Queer Theology

We are taking a quick break from the lectionary to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. In today’s episode, we share how we celebrated Christmas and what our New Year’s Eve plans are. We also talk about our respective family traditions and of course, we also want to hear yours. Key takeaways: Fr. Shay spending the “dream” Christmas celebration [0:49] Take a moment to check-in on yourself and your goals [2:04]  Brian and his jar of notecards [2:38] How Brian used to celebrate New Year’s Eve in NY [3:44] Christmas traditions [4:19] Share with us what your family traditions are [8:31]  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 Roberto Nickson The post Queer Theology Holiday Special appeared first on Queer Theology.

Today we answer a listener question about ways for affirming cishet adults to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community even if they have no queer friends. We share some insight to connecting with queer folks but also advise you to do some introspection. Why? Tune in to find out. We then queered the text from Luke 1:46b-55 and reflected on how Mary sings her praises to God and how the divine will overthrow those who are proud and arrogant. This is one of our favorite texts and you’ll find out why in today’s episode.  Key takeaways: Fr. Shay’s seemingly relaxing and chill Christmas [0:48] Brian missing regular Christmas parties [2:09] Listener question about cishet adults reaching out to LGBTQ+ community [4:33] How to find queer folks with the same interest as you [5:27] The problem of the “how to reach out of people” idea [7:07] Do some introspection on why you don’t have gay friends [8:04] Queering the text: Luke 1:46b-55 [10:04] Why Fr. Shay has written a lot about Mary [11:35] The history of women oppression in Christianity [14:06] A different way of thinking about Christmas [14:50] 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  Luke 1:46b-55 Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!     In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.     Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored         because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.     He shows mercy to everyone,         from one generation to the next,         who honors him as God. He has shown strength with his arm.     He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.     He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones         and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things     and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,         remembering his mercy,     just as he promised to our ancestors,         to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” Photo by Laura Allen   The post The Hymn About Power – Luke 1:46b-55 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this episode, we answer a question from a listener and Sanctuary Collective member about money and how some churches, organizations, or congregations make their members feel guilty about giving small pledges or sometimes nothing at all.  We queered the text from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 which ties back to the listener question of having the ability to make choices. How? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out. This passage was also Brian’s touchstone Bible passage as he was starting to question his sexuality. More of that in this episode.  Key takeaways: Brian, Soul Safe workshop and queer holidays [0:40] Fr. Shay revisiting his old journals and the non-existent boundaries with parents [5:01] Listener question about giving money to the congregation  [9:15] You SHOULD NOT be made feel guilty for giving $1/month [10:31]  Generosity vs. insurance [11:25] Acts and sharing everything in common [13:37] Hard to be in the community [17:01] Queering the text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 [19:27] Brian searching “Is it okay to be gay?” and coming across this passage [20:21] How this passage was taught to us as kids [23:44] Figuring out to follow our calling [25:04] How this text reminds us of Jeremiah’s passage? [28:03] Link mentioned in this post: Self-care workshop Queers The Word Devotional   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  1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t suppress the Spirit. Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil. Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming.  The one who is calling you is faithful and will do this. Photo by Kelly Sikkema The post What is Good & Right – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Today’s question is from a Sanctuary Collective member who wanted to learn more about Revelation and its historical context. She also wants to know how learning about history would help make the book and its message more meaningful. Do we think Revelation should be taken literally? Tune in to find out. We also queered the text from 2 Peter that implies how we are to stay “pure” and wait for the “new heaven” and “new earth”. You already know that we’re going to relate this text to being queer and the work that we do. And while that’s not surprising, you might be surprised by how this text isn’t what it seems. Key takeaways: Fr. Shay’s Advent update and the feeling of nesting [0:50] Brian’s excitement about Queers the Word [4:14] Reader/listener/Sanctuary Collective question about the historical context of Revelation [5:52] Revelation is a weird book and how it’s not meant to be a fortune-telling manual [6:30] What John is depicting in the book of Revelations [9:02] How we use “stories” in the current times [10:35] Queer the Bible: 2 Peter 3:8-15 [13:10] Queer couples laying the groundwork years ago [16:21] How this text was understood and taught in the past [19:33] Destruction vs. reconciliation [20:56] Link mentioned in this post: Self-study course: Journey into the Bible  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  2 Peter 3:8-15 Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a dreadful noise, the elements will be consumed by fire, and the earth and all the works done on it will be exposed. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be? You must live holy and godly lives, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God. Because of that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. But according to his promise we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found by him in peace—pure and faultless. Consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as our dear friend and brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, Photo by Hudson Hintze The post What Type of Ancestor Are You? – 2 Peter 3:8-15 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we received a reader question from Tumblr about the Bible not mentioning queer folks. “…if acting out a queer lifestyle is wanted by God, why does he never includes them specifically while talking about relationships? Like, he talks about marriage between man and woman and the specific moral standards of that.” The reader was wondering how come God doesn’t mention gays or lesbians. Tune in for our answer. We also queered a passage from Psalms and we love how this book, in particular, shows the broadness of human emotions instead of only showing fun and joy. This passage also reminds us how much the Bible is written for us queer folks and what Jesus is asking of us. Key takeaways: Christmas pageant time for Fr. Shay [0:49] New normal Thanksgiving for Brian [3:30] Reader question from Tumblr asking why God never mentions gays and lesbians in the Bible if being queer is okay and wanted by the divine [4:53] A jumble of different oral tradition [6:17] The inaccuracy of how we look at marriage from the Bible [8:20] Just because it wasn’t mentioned in the Bible means it doesn’t exist [9:30]  Scripture is queer in a lot of different ways [12:20] Queering the Bible: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 [14:55] How relatable the Bible is and how it’s written for queer people, too [16:00] On Psalms reflecting the human’s full-range of emotions [17:54] What Jesus’ ministry is asking of us [19:29] Link mentioned in this post: Self care workshop 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    Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Shepherd of Israel, listen!     You, the one who leads Joseph as if he were a sheep.     You, who are enthroned upon the winged heavenly creatures. Show yourself before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh!     Wake up your power!     Come to save us! Restore us, God!     Make your face shine so that we can be saved!   Lord God of heavenly forces,     how long will you fume against your people’s prayer? You’ve fed them bread made of tears;     you’ve given them tears to drink three times over! You’ve put us at odds with our neighbors;     our enemies make fun of us. Restore us, God of heavenly forces!     Make your face shine so that we can be saved!   Let your hand be with the one on your right side—     with the one whom you secured as your own—     then we will not turn away from you! Revive us so that we can call on your name.     Restore us, Lord God of heavenly forces!     Make your face shine so that we can be saved! Photo by Chris Curry The post Wake Up and Pay Attention – Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Today, we answer a reader question from Tumblr who is trying to find peace with being gay. This reader is asking for us to prove that being gay is not a sin after reading an article from AnswersinGenesis that refutes everything that gay Christians have said. “I’m a same-sex attracted Christian who has felt suicidal about it forever. I wish I could find absolute truth about it and be at peace.” As for queering the text this week, we are trying something new by reading a selection from Queers the Word. It fits perfectly with today’s text from Matthew 25:31-46. Tune in for a sampler of our 40-day devotional Queers the Word and a queer look at the way God will separate “the sheep” from “the goats.” Key takeaways: Election and holiday updates [0:40] Fr. Shay’s big news (career-wise) [3:21] Reader question from Tumblr on proving that gay is not a sin [5:13] One of the biggest tip we can give [6:13] Jesus tells us what to believe in [9:18] Reading from Queers the Word [11:09] LGBTQ+ folks are usually cast as wicked [13:17] How Jesus and his followers did the work? [15:10] More about Queers the Word [15:49] Link mentioned in this post: Pick up a copy of Queers The Word 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  Matthew 25:31-46 “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.” Photo by Tamara Gak   The post Sheep and Goats – Matthew 25:31-46 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we answer a listener question from Tumblr asking for book recommendations for their mom to read. While we share some really good books that we think are going to help anyone who wants to learn more about queerness, we also want you to check first if that’s something your parent wants. We then queer the text from Judges which celebrates people who defy gender norms. We read about Deborah who was the leader of Israel at that time. Why is that important to note? Remember that women were considered inferior and were not to hold any high positions, but in this text, the leader was Deborah — a woman. Key takeaways: Election week update [0:44] The super-secret project will be out on November 17 [8:10] A listener asked for a recommendation on queer books for their mom to read [13:34] Is your mom asking for a book? [15:05] Our recommendations [15:22] Queering the Bible: Judges 4:1-7 [20:46] People who defy gender norms [22:24]  Importance of gender expansiveness in scriptures [24:10] Books mentioned in this episode: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth Queer Virtue by Rev. Liz Edmond Radical Love by Patrick Cheng Chicken by Chase Night Autoboyography by Christina Lauren Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera Links and group mentioned: Queers The Word – Free sample PFLAG Self care 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  Judges 4:1-7 After Ehud had died, the Israelites again did things that the Lord saw as evil. So the Lord gave them over to King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, and he was stationed in Harosheth-ha-goiim. The Israelites cried out to the Lord because Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly for twenty years. Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was a leader of Israel at that time. She would sit under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the Ephraim highlands, and the Israelites would come to her to settle disputes. She sent word to Barak, Abinoam’s son, from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Hasn’t the Lord, Israel’s God, issued you a command? ‘Go and assemble at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand men from the people of Naphtali and Zebulun with you. I’ll lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, to assemble with his chariots and troops against you at the Kishon River, and then I’ll help you overpower him.’” Photo by Paul Hanaoka The post Gender Expansive Leadership – Judges 4:1-7 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Today we answer a listener question from someone who has recently reconnected with her faith. While she is building this renewed relationship with the divine, she worries about her partner who has negative attitudes towards religion. She asks, “What is the best way to encourage your partner to reconsider their stance on their faith especially when they, like so many of us, have been very hurt by religion? Or is it better to just let it be?” We also queer a text from a book that we haven’t covered before in the many years that we’ve been doing this podcast. In this episode, we queer Wisdom of Solomon, and Fr. Shay gives a short explanation of what this book is all about, especially to our non-Roman Catholic listeners. And of course, we explain how this passage relates to the queer community and the work that we’ve been doing.  Key takeaways: Brian and baking (again) [0:46] Fr. Shay: office revamping and journal categorizing [2:22] Listener question: on reconnecting faith and supporting a partner who has negative associations with religion  [5:01] Faith or being in a relationship with someone religious [7:04] Own your feelings [8:59] Your partner’s faith life is their responsibility [10:08] Queering the Bible: Wisdom of Sol 6:12-20 [13:35] Relating this passage and the Transfigured course [16:12] The activeness of this wisdom [16:39] What exactly is the work that we do in QueerTheology? [17:36] Wisdom personified [18:22] 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  Wisdom of Sol 6:12-20 Wisdom is bright and unfading. She readily appears to those who love her. She’s found by those who keep seeking after her. She makes herself known even in advance to those who desire her with all their hearts. Someone who awakens before dawn to look for her will find her already sitting at the door. Taking wisdom to heart is the way to bring your thinking to maturity. The one who can’t sleep at night because he’s consumed with thinking about her will soon be free from worry. She herself goes about looking for those who are worthy of her. She graciously makes herself known to them as they travel. She comes to them in each of the ideas that they think. The real beginning of wisdom is to desire instruction with all your heart. Love for instruction expresses itself in careful reflection. If you love Wisdom, you will keep her laws. If you are attentive to her laws, you can be assured that you will live forever. If you live forever, you will be near to God. If you desire wisdom with all your heart, you will know what good leadership is. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez The post Wisdom Is She – Wisdom of Sol 6:12-20 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we answer a question sent through our email. This listener works in a homeless shelter where she finds some of the people she works with and serves are anti-queer. She wants to know how to be kind and warm to the oppressed and suffering when others are hateful and dismissive comments of queer folks. “As a queer person, that can be difficult to swallow. How do I respond to these things in a way that is constructive and kind?”  If you’re a regular listener, you’ll notice that we don’t look at Revelation often but today is an exemption. Tune in to find out how Fr. Shay changed Brian’s mind about featuring this passage and how we queer this text from Revelation. This wild and wacky from the last book of the Christian Bible has a surprising amount of relevance for the LGBTQ community today. Key takeaways: Fr. Shay: first snowfall in MN [0:53] Brian: winter, time in NY, and going back home [2:27] Email question: on being kind to those who are unkind to queer folks [5:36] Take our answers to this question with a grain of salt [6:27] Avoid generalizing; see people individually [8:10] Protecting yourself while still meeting people with grace [10:34] Be curious about the concern underneath the anti-queer beliefs [12:20] Queering the Bible: Revelation 7:9-17 [15:25] Tuning fork and our work [18:09] Revelation is a difficult book [19:22] This is not a futuristic passage [20:23] The queer elders [21:15] We are connected to the struggles that came before us [22:17] 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    Revelation 7:9-17 After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands. They cried out with a loud voice:           “Victory belongs to our God           who sits on the throne,           and to the Lamb.” All the angels stood in a circle around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, saying,           “Amen! Blessing and glory           and wisdom and thanksgiving           and honor and power and might           be to our God forever and always. Amen.” Then one of the elders said to me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he said to me, “These people have come out of great hardship. They have washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. This is the reason they are before God’s throne. They worship him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. They won’t hunger or thirst anymore. No sun or scorching heat will beat down on them, because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Photo by Fa Barboza  The post Tuning Fork – Revelation 7:9-17 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Today we respond to a reader question: what’s the real deal with sexual ethics? They think that God is obsessed with virginity and that a woman (who slept with someone) is usually compared to a chewed up gum, a plucked rose, and so on. “Does God care that much about premarital sex when dating as it is?” We then queer the text from Leviticus that shows a God who is filled with kindness and justice. Who calls on us to be just and good to other people, and to not hold grudges or take revenge. Key takeaways: Fall update from Fr. Shay: playwriting fellowship [0:50] Brian’s renewed creative practice [2:32] Reader question from Tumblr: on God’s obsession with virginity [5:25] How girls/women are given the responsibility to protect their “pureness” [6:55] Indeed, some parts of the Bible are obsessed with virginity [9:22] Sexual ethics can be different from sexual practices [11:37] Queering the Bible: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 [13:11] How this passage shows a God of goodness and kindness [14:30] What’s going on in Leviticus? [16:59]   Links mentioned: What Promiscuity Taught Me about God’s Love queertheology.com/sex Homosexuality In The Bible: Leviticus   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    Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 The Lord said to Moses, Say to the whole community of the Israelites: You must be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy. You must not act unjustly in a legal case. Do not show favoritism to the poor or deference to the great; you must judge your fellow Israelites fairly. Do not go around slandering your people. Do not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed; I am the Lord. You must not hate your fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your fellow Israelite strongly, so you don’t become responsible for his sin. You must not take revenge nor hold a grudge against any of your people; instead, you must love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. Photo by Diana Vargas The post Leviticus’ God – Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 appeared first on Queer Theology.