Book Review: Born Again This Way
A Review of Rachel Gilson’s new book, Born Again This Way: Coming out, Coming to Faith and What Comes Next (UK: The Good Book Company, 2020).
Rachel Gilson’s book Born Again This Way is what I wish I’d read about 25 years ago when a Christian friend shared with me that she was same-sex attracted and she didn’t know what to do. Neither did I, and at the time, praying with her was the only thing I could think to do.
Fast forward to 2021 and this conversation is far more common. Today, there are a number of books on the subject of Christians and same-sex attraction. What makes Gilson’s book stand out is the way it combines a careful treatment of the topic with her own deeply personal story. Gilson weaves her testimony throughout the book, telling how she came to Christ, as she carefully addresses the issue. Her fundamental premise is that you don’t have to become straight to become a Christian. “It’s a vision in which we don’t have to become straight; nor do we have to inhabit being gay. We are free to use our bodies as the good gifts they are designed by their Creator to be” (54).
As the title suggests, Gilson understands that becoming a Christian is a new life, a new birth and it changes everything. This is a challenge to anyone who is same-sex attracted, but it is just as challenging to anyone who is attracted to the opposite sex. Gilson has written this book for people like herself who are same-sex attracted and have come to faith in Christ. However, she’s also written it for people who have a friend, or loved one who are in that situation, giving them a guide of what to expect and how to listen well.
Each of the chapters reveals Gilson’s own experience of the unexpected Christian life. One aspect of her book that I really appreciated, even more than her honest testimony, was her opening of God’s word for the reader. She clearly shows the comfort and challenges within the Bible but rests in God’s character of love when applying His word to her situation. God has the final word in this book, she says “He is always more than we expect” (14). Her first question when she came to Christ was, “Would I take as truth my word or God’s?” (22). All Christians need to ask themselves this question each day, regardless of who they are or what challenges they face. “Who is more trustworthy: ourselves or God?” (24). Even when Gilson didn’t feel good about what she read, she kept listening to God’s word and maintained her relationships with other Christians.
Ultimately, Gilson realized that she could trust God’s word over her own because, in Christ, God had proven himself trustworthy. Jesus is good, so what he says must be for our good. While identity is a big theme in the book, the overarching idea is actually that becoming a Christian is more than just a new identity—it is a new reality. Each chapter works through different aspects of these themes as well as setting out the biblical understanding of gender and sexuality. I found particularly helpful her focus on the Bible’s view of the church as a family, with spiritual mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters who comfort, exhort, bless, rebuke, contend, provide, commit, and love. Gilson looks at the healthy same-sex relationships in the Bible that are described as family in the New Testament. Gilson looks at passages like; Galatians 3:21-19, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 and Mark 10:23-31. Sibling relationships in Christ where there is no hint of romance and with immense freedom to love.
I also valued Gilson’s discussion of what she found helpful in her own personal journey, not least seeing the Bible’s beautiful picture of singleness and critiquing the idolatry of the modern Christian in thinking about marriage. “The single, unmarried life has a dignity and a purpose that blesses not only the person but the whole church and culture” (99). She acknowledges the challenges of singleness but her belief is “that one of the most beautiful things that faithful same-sex-attracted Christians bring to the church and to the world is this clear path: a vision of Jesus more beautiful than romance, of the Spirit empowering us to live in holiness, and of the Bible not as a death sentence but a balm of hope” (70).
I was challenged by the faithfulness of Gilson’s Christian friends as she investigated Christianity and wrestled with God’s word. I loved her wonderful insight that “For any Christian, to display in your life the worthiness and sufficiency of Jesus is a service to others” (65). She convincingly presents a positive picture of opportunities for ministry for same-sex attracted people and for the sufficiency of Christ for all believers, and helpfully critiques our society as well as our Christian culture and calls us to poke at our expectations, hopes and fears.
Born Again This Way is a book that all Christians should read whether they are same-sex attracted, know someone who is or just want to understand how to be a welcoming church to the world we live in. It is full of hope for a future with Christ and full of the promises of God for those who put their trust in Jesus. It is both a challenge and an encouragement to anyone who identifies as a child of God to live out the reality of being part of God’s family while we patiently wait for Jesus’ return.
Victoria Colgan is a wife, a mother of 3 teenagers but most of all a child of God. She loves being a part of St George North Anglican church where she serves alongside her husband Phil who is the Senior Minister. Victoria loves teaching God’s word to women and children so that they might come to see Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. She enjoys coffee, walks on the beach and cryptic crosswords.