Queer Theology

In this episode, we answer a question from Tumblr needing help finding proof that they can share with their mother. The follower wants to help their mother come around to the idea that one’s sexual or gender orientation is not a condemnation to hell. “Do you guys have any ideas on verses, passages, or stories with which I can prove to my mom that anyone ‘living a gay lifestyle’ (her choice of words, not mine) can still go to heaven?”  We then queer the text from James that practically says that you don’t have to be the teacher or leader or spokesperson for the community right off the bat. This goes especially to those who recently come out or those who feel burdened to carry the flag and teach the world about queerness. Remember that you are still in the process of getting to know your identity more. So just let those who have come before you do the work first and, until you are ready to lead, take the backseat and figure out who you are first. Key Takeaways: What’s going on with Brian and Fr. Shay? [0:40] Listener question from Tumblr asking for any Biblical proof that queer folks can still go to heaven [9:31] Why Fr. Shay thinks this is a hard question to answer [10:13] What queer history has taught us about finding the “right” passage [12:33] More about the Soul Safe workshop [15:22] Queering the text: James 3:1-12 [18:07] Why Brian associates this text with the social media platform: Twitter [19:36] The importance of learning when to be a student, leader, teacher, volunteer, etc. [23:19] The impulse to become a leader [24:41] Links and video mentioned in the podcast: Fire Island video: https://www.queertheology.com/queer-sacred-sites/ Brian talks about Leviticus for 3 hours with a Baptist preacher, click here to see what he learned Check out the Soul Safe Online workshop: https://go.queertheology.com/soul-safe/   If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com  James 3:1-12 ​​My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we teachers will be judged more strictly. We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.   Consider ships: They are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.   Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire. The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell.   People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish. 8 No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!   Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t flow from a saltwater spring either. Photo by Kunal Goswami The post Take Your Time To Figure Out Who You Are First – James 3:1-12 appeared first on Queer Theology.

We are back from the Summer Series and we hope you enjoyed the throwback of some of our (and our listeners’) favorites. If you haven’t listened to any of our Summer Series episodes, feel free to go back and give them a listen!  In today’s episode, we answer a listener question asking for any reference about the LGBTQ community or maybe about loving someone of the same gender in the Bible. Here’s why the listener asked: “My friend is having a debate with another person about it and my friend is trying to showcase the LGBTQ community in a positive light.” We actually have a short answer to wrap this question up, so make sure you tune in. As usual, we took a queer look at the text from Proverbs 22, which basically talks about the importance of being good. Simply being good and not harvesting evil. Additionally, Fr. Shay and Brian explain what having a good reputation really is and not the ones we grew up on when we were younger.  Key Takeaways: Update on Fr. Shay and Brian’s lives since their last regular episode [1:00] Listener question: reference from the Bible that says anything negative and positive about the LGBTQ community? [6:27] Brian’s quick answer [6:56] What do we do with clobber passages? [8:40] Queering the Bible: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 [11:00] Why Brian appreciates this text [11:58] What jumps out for Fr. Shay [14:32] A progressive follower is harder [16:30] Diving deeper into “good reputation” [17:49] Link mentioned in this episode: Check out the Clobbering the Clobber Passages workshop – click here If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com  Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 A good reputation is better than much wealth;     high esteem is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have this in common:     the Lord made them both.   Those who sow injustice will harvest evil;     the rod of their fury will come to an end.  Happy are generous people,     because they give some of their food to the poor.   Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.     Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.  The Lord will take up their case     and press the life out of those who oppress them. Photo by Àlex Rodriguez The post Do You Have a Good Reputation? – Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this exciting episode, Brian and Fr. Shay interview Elle Dowd, author of the kick-ass book Baptized in Tear Gas. In this interview, Elle shares the story of what ignited her passions, the protests that she joined and what they taught her, how her activism and faith have merged, and so much more! Tune in to learn more about her book and how it came to be. Elle Dowd (she/her/hers) is a bi-furious recent graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Elle has pieces of her heart in Sierra Leone, where her two children were born and in St. Louis where she learned from the radical, queer, Black leadership during the Ferguson Uprising.  She was formerly a co-conspirator with the movement to #decolonizeLutheranism and currently serves as a board member of the Euro-Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice, does community organizing in her city as a board member of SOUL, serves on the Clergy Advocacy Board for Planned Parenthood, writes regularly as part of the vision team for the Disrupt Worship Project, and facilitates workshops in both secular conferences and Christian spaces. She is publishing a book with Broadleaf, Baptized in Teargas, about her conversion from a white moderate to an abolitionist which will be released on August 10 and is available for pre-order now.  To get in touch with Elle and to keep up with updates, you can visit her website www.elledowd.com and subscribe to her newsletter. You can also see her online ministry via Facebook.com/elledowdministry  or follow her on Twitter/SnapChat/Insta @hownowbrowndowd or on TikTok @elledowdministry And pre-order her book Baptized in Tear Gas: From White Moderate to Abolitionist here: https://bit.ly/2YICjBf Highlight in this episode: Let’s learn more about who Elle is [0:50] How her faith and activism came together [7:04]  Do you need to move from the suburbs to a city to be involved? [18:47] Elle’s advice to anyone who wants to get involved [24:00] What do you do when you f***ed up? [26:30]   What are the ways in which joy has shaped Elle’s faith and activism? [32:12] Where can you find Elle’s book and where can you connect with her? [37:27] Rapid-fire questions! [39:22] If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com The post Baptized in Tear Gas an interview with Elle Dowd appeared first on Queer Theology.

And just like that our Summer Series has ended and we are ending it with the most popular episode from 2016! This episode emphasizes the amazingness that can flow from queerness. We explore queer magic and invite you to be bolder and go deeper in your queer journey. In what ways might you be holding yourself back and in what ways might God be inviting you to use your gifts to serve the world?  2 Timothy 1:6-14 Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands. God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled. So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, share the suffering for the good news, depending on God’s power. 9 God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began. Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news. I was appointed a messenger, apostle, and teacher of this good news. This is also why I’m suffering the way I do, but I’m not ashamed. I know the one in whom I’ve placed my trust. I’m convinced that God is powerful enough to protect what he has placed in my trust until that day. Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you heard from me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Protect this good thing that has been placed in your trust through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology. If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com. Photo by Baptista Ime James The post God did not give you a spirit of timidity! [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.

We are only a few episodes away from the end of this year’s Summer Series and today, we queer the text from Matthew about sheep and goats. This text contains some harsh words about God separating out the sheep from the goats, and damning the latter to eternal fire. But who exactly are the goats? And what does one do to end up there? Growing up we were taught that those who haven’t accepted Jesus are damned to hell, but this passage has a surprisingly different explanation.  Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology. If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com. Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe The post Can you be anti-LGBTQ and a Christian? [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.

This Summer Series of the podcast is from one of our long-time listeners, Morgan. She shares why this episode is her favorite. This episode is about the Transfiguration story or Jesus’ coming out moment. How did this experience shape Jesus’ ministry and his relationship with his disciples? How does this passage give all of us permission to read our own stories into the biblical text?  Mark 9:2-10 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, wondering, “What’s this ‘rising from the dead’?” If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology. If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com. Photo by Mohamed Nohassi The post Jesus Comes Out [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.

Here’s another super popular episode in which Brian answers a listener question about Romans 1 (and anti-gay interpretations of the scripture). This particular text is one of the clobber passages that is often used to argue that it’s not ok to be LGBTQ and Christian. Let us know what your thoughts are. What was your experience at the beginning of your queer and Christian journey? How did this episode resonate with you? Listener question: This for me is the hardest passage to wrap my head around. I understand with the other passages there are translation issues and so on but Romans seems pretty straightforward to me. I don’t understand how to move past this passage. When I read it, it seems pretty clear to me that being gay is seen as unnatural and wrong. I have read so many articles on the 7 clobber passages but I am never satisfied with the “justification” to being gay of Romans. Do you have any resources or advice on how I can understand this better? If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology. If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to connect@queertheology.com. Photo by Oladimeji Odunsi The post How do you justify Romans? [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.

This week’s episode is a favorite of one of our podcast associate producers, Bishop Celena Spain. The scripture passage talks about Jesus’ struggles with his family, their complete misunderstanding of him, and how queer and trans people can relate. Tune in to find out why Bishop Celena loves this episode and why Fr. Shay and Brian appreciated how Jesus handles this experience with his family. What’s your favorite episode? We’re doing a summer series featuring some of the most popular episodes and we want to hear from you! Email us at connect@queertheology.com and let us know which ep is your fave. Mark 3:20-35 Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!” The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.” When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.” He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.” Photo by Luigi Estuye, LUCREATIVE® The post Even When Your Family Doesn’t Get It [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.

Here’s another great throwback episode and one that’s still one of the most downloaded! In this episode, we take a queer look at Acts 16:16-34 where Paul and Silas conflict with the government and some businessmen. We also chat about how our faith asks us to do risky things, the state of the queer movement, and more.  Organizations to support that will help put your faith into action: Black and Pink Critical Resistance What’s your favorite episode? We’re doing a summer series featuring some of the most popular episodes and we want to hear from you! Email us at connect@queertheology.com and let us know which ep is your fave. Acts 16:16-34 One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” She did this for many days.   This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.   Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod. When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks.   Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.28 But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”   The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?”   They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house. Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God. Photo by Gift Habeshaw The post Faith In Action & Costly Conversion [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.

For this week’s episode, it’s another one of Brian’s favorites! The prophet Amos has some harsh words for religious festivals in the absence of justice and that’s a message that continues to be needed many millennia later. This episode talks about the emphasis on “a personal relationship with Jesus” vs. the emphasis we see in this passage. Brian and Fr. Shay also talk about the public displays of religion that have become a part of modern American life, the reality of violence and discrimination that transgender people face, and so much more. What’s your favorite episode? We’re doing a summer series featuring some of the most popular episodes and we want to hear from you! Email us at connect@queertheology.com and let us know which ep is your fave. Amos 5:18-24 Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!     Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light;    as if someone fled from a lion,     and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,     and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,     and gloom with no brightness in it?   I hate, I despise your festivals,     and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,     I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals     I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs;     I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters,     and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Photo by href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/12219474@N03/35811154802/”> bourgol The post Faith & Justice [Summer Series] appeared first on Queer Theology.