Calling the Rainbow Nation Home: A Story of Acceptance and Affirmation

by E.T. Sundby

This book is a journey for truth.-Samuel Kader Sr., Pastor, Community Gospel Church, Dayton, Ohio, Openly Gay, Openly Christian, Leyland Publications.Am I going to hell because I am gay? Is homosexuality a sin? Should I remain celibate my entire life? If you or someone you love is struggling with these issues, this book is for you. Follow Reverend Elaine Sundby's journey as she takes us on her personal quest for truth and self-acceptance-a path that eventually led her to enter the ministry. Reverend Sundby was determined to discover God's plan for her and equally determined to do what was right in the eyes of God, without taking "the easy way out." Simple to understand, yet rooted in spiritual truth, Calling the Rainbow Nation Home has the potential to heal-to heal the battered soul of the Christians who are struggling to reconcile their homosexuality with their faith, and to heal their relationships with those who love them and want to understand.A new era is just beginning in the gay Christian community, as thousands begin to realize that God loves us all just as we are.

Genres: Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2005

Reviews

[Raleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly inspiring. It begins with the story of a female who was found by God first, then later accepted the fact that she was a homosexual. The story describes her initial battle with trying to reconcile both her her spiritual beliefs and her sexual orientation. The story is heartwarming and convincing. God revealed himself to her and helped her through her time of questioning, as she was leaning towards being celibate for the rest of her life. He revealed to her through the Holy Spirit that celibacy was not her calling.

God's presence in her life is vividly apparent. He has done so many things through her that blew me away when I read this book, that denying the legitimacy of her faith is absurd.

The book then deals with the "clobber passages", which are the passages in the Bible that deal with homosexuality. She sorts out the confusion over poor translations by using the original languages (Greek and Hebrew) in which the Bible was written and puts other passages into the correct context, for example: The Sodomites were not condemned for their sexual orientation, but for their rejection of God and their sexual promiscuity as they were known at that time as temple prostitutes. This is clearly an immoral lifestyle, which resides outside of a committed monogamous relationship.

I wouldn't say that this book changed my views on the issue of homosexuality. God had already revealed to me about a year ago that he does not care about orientation, and that homosexuals are also God's people and play a significant role in his plan.

Why would God choose to make a person homosexual, only to later condemn them for their natural disposition? People who argue that homosexuality is learned and not something that you are born with are ignorant. I have spoken with a few people who have revealed to me that they wished to God they were heterosexual, given the difficulties and oppression they would receive from family and friends, but they could not help the fact that they were never attracted to the opposite sex.

I recommend this book to everyone

[Vicki VamDenBerg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Revelations!

I'm not homosexual, but I couldn't resolve the issue of it being a sin. This book has cleared things up for me! I feel awful how we've treated you and what you've gone through.

Keep doing God's work for Team Jesus!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone should read this book, especially anyone like myself, struggling to balance faith and their sexuality. It answered a lot of questions and while I still think I have some work and research to do, I feel a lot more at peace than I did before reading it.

[jzmcdaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I'll start by saying I'm agnostic. I've had a rocky relationship with "god" and being raised by his Christians throughout the course of my life, and it's left me with a bit of a chip on my shoulder and a healthy hunger for knowledge and reason to counteract the neverending laws and condemnations that that I had been brought up in. Despite my negative and skeptical views of religion (some of which came into play when I read this book) I will admit this is one of the more enlightening works about the kindness that religious people are rarely seen viewed as showing in many media and books that I consume. Sundby definitely has an encouraging story that for me was relatable in some ways but ended with her gaining faith as she grew into adulthood whereas I lost it. But even if our opinions on religion may differ, I could still see this as a good surprise of apologetic love for gays coming from a christian. The thesis of the book is simple enough; to follow Jesus and be saved knowing that being gay is okay. But it also addresses, if not perfectly, many of the questions that come with confronting fundamentalism and analyzing textual errors that may occur throughout history. It makes a decent case for both, but the book still doesn't answer any of the logical contradictory questions I've had about God or why he through these scriptural errors an supreme being still fails to mention anything about scientific laws and existential questions humans have about God and themselves. However I can't help but shake the fact that the ELCA's way of belief seems like having their cake and eating it too. I've heard from other christian friends of mine that homosexuality was originally condemned in all texts of the Bible. These errors not only further my skepticism of a supposed god's aptitude to monitor his own word a little better but also makes me wonder if the people who want to accept all into their congregation are just too kind for such a fundamentally human, intolerant, and violent religion. It's a good story with nice ideas, but it doesn't address all the questions I've always had.

[Jeremiah Passe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, inspiring and insightful book. While I find her personal story amazing, I found many of her arguments unconvincing until the last few chapters. I will not give the ending away, but her arguments from experience were much more convincing for me. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Anjie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!!!!