The Book

“Andreades has considerable experience addressing these kinds of questions, and his [book] provides a biblical perspective of the various issues and questions we typically hear on people’s lips today…Throughout his treatment of the subject is both informed and pastorally sensitive. He offers a robust affirmation of the ontological equality of the sexes. His identification of the divine “image” as inclusive of both male and female is especially strong. And of particular value is explaining gender significance …in terms of relationship.
“[He]…has conducted years of research that he shares throughout the book, not just interviews with couples, simply, but also interviews with former homosexuals who now enjoy a married, heterosexual relationship. The responses are often revealing and illustrative of biblical teaching. A positive, helpful, sensitive, faithful, engaging, and timely book.”
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"enGendered is a winsome and eloquent theology of gender. Writing in a calm, confident, and positive tone, and concluding that gender difference is a gift from God that should be celebrated, enGendered goes a long way in speaking the truth in love and avoiding the shrill tone of polemics and emotionalism that too often characterizes discussions on this topic..."
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“What is the essence of human gender?…Turns out it’s not so easy to give a solid answer….it’s time to take the question seriously. Pastor and author Sam Andreades has written an influential book that has moved the gender conversation forward in a unique way…He does much biblical, theological, sociological, and worldview thinking to situate his sociological data in a thesis that asserts men and women can only find genuine expression of the masculine and feminine genders to the degree they are intimately engaged in asymmetrical relationship with one another….

While this is a book that certainly speaks to the contemporary discussion our culture is having regarding homosexuality and gender, it is not a “LGBT studies” book.  The main focus of the book is discovering how God gave gender to human beings as a gift for the purpose of cultivating deep relational intimacy.  But arriving at a biblical theory of gender that also has potential to resonate with people of both sexes and all persuasions is hard work…Andreades expounds an answer to what it means to be masculine and feminine, grounds his position in the Bible, and explores how the Bible’s teaching makes sense of reality—even in everyday life, especially our relationships.

…This book is academically informed…Andreades has consulted and cited secular research from the field of sexuality, gender, marriage, and family.  He’s read, digested, critiqued, and synthesized secular books, journals, and papers.  He’s also up-to-date on conservative and Christian research.  All this lends enGendered an honest and believable feel.  Here is a man who is truly attempting to understand real people, the nature and cultural expression of gender, and the complex variability of human relationships.  And he’s trudging forward with a pastor’s heart—trying in real time to shepherd the hurting, broken, confused, and questioning into a place where they will experience the fullness of joy in God’s design for gender….It’s a shame that when a thoughtful and knowledgeable Christian has something constructive to say about gender, his/her voice is ignored by opponents.

…In summary: enGendered is an excellent, informative, pastoral, biblical, culturally-sensitive, and ground-breaking study on sexuality and gender.  Anyone who seeks to knowledgeably talk about these pertinent, timely, and complicated issues needs to wrestle with this book.”
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