Captivating Testimony

I picked this book after seeing a recommendation from a friend. I have been trying over the past year or so to seek out stories from people who don't look like me and have different stories than I do and this definitely fit the bill in more than one aspect. I went into to the book very skeptical that this was going to be a "pray the gay away" story. I don't want to minimize Jackie's testimony, but I left the book still skeptical and wondering if Jackie's experience is completely unique or something others have experienced as well. All in all it is a wonderful story of the redemption power of Jesus - even if it's only one woman's story - and proof that nothing is impossible with God. I would definitely recommend to anyone seeking to open their mind and broaden their horizons.

Had lots of helpful insights not only on LGBTQ issues and faith, but defining how I have been navigating a repentance out of love for God and not simply to not be in trouble. Now my temptations are not Same-Sex-Attraction, but the book was still helpful nonetheless.

Fascinating auto biography of one girls story. I’m a big fan of Jackie’s music and studies but never knew her background. Found this to be insightful and helpful on how to love my gay Christian friends well. Won’t be an easy read for all, and always brings it back to Gods word. May make some readers angry and uncomfortable but we are here to listen to everyone’s story and learn from their experiences.

This was a little too spoken word-y for me. It is an interesting memoir, and a topic I was interested in due to a friend who is experiencing something similar. I like that she emphasizes repentance from all sin, for everybody. There just wasn't much substance for this to be a whole book in my opinion. Note, I listened to this on audiobook at 1.6x the speed, which emphasized the spoken word vibes, plus the fact that the author is a poet.

I have been following JHP for a while on social media, impressed by her speaking and I began to learn about her past. I picked this book up, fascinated by her back story. The book was a really cool look into how God changed her life. I could go on and on, but this is a charged subject and I’m not really looking for people to comment and get political. Read it if you want a better understanding of a community you may not know a lot about.

This book struck me as being greatly problematic. In itself, Jackie Hill-Perry's story is an amazing display of self-renunciation and grace. But it should never be used as a precedent. If this book is used as such, telling Christian LGBT people that God is willing to change them in the same way he apparently changed Jackie, they might very well be disappointed, along with their church leaders, family and friends who believe that homosexuality is sinful and that God wants their loved one to become a heterosexual.

I advise anyone who wants to read this book to do some other reading first. I especially recommend Torn by Justin Lee. That would set a backdrop for this book and provide some counterweight for any quick conclusions and judgments.

This is not a book about forsaking gayness. This is a book about laying down your idols, whatever they might be, and trusting in God's goodness over your own desires. As Jackie says, "Unbelief doesn't see God as the ultimate good. So it can't see sin as the ultimate evil. It instead sees sin as a good thing and thus God's commands as a stumbling block to joy... All I had to do [in believing the devil] was trust myself more than God's Word. I had to believe that my thoughts, my affections, my rights, my wishes, were worthy of absolute obedience and that in laying prostrate before the flimsy throne I'd made for myself, that I'd be doing a good thing."

I appreciated Jackie's honesty about her life and struggles. She pointes out the all too common mistake of focusing only on one sinful area of our lives and not allowing God to work where He wants to. This was a good look at her struggles.