Queer Theology

This week, we tease out the tension between “living a good Christian life” as has been come to be defined by the white, straight, conservative status quo and the consequences of following Jesus’s message. We also look at “taking up your” cross and what that means. Following Christ is risky, but in the end, we think it’s worth it. We’re tackling the politics of Jesus all Lent long. Sign up for updates to stay in the loop! We’re also reading The Last Week, a book about the meaning and political implications of Jesus’s life, ministry and in particular his death and resurrection, in Sanctuary Collective. You’re invited to join! Read the transcript (PDF) Mark 8:31-38 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: “The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts, and be killed, and then, after three days, rise from the dead.” He said this plainly. But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him. Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then sternly corrected Peter: “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me and because of the good news will save them. Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels. Photo by dino_b The post What will you give in exchange for your life? – Mark 8:31-38 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In Mark’s gospel, Jesus gets his understanding of himself and his mission confirmed by God… and then forced out into the wilderness. He is baptized into a movement by John the Baptist, who is then arrested. It’s tempting to see “figuring out” ourselves, our call, and our relationship with God as the goal, but in many ways, that’s just the start of a journey full of obstacles. Who are you, who are we, and how do we move forward faithfully? Read the transcript (PDF) Show notes This is how Mark starts his gospel! We talked about the last 2 verses a few weeks ago: Change your heart & your life – Mark 1:14-15 Jesus is confirmed in his path… and then drive out into the wilderness. That’s something LGBTQ can often relate to After John Went to Jail As queer people come to understand ourselves, our truth, and our relationship with God, we are sometimes pushed into our own wilderness: out of family, friends, churches, and communities Remember: Jesus is connected to a movement that predates him Coming out can sometimes feel like the “end” of a journey, but it’s often just the beginning Creating a sexual ethic after coming out The nuts and bolts of creating a sexual ethic Synchroblog 2018: what are we called to do and be in the world? Mark 1:9-15 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him. After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” The post Figuring out your relationship with God – Mark 1:9-15 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this episode, we are challenged by 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 to inspect our faith, our lives, our churches, our communities, and our politics to see if it truly reflects the glory of God and Jesus Christ. Read the transcript (PDF) Show notes This is God’s good news This is my good news… Change your heart & your life Building a Bible-based faith that isn’t terrible Why “Have you accepted Jesus?” is the wrong question Synchroblog 2018: Queer Calling 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 This is why we don’t get discouraged, given that we received this ministry in the same way that we received God’s mercy. Instead, we reject secrecy and shameful actions. We don’t use deception, and we don’t tamper with God’s word. Instead, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God by the public announcement of the truth. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are on the road to destruction. The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who don’t have faith so they couldn’t see the light of the gospel that reveals Christ’s glory. Christ is the image of God. We don’t preach about ourselves. Instead, we preach about Jesus Christ as Lord, and we describe ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. God said that light should shine out of the darkness. He is the same one who shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. The post LGBTQ Christians reflect the glory of Jesus Christ – 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Paul is super passionate about spreading the gospel and so are we! Asking what our queerness can teach us about Christianity doesn’t taint Christianity, it  unlocks a greater, more profound, more prophetic dimension that we might otherwise miss. Read the transcript (PDF) In this episode, we mention this year’s Synchroblog Harvey Milk’s “I’m here to recruit you” line How “obligation” to Christ is greater than trying to avoid hell Following Christ can be liberating and life-giving   1 Corinthians 9:16-23 If I preach the gospel, I have no reason to brag, since I’m obligated to do it. I’m in trouble if I don’t preach the gospel. If I do this voluntarily, I get rewarded for it. But if I’m forced to do it, then I’ve been charged with a responsibility. What reward do I get? That when I preach, I offer the good news free of charge. That’s why I don’t use the rights to which I’m entitled through the gospel. Although I’m free from all people, I make myself a slave to all people, to recruit more of them. I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law). I act like I’m outside the Law to those who are outside the Law, so I can recruit those outside the Law (though I’m not outside the law of God but rather under the law of Christ). I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it. The post We want to recruit you – 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Fr. Shay recently wrote an article about why you should make spiritual resolutions and in this episode of the podcast, we respond to a reader question and dive into how you can go about doing that. Read the transcript (PDF) In this episode, we reference: Rob Bell’s What Is The Bible? Sanctuary Collective The post Community Question: How do you make spiritual resolutions? appeared first on Queer Theology.

The Gospel of Mark — the earliest written of the gospels — jumps right into the action with the arrest of John the Baptist and the start of Jesus’s public ministry. He calls his first disciples and asks them to change their heart, change their life, and trust the good news. What did that mean for them and what does it mean for us? Read the transcript (PDF) In this episode, we reference Jesus describing his “good news” in Luke 4. Here’s some more on that. Mark 1:14-20 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” Right away, they left their nets and followed him. After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. Photo by paladinsf The post Change your heart & your life – Mark 1:14-20 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Fr. Shay experience this passage in two different ways — and that’s ok! For some, this passage is comforting and for others this is creepy and overbearing. It’s a passage that’s been used against queer and trans people but also maybe has a poetic message that can connect you with King David and resonate with you. Read the transcript (PDF) Psalm 139 1-6; 13-18 Lord, you have examined me.     You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up.     Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting.     You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord,     that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back.     You put your hand on me. That kind of knowledge is too much for me;     it’s so high above me that I can’t fathom it. You are the one who created my innermost parts;     you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb. I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart.     Your works are wonderful—I know that very well. My bones weren’t hidden from you     when I was being put together in a secret place,     when I was being woven together in the deep parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my embryo,     and on your scroll every day was written that was being formed for me,     before any one of them had yet happened. God, your plans are incomprehensible to me!     Their total number is countless! If I tried to count them—they outnumber grains of sand!     If I came to the very end—I’d still be with you. Photo by Kaptain Kobold The post You knit me together – Psalm 139 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Happy New Year from Fr. Shay and Brian! In this week’s episode, we’re talking all about the start of the year and how to enter it with intention without setting a bunch of overwhelming resolutions. This might sound a bit “secular” but living with intention is important for our spiritual life as well, and we talk about that too. It’s also time for this year’s Queer Theology Synchroblog! The prompt for this year is, “What does your queerness or transness call you to do and be in the world?” You can get all the info on how to participate at queertheology.com/synchroblog And we’re just about to start a new book in Sanctuary Collective. This month, we’re reading Juliet Takes A Breath by Gaby Rivera. We’ve love for you to join us! Read the transcript (PDF) Photo by T@H!R – طاھر The post New Year, New You appeared first on Queer Theology.

  This week’s passage is part of Mary’s Magnificat — a badass hymn that shows how she understands God. Already, before Jesus is even born, we see the seeds of what will become his ministry planted and nurtured by his mother Mary. Holidays can be tough for LGBTQ folks with unaffirming families or churches. We put together a 3-part video series to help you through it. Get it here. Read the transcript (PDF) Luke 1:47-55     In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name. He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” The post Mary’s understanding of God – Luke 1:47-55 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This passage from Isaiah will become the opening thesis of Jesus’s ministry (as told in Luke 4). In it, we get a sense of God’s priorities (and what will become the priorities of Jesus as well). This is the work that we’re called to be part of. Read the transcript (PDF) Isaiah 61:1-4 The Lord God’s spirit is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and a day of vindication for our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for Zion’s mourners, to give them a crown in place of ashes, oil of joy in place of mourning, a mantle of praise in place of discouragement. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by the Lord to glorify himself. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore formerly deserted places; they will renew ruined cities, places deserted in generations past. The post This is God’s good news – Isaiah 61:1-4 appeared first on Queer Theology.