An unexpected book about God’s expansive mercy

The release of this book, by the father-and-son biblical scholar duo of Richard and Christopher Hays, was highly anticipated by many affirming folks in the church. For Richard Hays to write this book is especially significant. His 1996 book The Moral Vision of the New Testament has been a touchstone for many in the discussions on the Bible and same-sex relationships, and his traditionalist approach to homosexuality in that book has been cited and perpetuated by traditionalists ever since its release. The CRC’s own Human Sexuality Report appeals to Hays’ work in Moral Vision several times, referring to him as someone “who affirms the traditional Christian position on homosexual activity.” In The Widening of God’s Mercy, however, Hays publicly acknowledges his change of mind and apologizes for any hurt his previous work caused.

The new book is an interesting contribution to the conversation on same-sex relationships and Christianity, not least because it avoids altogether the half-dozen or so Bible passages that directly mention same-sex activity. What this book seeks to do instead is provide a framework or a lens for looking at God’s character in the Bible. The book argues that God’s merciful nature is ever-widening in surprising ways. Examples include eunuchs, foreigners, and gentiles. Thus, rather than being a straight-forward book on the Bible and sexuality, this book is more of a “Bible survey” of God’s widening mercy. The authors apply this widening mercy of God to sexual minorities by analogy: “The biblical narratives throughout the Old Testament and the New trace a trajectory of mercy that leads us to welcome sexual minorities no longer as ‘strangers and aliens’ but as ‘fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.’ Full stop.”

The authors assert that this posture towards sexual minorities in the church “rhymes” with the Bible’s portrayals of God’s expanding mercy. The argument is thus made by analogy: the Bible shows God’s mercy moves in this widening pattern; shouldn’t we apply that to sexual minorities as well? Richard Hays notes in the epilogue that this analogical approach is the same that he offered in Moral Vision; he simply failed to carry it through to what he now believes is the proper conclusion on matters of sexuality in that earlier work.

What about God’s immutability?

This book may disappoint some of the people who eagerly anticipated its release. It is more about God’s mercy than about sexuality. Its central thesis about God’s changing nature in the direction of mercy is applied to sexual minorities – but that is just one application of this claim. How will readers – particularly those in reformed circles – feel about a book that conflicts with that they may have learned in systematic theology about God’s immutability?

I understand why some may be disappointed with this book. It is not what I expected, either. At the same time, I’ll say a couple things in defense of the book as it stands.

First of all, I appreciate that Hays and Hays bypass the half-dozen “key” (“clobber”?) passages. They present the Bible not as a destination, but a springboard. By doing so, they imply that if affirming folks are going to make effective headway, they should do so based on broader themes rather than by arguing specific texts. There are enough books that do that already, with no decisive outcome; the talking points are well-established. Also, if the Bible doesn’t have contemporary, loving, monogamous same-sex relationships in mind, that silence should be accepted.

Second, this book is, more than anything else, a Bible survey on a particular theme: the widening of God’s mercy. In fact, there are plenty more biblical examples of this theme that this book does not have time to address. (I’m surprised, for example, that a book of this title and topic spends no time on Psalm 87, to name just one.) Yet because of this, I would have a much easier time putting this book in the hands of those who are “on the fence” or in the traditionalist camp on sexuality. A manifesto would be met with immediate defensiveness or rejection. So, likely, would a book with a divisive title such as Mark Achtemeier’s The Bible’s Yes To Same-Sex Marriage. This book, on the other hand, might be a way into a deeper conversation.

Bigger discussions

For leaders and laypeople, I believe this book can provide an on-ramp for productive discussion, and that’s in large part because so much of the book is not about sexuality and the church’s dealing with it. Hays and Hays have given us a good and engaging book about the Bible. I can think of many people, for example, with whom I would like to unpack the book’s observation that Abraham never speaks with God again after the episode of the binding of Isaac. How fascinating is that! And in the midst of those discussions – about the Bible we both love – this book will help us reflect on more personal questions: how do we reflect God’s widening merciful nature in our own church? Where do we agree on that? Where do we disagree? Then our horns aren’t locked in debating Romans 1. Instead, we’re having a real discussion about love and mercy.

Perhaps even those initially disappointed by this book will come to appreciate that it provides another, more expansive way to look at God’s grace. Hays and Hays have not written a comprehensive affirming manifesto that argues how certain key biblical texts present a positive view of same-sex marriage. It is wider than that.

Note: Richard Hays, co-author of The Widening of God’s Mercy, passed away on January 3rd, 2025.