UnClobber, Expanded Edition with Study Guide: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality

by Colby Martin

Paperback, 2022

Status

Available

Call number

220.8

Collection

Publication

Westminster John Knox Press (2022), Edition: Expanded, 240 pages

Description

LGBTQIA+ (Nonfiction.) Religion & Spirituality. Sociology. Nonfiction. Churches in America are experiencing an unprecedented fracturing due to their belief and attitude toward the LGBTQ community. Armed with only six passages in the Bible-often known as the "clobber passages"-the traditional Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Unclobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin's own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality. UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that breathes fresh life into outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member porch_reader
There are six Bible verses that are often cited in discussions about homosexuality. Colby Martin puts context around these verses. He considers the time period in which they were written and analyzes decisions made by translators. Chapters with his interpretation of the so-called Clobber verses are
Show More
interspersed with chapters that tell Colby's own story as a pastor trying to find a church where he can minister in ways that are consistent with his beliefs. I grew up as an Episcopalian, but we currently are members of a United Methodist Church. The United Methodists are going to be considering changes to their views of homosexuality in the coming years, and I read this book so that I would be better able to articulate my own positions.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stephencolon
While Martin's biblical analysis isn't bad, and the work of combatting Christian homophobia is certainly important, I would have a hard time recommending this book to anyone looking for those two things. Swapping between memoirs and Biblical criticism each chapter was distracting and confusing. The
Show More
memoir chapters paint Martin as a bit of a martyr for the cause in a way that just did not rub me right. He changed jobs, took a risk, and started a new enterprise in order to live out his less homophobic Christianity. Those are all good things, but when you're talking about homophobia and the martyr of the story is the straight guy who had to learn to be less discriminatory, it just... feels like it misses the mark. I'm not even necessarily opposed to Martin being the hero of the story (good for him for starting a new, less discriminatory church!), but the picture that's painted is one where he is suffering greatly for leaving his homophobic church behind, and that just looks so weird next to the people who his homophobic past harmed.

Giving it two stars because the biblical criticism does have a place and I'm certain there are people who will benefit from it and not be as distracted by the memoir chapters as I was, but I'll especially caution other LGBT+ readers that it might just make you roll your eyes a bit too much to get across the finish line.
Show Less

Physical description

240 p.; 8.5 inches

ISBN

0664267467 / 9780664267469
Page: 0.1252 seconds