Queer Theology

Brian and Shay tackle a passage that talks about marriage and sexual immorality! We talk about overcoming our own fear in reclaiming this text and also about the propensity of people to miss the point of this passage. With a dash of queer sexual ethics thrown in and a shifting of focus to radical politics, we’re turning this passage on its head! The post Missing the Point – Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This week we talk about how the prevalence of texts about justice and how much that means to us as people of faith. We also ask questions about what our communities think of us and if we’re really making a difference. Read the transcript (PDF) Isaiah 58:9b-14 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. The post What Will You Be Called? – Isaiah 58:9b-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

What does it mean to have faith? Who belongs in our “great cloud of witnesses”? Brian and Shay talk about the lectionary texts for August 18, 2013; Hebrews 11:29-12:2 and explore how they can be read queerly. The post Run The Race – Hebrews 11:29-12:2 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about the prophetic call of the Isaiah passage. What does this passage teach us about the Biblical interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah? What is our responsibility when it comes to being the church? What does conversion mean? Read the transcript (PDF) Isaiah 1:10-20 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! “The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. The post What Worship Is Required? – Isaiah 1:10-20 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about how the Psalms can bring meaning to community. What role do the Psalms play in communal dreaming? How do these songs give hope in the face of oppression. Read the transcript (PDF) Psalm 107 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. The post Communal Tradition – Psalm 107 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about the importance of dreaming big dreams and asking for audacious requests. What are the things we’re asking for from our church communities? Where should our dreams be bigger and our asks more daring? The post What Are You Asking For? Luke 11:1-13 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about Mary and how she violates gender roles in order to be closer to Jesus and what the implications are for the church today. The post What’s Your Role? Luke 10:38-42 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about the message that queer people have been given. We talk about learning to trust ourselves, to trust our experiences, and to speak from our truth. Read the transcript (PDF) The post It’s In Your Heart: Deut 30:9-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about what it means to leave a church or a community as a form of protest. When you decide to leave, how should you do it? What does it mean to leave a community? Read the transcript (PDF) The post Shake It Off – Luke 10:1-11 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about how important it is to honor the people who came before us and also to pass off the work to a new generation. How can we handle transitions well? How do we create rituals to mark important moments in our lives? Read the transcript (PDF) 2 Kings 2:1-2 Now the Lord was going to take Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, and Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, because the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 2 Kings 6-14 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, because the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So both of them went on together. Fifty members from the group of prophets also went along, but they stood at a distance. Both Elijah and Elisha stood beside the Jordan River. Elijah then took his coat, rolled it up, and hit the water. Then the water was divided in two! Both of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “What do you want me to do for you before I’m taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Let me have twice your spirit.” Elijah said, “You’ve made a difficult request. If you can see me when I’m taken from you, then it will be yours. If you don’t see me, it won’t happen.” They were walking along, talking, when suddenly a fiery chariot and fiery horses appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm. Elisha was watching, and he cried out, “Oh, my father, my father! Israel’s chariots and its riders!” When he could no longer see him, Elisha took hold of his clothes and ripped them in two. Then Elisha picked up the coat that had fallen from Elijah. He went back and stood beside the banks of the Jordan River. He took the coat that had fallen from Elijah and hit the water. He said, “Where is the Lord, Elijah’s God?” And when he hit the water, it divided in two! Then Elisha crossed over. The post Passing the Mantle – 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.