Queer Theology

In this episode we look at… “This is a passage that every LGBTQ person — or any person considering being a sexual being — has heard before” How this passage has been used against LGBTQ people How this passage might give us hope in our current tumultuous political reality What does it mean that “your body is a temple”? We look at how conservative Christianity has defined that idea, what it might have meant to the earliest Christians, and what it might mean for us today How to reclaim our sexuality Brian said he’d put a link to “What Promiscuity Taught Me About God’s Love” in the show notes our upcoming webinar on creating a sexual ethic (register at queertheology.com/sex!) 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. The post What does it mean to be God’s temple? – 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this episode, Shay and Brian discuss this week’s reading from Deuteronomy and the hard truths to think about.  God of the Old Testament is not all judgement and consequences for sin. In this week’s episode we discuss a life of community, healing, wholeness and the weight that can be lifted when we choose life. Read the transcript (PDF) Deuteronomy 30:15-20 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The post Will you choose life? – Deuteronomy 30:15-20 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Sometimes it feels like what the Bible asks of us is disconnected from what religious culture asks of us. What does it mean to be a light to the nation? How do we act as God’s ambassadors in our world? Read the transcript (PDF) Photo by Jyrki Salmi The post What does it mean to be a light? – Isaiah 58:7-10 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Micah 6:1-8 Hear what the Lord is saying: Arise, lay out the lawsuit before the mountains;         let the hills hear your voice! Hear, mountains, the lawsuit of the Lord!         Hear, eternal foundations of the earth! The Lord has a lawsuit against his people;         with Israel he will argue. “My people, what did I ever do to you?         How have I wearied you? Answer me! I brought you up out of the land of Egypt;         I redeemed you from the house of slavery.         I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you. My people, remember what Moab’s King Balak had planned,         and how Balaam, Beor’s son, answered him!         Remember everything[a] from Shittim to Gilgal,         that you might learn to recognize the righteous acts of the Lord!” With what should I approach the Lord         and bow down before God on high? Should I come before him with entirely burned offerings,         with year-old calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,         with many torrents of oil? Should I give my oldest child for my crime;         the fruit of my body for the sin of my spirit? He has told you, human one, what is good and         what the Lord requires from you:             to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God. The post What does the Lord require? – Micah 6:1-8 appeared first on Queer Theology.

We are back from our winter break and talking about what’s on tap for Queer Theology in 2017: it’s all about identity. In this episode, we talk about our identities and share information about this year’s synchroblog The post Identity appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this episode we reflect on Advent, Christmas, the changing season, and waiting for 2017. Plus, we share some of our Queer Theology plans for the new year! The post Advent, Christmas, and Waiting for 2017 appeared first on Queer Theology.

James 5:7-10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer who waits patiently for the coming of rain in the fall and spring, looking forward to the precious fruit of the earth. You also must wait patiently, strengthening your resolve, because the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t complain about each other, brothers and sisters, so that you won’t be judged. Look! The judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patient resolve and steadfastness The post Speak in the name of the Lord – James 5:7-10 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Sometimes Scripture comforts us, sometimes it convicts us, and sometimes it does both. In this episode, we look at what sort of king (or president) is God looking for and what role do WE have in doing the work of God? Read the transcript (PDF) To learn more about Sanctuary Collective, take a look at https://www.queertheology.com/sanctuary-collective/ The post Psalms, Kings, and Donald Trump – Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This week we take a break from the lectionary readings to focus on self care, why self care is important for LGBTQ Christians, some ways to get started taking care of yourself, and how self care fits into the season of Advent that we’re now in. Show Notes 8 Queer Tips to Get Through the Holidays Join Sanctuary Collective to get instant access to An LGBTQ Christian Guide to Self Care (and more) A free, three-part video series on taking care of yourself around unaffirming family & friends   The post Self Care in the Christian Lectionary appeared first on Queer Theology.

This week, we take a break from the lectionary to talk about Transgender Day of Remembrance which is this Sunday, November 20. You can find some sermons, podcasts, and a toolkit over at queertheology.com/tdor The post An important Transgender Day of Remembrance message for Christians appeared first on Queer Theology.