Messy Grace

How a Pastor with Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction

By: Caleb Kaltenbach

Narrated by: Caleb Kaltenbach

Caleb Kalenbach is the Lead Pastor at Discovery Church in Simi Valley, CA. Raised in the LGBT community, he was exposed to how some Christians treated the LGBT community, and grew to hate Christians. In high school, he joined a Bible study to disprove the Bible, but ended up following Jesus instead. Later, his parents followed Jesus, too. This is the subject of his first book, Messy Grace - holding on to the truth of God's Word while being filled with grace.

Caleb is a graduate of Ozark Christian College, Talbot School of Theology (Biola University), and is finishing his doctorate at Dallas Theological Seminary. He speaks widely on the subjects of reconciliation, faith, diversity, and grace/truth. Caleb and his wife, Amy, reside in Southern California with their two kids.

©2015 eChristian (P)2015 eChristian

Identity in Christ

"Some will switch their primary identity from their same sex attractions to a disciple of Christ."

That line spoke to me. This book does a good job of articulating what can be extremely disheartening in the Church today with how it by and large cannot communicate with people who are not like them. I will never know the struggle of being judged by my appearance or how I talk because those do not give me away as gay, but I do know how it feels to be judged by my sexual orientation and nothing else.

As Caleb says, you won't agree with everything he says, but he's not telling you what to think. He's sharing his story as well as his convictions of what he reads in the Bible that praises healthy sexual expression, and condemns sexual expression that does not seem to honor God.

I'm still wrestling with what it means to be a "Gay Christian", and all the questions that come with that identity. I am thankful that my primary identity is as a disciple/child of God, and I pray He uses my life to bring all sorts of people together, all for the glory of the LORD.

Transformative

I've struggled hearing sermons about homosexuality and how it is my duty as a Christian and actually loving to tell to the homosexual community that they are committing sin. This book puts those sermons in a whole new light.

Just as with any other person who needs Christ in his or her life, we have to build a relationship, with its foundation in grace, in order to get to a point that ANY person is willing to hear God's word from us.

This book has completely transformed the way I think about how to relate to the LGBT community. This is a must read (or hear) for everyone who calls him/herself a Christian.

truth is spoken.

I liked everything about the book and i disliked nothing about the book it was good.

Great read! Biblically sound!

I enjoyed listening to this book. First of all, he stuck to the Word!! While I did not feel that I had any issues with the topic, since I am a former LGBT member and my son still identifies as gay, my thinking was still challenged. It caused me to repent for some deeply lodged thinking that I didn't realize I had and helped me to see other ways of navigating the relationships I still have with people who identify as LGBT. Great job!

open, honest, funny!

This must have been a hard book to write. He writes about very personal experiences, and is Bible centered. I enjoyed this very much. thank you.

helpful, insightful

Kaleb's life experiences give him such a unique perspective on faith, biblical teachings & the tensions we live in. So many great insights!

A Great Lession on What Grace Really Is!

The book is really for anyone who is struggling with accepting someone who we know is living in outright sin and understanding how real grace works, and how we can love them through their walk with Christ, because after all we/I are/am not a perfect perfect person either and continue to need grace everyday.

Great Example of Discipleship

I enjoyed listening to this book and realized this is applicable to any sign one may struggle with. I learned a lot about how to treat those who do not have the same beliefs as I. I am challenged to be more graceful to others and the importance of being in relationship with others.

Thank You Caleb Kaltenbach! Impactful!

Great book that articulates through the author's personal story and Scripture how we can live and love others in the midst of both grace and truth.

The direction I needed.

This book challenges my love for others in a good way, pointing me to Christ’s example while giving me Caleb’s firsthand experience living in the tension of grace and truth.