T.C. Ryan
InterVarsity Press, 2012, 240 pp, $16.00
T.C. Ryan has written an important book with Ashamed No More. Let me recommend this one right away for your personal reading and your library. There are currently many good works on sexual addiction and sexual compulsion, and by now the topic is pretty well integrated into our Christian culture. Recent statistics are bearing out what is not surprising, yet is the truth we all have dreaded. Those in vocational ministry are struggling and suffering from sexual brokenness and secret behaviors at the same percentages as everyone else. For so long, we wanted to believe this was reserved for others, not us. In 1999, Dr. Ted Roberts, pastor and author, wrote Pure Desire. This book chronicled his personal story and the manner in which he incorporated the principles of recovery from sexual addiction into the life of the church he for so long has pastored. Ryan’s book hopefully will do the same as it is self-disclosing and includes the most recent sound thorough theoretical research on the topic of sexual compulsions. About himself he writes:
“I am a man who has throughout most of his adult life made bad choices, persisted in bad behaviors and cultivated bad patterns. These all resulted in bad consequences that I worked hard to deserve. But in spite of my brokenness and stubbornness, God has been tenaciously kind to me. Because of the love and pitying mercy of God and the unflagging support of my spouse and closest friends, I am today a humbled man who more often than not makes good choices, repeats good behaviors and is cultivating good patterns of living” (p. 15).
Ryan’s purpose isn’t solely to share his story, but also to encourage and establish a plan for the church to be redemptive and offer life as it serves communities and its leadership. He believes a church should function differently in ministry and offers and defines the following seven things he believes we must do:
1. Each person examine his or her own sexual behaviors
2. Change how we treat leaders
3. Allocate resources
4. Change our way of thinking and teaching
5. Include everyone in the solution
6. Make help available
7. Enhance ministry preparation
I am encouraged by Ryan’s work. It is authentic, truthful and compassionate. It points toward a new direction, a new way to offer life, to be inclusive in ministry. This time the inclusion invites the ministry leader to be ministered to, as well!
