The Right to Be Christian in a Gay Rights America

This book provides a biblical and constitutional defense against the persecution of Christians who do not support homosexuality (homosexual acts) and explains why their non-endorsement is a question of faith and religion, not of bigotry and homophobia. Dodds's intent is not to castigate those who identify themselves as gay or to inflame emotions, but to present a convincing argument as to why many Christians believe they cannot support the LGBTQ lifestyle.

There are Christians in America who have been persecuted (fired, jailed, sued, maligned, physically threatened, expelled etc.) for not supporting, approving of, or participating in the affirmation of homosexuality. Dodds emphasizes that there is a difference between tolerance and support, but that the line between the two has been blurred causing many Christians to be unjustly accused of intolerance and discrimination.

While the main focus of most books on either side of this issue is whether or not homosexuality is right or wrong from a biblical standpoint, this book focuses primarily on the injustice of persecuting Christians who believe that the Bible says homosexuality is morally wrong and thus do not condone it. The book supports the position that says it is reasonable, when taking into account the Scriptures that address homosexuality, for Christians to believe that homosexuality is immoral and that it is therefore a violation of their constitutional rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech if forced to go against this belief or if persecuted for upholding it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface... i 

Introduction...  iii

Chapter One ... 1

Sex is a Privilege...Not an Entitlement

• Sexual Immorality Defined  ... 2
• Sexual Immorality Identified ... 5
• Premarital heterosexual sex... 5
• Polygamy... 11
• Adultery.. 13
• Incest... 17
• Prostitution... 22
• Bestiality... 28
• Homosexuality... 30
• Marriage according to the Bible ... 33

Main Point ... 37
Conclusion... 37

Chapter Two ... 39

The Scriptural Arguments...A Detailed Look

• The Six Passages 40
• Leviticus 18:22...    41
• Leviticus 20:13... 46
• Romans 1:18-32... 50
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11... 55
• Genesis 19:1-25... 58
• 1 Timothy 1:8-11..  64

Main Point...    65
Conclusion ...  65

Chapter Three ... 68
Popular Gay Affirming Arguments... "Alternative Facts," Half-truths, and Spin 

• The Jesus Arguments... 69
• The Animal Argument... 81
• The Entitlement Arguments...82
• The Emotional Blackmail Arguments...85
• The Language Arguments...91
• The Pope Argument...95
• The "No right to judge" Argument...96
• The Suppression Argument...105
• The Homosexual Relationships of the Bible Arguments...106
• The Submit to the Governmental Authorities Argument...118

Main Point ....... 125
Conclusion........125

Chapter Four .......... 130
But... "I was born this way"

• Is it a Choice or not?............... 131
• Explaining Righteousness...... 146

Main Point ... 158
Conclusion... 158

Chapter Five ... 161
The Gay Christian...An Oxymoron or a Reality?

• The Baby Christian ... 162
• The Backslidden Christian... 164
• The Christian Imposter... 172
• The so-called Christian... 175
• The Mature Christian... 177
• Evidence of Salvation... 180

Main Point ... 184
Conclusion... 184

Chapter Six... 187

Red Herrings: The Art of Blocking and Diverting

• The Red Herring Interracial Marriage... 187
• The Red Herring of the Civil Rights Movement...188
• The Red Herring of Women's Hair... 201
• The Red Herring of the Bible and Slavery... 209

Main Point... 234
Conclusion...235

Chapter Seven... 239
Forced to Choose: Is it a Question of Bigotry or Persecution?

• Tolerance vs. Support... 239
• Forced Conversion... 240
• Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech... 241
• Incidences of Christian Persecution in America... 243
• Additional Examples of Christian Persecution in America...  252
• The Biblical Mandate to Obey God...   256

Main Point... 257
Conclusion... 257
Epilogue.......259

Appendix: What Christians Believe and Why.... 272

Elreta Dodds is an award winning author and ordained minister who writes Christian apologetic
books (books that defend the Christian faith) that focus on social issues. She is also a Licensed
Professional Counselor and a Licensed Masters Social Worker. Dodds has a Master of Arts
degree in Guidance and Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, both of which
were obtained from Wayne State University where she graduated with honors. Dodds taught
courses in community services for eight years as an adjunct instructor at Siena Heights
University and is retired from the state of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
after twenty-five years of service. She is winner of the 2011 National Indie Excellence Award in
Social Change for her book, "Racism, The Bible, and The American Dream.” Her latest title, “The
Right to Be Christian in a Gay Rights America,” is her seventh work of non-fiction.