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The Gospel and the Gay
Book by Gangel, Kenneth O
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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May 17, 2024
A VERY CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON HOMOSEXUALITY
Kenneth O. Gangel (1935-2009) was a professor or an administrator in various Christian institutions. He wrote in the Introduction to this 1978, “this volume… is designed to explore both the biblical position on homosexuality and how that biblical position can be implemented in both church and society. It is not written to provide all of the psychological and sociological data relating to the vast complex of problems that homosexuality presents in this last quarter of the twentieth century. Nor is it aimed at raising concomitant political issues.”
He suggests, “Perhaps I take slight exception with the Save Our Children movement when I suggest that the ‘gay rights’ drive is not really an issue of ‘child recruitment.’ This is a horrendous problem and the condemnation is probably supported by the evidence, but child recruitment … is a symptom, not a cause; it is a side effect, not the real quagmire.” (Pg. 30-31)
He states, “it is a shame for the people of North America who have experienced such obvious blessing from God to turn their backs upon that God, upon His laws, upon His moral code, and not only tolerate [homosexuality] in the land, but to actually make laws to nurture and advance its abominations. The freedoms of democracy are no longer freedoms when they are contemptuous of the biblical morality upon which any lasting government must be founded. To be sure, morality cannot be legislated, but on the other hand, there is no need to legislate immorality!” (Pg. 80-81)
He says, “it is possible to have homosexual tendencies without engaging in homosexual practices. It is the PRACTICE and not the PROPENSITY that the Scripture condemns, but the practice can be forgiven and the propensity can be changed by the power of Jesus Christ. That is why we say the gospel is for the gay.” (Pg. 98)
He asserts, “Homosexual propensity may indeed be a sickness, but homosexual practice and promotion is not physical illness, mental derangement, or an acceptable variant lifestyle---it is sin.” (Pg. 127)
He suggests, “Surely, the evidence suggests that homosexuals can be ‘cured.’ Many words could be used synonymously here---‘liberated,’ ‘delivered,’ ‘healed’---but perhaps the simplest and most poignant word is ‘cure.’ Interestingly enough, an of these words can be used both for sin and sickness. The Bible speaks of healing in both the spiritual and physical senses, and as I have been trying to emphasize, both are applicable to the homosexual.” (Pg. 164)
He interviews a young man who told him, “The American Psychiatric Association says that homosexuality is not a disease and I don’t think it is either. It is a sin. A particular kind of sin that’s caused by a number of different factors. A sin like drug addiction and other kinds of sexual abuse, alcoholism, and so on that we see rampant in our society.” (Pg. 191)
This book will only appeal to those Christians who are most strongly opposed to LGBT arguments.
Kenneth O. Gangel (1935-2009) was a professor or an administrator in various Christian institutions. He wrote in the Introduction to this 1978, “this volume… is designed to explore both the biblical position on homosexuality and how that biblical position can be implemented in both church and society. It is not written to provide all of the psychological and sociological data relating to the vast complex of problems that homosexuality presents in this last quarter of the twentieth century. Nor is it aimed at raising concomitant political issues.”
He suggests, “Perhaps I take slight exception with the Save Our Children movement when I suggest that the ‘gay rights’ drive is not really an issue of ‘child recruitment.’ This is a horrendous problem and the condemnation is probably supported by the evidence, but child recruitment … is a symptom, not a cause; it is a side effect, not the real quagmire.” (Pg. 30-31)
He states, “it is a shame for the people of North America who have experienced such obvious blessing from God to turn their backs upon that God, upon His laws, upon His moral code, and not only tolerate [homosexuality] in the land, but to actually make laws to nurture and advance its abominations. The freedoms of democracy are no longer freedoms when they are contemptuous of the biblical morality upon which any lasting government must be founded. To be sure, morality cannot be legislated, but on the other hand, there is no need to legislate immorality!” (Pg. 80-81)
He says, “it is possible to have homosexual tendencies without engaging in homosexual practices. It is the PRACTICE and not the PROPENSITY that the Scripture condemns, but the practice can be forgiven and the propensity can be changed by the power of Jesus Christ. That is why we say the gospel is for the gay.” (Pg. 98)
He asserts, “Homosexual propensity may indeed be a sickness, but homosexual practice and promotion is not physical illness, mental derangement, or an acceptable variant lifestyle---it is sin.” (Pg. 127)
He suggests, “Surely, the evidence suggests that homosexuals can be ‘cured.’ Many words could be used synonymously here---‘liberated,’ ‘delivered,’ ‘healed’---but perhaps the simplest and most poignant word is ‘cure.’ Interestingly enough, an of these words can be used both for sin and sickness. The Bible speaks of healing in both the spiritual and physical senses, and as I have been trying to emphasize, both are applicable to the homosexual.” (Pg. 164)
He interviews a young man who told him, “The American Psychiatric Association says that homosexuality is not a disease and I don’t think it is either. It is a sin. A particular kind of sin that’s caused by a number of different factors. A sin like drug addiction and other kinds of sexual abuse, alcoholism, and so on that we see rampant in our society.” (Pg. 191)
This book will only appeal to those Christians who are most strongly opposed to LGBT arguments.
Displaying 1 of 1 review