People to be LovedPreston SprinkleThough this is US based Sprinkle looks at both sides of the debate in a biblical, sensitive and respectful manner. Written with warmth and love and a heart to listen to all sides.
Full of Grace and TruthVaughan RobertsBased on a 15 minute talk given by author Vaughan Roberts on “Identity and Sexuality” at the Fourth Lausanne Congress in 2024. Vaughan offers a traditional, orthodox perspective and the book includes testimonies and stories from around the world on the topic.
A New Name – Grace and healing for anorexiaEmma ScrivenerEmma Scrivener was just a normal girl from east Belfast growing up during the ‘troubles’. A prodigious reader, Emma excelled at school and, in particular, demonstrated a flair for creative writing. She was an able and dedicated student who earned a place at Oxford University before finally graduating with a degree in English Literature. But this is only half the story. She describes her homeland as ‘battered but unbowed, terrible and beautiful’, perhaps echoing W.B. Yeats’s famous poem, Easter 1916. There is no denying the beauty of the Ulster landscape or the terrible events of our recent past, and anyone living through this period will identify with Emma’s experience of life in a divided society. This experience, along with the death of her grandfather, unhappiness at not fitting in at school, uncertainty about her body and confusion about boys all contributed to her unhappiness and her inexorable drift into the condition known as anorexia. Emma tells the story of her struggle with anorexia with refreshing honesty and humour, but she never seems flippant about her illness and its effect on her or her family and friends. You will laugh with her, and you will weep for the tragedy of her condition and the apparent waste of her talent, but you will marvel at Emma’s Saviour who has performed such a work of grace in transforming Emma’s body and soul. One question I would like to ask the author is whether the experience she had as she read Revelation 5 was conversion or assurance of salvation, but, either way, it is clear that Emma has been liberated from her condition and from the bondage of sin. In writing this book Emma has done a great service to anyone with an interest in anorexia, either through personal experience or those seeking to offer counselling to sufferers. It brings a message of hope to the sufferer, that God brings people through this illness to fullness of life in Christ, and a message of hope to the rest of us, that we may be able to understand something of their struggle and in turn be better equipped to help.
Does God Care about Gender Identity?Samuel D. FergusonIn 'Does God Care About Gender Identity?', Samuel Ferguson contrasts the rhetoric of the transgender movement with what the Bible says about gender, and in doing gently and winsomely reminds us of God's purpose in his design for men and women. This is a useful book for anyone looking at this issue and seeking answers to engage their peers, or for anyone for whom this issue cuts a little bit deeper.
Crisis of ConfidenceCarl R. TruemanIn 'Crisis of Confidence', Carl Trueman looks at the ancient ecumenical creeds as well as the Westminster Confession of Faith to show how, at a time when Christians have lost confidence in historic truths, a knowledge and appreciation of these creeds will help safeguard long-held doctrines and provide the Church with confidence to express them in today's often hostile culture. He then shows how they speak into contemporary issues, particularly the issue of the rise of expressive individualism, which has been a focus of some of his other books. This is an excellent place to start if you want to know the value of holding to creeds and confessions, and why they help us today.
What Makes Us Human?Mark Meynell'What Makes Us Human?' explores issues around human identity, purpose, and the value of life. Mark Meynell argues that we have been created by a loving God, but not only that, we have also been created in his image for a particular purpose, and that these truths give an intrinsic dignity and immeasurable value to us as human beings. Once we have understood our dignity, purpose, and value, Meynell argues that we can then answer more topical questions which society is currently grappling with and make sense of them ourselves. This is an excellent short introduction to this topic.
Identity TheftKruger'Identity Theft', edited by Melissa Kruger, features some of the best female authors in recent years. The book deals with the thorny issue of identity and promotes a solidly biblical view of our identity in Christ. The questions at the end of each chapter make this an excellent resource, not only for individuals, but for groups to discuss.
Humanity MattersAndrew FellowsHumanity Matters by Andrew Fellows is a thoughtful and timely book that challenges modern society's loss of identity — and shows how a biblical view of personhood restores dignity, meaning, and hope to every human life. This book is just over 200 pages but readable for most Christians and excellent in content.
KnownPhilippa Hanna'Known' offers a clear view of our identity in Christ. Written for younger female readers, Philippa Hanna explores all the distractions this demographic faces, whether that's peer pressure, social media, an unsettling family life, and finding suitable employment. The book will take the reader through and beyond all this noise to a place where we can focus on the main thing without all the distractions; a deep relationship with God which springs from meditating on his Word.
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