A Review of Generous Spaciousness by Wendy Gritter

Just finished reading Wendy’s book called Generous Spaciousness.

I wish I would have read it ten years ago.

Theological attacks have polarized the conversation around homosexuality for too long. What has been needed for a long time is a pastoral voice to walk into the midst and offer a third way. What Wendy offer’s with this book is a healthy disposition for the Christian, pastor and church to take when coming to terms with all difference. She offers hope that the church might actually be able to pull through the ‘pastoral violence’ that has gone on into a new ethic of generous spaciousness.

“My priorities for engaging the church have evolved to center on core values rather than boundary maintenance. I ask more questions about how to bridge the gaps between our differences rather than trying to promote or defend one uniform position. Bridging the gaps will often require us to be open to and stay present in places of uncertainty. It requires us to be willing to be uncomfortable. It demands that we open ourselves up to change””perhaps not change in our theological perspectives but changes in our attitudes and motivations, and the way we relate to others.”
– Wendy Gritter

For anyone that has been inside the church, you know that Wendy’s quote above is a lot worse than just being uncomfortable. It’s a death sentence. At least in terms of your career, reputation and your ideology as a evangelical. But I’m sure that’s what Christ has called us to. To die to all that. As I continue to learn about the church and Jesus the more I’m convinced that Wendy’s conclusion here is right. Our job cannot be to land on firm convictions about morality. Rather, we are called to lay down our selfish, ideological and assumed theologies and learn to love one another. Being a Christian has everything to do with how we are in the world rather than what we think about the world.

So I’d recommend this book to anyone who thinks they are right. Anyone who struggles with being around people that are different than them. Anyone who is obsessed with the homosexuality conversation within the church. Anyone who wrestles with what is the ‘right’ thing to do. Pick it up and allow it to reframe this conversation entirely different for you, in a way that I’m convinced Jesus would have framed it.