Overview

""When we interact with our LGBTQ+ neighbors we are not interacting with an ideology, a political movement, a social media post, a caricature from a movie, or a law being debated in Congress. We are interacting with people made in the image of God, who our Savior bled and died to redeem. We are interacting with someone God literally loved to the point of his own death."" Cultivate Community With LGBTQ+ Neighbors Too often, fear and suspicion have characterized churches' response to LGTBQ+ people. As we remain committed to the historic Christian teachings about marriage and sexuality, American evangelical churches have also harmed a community we have not understood. Our default has been to keep LGBTQ+ people at arm's length. But there is another way, one that resists both culture wars and the pressure to revise scriptural teaching; one that embraces people and clings to historic witness. In Love All Our Neighbors, Tony Scarcello shows how holding a traditional sexual ethic does not have to lead toward the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from church. Drawing from biblical theology, cultural data, and the author's personal experience as a same-sex-attracted pastor, this book teaches traditional Christians and churches how to truly care for LGBTQ+ people. Scarcello explains how churches can and should be places of conviction, humility, and radical love for everyone. In Love All Our Neighbors, you'll learn how Jesus loves LGBTQ+ people and desires to know them, how churches have built unbiblical barriers between LGBTQ+ people and Jesus, and how to dismantle these barriers and minister with care, without compromising orthodox theology. If you're a church leader who upholds a traditional sexual ethic and seeks to genuinely care for LGBTQ+ individuals, you'll find this book both challenging and transformative. With thoughtful guidance, Love All Our Neighbors equips churches committed to historic Christian teaching to overcome barriers, fostering a Jesus-centered, life-giving community that embraces everyone with grace and love. Our churches can become environments where LGBTQ+ people can find and follow Jesus in life-giving community.

Full Product Details

9781514010877

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A refreshingly hopeful book, at once pastoral and personal. Tony Scarcello does more than simply show where we've gone wrong. He reminds us that the way of Jesus is still good and beautiful news for every single one of our neighbors—and for us."" -- Gregory Coles, author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers ""A refreshingly hopeful book, at once pastoral and personal. Tony Scarcello does more than simply show where we've gone wrong. He reminds us that the way of Jesus is still good and beautiful news for every single one of our neighbors—and for us."" -- Gregory Coles, author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers ""Tony Scarcello's Love All Our Neighbors is the book I've been waiting to be able to shout out from the rooftops about. Tony's story—compounded by rich theological conviction and brutal compassion—offers the church a way forward that cuts through the muck. Tony's is a voice in the wilderness that deserves to be heard. You would be wise to listen."" -- A. J. Swoboda, associate professor of Bible and theology at Bushnell University, pastor of Faith Center, and author of Slow Theology and A Teachable Spirit ""I will never understand why those of us who experience same-sex attractions and surrender them to Jesus experience greater scrutiny than those who experience another form of sexual brokenness. Tony Scarcello graciously helps us examine some of the problems and solutions to this issue so we can worship Jesus together."" -- Laurie Krieg, author of Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World ""Navigating tension with both conviction and kindness seems like a skill that's in sadly short supply these days. But in Love All Our Neighbors, Tony Scarcello shows us how. This book weaves together theological richness, Biblical conviction, pastoral nuance, and deep human kindness to show us how we might embody Christlike love to any and all God brings into our spheres of influence."" -- Jay Y. Kim, pastor and author of Analog Christian and Analog Church ""This book offers far more than the perspective of an intelligent thinker with strong ideals—it comes from someone shaped by deeply lived experiences. Tony Scarcello provides a thoughtful, compassionate guide that will help many Christians learn to love and understand their LGBTQ neighbors more fully. The church needs Scarcello's voice in this conversation."" -- Andrew Damazio, lead pastor of The Rose Church ""Love All Our Neighbors has a very rare powerful combo when talking about this critically sensitive and uber-important topic. First, Tony Scarcello shares his firsthand experience, showing this isn't theoretical talk but from one who understands what he is writing about. Second, we see a solid grounding in the historical doctrines of the Christian faith and ethics without compromise to the culture. It is crystal clear the answer is not rethinking Scripture to compromise truth as many have done. Third, it is a book of heart, compassion, and love and not angry, pointing fingers, creating a battle with the goal of redemption, reconciliation, restoration, and the gospel changing lives."" -- Dan Kimball, vice president of Western Seminary and author of How (Not) to Read the Bible ""There is little question that Christianity in the USA has largely harmed LGBTQ+ people. But love offers a better way than demonization, alienation, or non-engagement. Tony Scarcello's honesty, vulnerability, experience, and insights can help many Christians—especially those who hold to traditional heterosexual views of sexual relationships and marriage. Love All Our Neighbors invites us all to look at ourselves while we reach out to others."" -- Dennis R. Edwards, seminary dean and vice president for church relations at North Park Theological Seminary and author of Humility Illuminated

""A refreshingly hopeful book, at once pastoral and personal. Tony Scarcello does more than simply show where we've gone wrong. He reminds us that the way of Jesus is still good and beautiful news for every single one of our neighbors—and for us."" -- Gregory Coles, author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers ""A refreshingly hopeful book, at once pastoral and personal. Tony Scarcello does more than simply show where we've gone wrong. He reminds us that the way of Jesus is still good and beautiful news for every single one of our neighbors—and for us."" -- Gregory Coles, author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers ""Tony Scarcello's Love All Our Neighbors is the book I've been waiting to be able to shout out from the rooftops about. Tony's story—compounded by rich theological conviction and brutal compassion—offers the church a way forward that cuts through the muck. Tony's is a voice in the wilderness that deserves to be heard. You would be wise to listen."" -- A.J. Swoboda, associate professor of Bible and theology at Bushnell University, pastor of Faith Center, and author of Slow Theology and A Teachable Spirit ""I will never understand why those of us who experience same-sex attractions and surrender them to Jesus experience greater scrutiny than those who experience another form of sexual brokenness. Tony Scarcello graciously helps us examine some of the problems and solutions to this issue so we can worship Jesus together."" -- Laurie Krieg, author of Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World ""Navigating tension with both conviction and kindness seems like a skill that's in sadly short supply these days. But in Love All Our Neighbors, Tony Scarcello shows us how. This book weaves together theological richness, Biblical conviction, pastoral nuance, and deep human kindness to show us how we might embody Christlike love to any and all God brings into our spheres of influence."" -- Jay Y. Kim, pastor and author of Analog Christian and Analog Church ""This book offers far more than the perspective of an intelligent thinker with strong ideals—it comes from someone shaped by deeply lived experiences. Tony Scarcello provides a thoughtful, compassionate guide that will help many Christians learn to love and understand their LGBTQ neighbors more fully. The church needs Scarcello's voice in this conversation."" -- Andrew Damazio, lead pastor of The Rose Church ""Love All Our Neighbors has a very rare powerful combo when talking about this critically sensitive and uber-important topic. First, Tony Scarcello shares his firsthand experience, showing this isn't theoretical talk but from one who understands what he is writing about. Second, we see a solid grounding in the historical doctrines of the Christian faith and ethics without compromise to the culture. It is crystal clear the answer is not rethinking Scripture to compromise truth as many have done. Third, it is a book of heart, compassion, and love and not angry, pointing fingers, creating a battle with the goal of redemption, reconciliation, restoration, and the gospel changing lives."" -- Dan Kimball, vice president of Western Seminary and author of How (Not) to Read the Bible ""There is little question that Christianity in the USA has largely harmed LGBTQ+ people. But love offers a better way than demonization, alienation, or non-engagement. Tony Scarcello's honesty, vulnerability, experience, and insights can help many Christians—especially those who hold to traditional heterosexual views of sexual relationships and marriage. Love All Our Neighbors invites us all to look at ourselves while we reach out to others."" -- Dennis R. Edwards, seminary dean and vice president for church relations at North Park Theological Seminary and author of Humility Illuminated

""A refreshingly hopeful book, at once pastoral and personal. Tony Scarcello does more than simply show where we've gone wrong. He reminds us that the way of Jesus is still good and beautiful news for every single one of our neighbors—and for us."" -- Gregory Coles, author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers ""A refreshingly hopeful book, at once pastoral and personal. Tony Scarcello does more than simply show where we've gone wrong. He reminds us that the way of Jesus is still good and beautiful news for every single one of our neighbors—and for us."" -- Gregory Coles, author of Single, Gay, Christian and No Longer Strangers ""Tony Scarcello's Love All Our Neighbors is the book I've been waiting to be able to shout out from the rooftops about. Tony's story—compounded by rich theological conviction and brutal compassion—offers the church a way forward that cuts through the muck. Tony's is a voice in the wilderness that deserves to be heard. You would be wise to listen."" -- A.J. Swoboda, associate professor of Bible and theology at Bushnell University, pastor of Faith Center, and author of Slow Theology and A Teachable Spirit ""I will never understand why those of us who experience same-sex attractions and surrender them to Jesus experience greater scrutiny than those who experience another form of sexual brokenness. Tony Scarcello graciously helps us examine some of the problems and solutions to this issue so we can worship Jesus together."" -- Laurie Krieg, author of Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World ""Navigating tension with both conviction and kindness seems like a skill that's in sadly short supply these days. But in Love All Our Neighbors, Tony Scarcello shows us how. This book weaves together theological richness, Biblical conviction, pastoral nuance, and deep human kindness to show us how we might embody Christlike love to any and all God brings into our spheres of influence."" -- Jay Y. Kim, pastor and author of Analog Christian and Analog Church ""This book offers far more than the perspective of an intelligent thinker with strong ideals—it comes from someone shaped by deeply lived experiences. Tony Scarcello provides a thoughtful, compassionate guide that will help many Christians learn to love and understand their LGBTQ neighbors more fully. The church needs Scarcello's voice in this conversation."" -- Andrew Damazio, lead pastor of The Rose Church ""Love All Our Neighbors has a very rare powerful combo when talking about this critically sensitive and uber-important topic. First, Tony Scarcello shares his firsthand experience, showing this isn't theoretical talk but from one who understands what he is writing about. Second, we see a solid grounding in the historical doctrines of the Christian faith and ethics without compromise to the culture. It is crystal clear the answer is not rethinking Scripture to compromise truth as many have done. Third, it is a book of heart, compassion, and love and not angry, pointing fingers, creating a battle with the goal of redemption, reconciliation, restoration, and the gospel changing lives."" -- Dan Kimball, vice president of Western Seminary and author of How (Not) to Read the Bible ""There is little question that Christianity in the USA has largely harmed LGBTQ+ people. But love offers a better way than demonization, alienation, or non-engagement. Tony Scarcello's honesty, vulnerability, experience, and insights can help many Christians—especially those who hold to traditional heterosexual views of sexual relationships and marriage. Love All Our Neighbors invites us all to look at ourselves while we reach out to others."" -- Dennis R. Edwards, seminary dean and vice president for church relations at North Park Theological Seminary and author of Humility Illuminated ""Tony Scarcello has walked a hard, narrow path with grace, love, and truth. In Love All Our Neighbors, he leads the way to help others do the same. This book will challenge you. It may make you uncomfortable at times. It will definitely make you think. But mostly it will equip you to wrestle through hard realities with the kind of grace, love, and truth Tony embodies in his life and ministry."" -- Karen Swallow Prior, author of You Have a Calling ""I'm so grateful this book exists. Tony Scarcello has impacted my life deeply as a friend, and it's a gift to see his hard-earned wisdom now shared with the world. Love All Our Neighbors avoids pat answers and tired clichés, modeling the life-changing combination of grace and truth—orthodoxy expressed with compassion. It is a faithful and needed guide for the church as we learn to love our LGBTQ+ neighbors well."" -- Joshua Ryan Butler, teaching pastor with the Willamette family of churches and author of God Is on Your Side and The Party Crasher

Author Information

Preston Sprinkle (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is associate professor of biblical studies at Eternity Bible College, Simi Valley, California. He is the author of Law and Life: The Interpretation of Leviticus 18:5 in Early Judaism and in Paul, coeditor (with Michael Bird) of The Faith of Jesus Christ and coauthor (with Francis Chan) of Erasing Hell. Tony Scarcello has served in pastoral ministry since 2011 and is currently the pastor of discipleship at Red Hills Church just outside Portland, Oregon. He is the author of Regenerate: Following Jesus After Deconstruction and has writtenarticles for The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender and Theology in the Raw. Tony speaks all over the country helping leaders, churches, and believers navigate the complex intersection of historic Christian theology, pastoral care, and their LGBTQ+ neighbors. He holds a MA in Biblical Leadership from Western Seminary in Portland, and lives in the pacific Northwest with the girl of his dreams, his wife Kelsey.

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