Queer Theology

One of the reasons why it’s important for us to learn how to read the bible is so that we don’t miss the bigger picture. And Romans 5:1-5 is a perfect example of that. In this week’s passage, it talks about suffering gladly, and too often, it is taken quite literally. Listen on to hear what we think about this week’s passage and how we feel about holy suffering. Read the transcript (PDF) Highlights for today’s episode: Importance of understanding scriptures in their context That it’s important to learn how to read the Bible properly. More of that here The context behind Romans 5:1-5 How this passage relates to LGBTQ Christians’ experiences with unsupportive churches Announcement: This will be the last episode to air on a Tuesday as we will be publishing our podcast episodes on Sundays starting June 23. Romans 5:1-5 By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God’s undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love. Photo by Larm Rmah The post Holy Suffering – Romans 5:1-5 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Some Christians have misinterpreted that Jesus is the “new” God who will rule out the “Old Testament God.” That’s not what is happening here. But this gospel tells us that Jesus is the image of God and that we see God through Jesus… and Jesus brought receipts! In this episode, we explore what his message means for us today, too. Read the transcript (PDF) Today we talk about: Skepticism about God, Jesus or Christianity How we need to take action and be a community to answer the call of Christian faith The Holy Spirit and how it is continuously moving. More of that here Jesus calling unto his followers to do bigger and better things How LGBTQ Christians and Christians in general, are sometimes afraid to do the wrong thing and what Jesus has comforted us with John 14:8-17, 25-27 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father; that will be enough for us. Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you all this time? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I have spoken to you I don’t speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me does his works. Trust me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on account of the works themselves. I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father can be glorified in the Son. When you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.” Photo by Patrick Tomasso The post Jesus Brought Receipts, You Can Too – John 14:8-17, 25-27 appeared first on Queer Theology.

The gospel is often perceived to tackle mostly spiritual or religious topics, but for today’s reading, it actually deals with real-life issues: slavery and economic justice. We love how this verse focuses a lot on the human side of the disciples of Jesus. That even those who were closest to Jesus, are still, human — and therefore, can be annoyed. Read the transcript (PDF) This episode’s highlights: We focused on a different aspect of this passage when we covered it five years ago here What freedom might look like for others The antisemitism in some parts of Christianity The real meaning of salvation (read more here) How the gospel deals with issues of the actual, physical world and not just the religious aspects of our lives How people easily provide spiritualized responses to direct questions 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. 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. 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 Dev Asangbam The post What Does it Mean to be Saved? – Acts 16:16-34 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s reading, we hear that Jesus tells us that our physical self and our physical health is important to God, too! We also tackle the idea that sometimes we read the Scriptures quite literally, and how that can be a dangerous way of understanding what the Bible actually says. Read the transcript (PDF) Today we talk about: How this passage is similar to the American healthcare system Jesus’ way of telling us that our physical needs are also important Physical healing and restoration to the community How not getting cured of illness has nothing to do with how strong your faith is Not treating the Scripture as a rule book or textbook with it comes to personal faith Don’t forget to visit QueerTheology.com/community to learn about reading Reading Queerly, and also, check QueerTheology.com/courses to get on the waiting list for our Bible reading course that’s coming up soon. John 5:1-9 After this, there was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate in the north city wall, is a pool with the Aramaic name Bethsaida. It had five covered porches, and a crowd of people who were sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed sat there. A certain man was there who had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there, knowing that he was already been there a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I don’t have anyone who can put me in the water when it is stirred up. When I’m trying to get to it, someone else has gotten in ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man was well, and he picked up his mat and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. Photo by Sharon McCutcheon The post Jesus Heals (Literally!) – John 5:1-9 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Reminder: Christianity & Polyamory is back and registration is open. Registration closes on May 23. Learn more and signup here. This passage is low-hanging fruit when it comes to LGBTQ acceptance. It’s Peter’s vision where he comes to realize that nothing God has made clean should ever be called unclean. In this passage, he’s talking about food … but could he be talking about something else? We know this passage is cited often in LGBTQ+ Christian circle. We talk about the history of using this passage to support LGBTQ acceptance and then we take it a step further and explore a deeper, more profound meaning that it might have for us. Highlights & Mentions: The spirit is still speaking, the revelation of God isn’t done The challenge and call of this passage is for us to listen to where the spirit is still moving, where is the new work that needs to be done? Tweet about the importance of the work of the Holy Spirit “Sucks on you if you try and get in the way that God is doing in the lives of queer people because who are you to stand in God’s way” Acts 11:1-18 The apostles and the brothers and sisters throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s word. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him. They accused him, “You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!” Step-by-step, Peter explained what had happened. “I was in the city of Joppa praying when I had a visionary experience. In my vision, I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. It came all the way down to me. As I stared at it, wondering what it was, I saw four-legged animals—including wild beasts—as well as reptiles and wild birds. I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’ I responded, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ The voice from heaven spoke a second time, ‘Never consider unclean what God has made pure.’ This happened three times, then everything was pulled back into heaven. At that moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. The Spirit told me to go with them even though they were Gentiles. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered that man’s house. He reported to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He will tell you how you and your entire household can be saved.’ When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as the Spirit fell on us in the beginning. I remembered the Lord’s words: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?” Once the apostles and other believers heard this, they calmed down. They praised God and concluded, “So then God has enabled Gentiles to change their hearts and lives so that they might have new life.” The post God Is Still Speaking – Acts 11:1-18 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This passage is beautiful and challenging and complicated and harsh and comforting and all of that is kinda like what it is to be queer and trans and read scripture. We explore the importance of those that have come before us and in what ways they live on (or don’t), offer up a helpful exercise on spiritual lineage, and discuss how Revelation is a wild book with intense imagery — no reading literally possible. So what does it all mean? Transcript coming soon Mentioned in this episode Pleasure Activism Reading Queerly Sanctuary Collective 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,[a] and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Photo by Ravi Roshan The post Those who came before us – Revelation 7:9-17 appeared first on Queer Theology.

After two weeks of Easter Q&As (here & here), we are back to the lectionary! It’s really easy to get swept up in the moment of a movement — whether that’s for Jesus or justice (or both!). But at some point, the luster fades and the hard work begins. Then what? Are you really in it? Mentioned in this episode Articles & podcast eps for people who want to work in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people here here here You might be crucified John 21:1-19 Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.” They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus. Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” 1He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” Photo by jesse orrico The post What happens when the excitement fades? – John 21:1-19 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Y’all submitted so many rich questions for our Easter Q&A episode and we couldn’t get to them all so we are doing a followup episode. In this episode, we respond to 2 questions on the same theme: Navigating a church that isn’t LGBT-affirming (or who might not be), and how that intersects with Easter Mentioned in this episode Self-care for LGBTQ Christians with unaffirming family Church Clarity Inclusive Church Checklist We’ll be doing Q&A episodes in the future… if you have a question for us, email us at connect@queertheology.com or leave a voicemail at queertheology.com/listen The post Easter Q&A Part 2 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This year for Easter, we’re doing a Q&A episode to cover all things Holy Week and Easter. We really dig into a few amazing questions in this week’s episode. There were too many to get to all in one episode so we will be doing more Q&A episodes soon. Make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss it — and you can submit your own question to be included in a future episode. Mentioned in this episode Last week’s episode on why we follow the lectionary Ask a question for a future podcast by email connect@queertheology.com (or leaving a voicemail here) Shay’s work on transgender theology Articles on LGBTQ youth and parents here and here Let justice roll like a mighty river The Nonviolent Atonement by Denny Weaver Jesus The Forgiving Victim by James Alison Webinar on the atonement, why Jesus died, and what happened on the cross with Rev. Adam Rao at queertheology.com/whydidjesusdie CRUCIFIXION (RESURRECTION) Photo by Tucker Good The post Easter Q&A appeared first on Queer Theology.

Palm Sunday is this Sunday and because this podcast follows the lectionary, we’ve looked at the same handful of verses this week each year over and over and over again. Why do we do it? What value is there in following the lectionary and how might we see a reflection of queerness in the lectionary itself? Read the transcript (PDF) Mentioned in this episode Every Palm Sunday & Holy Week episode ever! (plus some bonus videos) Why do we do this? Maundy Thursday Jesus Steals a Donkey – Matthew 21:1-11 An Empty Tomb / Easter 2015 Unlikely Witnesses – Matthew 28:1-10 Palm Sunday & Holy Week 2017 Easter 2017 The Politics of Palm Sunday (video) Easter: the Personal & Political (video) You Are Not Alone: Good Friday for LGBTQ Christians (video) Jesus is Polyamorous Photo by Rod Long The post Easter Every Year – Why We Follow The Lectionary appeared first on Queer Theology.