A War of Loves: The Unexpected Story of a Gay Activist Discovering Jesus

"And they overcame [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." (Rev 12:11) And so, among such a great cloud of witnesses, David Bennet offers us his engaging, encouraging, and challenging testimony. One of captivating origins for such a time as this, being that David is openly gay. One that shows us we can love Jesus more than we love our _____________, because the love of Jesus never fails.With debate raging over the idea of sexual identity and its place in society and the church, the title alone might conjure deep feelings of either excitement or repulsion before one word has been read. Don't get me wrong - of course it's about David's journey - which includes the very significant, poignant, and vulnerable honesty of his same-sex attraction. But I would be woefully missing the point of his story if I launched into a review about the exegesis, theology, and "to-be-or-not-to-be" identity debates raging like hot flashes all around the subject of same-sex attraction. And you would be too, if you decide to read it...or reject it...because of the subtitle.I didn't read his book because I am gay. I don't struggle with same-sex attraction. I don't have gay friends or family I am secretly trying to convert, and so doing my research. I do have gay friends I love and respect. I do wish the church would have a "Come-to-Jesus" moment about how to enter into the deep, painful tensions of the LGBTQ community without tripping over their own blind self-interests. I'm saying all that to say, this book is about SO. MUCH. MORE.I read it - and recommend it - because its a great book about the love of Jesus, the reality of the gospel, the transformational power of walking with Christ, and the all-surpassing satisfaction of intimacy with Jesus. For anyone. For everyone.You guys, I want to be friends with David. More than that, I want to be WORTHY of walking with Christ together in a family where I have Christian Brothers and Sisters who KNOW the love of Jesus this way and then actually LIVE THEIR LIVES like they are loved by Jesus, the way David does. His story challenges me in the most frighteningly wonderful way. I remember when Jesus was everything to me like that. And I would be lying to myself (and all 2 of you) if I could say that nothing else is as important to me as knowing the love of Jesus right now. As a straight, married woman and mother loaded down and entangled by the weight and distractions and worries of everyday life, I am challenged and excited to ask...how can I love Jesus like this again? Am I as eager to share this love with others as David? This brave?His story unfolds as a journey, one he admits he is still on, as we all are. Don't make him say things he isn't saying. Don't miss that he is trying to have a CONVERSATION, not a cult following. And really - DON'T keep reading scriptures as if the whole point is to find out what Jesus/God/Moses/The Law says about same-sex attraction...or whatever pet sin you have, or whatever problem you need solved. Rather, remember these words Jesus spoke to the Pharisees in love, as He unravels the knots they tied themselves into: "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life [or the answer whatever else you are looking for], but it is these that testify ABOUT ME." It's all about Jesus. HE is the whole point of every book that comprise the scriptures, and is graciously the point of David's book.So, thank you (mahalo!) David Bennet, for having the courage to show us what the love of Jesus looks like in your life. For having the courage to live your life with integrity through the power of intimacy with Jesus in a world that constantly demands and condemns. And for challenging me to remember to throw off all the sin that so easily entangles and to continue to seek first the love of Jesus with a deeper intimacy. I hope to say I was worthy of calling myself a fellow Christian.

Words cannot described how thankful I am to have encountered this book. I've known I was queer since I was very young and I struggled to reconcile my sexuality with my faith. I grew up in the hyper Bible belt south filled with charismatic teachings, purity culture, and a lot of homophobia. I gave my life to Christ at 16 for the first time legitimately. Ihad heard if I “pray the gay away” “get deliverance from the demon of homosexuality” or “just marry a man” that my same sex attractions would be resolved. None of them worked and staying in the closet caused me to deal with a lot of self hatred, doubt, fear, suicidal thoughts, and depression. I really felt like God hated me because of what I experienced. That was until I encountered many like Jackie Hill Perry, Christopher Yuan, and now David Bennett on their own unique experiences with being gay/ssa. David’s gift of weaving his own experiences with homophiba, frustration, and rejection while at the same time being able to stay true to his biblical convictions moved me to be more radical in my faith. When I say I cried real tears reading chapters on his church experiences and learning about the way Jesus experienced the hurt and pain many gay people experience daily, I cried. His authenticity hit me on a deep level in way many ex-gay testimonies cannot. He keeps it real.Whether you are affirming or non affirming, LGBTQIA or straight, please read this book. If anything just to gain perspective and understanding. And David if you read this review, thank you for allowing God to use you and many other celibate/Side B Christians to share their stories. We need these more than ever.With love, sister in christ, Rachel 🫶🏽✝️

This review is written in response to having received an advance reader copy. I have since finished reading the reader's copy, also have purchased and listened to the audible version from Amazon.What to expect:David's memoir is divided into five sections. The first three being primarily the memoir portion of the text, and the last two sections more or less an expounding on David's thought in regards to attraction, faith, celibacy, and the likewise.The overall writing moves forward at a steady pace. Which leaves the reader most likely not to get bored with the text.David is a charismatic and an evangelical, his views and thoughts as such come through in the writing. This is not a negative or a positive in and of itself, however this knowledge beforehand will help provide insight into the thoughts that he expresses.Why purchase this book (or not):David's writing is a rare piece from the "side b" or traditional camp, that provides reflection from a gay person from outside of the faith entering into the faith. While this type of reflection may be common among the ex-gay camps, this type of writing is not common among the "side b" camp. The resulting variation from his different point of venture provides a healthy balance to what is out there (e.g., Wesley Hill's "Washed and Waiting", Greg Coles, "Single, Gay, Christian"David's writing, like Nate Collin's All But Invisible, provides a healthy lay person dosage of thought on faith and sexuality from a traditoinal sexual minority view point. This alone makes the book worth purchasing for an expression of a view from this camp.Why will I give this book away as gifts at Christmas?What I apprecriate most about David's book is his passion and love of God. His evangelistic heart comes through in the writing, which incidently is quiet contagious. I am not giving it as gifts because it talks about sexuality and faith, I am giving it as gifts because it radiates the love and power of God that is available for all of us.

Disclaimer, this is the first time I've ever written a product review. Which hopefully goes to show just how impressed and indebted I am by David's work and story. As someone who's been wrestling with how to approach the questions raised by LGBTQI Christians and the secular world, I've found David's work to be by far the most helpful resource in understanding and addressing these questions. David Bennett's story is challenging, encouraging and thought-provoking. Hopefully, readers of this book will be challenged to better understand and empathize with the challenges faced by the LGBTQI community, but also come to understand that the traditional Christian view of marriage and sexuality is born out of love and God's goodness.No doubt most readers will be offended by David's story and conclusion, but that's exactly why I so highly want to recommend and praise it. If your someone wrestling with this issue, I'd highly recommend you read this book. What makes this book unique is David's passionate commitment to the LGBTQI community and struggle, while also being fully devoted and committed to Christ and willing to follow him no matter the cost.Thank you David for sharing your powerful story and I hope you will continue to become a powerful voice in this extremely important issue.

Ein großartiges Buch liegt jetzt in der deutschen Übersetzung vor. Ich habe damals die englische Ausgabe mit Gewinn gelesen und freue mich, dass der Fontis-Verlag das Buch nun herausgibt. Es ist die bewegende Geschichte eines Aktivisten der homosexuellen Bewegung der unerwartet über die Liebe Jesu stolpert. David Bennett beschreibt seine Erfahrungen, seine Erfahrungen von Diskriminierung und Ablehnung. Es zeigt den tiefen Schmerz und innere Kämpfe, aber auch eine Reise zu Gottes Herzen, die kein Mensch planen konnte.Das Buch lädt ein zu einer Kultur der Barmherzigkeit und Wahrheit. Ich habe tiefen Respekt vor dem Autor David Bennett gewonnen. Dieses Buch hilft die Situation von homosexuellen Christen besser zu verstehen. Es ist ein Ruf an christliche Gemeinden homosexuelle Christen mit offenen Armen aufzunehmen, zu verstehen und zu lieben!Solche Lebensberichte brauchen eine große Verbreitung jenseits gesellschaftlichen und theologischen Gräben.

I found this book compelling and entertaining - the early descriptions of evangelicals as ill-informed and nervous and of liberals as tolerant of anything except perceived intolerance echoed my own experiences as a student.There has long been a need for someone gay to grasp the nettle and talk about homosexuality in a way that doesn't simply expect Christians to jettison two thousand years of Scripture and church tradition, and David's book is informative and honest, and an eye-opener for anyone raised in a heterosexual Christian environment.In many churches, people are afraid to address the issue at all for fear of being thought homophobic. Consequently there is a serious dearth of understanding from a traditionally Christian perspective because it's the subject nobody will raise except to be loudly and awkwardly affirming with little tangible justification. David manages not only to provide solid Biblical foundations for his chosen path, he also has some interesting things to say on the subject of marriage, as well as advocating compassion, friendship and informed understanding towards LGBTQI people.I'm re-reading his book because there's so much in it to mull over and assimilate, and it's given me a new perspective on the issue, Read it whatever your opinions on the subject - you'll emerge with a much better understanding.

This book is insightful, challenging and inspiring! David shares his personal journey in an easy to read manner and is so honest and about his struggles, his encounters with Jesus and his revelations on what it means to be gay and live fully for Jesus. I was challenged on many levels to look at the way I am living and the idols I am putting before Jesus. I also loved learning more about David’s struggles as a gay Christian man and how I can change the way I think / act / speak / include all people. Thank you David for being open, honest and genuine.

There are a lot of things I love about this book, but I think they are best distillable into two main categories.The first is personality. Bennett's book is largely biographical. It's a window into his experience. You learn about his life growing up gay in a Christian world, his struggles reconciling his faith with Christianity, his forays into alternative spiritualities, his deep and kind and real participation in gay communities. It's a unique and gorgeous account, perhaps made all the better by the fact that it is told by Bennett, who is charming and funny and has this delightful ability to lift you into how he sees the world, and to do so with laughter. I absolutely adore the personality in this book.The other is complexity. I am an academic with a PhD in religion. I have a very keen sense for the real complexity that lies at the heart of the world, and a strong love for stories that do them justice. As engaging as Bennett's stories are, the way he explains issues concerning Side A and Side B gay Christianity and his relationship to them is truly breathtaking. Bennett is currently a student at the University of Oxford, and his brilliance in this regard really shows. He ends up choosing a path of celibacy based on a truly beautiful relationship with the Christian faith. It is not an easy position to hold, as it seems easy for detractors to shuttle him into one oversimplified box or another. But Bennett defends his argument with really high quality argumentation, and gracefully shows us exactly what path he's following in this book and why. This make it an excellent book for anyone interested in queerness (Christian or even otherwise), faith, or what it means to live an intentional path that demands much.