New Book by The Stream‘s Tom Gilson Helps Parents Talk to Teens About Homosexuality

Critical Conversations hits bookstores Saturday.

By The Stream Published on February 24, 2016

This Saturday, Stream Senior Editor Tom Gilson will be releasing his new book Critical Conversations: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with TEENS.

Tom says he wrote the book to help parents cut through the lies and political correctness and find a way to impart truth to their teenagers. The questions teenagers have are intense: “Why shouldn’t gays get married?” “Who says gay sex is wrong?” “Does the Bible actually say there’s anything wrong with homosexuality?” “Don’t you care that kids are being bullied just for being themselves?”

Backed by 36 years of ministry leadership, Tom argues that pat answers or the “The Bible says it. Believe it” Bible brush-off won’t cut it with this generation. “If Mom or Dad will talk with them respectfully about this topic, they’ll know they’re being treated seriously,” he advises. Being informed is crucial, especially as parents seek to maintain their role as the authority in the household. “A person who’s in authority should know what he or she is talking about — especially on critical issues like this one.”

And even if there are hard questions the parent can’t answer, Tom says, “that’s actually OK — as long as the parent stays in the process and seeks to uncover the right answer alongside the teen.”

Tom promises the book will offer practical help in handling the challenges posed by these crucial, if predictably awkward conversations with teenagers. For example, he provides coaching tools for kids faced with such inevitable taunts as:

  • “You’re homophobic.”
  • “If you disagree with homosexuality, you’re a hater.”
  • “You’re against marriage equality”
  • “You’re on the wrong side of history”
  • “The Bible doesn’t even mention gay marriage”

Yes, these can be difficult waters, the “perfect storm” of awkward parent-child topics, Tom says. “However, with proper equipping, parents can navigate these crucial discussions, drawing teens back into closer relationship with themselves and their family and giving them the confidence they need to stay connected with Christ and Christianity.”

Tom Gilson will be discussing Critical Conversations Thursday evening at 7 PM CST on Brett Kunkle’s Stand to Reason webcast, which you’ll be able to find here. More information on the book can be found at www.criticalconversationsbook.com, and it’s available for sale now on Amazon.com.

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