Even though there are some statements that Caleb Kaltenbach made that I disagree with, overall Messy Grace is a valuable resource for Christians who are questioning, or who are struggling with how to be in relationship with people we disagree with.
Messy Grace is far more relational when it comes to Christianity and the LGBT community than other books I have read on the subject. Kaltenbach does not read as condescending and in fact he makes you think just a little more about your beliefs when it comes to the LGBT community.
I do recommend Messy Grace to everyone, but more importantly I recommend it to Christians who feel that the best way to be in relationship with LGBT people is to focus more on truth than on love.
I give Messy Grace 4.75/5 stars ( )

I found this book very different then my normal genres that is for sure. However, it was an intriguing & eye opening read for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in what the Bible teaches about homosexuality.
I felt Caleb’s goal was to see the church demonstrate grace to the LGBT community, but not at the expense of the truth. He challenges believers to love people that struggle with their own sexual identity but yet without compromising biblical morality.
After reading this myself and still skeptical as I know what the Bible teaches me, and what it says about homosexuality. I just wonder to myself if anyone asked himself or herself at any point throughout this book while reading it, what is the real truth about being part of the LGBT community, but yet being a Christian? I think I walked away from reading this book still confused and not quite sure where I stand with the issue of Messy Grace.
I was provided with this book to review by Blogging For Books Bloggers Program in exchange for an honest review. ( )

SO MANY TEARS!!! I was really boohooing when he tells the story of his congregation in Dallas helping his parents move-in, because I know those people and I was not surprised...just so very, very proud!!!

I had high hopes for this book. The subject intrigued me: a Christian pastor who grew up with two gay parents- not a same sex couple but a mom who left her husband for another woman, and a father who was closeted. The first third or so of the book kind of irritated me. Kaltenbach is not the best writer. He sounds very young. There are too many cliches, too many exclamation points and a bit too much sermonizing, in my opinion. But it did get better in the second part. Kaltenbach has some helpful insights and provides some good challenges to both the LGBT and Christian communities.
The theological insights are OK; he is not a scholar, and he admits as much. I didn't care for the title of this book either Messy Grace : Grace is not messy. It is very precise and intentional. The recipients of grace are messy. And broken. And another piece of advice I'd give to the pastor here, don't use the word "messy" over and over again. It's better to illustrate the point than it is to repeat the same word. It started to lose its meaning after the first fourteen or so times.
Having said all this, I did like the book. I appreciated Kaltenbach's story, his honesty, and his charge to his readers: don't assume so much; love people the way they are; you can disagree with people on fundamental points and still be friends, be family; and give each other space to grow.

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First let me say that this was an informative, enjoyable read. It had Bible verses throughout, and used those verses to support thoughts and opinions stated in the book. However, Kaltenbach has a phrase he uses constantly - "the tension of grace and truth". The first few times he used the phrase it was okay, but the repetition quickly got irritating. He also used the word "messy" frequently, but it wasn't as annoying as the "tension" phrase.

Kaltenbach brought to the table some thoughts on how to react to people from the LGBT community as a Christian, and for the most part they seemed like good, informed ideas - especially since he was raised in the LGBT community, and thus has personal experience to speak from. For instance, Kaltenbach tells us that the best reaction to someone 'coming out' as lesbian or gay is to thank the person. He goes on to tell us that this is a very personal confession, and that the person coming out to us is revealing an important part of themselves to us - a part that they would not reveal to just anyone. He tells us how not to react as well; such as, "don't look disappointed" (pg. 109). By telling us the best way to react, we have a better idea of how to reach out to the people in our lives that identify with the LGBT community.

Messy Grace is also filled with personal stories, both from Kaltenbach's own experience and his retelling of stories from people he knows. This book will be helpful in reaching out to those that are LGBT, and will allow us to be more informed.

One of my few complaints with this book is that the first five or so chapters are somewhat misleading. Since they refer solely to Christians that mistreat, treat differently, or otherwise insult those in the LGBT lifestyle, Messy Grace would lead us to believe that all Christians act that way toward people inclined towards LGBT - which is not the case at all. Rather, from personal experience, I would say that the Christians discussed within those chapters do not represent the majority of us. Yes, they may be the more outspoken Christians, but that does not mean they are the only Christians. In fact, I would hesitate to refer to people who would treat other people in such a way as Christians, but that is a whole other topic.

If you are curious about Christianity as it relates to the LGBT community and how to act around those in such a lifestyle, read this book. It is filled with informative stories and information, and comes from a Biblical standpoint.

Note: Before picking up Messy Grace, I was concerned that Kaltenbach might be a Christian who tries to teach 'Biblical' acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle, but he does not. My fears were misplaced. He only teaches the hard Biblical reality - otherwise known as living in the "tension of grace and truth" - so don't let that concern keep you from reading this book.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from blogging for books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. ( )