Queer Theology

Remember how we were taught in church that in order for us to be good followers of God we simply need to follow what our priest or pastor tells us? That we need to do things exactly as what tradition dictates in order for us to be good in the eyes of our creator? In today’s episode, we learn that by simply trusting ourselves, we are able to follow the commandment of God. That the commandment is reachable and is already in our hearts and mouth. Tune in to today’s episode to learn more about it. Episode TranscriptBrian: Welcome to the Queer Theology podcast! Fr. Shay: Where each episode, we take a queer look at the week’s lectionary readings. We’re the co-founders of QueerTheology.com and the hosts for this podcast. I’m Father Shay Kearns B: And I’m Brian G. Murphy. Good morning! Today is Sunday, July 14th and we are going to be looking at Deuteronomy 30:9-14. I will read to you now. It’s also in the show notes for this episode which you can find at QueerTheology.com/285. Here we go. This is from the Common English Bible. The Lord your God will help you succeed in everything you do—in your own fertility, your livestock’s offspring, and your land’s produce—everything will be great! Because the Lord will once again enjoy doing good things for you just as he enjoyed doing them for your ancestors, and because you will be obeying the Lord your God’s voice, keeping his commandments and his regulations that are written in this Instruction scroll, and because you will have returned to the Lord your God with all your heart and all your being. This commandment that I’m giving you right now is definitely not too difficult for you. It isn’t unreachable. It isn’t up in heaven somewhere so that you have to ask, “Who will go up for us to heaven and get it for us that we can hear it and do it?” Nor is it across the ocean somewhere so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the ocean for us and get it for us that we can hear it and do it?” Not at all! The word is very close to you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart, waiting for you to do it. Shay, I love this so much! FS: [Laughs] Me too! B: Give me your queer take on Deuteronomy. FS: Yeah! I think the thing that resonates with me about this passage is that so often, you and I get emails from folks from all over who are saying to us, “Tell me how I can know it’s okay to be LGBTQ and Christian.” or “Tell me how I know I can do XYZ sexually.” or “Tell me how I know…” all of these things. B: Which BTW, we have answers to all those questions at QueerTheology.com/resources, so check them out. FS: Yes! And I think that like as someone who grew up fundamentalist, or evangelical, or conservative, I understand that impulse because we were taught that we had to find the right way to do things. And usually, it was: we just have to listen to what the pastor tells us to do and then do it, and then God will like us, and we will be good to go. What I love about this passage is that here we have a commandment that’s given to the people. Then they are also told that you don’t have to go searching for it. It’s in your mouth and your heart waiting for you to do it. I think that this passage is telling us: you know what’s right. You can trust your heart. You can trust your gut. You can trust your sense of your relationship with God. You don’t have to go looking for the right answers. You can trust yourself. The challenge then becomes — for those of us who grew up in traditions that we were taught not to trust ourselves and we were taught that our desires were bad and evil and that what we want is wrong — the real test isn’t to go out and find answers; the real test is to learn how to trust ourselves again, to trust our bodies, to trust our guts, and to trust our souls. That to me is the larger message from this passage. Frankly, it’s harder. It’s a lot easier to say, “Okay tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” Than it is to say, “What is it that I want? Who am I? What are my values? What do I think my relationship with the divine should look like?” It’s harder work but I think it’s more fulfilling work. B: Oh amen! In my hometown church at the Sunday school classes and even for adult Sunday school classes, they would give you a handout to take notes on. And it wasn’t like a space for free-form notes. It would be almost like fill-in-the-blank notes that the pastor or the teacher would give you the correct answer. I have a complicated and nuanced understanding of God and what God is and isn’t, and what I love about this passage is so often, Christians or Christians who have been raised in certain churches are taught that the answers are outside of ourselves. The answers are, like this passage says, up in heaven or I have to read this book, or this hermeneutics or that analysis. What I love about this is that it’s like the word is very close to you, it’s in your mouth and in your heart waiting for you. The commandment is already inside of you. That’s such a beautiful, profound message that queer people, in particular, need to hear. At some point in the past 6 years, we did an episode where you talked about you don’t always have to make it so hard and sometimes it can just be easy. I’ll dig up that episode and put it in the show notes. That passage pairs nicely with this passage. It’s not always this long, complicated thing. You don’t always have to read a textbook or have just the perfect argument. You can know it in your heart and in your body. It’s so profound and important. FS: Yeah and I do want to reiterate again, you mentioned this earlier, but we do have tons of articles and worksheets and resources at QueerTheology.com/resources that look about how to do this work and how to develop your own sense of trust in yourself and I really recommend that you check those things out. B: Yeah. I know for me, oftentimes I’m looking for the top 7 tips for this or if I just watch this YouTube video everything will click into place. You know sometimes, you’ll read something that’s super educational or inspiring, and that’ll be really helpful. But what I found in the decade-plus of doing this work is that it also does take some work and introspection, and looking inside of yourself, finding that commandment in your mouth and in your heart, and wrestling with that and how that commandment gets lived out in the world. It’s not as sexy and flashy, but I think that work is so important, so we encourage you to dive into that. On our website, you’ll find a bunch of stuff and if you have any specific questions you can always send us a tweet on Twitter or DM on Facebook or Instagram. We would love to chat more with you. [outro music plays] B: The Queer Theology podcast is just one of many things that we do at QueerTheology.com which provides resources, community, and inspiration for LGBTQ Christians and straight cisgender supporters. FS: To dive into more of the action, visit us at QueerTheology.com. You can also connect with us online: on Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter, and Instagram. B: We’ll see you next week. Download the transcript PDF In today’s episode, we talked about: Our queer take on the passage The commandment that was given to us and that we shouldn’t go looking elsewhere Challenging the old teaching of not trusting our gut feel How we should start trusting ourselves and our personal relationship with God How finding the commandment takes a lot of work and deep introspection If you need help with finding your way into trusting yourself, as an LGBTQ+ Christian, we have tons of articles and worksheets available at QueerTheology.com/resources. Deuteronomy 30:9-14 The Lord your God will help you succeed in everything you do—in your own fertility, your livestock’s offspring, and your land’s produce—everything will be great! Because the Lord will once again enjoy doing good things for you just as he enjoyed doing them for your ancestors, and because you will be obeying the Lord your God’s voice, keeping his commandments and his regulations that are written in this Instruction scroll, and because you will have returned to the Lord your God with all your heart and all your being. This commandment that I’m giving you right now is definitely not too difficult for you. It isn’t unreachable. It isn’t up in heaven somewhere so that you have to ask, “Who will go up for us to heaven and get it for us that we can hear it and do it?” Nor is it across the ocean somewhere so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the ocean for us and get it for us that we can hear it and do it?” Not at all! The word is very close to you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart, waiting for you to do it. Photo by Joshua Earle The post Trust Yourself – Deuteronomy 30:9-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Have you ever felt exhausted and that the work that you do feels like it’s going nowhere? Or the things that you sacrifice don’t get the appreciation that you think it deserves? Yup, same here! But Galatians 6:1-16 reminds us that these efforts will pay off, if not today. It might sometimes feel like a long and difficult journey, but let’s be reminded that if we do everything with pure intention and love in our hearts, then that’s what really matters. Episode TranscriptBrian: Welcome to the Queer Theology podcast! Fr. Shay: Where each episode, we take a queer look at the week’s lectionary readings. We’re the co-founders of QueerTheology.com and the hosts for this podcast. I’m Father Shay Kearns B: And I’m Brian G. Murphy. Good morning!!! Today is Sunday, July 7th, 2019. We are going to be looking at Galatians 6:1-16, I will read it to you now. Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too. Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are important when they aren’t, they’re fooling themselves. Each person should test their own work and be happy with doing a good job and not compare themselves with others. Each person will have to carry their own load. Those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher. Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith. Look at the large letters I’m making with my own handwriting! Whoever wants to look good by human standards will try to get you to be circumcised, but only so they won’t be harassed for the cross of Christ. Those who are circumcised don’t observe the Law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised, so they can boast about your physical body. But as for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through him, and I have been crucified to the world. Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t mean anything. What matters is a new creation. May peace and mercy be on whoever follows this rule and on God’s Israel. Okay, Shay. Seems like there’s a little bit of beef that’s going on here. What do you make of this passage and what does it say for LGBTQ Christian folks. FS: Oh, Paul! B: I know right? FS: Or whoever wrote this, but probably Paul. I just, it just makes me laugh sometimes. B: Also like, gurl you’re boasting! FS: Oh always! Always, always, always. The thing that really jumped out at me this time was verses 7 through 10, this idea of harvesting what you plant. And particularly this: let’s not get tired of doing good because, in time, we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. I don’t know about you, but I’ve just been feeling exhausted lately. My body has been telling me that I’m exhausted with back pain and sickness. Some of that might be aging, but I think some of it is just the world that we live in. Right? And holding myself tense. So I’ve been thinking a lot about what is the work that I can do? What is it that I need to be planting right now? Where am I investing my time and energy? Where do I need to shake the dust off my feet and say, “I’m not doing that anymore.”? I think it’s been a helpful practice to just admit that you can not do everything. But also, just because you can’t do everything doesn’t mean that you are off the hook and you just get to do nothing. And so I think that this thinking, especially about planting and that the seeds that you are planting may not look like much right now, but that they will eventually create some kind of harvest. I think a lot about like it’s really important to again remember the context. This again is being written to a group of people who were marginalized and oppressed. Who were able to maybe just plant small things. And so I think sometimes, I want to say to straight, cis, white Christians: you might be exhausted too, but you don’t get off the hook at all. Because you have to be taking down the privilege and the world that you live in so that the people who are extra crushed under the weight of all of this can survive and can live. I’m seeing a lot of folks with a ton of privilege also talking about being exhausted which I hear, and I think is really valid. But also, they’re really protected from a lot of the things that are shit in the world. So I need folks to read this with a lens of like where you’re sitting in the spectrum of privilege, right? The work that you might be called to do might be more exhausting and we might need you to do that work so that folks that are being really ground down can have a respite for a couple of days. So that was I feel really rambling but like part of what’s coming up for me in this passage. B: I have two wildly different thoughts about this passage. There’s this whole bit about circumcision which I sort of love and want to get to. But this idea of planting and harvesting I think also really resonates with me and also, my little spidey senses go up a little bit. I’m worried that it could be twisted into this law of attraction or prosperity gospel: if you just do this, then this will happen. That God or the universe, in my experience, doesn’t really work that way. I think there’s something to leap and it will appear; build it and it will come; if you believe it you can achieve it. There is something there, but it’s not like a transaction. It’s not like a formula or an equation. And so, finding that balance between doing this work because you think it’s important and you trust that good will come of it. Sometimes, that sort of trust that you’re planting seeds that will be harvested in the future is what keeps you going, right? But how do you do that without falling into this: well, I’m only doing this because of that and the universe owes me. So I don’t know quite what to do there. Also, at the same time, this work that we do, we make no money from it or very, very little and we’ve been doing it for seven, eight years now. Sometimes, it’s just exhausting. We get hate mail constantly, and then in between that also, we get like people who are really struggling and going through it. It’s beautiful that we can walk alongside them and support them. I mean the number of LGBTQ teenagers who are living in closeted places, in anti-gay places that reach out to us and say that this has been a lifeline for me is staggering. It’s like a holy, beautiful responsibility and it takes work, and I’m happy to do it and I’m grateful for it. And also, sometimes people write and say, this thing that you wrote or this video that you made, or this thing that you posted years ago — I just found today and that helps me get up today. There is something true, we are planting seeds and sometimes we see the results right away. Like people will respond to the podcast the day it goes out, and sometimes people will years later say: I heard this and it made a difference. That definitely keeps me going. When the work is hard and the pay is not great, and I don’t have or I have terrible health insurance, at least we’re trying to build the kingdom of God together, so that’s cool! [outro music plays] B: The Queer Theology podcast is just one of many things that we do at QueerTheology.com which provides resources, community, and inspiration for LGBTQ Christians and straight cisgender supporters. FS: To dive into more of the action, visit us at QueerTheology.com. You can also connect with us online: on Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter, and Instagram. B: We’ll see you next week. Download the transcript (PDF) Today’s highlights: How the things that we do today, will reap a bountiful harvest in the future That it’s okay to feel exhausted and accept that we can’t do EVERYTHING Father Shay encourages us to look at this passage from where you are sitting in the spectrum of privilege. That while you are protected with this privilege, take advantage of it, so that those who don’t enjoy the same privilege as you do will get to survive. How “planting seeds and harvesting” relates to what Brian and Shay do in their day-to-day ongoings at QueerTheology Continue working on what you think you do best and know that someone out there is able to “deal” with life because of you Galatians 6:1-16 Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too. Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are important when they aren’t, they’re fooling themselves. Each person should test their own work and be happy with doing a good job and not compare themselves with others. Each person will have to carry their own load. Those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher. Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith. Look at the large letters I’m making with my own handwriting! Whoever wants to look good by human standards will try to get you to be circumcised, but only so they won’t be harassed for the cross of Christ. Those who are circumcised don’t observe the Law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised, so they can boast about your physical body. But as for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through him, and I have been crucified to the world. Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t mean anything. What matters is a new creation. May peace and mercy be on whoever follows this rule and on God’s Israel. Photo by Benjamin Davies The post What really matters – Galatians 6:1-16 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This year’s Pride celebration is such an important one for queer people. Not only are we still fighting the good fight, but we are also remembering the Stonewall Riots that happened 50 years ago. We honor the strong and courageous queer folks behind that uprising and continue the work that they have started 5 decades ago. Episode TranscriptBrian: Welcome to the Queer Theology podcast! Fr. Shay: Where each episode, we take a queer look at the week’s lectionary readings. We’re the co-founders of QueerTheology.com and the hosts for this podcast. I’m Father Shay Kearns B: And I’m Brian G. Murphy. Good morning and happy Pride! Today is Sunday, June 30th, 2019. It is Pride in New York City — World Pride. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. It’s a big weekend for queer people. It’s also my first Pride away from New York city in 11 years. I’ve been a queer man living in New York City for 11 years and so, Pride, in particular, and The Village and Stonewall all feels deeply personal to me. I’m excited to spend the morning talking about LGBTQ Pride and how that intersects with our lives and faith as queer Christians. So Shay, what do you have to say about this? FS: Yeah, it’s so interesting. I still feel like, you know, I always reflect on the fact that growing up, Pride was considered the worst of the sins. And then, coming out, I really had to grapple with what it meant to be proud of my identity and who I am. It seemed like the double sin, right? Because not only was I queer and trans — which was definitely not okay in the church that I grew up in. But also, I was gonna be proud about being queer and trans? Which just felt like a flaunting that was just more than people can handle. And over the years, I’ve come to really love this sense of being proud. Particularly proud of something that so many other folks denigrate and say, shouldn’t exist. I find a lot of strength in being proud of my identity and a lot of strength in this sense of pride as resistance. Especially moved, this year reflecting on the fact that it’s been 50 years since Stonewall. And that Stonewall wasn’t a parade, it was a riot, and it was an uprising. It was a group of poor and people of color, sex workers and trans-women of color who finally said: “No!” We are not gonna let you harass us anymore. We are not gonna let you shake us down for money. We are not gonna let you kick us out of this space that we have, that we love and that’s safe. We’re gonna fight back. It’s so beautiful that that’s what started this movement for rights and I’m glad that people are reflecting more about the fact that it wasn’t white cis-gays that started Stonewall and that it was trans-woman of color. I’m seeing that more in the narrative now which I think is really beautiful. And I am also reflecting about how much work there’s still is to be done. I went to this orchestra event the other night. It was a Pride event, so they were playing works by composers who were LGBT. And I was struck by 2 things: 1) they only had one trans composer in the program and they left her out of the program, but it was an accident, you know, air quotes. But I was just really struck by the fact that seriously, the one person that you are going to leave out is a trans woman. And then the night ended with a white cis-man, I’m assuming, doing this “Aren’t we so happy about marriage, equality. I couldn’t have even dream that as a kid. Happy Pride!” And I was sitting in the audience and they had a trans flag on stage which I was really moved by. But like, in the past month, multiple trans-man of color have been murdered. There have been multiple rollbacks for trans-protection from the current administration. And I felt like, how tone deaf do you need to be, to get on stage and say the fight’s been won. So I’m approaching this anniversary with both this sense of joy, of yes, how far we’ve come, and also there’s a shit ton of work still to do. So, let’s get on it and start doing the work. B: Yeah. So, so much work! You know, I’m really lucky that I’m surrounded by queer people all of the time. Almost all of my friends are queer, a significant number of my co-workers are queer. I grew up in the suburbs and was surrounded by all straight people, but since graduating college, I’ve lived in New York City and now Los Angeles. And so I take for granted that I’m around queer people all the time and that’s not true for everyone. So I think that Pride celebrations, especially in places outside big cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, are really a time where you can be amongst our people. I think that there’s something holy and sacred there. I think you were talking about how Pride was seen as this bad sin and you shouldn’t take pride in being queer. And I am so thankful that I’m queer and I find so much pride in my community. And I think that as a cis-white-bi-sexual, in a lot of ways, things are really good for me. There’s still a lot of shit in my world that I have to go through as a queer person still, and as a polyamorous person, right? But in general, I’m living my life. I think that our lives are enriched by our relationship and by people that have different experiences and bring different perspectives back to the table. So, I as a cis, white, bisexual, when I see folks who have been left out of the Pride narrative for too long and being put back into it and sort of being able to claim their place — that makes me happy because I think that our community is richer when we can see the full scope of history and depth and brilliance of our community. And just like here in QueerTheology we talk a lot about the importance of reading the Bible in its context. If you don’t read the Bible with an eye to the communities: who it was written by and for, and the socio-religious-political context of its time. You might miss some really important things. I think the same thing is true about the queer movement and the queer community. That you have to take us all in context: our historical context and the community context. We are so much richer and powerful when we see ourselves for who we are and embrace all parts of the community and work in solidarity for justice and freedom. FS: If you are interested in more of our takes around Pride and the different things we have done to cover pride over the years, we will put a link to all of those in the show notes. You can find that in the queertheology.com/283. [outro music plays] B: The Queer Theology podcast is just one of many things that we do at QueerTheology.com which provides resources, community, and inspiration for LGBTQ Christians and straight cisgender supporters. FS: To dive into more of the action, visit us at QueerTheology.com. You can also connect with us online: on Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter, and Instagram. B: We’ll see you next week. Download the transcript (PDF) This episode talks about: The deep and personal meaning of Pride to both Brian and Father Shay Remembering how the Stonewall riots changed the history of queer people Mad respect for the people of color and trans women of color who sacrificed a lot for the uprising 50 years ago The magnitude of work that still needs to be done for the rights and protection of queer people The importance of having a supportive community as a queer person How all this relates to reading the Bible in its context Here are some articles where we talk about Pride, our thoughts, and personal experience. Podcast: Pride is a virtue Podcast: Pride 2017 Spit & Spirit: Pride and Shame My First Pride Photo by Mercedes Mehling The post 50 Years of Stonewall – Pride 2019 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Depression is a difficult topic to discuss; while folks are (thankfully) talking about mental health more and more, there is still stigma even to this day. So it feels great to be able to see these issues explored in scripture. What’s better is that Psalm 42-43 tells us that we have the power to do something about it instead of the usual “suck it up”. Stay tuned to hear more about what we think about today’s passage. Episode TranscriptBrian: Welcome to the Queer Theology podcast! Fr. Shay: Where each episode, we take a queer look at the week’s lectionary readings. We’re the co-founders of QueerTheology.com and the hosts for this podcast. I’m Father Shay Kearns B: And I’m Brian G. Murphy. FS: Welcome to the Queer Theology podcast. It is Sunday, June 23rd and today, we are going to look at Psalm 42 and 43. Which is one of the texts for today, and I’m gonna go ahead and read it before we jump in. Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God. My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see God’s face? My tears have been my food both day and night, as people constantly questioned me, “Where’s your God now?” But I remember these things as I bare my soul: how I made my way to the mighty one’s abode, to God’s own house, with joyous shouts and thanksgiving songs— a huge crowd celebrating the festival! Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. My whole being is depressed. That’s why I remember you from the land of Jordan and Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your massive waves surged over me. By day the Lord commands his faithful love; by night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God, my solid rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies?” With my bones crushed, my foes make fun of me, constantly questioning me: “Where’s your God now?” Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. Establish justice for me, God! Argue my case against ungodly people! Rescue me from the dishonest and unjust! Because you are my God, my protective fortress! Why have you rejected me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies? Send your light and truth—those will guide me! Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place. Let me come to God’s altar— let me come to God, my joy, my delight— then I will give you thanks with the lyre, God, my God! Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. B: Ooohhh!! FS: Yeah! B: Yeah! I am so thankful for this passage. As someone who suffers from depression, it’s so beautiful and amazing to see the word depressed in scripture. And to see someone, that sort of saying, “My whole being is depressed. Why are you so depressed?” I relate to this. FS: Yeah! B: Yeah! This is real! The Bible is real! FS: And I also think about the fact that this is probably a worship song. Especially with that refrain that echoes over and over again. What would it have meant to me as a depressed teenager, in particular, to have gotten to sing a song like this on Sunday mornings instead of the if-you’re-not-happy-your-faith-must-not-that-strong-enough worship songs of my youth. B: Like you’re so great. Everything is great. I’m great. You’re amazing. Everything is wonderful. This is so great! FS: Yeah! And if it isn’t, Jesus is gonna fix it in a second — so be happy! B: Yeah, absolutely! And I think this pairs well with the passage that we were talking about last week — suffering. Last week we were talking about suffering under empire, and there’s some sort of suffering under — it might be some sort of chemical depression, sometimes bad shit happens in the world that causes you to be depressed. Sometimes your depression or anxiety is a completely rational and understandable response to the world around you. And we see some of that here, also and what I appreciate about it is it’s not like, “Oh well, like life is hard, but I’ll just lay here and take it because that’s what God wants for me.” Right? There’s this questioning — I ask myself, why are you depressed? Why are you so upset? Hope in God. But then in 43, it transitions to “Okay! If I’m going to hope in God then some shit is going to change.”Right?  Establish justice for me, God! Argue my case against ungodly people! Rescue me from the dishonest and unjust! Protect me. Send your light and truth. The physical circumstances have to change as well. It’s just not enough to be content in your suffering or say, pray and hope that something magical, internal thing happens — if that does happen for you, that’s amazing. But I appreciate here that this author is putting their hope in God, but also, saying that we gotta do this together and stuff around me has got to change. What about you Shay? FS: I love the deep sense of honesty in all of this and the humanity in it. Like you said, the sense that it’s not just — pray and hope in God, or pray more. It’s like I have hope in God even though the world is completely messed up. And also, I’m trusting that God is gonna fight my enemies and do something about this oppression that I’m feeling that is making me depressed. But I also like this question of “Why I ask myself why are you so depressed?” Because I think so many of us have asked ourselves that question in the midst of depression, especially when we’ve been in a space where external surroundings maybe don’t lead — it’s nothing is necessarily going wrong in our lives, we have people that love us, we have a safe place to live and something still isn’t right, and so we are asking that question. And I appreciate that this sense is like, it isn’t just why are you so depressed — get over it. It’s asking the question and not really answering it, and I appreciate that. Because I think that often, the responses that we get to depression are just suck it up and deal; or get over it; or you don’t have the right to feel that way. I feel that this passage let’s us sit in it in a way that is maybe helpful and healthy. B: Yeah! Totally! I’ve sometimes been depressed because my family was not great, was actually pretty bad when I came out as queer. But also, I have to go to therapy and see a psychiatrist and be on medication because sometimes I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m just depressed and I can’t just fix it. Both of those are okay, too. Both of those are reflected here. It’s so comforting to see like: Oh! I’m not alone in my clinical depression here. A few years ago, we looked at another lectionary text from this Sunday: 1st Kings. It’s about depression also, a depressed prophet, Elijah. You can listen to that at QueerTheology.com/186. [outro music plays] B: The Queer Theology podcast is just one of many things that we do at QueerTheology.com which provides resources, community, and inspiration for LGBTQ Christians and straight cisgender supporters. FS: To dive into more of the action, visit us at QueerTheology.com. You can also connect with us online: on Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter, and Instagram. B: We’ll see you next week. Download the transcript (PDF) In today’s episode, we talk about: Depression in the Bible How queer folks experience depression Scripture encouraging us to actually do something to make things better How we are not alone in feeling depressed; that there are others out there who are also going through tough times A year ago, we talked about how Elijah – a depressed prophet. You can listen to that episode over at QueerTheology.com/186 Psalm 42-43 Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God. My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see God’s face? My tears have been my food both day and night, as people constantly questioned me, “Where’s your God now?” But I remember these things as I bare my soul: how I made my way to the mighty one’s abode, to God’s own house, with joyous shouts and thanksgiving songs— a huge crowd celebrating the festival! Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. My whole being is depressed. That’s why I remember you from the land of Jordan and Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your massive waves surged over me. By day the Lord commands his faithful love; by night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God, my solid rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies?” With my bones crushed, my foes make fun of me, constantly questioning me: “Where’s your God now?” Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. Establish justice for me, God! Argue my case against ungodly people! Rescue me from the dishonest and unjust! Because you are my God, my protective fortress! Why have you rejected me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies? Send your light and truth—those will guide me! Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place. Let me come to God’s altar— let me come to God, my joy, my delight— then I will give you thanks with the lyre, God, my God! Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God. Photo by Ian Espinosa The post Depressed – Psalm 42-43 appeared first on 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.