Political correctness is rarely biblical correctness.  Perhaps this is most evident in the debate over homosexuality, which to be honest is less and less a debate as the media and left-leaning political causes indicate that anyone who would dare challenge the concept that homosexuality is a natural biological occurrence is a bigot.  Given this climate in which we find ourselves, I was excited at the opportunity to review OUT OF A FAR COUNTRY by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan.

I was drawn in by the subtitle, A GAY SON’S JOURNEY TO GOD, A BROKEN MOTHER’S SEARCH FOR HOPE.  This book is the true saga of Christopher Yuan, an American born son of Chinese immigrants who grew up in the Chicago area.  Yuan was studying to be a dentist when he “came out” to his ultra conservative albeit atheist parents.  A gay son was more than Angela Yuan, Christopher’s mother could bear, having suffered a lifetime in an emotionless marriage.  Angela resolves to commit suicide, and on the way to do so remarkably chooses to give her life to Christ rather than end it.

Meanwhile, Christopher slides deeper and deeper into the gay party scene, a counter-culture that is “life in the fast lane” in every sense.  In a surprisingly short amount of time, Yuan transitions from doctoral student to dropout, and grows from recreational drug user to traveling the nation as a major drug supplier to the gay party circuit.

This dual perspective auto-biography follows a family who is broken and hopeless as each member encounters the redeeming love of the God of creation.  Christopher’s own testimony is powerful, and demonstrates that regardless of how deep into a godless lifestyle one may be, God is mighty to save even those who have no interest in that salvation.  Yuan finds himself in a place he never wanted to be, making a decision that would change his eternity.

Christopher will likely suffer strong criticism from the gay community for this book, but hopefully it will speak to some, and Christopher’s story will help lead many out of their own far country.