Preston Sprinkle, a biblical scholar and pastor, navigates the contentious topic of homosexuality through a lens of compassion and scriptural fidelity. Drawing from extensive research and personal interactions with LGBTQ individuals, Preston examines key Bible passages—from Genesis to Romans—while emphasizing that gay people are not abstract issues but beloved children of God deserving dignity and love.
The book's strength lies in its balanced approach: it critiques both affirming and non-affirming views without straw-manning, urging Christians to embody "convicted civility." Endorsements from figures like Wesley Hill and Derwin Gray highlight its grace-filled tone and practical pastoral advice. Though Preston upholds a traditional stance on same-sex relationships, he wrestles honestly with complexities like causation and identity.
Accessible yet rigorous, this is essential reading for fostering empathetic dialogue in the church. Highly recommended.

While Preston Sprinkle is more compassionate than most who write books in the "non-affirming" camp, he is still wrong and I cannot recommend this book.

People to Be Loved changed my life. In my quest to love my dear LGBTQ friends and family while also honoring my Christian faith, I have found hope, encouragement and freedom to love like Jesus. The book is well written, and Dr. Sprinkle slugs through mounds of historical research and Biblical exegesis. At times the reading is tedious and mentally exhausting - not unlike our human relationships when we choose the hard work of seeking to understand and truly empathizing with one another. Perhaps what I love most is Preston's posture of humility, openness to discussion, and desire for true relationship even when beliefs differ in the most sacred areas of our lives. Please read this book with the same openness, thoughtfulness and desire for truth and grace.

I appreciated Preston Sprinkle's stance that as he wrote and researched, he would spend about half his time in books and the other half getting to know the stories and be present in the lives of real people. This is the whole point of his book, that the meaning of our message can be lost in the ways we love (or not) others. Herein he says, "Labels are easy; relationships are hard work."

What I also appreciate about Preston Sprinkle is his humility and approachability. He has arrived at his position through careful study and reflection. But this doesn't mean he will stop seeking truth or understanding. He admits his fallibility, and invites readers to actively grapple and wrestle.

This is a book I wish ALL Christians who condemn LGBT+ people would read. Being part of the community, I've faced a lot of discrimination from Christians, and I often try to blend in and avoid them when possible. This book has the power to change the world, and get rid a lot of the hate circulating around, despite Christians claiming they are a loving people.

This text combines personal insight with sound biblical theology in approaching a complex issue of our times.

“I believe that every single Christian needs to think deeply about this issue. And since it is not an issue, but people, every Christian needs to listen to the stories of LGBT people.”
– Preston Sprinkle

Christians often have a bad relationship with the LGBT community (unfortunately, often earned), for treating others as an issue instead of as a person. Sprinkle says,

“Here’s the thing: most people who are attracted to the same sex don’t end up leaving the church because they were told that same-sex behavior is wrong. They leave because they were dehumanized, ridiculed, and treated like an ‘other.’”

Many gay people turn away from believers instead of toward them because they feel more hate than love. Sprinkle doesn’t say believers have to give up their convictions, but they need to work on their kindness.

Sprinkle wants to educate. He writes at length on six passages in the Bible about same-sex relationships, about origins of Hebrew and Greek words, and about sexual practices of early cultures.

While Sprinkle ultimately sides with the non-affirming position that homosexuality is wrong, he still lays out arguments for the affirming position, and often warns readers not to jump to conclusions on either side when they interpret scripture.

He’s careful not to say, “I’m right and you’re wrong,” but makes statements like this throughout the book:

“Like you, I am on a journey. Maybe in five, ten, or fifteen years, I will have a better answer, or maybe I will have changed my mind on the answers I give in this book.”

Sprinkle then offers multiple suggestions for how we can improve our relationships, regardless of how we interpret the Bible, including these three actions. (1) Cultivate an inviting environment for others to talk. (2) Listen to others’ stories. (3) Stop homophobia.

As Sprinkle so beautifully states:
“We can put down our guns and care for the wounded.”

Timely book on a subject that polarizes this country. One of the reasons I wanted to read this book was the subject matter and how the author was going to portray it, how he wrote it. The author is right about those who are homosexual that they are people that need love just like anyone else. I find that sometimes people seem to pick and choose those they want to have mercy on, like all people don't deserve the mercy they pick and choose to give.

Preston Sprinkle doesn't shy away from challenging topics, but I always trust his thoughtful and objective consideration. People To Be Loved takes on what is perhaps the most heatedly debated subjects in Christian culture today. While his conclusions are guaranteed to make many people angry (there is no way to avoid doing so), Sprinkle keeps his focus on acknowledging our status as children of God and our call to build relationship.