Queer Theology

Taking care of one another and acting kindly isn’t secondary to the gospel — it’s a central part of what it means to be baptized and “escape angry judgement.” We explore what that means for us as Christians and as LGBTQ people.  If you want some support in your faith journey, you are invited to join Sanctuary Collective, our online community of LGBTQ+ Christians and straight, cisgender supporters from around the world. You also get access to a library of resources including Spit & Spirit, our digital magazine, Reading Queerly, a course on how to read the Bible with a queer lens; An LGBTQ Christian Guide to Self Care, and more. If you just want to support the podcast and the work of Queer Theology, we would be so thankful. You can do that here or on Patreon. Transcript coming soon Luke 3:7-14 Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.” The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.” Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?” He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.” Photo by Tim Marshall  The post How to escape angry judgement – Luke 3:7-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

When considering how LGBTQ people fit into Christianity, it’s tempting to fall back on questions of “Is it ok?” and get stuck in arguments of hermeneutics and exegesis (which are important!) but in doing so miss the forest for the trees. This passage offers us some guidance on how we might discern God’s will and what is right and righteous. This isn’t about picking whatever we want or disregarding scriptural insight, instead it’s about figuring out what is it that the Bible really says and how does that relate to our own relationship with God and each other. Join Sanctuary Collective to be part of an encouraging and nourishing community of Christians (and seekers, questioners, and doubters) Support this podcast here or on Patreon Read the transcript (PDF) Philippians 1:9-11 This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God. Photo by Ben White The post How do we know God’s will? – Philippians 1:9-11 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This Sunday is “Christ the King” Sunday or “Reign of Christ” Sunday, depending on your church, and in today’s episode, we are talking about the “king” and “Lord” language used throughout the Christian scriptures and tradition to talk about Jesus. Why do we do that? What is it’s significant? And what are the political implications of that language? Read the transcript (PDF) Two of the passages for this week’s lectionary are Revelation 1:4b-8 and John 18:33-37 We wrestle with these issues and questions together with LGBTQ Christians and straight, cisgender supporters from around the world inside of Sanctuary Collective. If you want to dive deeper, you can learn more and signup at queertheology.com/community If you want to ensure that we can continue to produce this podcast, please consider supporting us with a one-time or monthly pledge at queertheology.com/support Photo by Joshua Eckstein  The post Christ the King appeared first on Queer Theology.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is a week away and in this podcast episode, we focus on three areas for LGBTQ Christians and straight, cisgender supporters (and churches as a body!) to get involved. We look at: What your church can do What you can do as an individual If you’re a pastor, what can be in your sermon this Sunday What will you do for this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter The post Transgender Day of Remembrance 2018 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This passage reminds us that God has a particular care for people who are marginalized, vulnerable, disenfranchised, and oppressed. In this episode we dig into why that’s important and what that means for our lives and relationships. Jeremiah 31:7-9 This is what the Lord says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, ‘Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.   Photo by Smit Patel The post Your identity matters – Jeremiah 31:7-9 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This passage is a sultry seduction and we do scripture a disservice when we try to “clean it up” and make it chaste. But it’s not necessarily fun and carefree. In this episode, we take a close look at sex and seduction. Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I seek security for you, so that things might go well for you? Now isn’t Boaz, whose young women you were with, our relative? Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. You should bathe, put on some perfume, wear nice clothes, and then go down to the threshing floor. Don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying. Then go, uncover his feet, and lie down. And he will tell you what to do.” Ruth replied to her, “I’ll do everything you are telling me.” So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. He was intimate with her, the Lord let her become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be blessed, who today hasn’t left you without a redeemer. May his name be proclaimed in Israel. He will restore your life and sustain you in your old age. Your daughter-in-law who loves you has given birth to him. She’s better for you than seven sons.” Naomi took the child and held him to her breast, and she became his guardian. The neighborhood women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They called his name Obed. He became Jesse’s father and David’s grandfather. The post Seduction – Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This episode is for the lectionary from October 21 — after recording this episode, Brian had a death in the family and was unable to publish it on schedule but we wanted you to hear it. Scripture is filled with folks wrestling with their place in their universe and their relationship with each other and that which is bigger than themselves. We are hungry to find meaning. In this episode, we explore how that plays out in Job. Job 38:1-7, 34-38 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: Who is this darkening counsel with words lacking knowledge? Prepare yourself like a man; I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me. The establishing of order Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Tell me if you know. Who set its measurements? Surely you know. Who stretched a measuring tape on it? On what were its footings sunk; who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang in unison and all the divine beings shouted? Can you issue an order to the clouds so their abundant waters cover you? Can you send lightning so that it goes and then says to you, “I’m here”? Who put wisdom in remote places, or who gave understanding to a rooster? Who is wise enough to count the clouds, and who can tilt heaven’s water containers so that dust becomes mud and clods of dirt adhere? The post Making Meaning – Job 38:1-7, 34-38 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In these two passages, we see that the “Old Testament God” and the “New Testament God” are one and the same. In Mark, Jesus is in conversation with his sacred text, the Hebrew Bible. Take a listen for some new insights that emerge when these passages are read together. Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Now these are the commandments, the regulations, and the case laws that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you to follow in the land you are entering to possess, so that you will fear the Lord your God by keeping all his regulations and his commandments that I am commanding you—both you and your sons and daughters—all the days of your life and so that you will lengthen your life. Listen to them, Israel! Follow them carefully so that things will go well for you and so that you will continue to multiply exactly as the Lord, your ancestors’ God, promised you, in a land full of milk and honey. Israel, listen! Our God is the Lord! Only the Lord! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Write them on your house’s doorframes and on your city’s gates. Mark 12:28-34 One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, 30 and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” The legal expert said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have truthfully said that God is one and there is no other besides him. And to love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered with wisdom, he said to him, “You aren’t far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. The post The Greatest Command Is Old – Deuteronomy 6:1-9 & Mark 12:28-34 appeared first on Queer Theology.

How do we relate to God? As Christian’s, we have a unique model for understanding the divine in the life and ministry of Jesus. In this episode, we clarify some misconceptions around what is “God’s word” and dive into the significance of the Christian message. Referenced in this episode: Polyamory & Christianity online workshop happening this Sunday, October 14! Register at queertheology.com/polyamory How to read the Bible Jesus positions himself in the context of John the Baptist who came before him and was influenced by his mother Mary Read the transcript (PDF) Hebrews 4:12-16 because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions. No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer. Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son;  because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin. Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help. The post How do we relate to God? – Hebrews 4:12-16 appeared first on Queer Theology.

We’ve look at this text a few times before (here, here, and embedded below). This week, we look at this section of the creation narrative and focus in on a few important themes: choice the power of names the purpose of this story marriage, monogamy, and purity culture Read the transcript (PDF) We’re hosting an online workshop about Christianity & polyamory on Sunday October 14. Register at queertheology.com/polyamory In this episode, Brian referenced understanding this passage better when he dated his first boyfriend. He writes about more here. Genesis 2:18-24 Then the Lord God said, “It’s not good that the human is alone. I will make him a helper that is perfect for him.” So the Lord God formed from the fertile land all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky and brought them to the human to see what he would name them. The human gave each living being its name. 20 The human named all the livestock, all the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But a helper perfect for him was nowhere to be found. So the Lord God put the human into a deep and heavy sleep, and took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh over it. With the rib taken from the human, the Lord God fashioned a woman and brought her to the human being. The human said, “This one finally is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She will be called a woman because from a man she was taken.” This is the reason that a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife, and they become one flesh. The post God trusts you to pick your partner – Genesis 2:18-24 appeared first on Queer Theology.