Clarification and Retraction re: Greg Johnson’s Book

By Becket Cook

April 8, 2022

I’ve gotten a lot of emails and messages lately regarding my endorsement of Greg Johnson’s book, Still Time to Care. Many are confused as to why I would endorse a book that embraces so-called “Side B” Christianity. 

Greg sent me his book back in March of 2021 and asked if I would consider endorsing it. After reading it, my main take-away was how the church in the past had placed a heavy expectation on new converts who came out of a homosexual lifestyle to engage in “reparative therapy” and become heterosexual. At the time I read Greg’s book, I was not fully aware of the faulty theology behind “Side B.” In fact, I didn’t really understand what it meant at all.  

What Does Side B Mean?

Tim Keller defines “Side B” in this way: “People attracted to the same sex, though remaining celibate in obedience to the Bible, still can call themselves ‘gay Christians’ and see their attraction as a part of their identity which should be acknowledged like one's race or nationality.”

But it’s more than this. “Side B” uses a Freudian (not biblical) framework in terms of the understanding of personhood (anthropology). According to Freud humans are at the core, sexual beings—sexual desires define who we are. Freud’s theory was the progenitor of sinful sexual behavior becoming a full-blown identity—LGBTQ. The “Side B” camp would assert that being “gay” is ontological. The problem with this assertion is that a person’s “gayness” cannot be sanctified. This idea is in violation of the Creation Ordinance (Gen. 1:27) and the biblical understanding of personhood. We are not our desires. 

“Side B” proponents claim to hold to a biblical view of sexuality. While they would say homosexual behavior and “gay marriage” are wrong, they still embrace the notion of homosexual “orientation,” even celebrating this “orientation” at conferences such as Revoice. “Side B” proponents also embrace the idea of victimhood, calling themselves “sexual minorities.” As believers, we are not victims; we are victors in Christ. We mustn’t wallow in our old man. 

Another troubling aspect of “Side B” is the promotion of so-called “spiritual friendship,” which encourages same-sex attracted Christians to make lifelong friendship vows to a same-sex friend (some even involve commitment ceremonies). 

The Biblical View

When we are born again in Christ, we are a new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17) We are instructed by Paul to “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24) 

In my book, A Change of Affection, I address the idea of calling oneself a “gay Christian.” I would never call myself a “gay Christian” because I am a new creation. My former gay identity has been crucified with Christ. Why in the world would I use a sinful adjective—gay—to describe my new identity in Christ? I wouldn’t and I don’t. Yes, being “gay” is part of my past, but it no longer defines me. Christ does. 

We must never celebrate or sanctify our flesh nor should we ever use ontological terminology to define who we are that is rooted in our flesh.

Conclusion

After thinking through all of this more carefully and more clearly, I can no longer in good conscience stand by my initial endorsement of Greg Johnson’s book because of its “Side B” underpinnings and faulty anthropology (and therefore faulty theology). I like Greg as a person, but I must officially retract my endorsement.