“Jesus did not die on the cross to create a little country club where we could have weekly gatherings, pat ourselves on the back for our good behavior (while hiding our bad behavior), and meet in clusters during the week but do nothing to reach out to the community. That’s not the kind of church Jesus wants built here on earth.” ~ Caleb KaltenbachIf you had asked me a year ago to read Messy Grace, I would’ve turned my nose up at it and said, “Why do I need to read that? It’s just a book about why believers need to start accepting homosexuality…” However, God has a fantastic way of softening the hardest of hearts. Earlier this year, He softened mine and led me back to this book, and boy am I glad He did!
Homosexuality is a subject that most believers either shrug off or automatically go on defense about, like it’s the biggest sin out there, but we forget that all sin is alike, and we shouldn’t discriminate one of them more than the other.
Yes, I believe it is a topic that needs to be addressed but not in the way most believers are going about it. We forget that as believers in Yeshua (Jesus), our most important command is to love others just as He loves us. Remember, Yeshua didn’t spend His life preaching to those already found; instead, He went to all the sinners and lost sheep to spend time with them! We are also forgetting that everyone is a sinner. Just because some people have a different way of thinking or struggle in an area like homosexuality, our first plan of action shouldn’t be to ostracize them.
We are called to be disciples of Yeshua and to show those not walking in Him, or who are struggling in their walk, that He is really real and standing with His arms wide open to even the deadliest of sinners!
Messy Grace is a powerful book about a man named Caleb Kaltenbach, who was raised by homosexual parents. Growing up, Caleb participated in gay pride parades and was taught that the Christians were the bad guys. One day, Caleb was invited to a Bible study. He was excited to attend and challenge those in the group, but something else happened… Caleb found God and became a believer! You can imagine his parent’s reaction to this new path, but Caleb was firm in his faith and later became a pastor! He was open about his difference in beliefs and was a testament to his parents that those who follow Yeshua can love those who live different lives.
This is a brilliant book that I recommend all congregations, groups, and families read to discuss and search the Word on this subject. Instead of taking children out of the classes and schools that teach about subjects we, as believers, don’t agree with, maybe we should start talking to our kids about the lessons being taught and what the Bible says about such topics. That way, when the time comes, they will be ready to face the real world and the challenges that they will face with the love of Yeshua for everyone who walks into their lives.
Of course, I disagreed with some of the doctrines in this book, but I think that was the point. Let’s stop closing books or videos just because they contradict some of our views, avoiding conversations because the topic is controversial, or refusing to have anything to do with people who, for example, identify as gay or lesbian. Instead, let’s start showing them the love of Yeshua and what His Word says. We can reach so many more people with kindness rather than judgment and hate, without contradicting our own beliefs!
Caleb’s story needs to get told! We might not see eye to eye on all the points made, but it’s a perfect conversation starter! I hope that Messy Grace will also inspire Christians/believers to stop trying to take the speck out of other people’s eyes and start to see them as God does, His children who are lost and need to be found. Let’s spread the love of Yeshua (Jesus) with everyone; even if they’re living a life, you won’t live yourself.
I know this review will challenge some and might cause a reaction, but I’m all for that! By writing this, I am not saying that I believe that homosexuality is God’s plan for relationships and marriage, but I’m also not saying that excluding ourselves and being “homophobic” is the answer. I’d love to hear what you think on this subject. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Book Rating: [yasr_multiset setid=0] Ages:12+
