Do Ask, Do Tell, Let's Talk: Why and How Christians Should Have Gay Friends

This book was not on my radar until a friend came to me and said, “Would you be willing to write a book on how conservative Christians can have gay friends without compromising their own convictions? I think that kind of book is missing and it’s not something we handle effectively in the church. I think you have a tone in dealing with sensitive subjects that could navigate the topic well.” My initial answer was, “Thank you for the encouragement, but I don’t think I’m passionate enough about the subject to write a book on it.” But as I listed to the debates in the Christian blogosphere, I realized my non-passion might be an asset; from my perspective, this is a subject about which we need less debating and more conversation, less antagonism and more friendship. My greatest prayer for this book, therefore, is that God would use it to equip the church to build bridges of friendship in order to care well for two groups: Christians who experience unwanted same-sex attraction, and non-believers who did not find the fulfillment they hoped in embracing a gay identity. When those conversations are being had in living rooms and coffee shops, maybe it could even change the tone of conversation on social platforms and debate panels. —Brad Hambrick