Messy Grace

Zusatztext 46787313 Informationen zum Autor Caleb Kaltenbach; Foreword by Kyle Idleman Klappentext Sometimes, grace gets messy. Caleb Kaltenbach was raised by LGBT parents, marched in gay pride parades as a youngster, and experienced firsthand the hatred and bitterness of some Christians toward his family. But then Caleb surprised everyone, including himself, by becoming a Christianand a pastor. Very few issues in Christianity are as divisive as the acceptance of the LGBT community in the church. As a pastor and as a person with beloved family members living a gay lifestyle, Caleb had to face this issue with courage and grace. Messy Grace shows us that Jesus's command to "love your neighbor as yourself" doesn't have an exception clause for a gay "neighbor"-or for that matter, any other "neighbor" we might find it hard to relate to. Jesus was able to love these people and yet still hold on to his beliefs. So can you. Even when it's messy. "Messy Grace is an important contribution to the conversation about sexual identity for churches and leaders. Caleb's story is surprising and unique, and he weaves it together compellingly. He states his views clearly, leaves room for disagreement, and champions love no matter where you are in this conversation." -Jud Wilhite, Sr. Pastor, Central Christian ChurchForeword I first met Caleb in college. He was a freshman, and I was a junior. He came with very little knowledge of the Bible (he was a new Christian), but he possessed a huge love for God and people. I saw Caleb as someone eager to learn about God and to make a difference in the world. One day we were both sitting outside a professor's office, waiting to talk to him about a class. I asked Caleb how he came to Bible college and sat in disbelief as he told me about himself. I had never heard a story like that before. After graduation, Caleb and I were on staff together at a church in Los Angeles. There we started an alternative worship service for young adults. During that time, I watched Caleb deepen his love for God and people. Because of his childhood experiences, he was able to relate with those who disdained Christians. He understood what it was like to be angry at God for the way believers treated others. God certainly used Caleb's experiences to touch the hearts of many people. Now, after knowing him for twenty years, I'm still blown away by how God continues to write this story. Throughout the years I've encouraged Caleb to share his story with as many people as he can. Many of us have told him again and again to write it down. Today, I'm proud that you're holding it in your hands. Such messy grace takes great courage to share. Some authors have inspirational stories to tell, while others have insightful points to make. What makes Caleb's writing so powerful is that God has given him both. You'll read about a boy who was raised in the LGBT community, who later followed Jesus. You'll read about how some Christians hated people he loved, and how his coming to faith wrecked his own relationships. You'll read about how Christians can hold true to what God says about sexuality while being gracious and loving. If you think this story is just about a kid from the LGBT community, then you've missed the bigger point. It's about how we love people who are different from us. It's about how any story can be redeemed by God. It's about the messiness of grace and truth. When you read this book, you may not agree with everything Caleb says, but you'll see his heart for people on both sides of the issue. I've been personally impacted by what God has done through Caleb and his family. I know you will be too. Kyle iDleman, author of Not a Fan and teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky 1 A Collision of Communities For a couple of minutes after I pul...

ldquo;There is no shortage of books on how Christians can lovingly and meaningfully engage their gay family members and friends. Caleb Kaltenbach has an important message for everyone who shares a commitment to both grace and truth.” —Jim Daly, president, Focus on the Family

“Caleb Kaltenbach ‘came out’ to his parents. This is the story of that coming out. Only this time, it’s was a Christian teen coming out to his gay parents. The book combines undeniable experiences with clear biblical arguments. Add the gracious tone throughout and you have a powerful book.”
—Mark Dever, pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC, president of 9Marks.org

“Caleb Kaltenbach cuts through the confusion and talks about what it really means to love people and what is really means to follow God—and how they’re not mutually exclusive ideas. The answer the world is looking for is messy and it’s full of grace.” —Reggie Joiner, CEO and founder of Orange

“Caleb’s story is surprising and unique, and he weaves it together compellingly. He states his views clearly, leaves room for disagreement, and champions love no matter where you are in this conversation.” —Jud Wilhite, senior pastor, Central Christian Church

“Messy Grace, written by my friend Caleb Kaltenbach, is a personal story of God’s incredible grace and a call to love people as God loves. The message of this important book combines grace and truth and offers hope to a broken generation. Messy Grace is pure truth spoken in love and will help you relate to every person in a way that pleases God.” —Jack Graham, pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church

“Caleb Kaltenbach ‘came out’ to his parents. This is the story of that coming out. Only this time, it’s was a Christian teen coming out to his gay parents. The book combines undeniable experiences with clear biblical arguments. Add the gracious tone throughout and you have a powerful book.” —Mark Dever, pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC, president of 9Marks.org

“Caleb’s story down categories, crushes stereotypes, and will make you think differently than you thought before—regardless of your convictions. Anyone who loves Jesus and loves friends and family members who are LGBT is going to want to read this fascinating book. Okay, scratch the conditions. I think anyone is going to want to read this book.” —**Carey Nieuwhof, author of Leading Change without Losing It, blogger and lead pastor of Connexus Church

“There may be no greater mess for the church than the question of how to engage with the LGBT community. Messy Grace shows how grace can enter into the mess of life and draw people to God’s love and goodness of God.” —Darrell L. Bock, executive director for cultural engagement and senior research professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary

“I loved Messy Grace! These pages are filled with humility, compassion, and powerful insights as Caleb’s story profoundly demonstrates that grace is both messy and beautiful.” —Mike Foster, People of the Second Chance

“This is an important conversation for the church today and no one’s story makes them better suited for it than Caleb Kaltenbach. In a world that tries to force everyone to take sides, Caleb speaks from the inside of both worlds. Gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian, everyone can learn from and be impacted by Messy Grace.” —Lane Jones, director of North Point Strategic Partners, North Point Ministries, and co-author of Communicating for a Change

“Pastor Kaltenbach gives his readers much help on what to do and what not to do among LGBT people. At the same time, he recognizes, and emphasizes, that this is a ‘messy’ world, and that God calls us to affirm Jesus in the mids…