When Grace Meets Conviction

An essential resource for Christian parents wondering how to respond when a child identifies as LGBT.

Children of all ages face social pressures, negative influences, and questions about identity, including sexuality and gender. As a parent, you long to stay connected to your child while upholding biblical truth. When Grace Meets Conviction provides the guidance parents need when it comes to responding with compassion and care rather than hurt or fear. Written by licensed professional therapist and Focus on the Family counseler Rob Jackson, this book presents a healthy approach―caring for the ones you love unconditionally, while still maintaining boundaries that can help preserve your relationship for a lifetime.

When Grace Meets Conviction includes 100 questions and answers based on thousands of counseling center calls from parents facing hard conversations and tough situations, including:

What do I do if I find out my child identifies as LGBT? How do I manage my emotions regarding my child’s decision about sexuality or gender identity? How can I love and support my son or daughter without affirming behaviors that contradict my faith? My son wants me to meet his partner. What should I do? How can I best respond if my church community expresses negative or judgmental views about my daughter’s expressed sexual identity? What if someone I know invites me to an event or gathering that promotes LGBT-related causes? When Grace Meets Conviction addresses these tough questions and many more, helping parents embody grace and truth as they raise both young ones and adult children in the midst of a confusing culture.

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Foreword by Jim Daly
4. The Language Focus on the Family Uses by Geremy Keeton
5. Introduction
6. Part 1: Caring for You and Your Concerns | Chapter 1: How Can We Talk When the Words Keep Changing?
7. Chapter 2: Discovering That Your Child Identifies as Gay or Transgender
8. Chapter 3: Dealing with Grief
9. Chapter 4: Protecting Your Faith
10. Part 2: Caring for the Ones You Love Unconditionally | Chapter 5: Relating with Insight, Compassion, and Self-Control
11. Chapter 6: Understanding Identity and Personhood
12. Chapter 7: Understanding Biblical Sexuality
13. Chapter 8: Considering the Role of Mental Health Professionals
14. Part 3: Caring for Others Wisely | Chapter 9: Responding with Strategic Boundaries
15. Chapter 10: Responding to Extended Family and Friends
16. Chapter 11: Responding to Your Church Family
17. Chapter 12:Responding to the Culture
18. Conclusion
19. Afterword: “I Watched While They Waited” by Joe Dallas
20. Closing Credits