I appreciate books that deal with important and complex topics sanely, clearly and above all with Scriptural fidelity. “Love Into Light”: The Gospel, The Homosexual and The Church by Peter Hubbard is just such a book.

Love Into Light – as its subtitle suggests, is focused upon a Biblical view of dealing with SSA (same sex attraction) in terms of an individual’s struggle with this sinful tendency, and the Church’s responses and responsibilities to face this issue and the people it affects most Biblically, intelligently, compassionately and lovingly.

It is stellar.

I recommend it for a number of reasons. First, the reality of SSA affecting not only our society but Believers, is not going away. In fact it is getting much larger as the influence and acceptability of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community also increases in the culture at large.

Secondly, as we see people coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ from these lifestyles and communities, we need to recognize the remaining struggles these believers face. Just as no one gets saved and suddenly loses all propensity toward greed, avarice, pride, envy, rebellion, gossip, backbiting, selfishness, anger, foolishness, impurity or any other sinful tendency, these must still fight the remaining vestiges of the sexual sins that once defined them.

To turn a blind eye toward this reality, to condemn it as somehow more wicked or unmentionable than other sins, or to offer trite and simplistic platitudes to those brave enough to admit the ongoing struggle is neither Biblical nor loving. The church needs to know how to lovingly embrace these dear ones who have truly come to Christ, and help them face the remnants of their indwelling sin the same way we would any other sin – with grace, acceptance, compassion and the Gospel. We need to wake up to the fact that the longer Christ’s return remains future – wickedness within humankind continues to spiral downward (2 Tim. 3:13). We do not live in a “Leave it to Beaver” society or Church. We live in a fallen world. And all of us, without exception, are fallen people EQUALLY in need of the atoning work of Christ regardless of what seem to be “cleaner” sins to some of us.

Thirdly, this book wonderfully addresses so much more than only SSA. Because it rightly treats SSA in proper Biblical categories, it’s applicability to thinking through and dealing with ALL species of indwelling sin makes it valuable to any Christian, regardless of their personal struggle. To bill it only as a book on Homosexuality and SSA is to shortchange it and makes its usefulness too narrow.

Whether you simply want to think through the issues surrounding Homosexuality and the Church better; or because this is your personal area of struggle (or perhaps someone you love fights on this front); or because you want insight into dealing with any and all indwelling sin – this is an excellent resource.

Let me leave you with this poignant quote:

“The “God hates homosexuals” message misses the cure as well. If our primary concern before God is homosexuality, then our greatest need is to repent and stop pursuing homoerotic lust. But the antidote for homosexuality is not heterosexuality. A crack addict can “repent” and switch to meth and remain a drug addict. Likewise a homosexual can pursue heterosexuality and remain bound by lust, greed and fear.

Christians ought to be persistently God centered. The cure precedes the disease. We know that whatever sickness or wellness is, God is the One who defines it. When God created people, He made them perfect. Adam and Eve were made to image God as His representatives on earth. Their identity, significance and purpose flowed from the One who made them. But sin has marred the image. From our genes to our words, sin has tainted and twisted us. Jesus came to model and mediate the cure. He is “the image of the invisible God”, and in Him we are given a “new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Jesus is not our “get out of homosexuality plan”, but “the way and the truth and the life.” Real change is not simply a reaction to our latest problem, but a miraculous step toward our new eternal identity.”