”
“The biggest issue we find throughout humanity’s history is our ability to take something so holy and transform it into a destructive force.”
Conclusion: Not only do you see the concept of homosexuality and whether it's okay or not, you can also read about the separation of church from state and that was captivating as well. Unfortunately, it is too late for me to heal my experience with the church, God and Christianity itself. But if there's someone there who really needs to be reassured, then you have to read this. It won't fix everything but it will bring peace.
What hits the most is how he (Mitchell) admits that they weaponize the words of God. To keep us under control, to create a perfect society free of sins. But is there such a society?
Even though I no longer belong to any kind of religious group, there were so many things that resonated with me that I felt like a child scared of God again. Scared of something I didn't know if it hated me or if it would send me to hell. Damn, certainly Broke the Bread, Spilled the tea manages to communicate with everyone, not just Christians.
“Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea” by Mitchell Kesller offers answers and peace of mind to those who are torn between being who they want to be or staying true to their beliefs. It is a historical tour, where most of the book focuses on denying certain concepts of homosexuality and other controversial issues (such as abortion, women's rights, etc)
Why do I say it is a (religious) historical tour? Because in this book to 'deny' concepts of religion, we must get into it, this was an essential tool for the true understanding of "what god is really like" and how initial messages can change over time due to mistranslation, misused words, and even human wickedness.
Does it works? Does it bring calm to those who believe that being part of the LGBT community is bad in the eyes of God? Absolutely. I was really surprised how the author managed to explain (and practically gut) the verses. Not only did he show us the context of the events, but he also talked about bad translations. It was all very interesting and I found myself sharing certain opinions with the author as well, although in my opinion towards the end the book strayed a bit from the LGBT community.
“As in the Middle Ages, we show blind faith to the leaders who claim to know the truth.”
“The biggest issue we find throughout humanity’s history is our ability to take something so holy and transform it into a destructive force.”
Conclusion: Not only do you see the concept of homosexuality and whether it's okay or not, you can also read about the separation of church from state and that was captivating as well. Unfortunately, it is too late for me to heal my experience with the church, God and Christianity itself. But if there's someone there who really needs to be reassured, then you have to read this. It won't fix everything but it will bring peace.
What hits the most is how he (Mitchell) admits that they weaponize the words of God. To keep us under control, to create a perfect society free of sins. But is there such a society?
Even though I no longer belong to any kind of religious group, there were so many things that resonated with me that I felt like a child scared of God again. Scared of something I didn't know if it hated me or if it would send me to hell. Damn, certainly Broke the Bread, Spilled the tea manages to communicate with everyone, not just Christians.
August 5, 2022
If you like these five things, consider reading this book:
- Religious nonfiction
- Theological arguments supported by historical context and multiple scriptural interpretations
- Inclusive religion
- Easy yet informative reads
- Support for the queer community
Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is a strongly put-together argument against the Church's treatment of the queer community. The author systematically presents the verses typically used as arguments against homosexuality in the bible and provides context and translation that shows the true complexity of the verses. Additionally, the author presents some of the histories of the Church and its failure to love countless groups of people using scripture as a weapon. Overall, the message is that the Church is missing the point of God's love and using religion as yet another tool to oppress the queer community. I did feel like the book failed to address gender identity fully, which would have made this volume more complete for me.
- Religious nonfiction
- Theological arguments supported by historical context and multiple scriptural interpretations
- Inclusive religion
- Easy yet informative reads
- Support for the queer community
Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is a strongly put-together argument against the Church's treatment of the queer community. The author systematically presents the verses typically used as arguments against homosexuality in the bible and provides context and translation that shows the true complexity of the verses. Additionally, the author presents some of the histories of the Church and its failure to love countless groups of people using scripture as a weapon. Overall, the message is that the Church is missing the point of God's love and using religion as yet another tool to oppress the queer community. I did feel like the book failed to address gender identity fully, which would have made this volume more complete for me.
February 6, 2023
This took me far longer to get through than I had hoped (thanks life), but it was a fantastic read, and I hope more folks get to read it too. Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea is about an author who explores the relationship of the church, the Bible, and the LGBTQ community. He did a great job taking the reader through the history of the church, and how we got to the church we have today, as well as deconstructing the verses homophobic folks most commonly throw around as justification for being, well, homophobic.
He cites his sources, and it is clear he has done his homework. Like any book, there is always a bias, though I think this one was worthwhile to explore. At points, it did get academically dense, but mostly it was presented in a way that would be digestible to anyone with an open mind looking to learn more about the Bible and how it talks about LGBT relationships.
I received this free advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
He cites his sources, and it is clear he has done his homework. Like any book, there is always a bias, though I think this one was worthwhile to explore. At points, it did get academically dense, but mostly it was presented in a way that would be digestible to anyone with an open mind looking to learn more about the Bible and how it talks about LGBT relationships.
I received this free advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2022
What an insightful and validating read! This book felt more like a research paper or thesis than a novel, but I enjoyed it all the same. It was clear the author took great pride in their research and understanding of the content they were trying to disprove or affirm. The content was easy to read and the author did a fantastic job of breaking things down in terms that anyone could understand.
I recommend this read to all who struggle with their faith and how it aligns with their sexuality. I recommend it to all believers who’ve taken the Bible word for word and out of context, causing the necessity for a book like this.I recommend it for all faithful servants of the Lord who want to truly live His will.
I recommend this read to all who struggle with their faith and how it aligns with their sexuality. I recommend it to all believers who’ve taken the Bible word for word and out of context, causing the necessity for a book like this.I recommend it for all faithful servants of the Lord who want to truly live His will.
August 30, 2022
Received an ARC from Netgallery.
Full of good information, seems well researched and jibes with some things I've read about previously. It's written from a very lay perspective which should be good for anyone not versed in Bible study. The early chapters are a bit unpracticed but the author owns up to the fact he's not a writer by trade so fair enough. He does come from a very religious background and does slip into borderline proselytizing early on. But once he gets into text analysis the book is excellent and well done. I will be recommending this book to others.
Full of good information, seems well researched and jibes with some things I've read about previously. It's written from a very lay perspective which should be good for anyone not versed in Bible study. The early chapters are a bit unpracticed but the author owns up to the fact he's not a writer by trade so fair enough. He does come from a very religious background and does slip into borderline proselytizing early on. But once he gets into text analysis the book is excellent and well done. I will be recommending this book to others.
November 27, 2022
This book was insightful. It absolutely has brought to mind several questions and makes me want to research these things further. This book was well thought out and was written very comprehensible.
May 31, 2022
This is an important book, especially for young adults/teens in the church who are searching for answers, but don't know where to go.
My only critique is that some of the points are not drawn out enough. The author points to the verses that are used in arguments, and some of his explanations on why they are not logically sound are kind of flimsy. Not all of them, just a couple.
Overall though, I appreciate the authors time and willingness to write a book like this.
My only critique is that some of the points are not drawn out enough. The author points to the verses that are used in arguments, and some of his explanations on why they are not logically sound are kind of flimsy. Not all of them, just a couple.
Overall though, I appreciate the authors time and willingness to write a book like this.
January 29, 2023
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Up until the section on abortion this book was a solid three stars.
I’m Christian (Catholic) and queer (Pan/Ace) so I thought this book would be perfect for me, however it wasn’t. There were parts that I liked but there were also parts that I felt were not meant for me as a Catholic and it left me feeling like I still needed to pick between my religion and sexuality.
For the parts I liked/found the most useful were the author’s background on this book and dissecting verses used to condemn homosexuality. The author’s background and reasoning behind this book I thought were very important to this book and I liked how he explained what his background was/his journey and what caused him to write this book. The other part I liked was the chapter taking about the verses that the Church used to condemn homosexuality. I thought that was a well written part and very informative. The verses and background information were well explained and I loved how our author briefly summarized each one and I wish I had a better memory or access to these explanations after the book leaves my shelf on Netgalley. Also a minor thing, but that was a lengthy chapter (at least in the ebook I read), but I thought it would take up more of the book and that the book was going to be more about those verses (if that makes sense). I also liked how Kesller talked about the Church has used the bible to justify slavery, racism, antisemitism, etc. and how they were wrong (except not the abortion part, I have a couple issues with that section).
Now for the parts that lost stars. While reading this book there were parts that left me feeling like I still needed to choose between my religion/Catholicism or my sexuality. One example of this: the theme of not needing to be a part of a church community or needing to attend church. On one hand I agree, God is not strictly within the walls of a building. On the other hand as a Christian who likes the community I have found at my church and who likes adoration and (slowly growing to) like Mass and the sacraments I felt like this book was not written for me. I don’t want to have to pick between the two and I feel like the book did not do a good job of trying to find a way for a person to survive in both worlds (I’m sorry if that’s worded weirdly I couldn’t think of anything else). It was like Kesller was very quick to say “Yeah, you don’t need to attend services or a church community” and then didn’t try and find middle ground or be like “it’s tough, but you can have both: attend church and have a community and be queer”. And I don’t know if that’s because he thought we were good on our own without needing the reminder or if he doesn’t think it’s possible to have both and didn’t care about those of us who want both enough to write something or even if I'm just misunderstanding something.
Another part of the book that I didn’t like were certain parts regarding Catholicism that left me feeling a little uncomfortable. I’m not saying the author was trying to be anti-Catholic, but at the same time it kind of was. The author put a lot of research into this book (regarding the Bible’s view/verses on homosexuality), but then he referred to praying to the saints (and Mary, he didn’t mention Mary, but I feel like this goes for her as well) as “worshipping them through idols’ and comparing the Pope to an Emperor and pagan gods/idols when that is not at all true. Praying to the saints does not mean we worship them and to imply as such is ignorant, either accidental or purposeful. And again I don’t want to say which one or accuse him of anything, but with how much research he put into other elements of the book I find it hard to believe that Kesller really tried to understand that part of Catholicism. However, the Catholic Church is not above criticism and I don’t find a problem with Kesller criticizing buying indulgences in the Middle Ages or whenever (I need to say this so that others know Kesller criticizing the Church wasn't the issue, it was certain comments he made). The main issue was the uncomfortable feeling I got when Kesller said we worshipped saints like idols. I love being Catholic and so I do take offense when people (mainly other Christians) are taught something (we worship Mary and the saints) and run with, not bothering to explore if that is right or wrong.
The other issue as I mentioned before was the section on abortion. Abortion and Christianity is a conversation that should be had, however it is a huge topic with lots of sides and it was a mistake trying to cover the debate in a couple pages (it almost needs it’s own book, but I don’t trust Kesller to write it). The way Kesller used the Bible to justify abortion made me feel like he was doing the same thing the Church did with using the Bible to justify homophobia and either ignoring the history/background of the verse or purposefully misunderstanding the verse to justify his viewpoints on abortion. For instance, trying to act like Adam’s creation is comparable to an unborn baby doesn’t make sense. I’ve also heard alternative takes on the Numbers verse saying that isn’t about abortion at all and is more about adultery (which it is and I think it is a bit of a stretch to say that the verse supports abortion). I fully agree that abortion is a tough decision and that those that have an abortion are not terrible people and deserve to be treated with compassion. I also fully support bettering the health care system, maternity leave, etc. and I know many other pro-lifers who also support these things (Consistent Life Ethic) and so to imply that a majority of pro-lifers don’t is again not doing your research. The Bible doesn’t contradict the pro-life stance and also there are scientific reasons to be pro-life and the abortion industry deserves to be criticized. It was also slightly wrong for Kesller to fall into the “If you were truly pro-life than you would support xyz” mindset. Those few pages were not enough to discuss the abortion issue and I think it was a mistake to try. At the end of the day (at least to me) the Jeremiah “Before I formed you…” verse and the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, started his time on Earth in Mary’s womb (he was a human, he was not “just a fetus”) and John the Baptist “jumping” for joy in Elizabeth’s womb plus science outweigh the Numbers verse. Also a small part of me does think it bringing up Jesus and John as unborn babies in their mother's wombs should be brought up more in Christian spaces when asking the question "are fetuses/unborn babies people" and it would have been interesting for Kesller to discuss. Abortion is not a simple issue and it’s not black and white and to treat as such and only give it a couple pages was a mistake.
This book can be and is useful and perfect for other Christians, especially those who are still struggling with trying to make both their religion and sexuality work, however, I am (mostly) comfortable with both parts of my identity and I am proud and happy with both parts of my identity and went into this book with that mentality. This book did have useful information and some parts were well-researched, but at the end of the end day this book was not written for me, which is disappointing and because of that I couldn’t rate this book as high as I hoped.
Up until the section on abortion this book was a solid three stars.
I’m Christian (Catholic) and queer (Pan/Ace) so I thought this book would be perfect for me, however it wasn’t. There were parts that I liked but there were also parts that I felt were not meant for me as a Catholic and it left me feeling like I still needed to pick between my religion and sexuality.
For the parts I liked/found the most useful were the author’s background on this book and dissecting verses used to condemn homosexuality. The author’s background and reasoning behind this book I thought were very important to this book and I liked how he explained what his background was/his journey and what caused him to write this book. The other part I liked was the chapter taking about the verses that the Church used to condemn homosexuality. I thought that was a well written part and very informative. The verses and background information were well explained and I loved how our author briefly summarized each one and I wish I had a better memory or access to these explanations after the book leaves my shelf on Netgalley. Also a minor thing, but that was a lengthy chapter (at least in the ebook I read), but I thought it would take up more of the book and that the book was going to be more about those verses (if that makes sense). I also liked how Kesller talked about the Church has used the bible to justify slavery, racism, antisemitism, etc. and how they were wrong (except not the abortion part, I have a couple issues with that section).
Now for the parts that lost stars. While reading this book there were parts that left me feeling like I still needed to choose between my religion/Catholicism or my sexuality. One example of this: the theme of not needing to be a part of a church community or needing to attend church. On one hand I agree, God is not strictly within the walls of a building. On the other hand as a Christian who likes the community I have found at my church and who likes adoration and (slowly growing to) like Mass and the sacraments I felt like this book was not written for me. I don’t want to have to pick between the two and I feel like the book did not do a good job of trying to find a way for a person to survive in both worlds (I’m sorry if that’s worded weirdly I couldn’t think of anything else). It was like Kesller was very quick to say “Yeah, you don’t need to attend services or a church community” and then didn’t try and find middle ground or be like “it’s tough, but you can have both: attend church and have a community and be queer”. And I don’t know if that’s because he thought we were good on our own without needing the reminder or if he doesn’t think it’s possible to have both and didn’t care about those of us who want both enough to write something or even if I'm just misunderstanding something.
Another part of the book that I didn’t like were certain parts regarding Catholicism that left me feeling a little uncomfortable. I’m not saying the author was trying to be anti-Catholic, but at the same time it kind of was. The author put a lot of research into this book (regarding the Bible’s view/verses on homosexuality), but then he referred to praying to the saints (and Mary, he didn’t mention Mary, but I feel like this goes for her as well) as “worshipping them through idols’ and comparing the Pope to an Emperor and pagan gods/idols when that is not at all true. Praying to the saints does not mean we worship them and to imply as such is ignorant, either accidental or purposeful. And again I don’t want to say which one or accuse him of anything, but with how much research he put into other elements of the book I find it hard to believe that Kesller really tried to understand that part of Catholicism. However, the Catholic Church is not above criticism and I don’t find a problem with Kesller criticizing buying indulgences in the Middle Ages or whenever (I need to say this so that others know Kesller criticizing the Church wasn't the issue, it was certain comments he made). The main issue was the uncomfortable feeling I got when Kesller said we worshipped saints like idols. I love being Catholic and so I do take offense when people (mainly other Christians) are taught something (we worship Mary and the saints) and run with, not bothering to explore if that is right or wrong.
The other issue as I mentioned before was the section on abortion. Abortion and Christianity is a conversation that should be had, however it is a huge topic with lots of sides and it was a mistake trying to cover the debate in a couple pages (it almost needs it’s own book, but I don’t trust Kesller to write it). The way Kesller used the Bible to justify abortion made me feel like he was doing the same thing the Church did with using the Bible to justify homophobia and either ignoring the history/background of the verse or purposefully misunderstanding the verse to justify his viewpoints on abortion. For instance, trying to act like Adam’s creation is comparable to an unborn baby doesn’t make sense. I’ve also heard alternative takes on the Numbers verse saying that isn’t about abortion at all and is more about adultery (which it is and I think it is a bit of a stretch to say that the verse supports abortion). I fully agree that abortion is a tough decision and that those that have an abortion are not terrible people and deserve to be treated with compassion. I also fully support bettering the health care system, maternity leave, etc. and I know many other pro-lifers who also support these things (Consistent Life Ethic) and so to imply that a majority of pro-lifers don’t is again not doing your research. The Bible doesn’t contradict the pro-life stance and also there are scientific reasons to be pro-life and the abortion industry deserves to be criticized. It was also slightly wrong for Kesller to fall into the “If you were truly pro-life than you would support xyz” mindset. Those few pages were not enough to discuss the abortion issue and I think it was a mistake to try. At the end of the day (at least to me) the Jeremiah “Before I formed you…” verse and the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, started his time on Earth in Mary’s womb (he was a human, he was not “just a fetus”) and John the Baptist “jumping” for joy in Elizabeth’s womb plus science outweigh the Numbers verse. Also a small part of me does think it bringing up Jesus and John as unborn babies in their mother's wombs should be brought up more in Christian spaces when asking the question "are fetuses/unborn babies people" and it would have been interesting for Kesller to discuss. Abortion is not a simple issue and it’s not black and white and to treat as such and only give it a couple pages was a mistake.
This book can be and is useful and perfect for other Christians, especially those who are still struggling with trying to make both their religion and sexuality work, however, I am (mostly) comfortable with both parts of my identity and I am proud and happy with both parts of my identity and went into this book with that mentality. This book did have useful information and some parts were well-researched, but at the end of the end day this book was not written for me, which is disappointing and because of that I couldn’t rate this book as high as I hoped.
Read
April 28, 2022Very good! Opened our eyes a lot! 5/5 Would recommend.
October 27, 2022
"Cheers to religious trauma!"
This book was not what I was expecting. Kesller is open, bold and vulnerable in Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea. It is part exploration of his own journey, part an examinations of the failure of the institution that is the Church, and part deep dive into some of the most classic and critical Biblical passages on LGBTQ+ issues.
The book is dense, but it is open, and Kesller has a truly driven and open heart in his writing. I found myself drawn in and relating to his own story. The biblical examination can get a touch on the drier side (but really, there's not a ton that can be done about that). This book is needed, this book is powerful, and this book is just the start of what will be a journey of healing for so very many people.
"Your existence is valid. You are loved. You are free."
This book was not what I was expecting. Kesller is open, bold and vulnerable in Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea. It is part exploration of his own journey, part an examinations of the failure of the institution that is the Church, and part deep dive into some of the most classic and critical Biblical passages on LGBTQ+ issues.
The book is dense, but it is open, and Kesller has a truly driven and open heart in his writing. I found myself drawn in and relating to his own story. The biblical examination can get a touch on the drier side (but really, there's not a ton that can be done about that). This book is needed, this book is powerful, and this book is just the start of what will be a journey of healing for so very many people.
"Your existence is valid. You are loved. You are free."
September 15, 2022
“The God I’ve learned about throughout my entire life is a God of love (1 John 4:7-12), a God of compassion (Psalms 51:1, Psalms 103:13), a God of mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5), and a God of inclusivity (John 3:16).”
TITLE—Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea
AUTHOR—Mitchell Kesller
PUBLISHED—2022
PUBLISHER—Promethean Publishing Group
**I received this book as a free eARC from @NetGalley**
GENRE—memoir, Christian apologetics, spiritual philosophy
SETTING—united states
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—memoir, Love, Christianity, the Gospel & Jesus’s message, how translation can alter & corrupt original meanings & intent, apologetics
WRITING STYLE—Perfectly suited to the book’s purpose.
STORYTELLING—Very effective.
BONUS ELEMENT/S—The fact that so much of what the author writes in this book are things that my dad has told me in the course of my personal spiritual journey as a queer person. ❤️
“Mahatma Gandhi once said, I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
PHILOSOPHY—so…
PREMISE—like…
EXECUTION—i mean…
…this is one of those books that is difficult to review. I think the first thing to understand when reading this book (or in deciding whether or not to read this book) is that it is definitely written for a specific reader: the queer Christian and Christians with queer loved ones. That is who the narrative voice is addressing when it speaks to “you” and why there is so much of an undertone of spiritual consolation in the author’s words. (Oh, and, the author of this book also considers the Bible to be a sacred text, more or less dictated by God to His prophets as a guide to the spiritual education of His people. So. That’s an important thing to acknowledge too in the reading of this book.)
Basically this book is written as a genuine, heartfelt attempt to explain to Christians why homophobia is actually anti-Christian. So while it’s neither academic nor historically vigorous (though the research—particularly vis a vis the linguistic and historical, cultural context analysis of the material—that went into this book did seem to be fairly in-depth), and is written about at a highschool reading comprehension level (an intentional choice by the author), it is very clearly and honestly (and calmly, like, impressively calmly 😅) written and moves along at a good clip smoothly covering all the points the author wants to make.
This is a book to be read critically, as well, as it is itself literally a book about reading critically versus reading traditionally—so while there were some claims and observations that I was raising my eyebrow at, overall I appreciated the points the author was making and acknowledged the steps the author as a Christian was making in their own spiritual journey both privately and in community.
“If Christians hope to get anywhere past a superficial understanding of God’s word, they need to surrender their simplistic views and literal interpretations of the Bible and dive deeper intro true understanding.”
The main thing that I liked about this book was how the author asks the question: “Is this interpretation of the text in line with Jesus’s character? his message of love, nonjudgment, and inclusion? No? Then what interpretation *would* be in-line with Jesus’s message? Because *that* is the interpretation that we should embrace.”
“…open discussions and theological debate should be occurring with the sole purpose of leading people to a deeper understanding of God and bringing them closer to His love… …if a particular doctrine or teaching tends to ostracize a group of people from His love, perhaps a closer look should be brought to the topic in question. …loving God and loving people are at the core of everything God commanded. It’s the overarching theme of the entire Bible.”
At times it definitely feels a little… evangelical? maybe, in its language, but essentially I found the Bible-reading work was well done and that’s what I was most interested in. As I said, this book is for Christians to aid them in their spiritual journeys, mainly, but I read it for the analyses of the various, commonly quoted(/weaponized) Bible quotes specifically to see which ones the author was going to highlight or explain so for that purpose it was excellent.
I will say that in order to make his point, the author does sort of gloss over other problematic elements of the religious texts he’s dealing with such as the rampant misogyny and xenophobia and the tenet that all non-Christians are damned 😬, and there are also moments of definite “it’s not anti-*gay*, it’s anti-*women*—there’s a dIfFeReNcE” (🥴) vibesss here soooo, yeah. This is not by any means a perfect spiritual or even philosophical text, but for its role as a work of Christian apologetics, it’s pretty interesting, even revolutionary.
Final thoughts: Ok yeah so there are still problems but like it’s the thoughtfulness and critical, benevolent curiosity with which the author engages with his subject matter that is what impressed me about this book.
I would recommend this book to readers who are queer and still want to make Christianity work for them. Also for the Christian loved ones of queer ppl of whom they have been “less than accepting” of their true natures.
I’m actually going to go ahead and give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ though for a) saying something that needed to be said and b) to make up for all the 1-⭐️ reviews it’s likely to get from homophobic Christian extremists. It’s a good first step. I hope Christians can continue to make some more progress in all of these areas….
“This lack of understanding, stubbornness in literal interpretation, and unwillingness to dive deeper into scriptural research is the reason the Bible is so often weaponized against the LGBT+ community.”
TW // Christianity, evangelicalism, misogyny, strong anti-pagan sentiments, anti-sexwork sentiments, HP reference in author bio (Please feel free to DM me for more specifics!)
Further Reading—
- I can’t even get into that here but there’s lots. Obviously. 😅
February 26, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 / 5 Stars
CW: Mentions of Rape, Mentions of Child Abuse, Mentions of Racism, Mentions of Homophobia, Mentions of Slavery, Mentions of Abortion, Mentions of Sexism, Mentions of Harry Potter
Lets get some facts straight before we get into the review.
Number 1: I'm queer
Number 2: I'm christian
And Number 3: I've stopped feeling welcome in the christian community a long while ago.
Now, did this book change any of the above mentioned facts?
Well, to be honest. No.
This wasnt the first time I came in contact with "And this is why the bible actually isnt homophobic" stuff. I've been in a few lectures at university who where organized by our queer repesentatives.
Most of them where horrible and I remember feeling even more excluded afterwards.
Now, this book however, is different.
Maybe its because the author is queer themselves, I dont know. But it felt like the book actually cared deeply.
It argues using a lot of different sources, sometimes even going an extra mile just to find some kind of evidence.
I was shocked to see that a certain phrase was activly and knowingly mistranslated.
And I felt very seen when our author confirmed that "The bible isnt homophobic. But some christians - including those who translated the bible are"
Excluding Luther. We quote him a few times and the parts he's in are fine. Thanks Luther ^-^
We then go on and show how the christian community isnt just using its Text against gays. Oh no, we also used it to be pro slaves. I liked that we didnt pretend that those lines didnt exist.
We even talk about abortion. Even though the quotes arent really doing the arguments any favour and even though those pages felt like they didnt really do anything to enrich the book.
Some parts felt like they dragged a bit, but I still cant help but appreciate the effort that was put into it.
And yet,!! when I came to the ending of the book and read the author Bio I was shocked speachless.
Here he is, our author , defending the gays, and - apparently- trying his best to speak for the LGBT+ community and then! he puts his ducking HOGWARDS HOUSE into his author bio. My dude. I'm just...wow. No words.
It says a lot.
How has noone stopped the man from putting that there???
Anyways, it's a nice book. Has some flaws but means well.
I had a good time - most of the time.
4 / 5 Stars
CW: Mentions of Rape, Mentions of Child Abuse, Mentions of Racism, Mentions of Homophobia, Mentions of Slavery, Mentions of Abortion, Mentions of Sexism, Mentions of Harry Potter
Lets get some facts straight before we get into the review.
Number 1: I'm queer
Number 2: I'm christian
And Number 3: I've stopped feeling welcome in the christian community a long while ago.
Now, did this book change any of the above mentioned facts?
Well, to be honest. No.
This wasnt the first time I came in contact with "And this is why the bible actually isnt homophobic" stuff. I've been in a few lectures at university who where organized by our queer repesentatives.
Most of them where horrible and I remember feeling even more excluded afterwards.
Now, this book however, is different.
Maybe its because the author is queer themselves, I dont know. But it felt like the book actually cared deeply.
It argues using a lot of different sources, sometimes even going an extra mile just to find some kind of evidence.
I was shocked to see that a certain phrase was activly and knowingly mistranslated.
And I felt very seen when our author confirmed that "The bible isnt homophobic. But some christians - including those who translated the bible are"
Excluding Luther. We quote him a few times and the parts he's in are fine. Thanks Luther ^-^
We then go on and show how the christian community isnt just using its Text against gays. Oh no, we also used it to be pro slaves. I liked that we didnt pretend that those lines didnt exist.
We even talk about abortion. Even though the quotes arent really doing the arguments any favour and even though those pages felt like they didnt really do anything to enrich the book.
Some parts felt like they dragged a bit, but I still cant help but appreciate the effort that was put into it.
And yet,!! when I came to the ending of the book and read the author Bio I was shocked speachless.
Here he is, our author , defending the gays, and - apparently- trying his best to speak for the LGBT+ community and then! he puts his ducking HOGWARDS HOUSE into his author bio. My dude. I'm just...wow. No words.
It says a lot.
How has noone stopped the man from putting that there???
Anyways, it's a nice book. Has some flaws but means well.
I had a good time - most of the time.
September 1, 2022
Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea by Mitchell Kesller
Published: March 30, 2022
Promethean Publishing Group
Pages: 157
Genre: Nonfiction
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Mitchell Kesller was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and later moved to Boston, MA. Raised Bostonian, he moved to Orlando, FL, fell in love with it, and refused to leave. Though Orlando is his homebase, you can also frequently find him traveling to Italy to explore more of the ancient and medieval history it holds. As such, he speaks English, Portuguese, and Italian.
A Philosopher in the word's original sense, Mitchell has never stopped chasing after wisdom and continued education. Though achieving two Bachelor's degrees in unrelated fields, his passion has always been to thoroughly study ancient history and religious topics. He and his fiancé, Daniel, currently live in Orlando. When they aren't traveling abroad, they enjoy exploring the city for its different restaurants and can often be spotted hanging out in the region's many theme parks.
“Please fasten your seatbelts as we may face a bit of turbulence.”
Written from a place of passion, compassion, and a desire to connect people, this book was well put together.
It’s clear that Mitchell researched this book and that he spent a lot of time putting it together. He is knowledgeable in his interpretations, and I felt he was respectful.
It was interesting reading a different viewpoint regarding the well-known passages used in this book. It’s always fascinating to me to see how other people process and interpret the Bible.
I enjoyed the conversational and friendly tone throughout this book. And that Mitchell explained things along the way that helped further understanding. I also appreciated that he encouraged the reader to do their research. To not just take his word (or any word) as THE word without doing some digging.
For a passion project that was anticipated to be received negatively, I applaud Mitchell for taking the time and bringing this to light.
The biggest takeaway from this book is that God loves all people. And that’s the tea.
Published: March 30, 2022
Promethean Publishing Group
Pages: 157
Genre: Nonfiction
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Mitchell Kesller was born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and later moved to Boston, MA. Raised Bostonian, he moved to Orlando, FL, fell in love with it, and refused to leave. Though Orlando is his homebase, you can also frequently find him traveling to Italy to explore more of the ancient and medieval history it holds. As such, he speaks English, Portuguese, and Italian.
A Philosopher in the word's original sense, Mitchell has never stopped chasing after wisdom and continued education. Though achieving two Bachelor's degrees in unrelated fields, his passion has always been to thoroughly study ancient history and religious topics. He and his fiancé, Daniel, currently live in Orlando. When they aren't traveling abroad, they enjoy exploring the city for its different restaurants and can often be spotted hanging out in the region's many theme parks.
“Please fasten your seatbelts as we may face a bit of turbulence.”
Written from a place of passion, compassion, and a desire to connect people, this book was well put together.
It’s clear that Mitchell researched this book and that he spent a lot of time putting it together. He is knowledgeable in his interpretations, and I felt he was respectful.
It was interesting reading a different viewpoint regarding the well-known passages used in this book. It’s always fascinating to me to see how other people process and interpret the Bible.
I enjoyed the conversational and friendly tone throughout this book. And that Mitchell explained things along the way that helped further understanding. I also appreciated that he encouraged the reader to do their research. To not just take his word (or any word) as THE word without doing some digging.
For a passion project that was anticipated to be received negatively, I applaud Mitchell for taking the time and bringing this to light.
The biggest takeaway from this book is that God loves all people. And that’s the tea.
March 3, 2025
“We’ve wasted so much energy trying to win their acceptance, trying to convince them of things they’re too stubborn to listen to,” she said, “meanwhile, thousands of people in our community are committing suicide, losing faith, hating themselves… What are we doing about it?” I was stunned. It was such an obvious concept, but I had completely missed it! Maybe I was wasting my time and newfound knowledge on the wrong people. I had tired myself trying to have civil discourse with my parents. No matter how much Biblical evidence I brought before them, no matter how much logic was presented, I was always immediately shut out with the ever-so-infamous line, “we’re never going to accept this.”
***
Broke the Break, Spilled the Tea is part memoir, part apologetic against the "clobber" verses in the Bible used to support homophobic theology. It's short and easy to understand, making complex theological concepts accessible to a broad audience. The author is a bisexual man who grew up in evangelical (Assembly of God) Brazilian churches and comes from a long line of people in ministry.
Kesller addresses the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within the Christian faith, offering a perspective that bridges the gap between identity and belief. He delves into the historical context and original language of the Bible, challenging traditional interpretations of verses often used to marginalize LGBTQ+ people.
Kesller takes a gentle approach that may be helpful to those who are just beginning to wrestle with these concepts. I don't agree with him on a few things like substitutionary atonement and the things he talks about related to "the great flood." But this book could still be helpful for some folks.
***
Broke the Break, Spilled the Tea is part memoir, part apologetic against the "clobber" verses in the Bible used to support homophobic theology. It's short and easy to understand, making complex theological concepts accessible to a broad audience. The author is a bisexual man who grew up in evangelical (Assembly of God) Brazilian churches and comes from a long line of people in ministry.
Kesller addresses the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within the Christian faith, offering a perspective that bridges the gap between identity and belief. He delves into the historical context and original language of the Bible, challenging traditional interpretations of verses often used to marginalize LGBTQ+ people.
Kesller takes a gentle approach that may be helpful to those who are just beginning to wrestle with these concepts. I don't agree with him on a few things like substitutionary atonement and the things he talks about related to "the great flood." But this book could still be helpful for some folks.
August 17, 2025
Grateful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review - and I regret that I did not review this book in a timely fashion! But here's why:
When I first got this book from Netgalley I was living in a very liberal, queer haven (Northampton, Massachusetts), living and studying at an historically women's college. I skimmed through the book and didn't really have a lot of use for it then. And as someone with religious trauma from growing up in a fundie church during the Satanic panic, I've spent my life avoiding anything remotely related to "Christianity" unless it's academic.
Times have, as we're all aware, changed a LOT - and, I've moved to the South, otherwise known as the Bible belt. My little city is pretty progressive, sizably queer, and we have some wonderfully welcoming, progressive churches that present Christianity as a chosen spiritual path among many acceptable ones. I still haven't been able to bring myself to step foot in one, but I'm glad they exist since Christianity is fairly engrained in American culture. I also spend the majority of my time in a university bubble, also a safe space (despite this current administrations attempts to destroy that).
But here's the thing - once you step outside those safe bubbles, we are back in the South where history and Christian nationalism have combined to reawaken a very dangerous dragon. In times like this, a book like this is VERY necessary, and I'm glad I remembered I had it because I've revisited it plenty of times since then.
I applaud the author for heeding the call and creating this resource, and for doing it comprehensively, GIVING a LOT of added context while also providing a lot of source material and references so you can dig deeper yourself if necessary.
When I first got this book from Netgalley I was living in a very liberal, queer haven (Northampton, Massachusetts), living and studying at an historically women's college. I skimmed through the book and didn't really have a lot of use for it then. And as someone with religious trauma from growing up in a fundie church during the Satanic panic, I've spent my life avoiding anything remotely related to "Christianity" unless it's academic.
Times have, as we're all aware, changed a LOT - and, I've moved to the South, otherwise known as the Bible belt. My little city is pretty progressive, sizably queer, and we have some wonderfully welcoming, progressive churches that present Christianity as a chosen spiritual path among many acceptable ones. I still haven't been able to bring myself to step foot in one, but I'm glad they exist since Christianity is fairly engrained in American culture. I also spend the majority of my time in a university bubble, also a safe space (despite this current administrations attempts to destroy that).
But here's the thing - once you step outside those safe bubbles, we are back in the South where history and Christian nationalism have combined to reawaken a very dangerous dragon. In times like this, a book like this is VERY necessary, and I'm glad I remembered I had it because I've revisited it plenty of times since then.
I applaud the author for heeding the call and creating this resource, and for doing it comprehensively, GIVING a LOT of added context while also providing a lot of source material and references so you can dig deeper yourself if necessary.
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