This book is a lot of things. It’s a mini autobiography of the author and her transformation from liberal feminist and queer theorist to evangelical Christian; it’s a theological treatise on sin, identity, mortification, sanctification and the gospel of grace; it’s a discussion of sexual orientation and its Freudian roots as a 19th century category error; it’s about biblical hospitality and how to engage your neighbors and include them in your daily rhythms of life.
Butterfield writes from her 16 years of experience living faithfully as a Christian, and as one who admittedly learned from her queer community most of what she knows of living in openness and hospitality today. She is in a unique position, having lived on both “sides” of the tracks and fully embraced (at different times) both communities. She has the intellectual chops to articulate the biblical truth about human sexuality and brokenness, but her explication is comfortably paired with the gentleness, compassion and relational authority earned by her previous community experience.
This is well worth a read for anyone wanting to grow in understanding of these topics.
Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook
- Absolute Truths by Susan Howatch
- Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in Modern American Evangelicalism by Molly Worthen
- The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (Adam’s negative review)
- The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (Seth’s positive review)