Faith Autopsy: Learning to Love God and Like Myself as a Gay Christian - Paperback

Can you be gay and take the Bible seriously? Yes-and here's how.

Pastor, speaker, and writer Ben Dubow invites readers into a clear, honest, and deeply pastoral exploration of Scripture, theology, and lived experience. Part memoir, part field guide, Faith Autopsy walks through the seven "clobber passages" with responsible hermeneutics-and then builds the robust, positive Christian ethic LGBTQ+ disciples deserve.

Drawing on real stories, Ben models orthopraxy that bears good fruit. You'll learn the tools to read well-context, genre, audience, universal vs. occasional commands, and the "Two Fruit Tests" (Jesus' tree-and-fruit and Paul's fruit of the Spirit)-and you'll see them applied to Genesis 19, Leviticus 18/20, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Timothy 1, Romans 1-2, and Jude 7. Then the book turns from defense to construction: Genesis 1-2/Matthew 19 as covenantal kinship, the inclusion arc with eunuchs (Isaiah 56; Acts 8), a one-standard sexual ethic (covenant, consent, honesty, non-exploitation), a chapter for transgender Christians, and practices of an affirming church that are as safe as they are welcoming.

Inside you'll find:

• A step-by-step "How I Read the Bible" primer.

• Plain-English exegesis of every clobber text.

• A positive theology of marriage, singleness, and embodiment for all.

• Pastoral interludes and prayers, journaling prompts, and group questions.

• Appendices: reading list, Greek/Hebrew cheat sheet, preaching tips, youth resources, "coming out" guidance, and more.

For seeking gay Christians, allies, pastors, and small groups, this book refuses both culture-war slogans and shallow proof-texts. It aims for something better: truth that produces love, and love that tells the truth.