Prophetic Troublemaking – Matthew 10:26-39

In this episode, we answer a question from a Tumblr follower about finding a way to connect with God. For someone who grew up without a strong, solid foundation it can be very difficult to believe in God. “I just find it difficult to believe that God is really there, that they really exist. I don’t know what to do next.”

We also queer this week’s text from Matthew 10:26-39 which reminds us that we are indeed called to fight. That following our faith asks us to speak our truth and in that same essence, prepare ourselves for the onslaught of pain and conflicts. We’ve heard of the phrase, “pick up and carry your cross…”, but what does it really mean? Stay tuned!

In this episode, we talk about:

• How are things at Fr. Shay’s location [0:47]
• Brian remembers the Pulse nightclub massacre [3:47]
• Your personal role in all that’s happening in the world [5:04]
• The arc doesn’t naturally bend towards justice [5:42]
• The internal work you need to start doing [7:02]
• Reader question from Tumblr on how to connect to God and find his faith [10:50]
• How most think that God as an anthropomorphic person [13:20]
• For most, connecting to God means doing the work and noticing the moments of sacredness [15:17]
• To experience God is to do good to other people [17:17]
• Invitation to Sanctuary Collective [18:41]
• We queer the lectionary texts from Matt 10:26-39 [19:13]
• Emphasis on peaceful fights [21:00]
• For queer’s who are living their truth, it sometimes creates riffs [25:58]
• Picking up your cross is scary and what it really means [28:45]
• On denying jesus before people [30:45]

Sometimes when I'm at a gay club, I take a step back & watch my friends shower each other with physical affection. Hugs and kisses and winks and nods and silly faces and pinched cheeks and grinding and making out.

If you squint your eyes just right, you can see the Holy Spirit

— Brian & Shay | QueerTheology.com (@QTheology) January 18, 2019

Article mentioned in this episode:
Skeptics guide to Christianity @ queertheology.com/skeptics

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Matthew 10:26-39

“Therefore, don’t be afraid of those people because nothing is hidden that won’t be revealed, and nothing secret that won’t be brought out into the open. What I say to you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, announce from the rooftops. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Aren’t two sparrows sold for a small coin? But not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father knowing about it already. Even the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

“Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. But everyone who denies me before people, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 

“Don’t think that I’ve come to bring peace to the earth. I haven’t come to bring peace but a sword. I’ve come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. People’s enemies are members of their own households.

“Those who love father or mother more than me aren’t worthy of me. Those who love son or daughter more than me aren’t worthy of me. Those who don’t pick up their crosses and follow me aren’t worthy of me. Those who find their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives because of me will find them.

Photo by Clay Banks

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