In today’s episode, we answered a question from one of our Sanctuary Collective members about the Bible and how some use the Old Testament to promote abusive behaviors. “How do we call out Christians or Jews who use the OT to promote abusive behavior by individuals or nations without being anti Semitic?” Tune in to find out what we think about having to call out other groups. 

We also queered the text from Exodus which most, if not all of our listeners are familiar with. It’s the text that talks about and enumerates the 10 commandments. It nicely ties up to the question we answered in today’s episode as well. 

Key takeaways:

Links mentioned in this episode:

How to read the Bible – join the waitlist here

All Theology Is Contextual – watch the video and read the article here

Book mentioned: 

The Bible With and Without Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Brettler

Rabbis:

Rabbi Ruti Regan – https://twitter.com/RutiRegan

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You must have no other gods before me.

Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the Lord your God, am a passionate God. I punish children for their parents’ sins even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Do not use the Lord your God’s name as if it were of no significance; the Lord won’t forgive anyone who uses his name that way.

Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Do not do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you. Because the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them in six days, but rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother so that your life will be long on the fertile land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Do not kill.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s house. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

The post Queering the 10 Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17 appeared first on Queer Theology.

The question we received from Tumblr felt like it was created for Brian as he’s our resident expert on polyamory: “My partner and I are considering opening up our relationship due to differences in sex drive. I’m worried about the religious stuff surrounding that. Does the Bible say anything about polyamory?” Tune in to find out more about what the Bible says about polyamory.

We also queered the text from Genesis and we can see queerness all over it. From the fact that God allows changing of names such as that of Abraham and Sarah, to showcasing the greatness of our lineage. This text shows where all of us came from and there’s so much holiness in it that no one can deny.

Key takeaways:

Links mentioned in this episode:

Polyamory & Christianity

Tricky Questions About Sex

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk with me and be trustworthy. I will make a covenant between us and I will give you many, many descendants.” Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, “But me, my covenant is with you; you will be the ancestor of many nations. And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram but Abraham. I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you. I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you.

God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, you will no longer call her Sarai. Her name will now be Sarah. I will bless her and even give you a son from her. I will bless her so that she will become nations, and kings of peoples will come from her.”

Photo by Jennifer-Ann Coffin-Grey

The post Walk Into Your New Name – Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we answered a question from a listener about the Rapture and how we feel about it. “Do you ever get freaked out by the Rapture? I heard that it basically starts next year and it freaks me out a lot. What are your beliefs on the Rapture?” Tune in to listen to our answer. We think a lot of you will be able to relate. 

We also queered a text from 1 Peter that tells us that God is NOT some bully in heaven who wanted Jesus to suffer and die. It gives us reassurance that salvation comes through the resurrection. 

Key takeaways:

Links mentioned in this episode:

Dance Naked – click here to read

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all, the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God. Christ was put to death as a human, but made alive by the Spirit.  And it was by the Spirit that he went to preach to the spirits in prison.  In the past, these spirits were disobedient—when God patiently waited during the time of Noah. Noah built an ark in which a few (that is, eight) lives were rescued through water. Baptism is like that. It saves you now—not because it removes dirt from your body but because it is the mark of a good conscience toward God. Your salvation comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at God’s right side. Now that he has gone into heaven, he rules over all angels, authorities, and powers.

Photo by Mads Schmidt Rasmussen

The post Jesus, Suffering & Salvation – 1 Peter 3:18-22 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This episode is a little different because the question that we received from Tumblr is about a specific text and so we’re going to approach this episode as a 2-in-1: queer the text and answer a listener question all at the same time. The question: is there really a right or wrong way of praying? What is the best way to talk to the divine and have we been doing it wrong all this time? Tune in to hear our answers. 

Key takeaways:

Check out or get a copy of Queers The Word here

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

 “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get.  But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. “When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask.  Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. “If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Photo by KTMD ENTERTAINMENT

The post God, Praying & Anxiety – Matthew 6:5-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In this episode, we answer a question from a listener: Emma asks about the kingdom of God or heaven. It’s a question that we’re certain a lot of you are asking in your head right now. Stay tuned to find out what we think about the where’s and when’s of the Kingdom of God. 

We also queered the text from Isaiah which we are super happy to be able to talk about today. It also ties neatly into this week’s listener question. This text is a great reminder that God is indeed everywhere, one with us.

Key takeaways:

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?

    Wasn’t it announced to you from the beginning?

    Haven’t you understood since the earth was founded?

God inhabits the earth’s horizon—

    its inhabitants are like locusts—

    stretches out the skies like a curtain

    and spreads it out like a tent for dwelling.

    God makes dignitaries useless

    and the earth’s judges into nothing.

Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,

    scarcely is their shoot rooted in the earth

    when God breathes on them, and they dry up;

    the windstorm carries them off like straw.

So to whom will you compare me,

    and who is my equal? says the holy one.

Look up at the sky and consider:

    Who created these?

    The one who brings out their attendants one by one,

    summoning each of them by name.

Because of God’s great strength

    and mighty power, not one is missing.

Why do you say, Jacob,

    and declare, Israel,

    “My way is hidden from the Lord,

    my God ignores my predicament”?

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?

    The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the creator of the ends of the earth.

    He doesn’t grow tired or weary.

His understanding is beyond human reach,

    giving power to the tired

    and reviving the exhausted.

Youths will become tired and weary,

    young men will certainly stumble;

    but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength;

    they will fly up on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not be tired;

    they will walk and not be weary.

Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin

The post God is Everywhere – Isaiah 40:21-31 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we answer a question from one of our listeners about figuring out ways to come out as Christian to their non-religious queer group or chosen family. “How do you ‘come out’ as Christian when you’re not even sure yourself about this Jesus guy, but you can’t seem to shake the faith off?”

We queered the text from Mark 1:21-28. We adore the book of Mark because of how straight-forward it is. Jesus, in this text,  inspires people through his teachings. We love how Jesus is able to strike a chord with the people who were there to listen to him. This inspires us to be able to speak with authority and be able to reach out and touch the lives of more people. 

Key takeaways:

Mentioned in the episode:

Faithful Sexuality Course registration is now open until February 5, 2021. Click here to register.

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”

“Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.

Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Photo by Nick Fewings

The post The Divine Authority – Mark 1:21-28 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Today we answer an anonymous question from Tumblr about having to listen to their therapist go on about how being bi is wrong. The therapist is a Christian, but her opinion left our listener feeling depressed and scared about being outed by the therapist. “How can I escape this without outing myself or giving the therapist a chance to out me?”

We also queered the text from Mark 1:14-20 where it revealed to us the possible reason for Jesus’ path into public ministry. This reason illuminates how our movements today are sometimes moved into action. It also showed us what a true follower is and what it entails to truly believe in Jesus. It’s not simply saying a prayer, but to go out into the world and do the work. 

Key takeaways:

Mentioned in the episode:

Faithful Sexuality Course registration is now open until February 5, 2021. Click here to register.

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

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 Devin Avery

The post The Catalyst – Mark 1:14-20 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we answer a listener question wondering about the concepts of sin and Hell, and how Christianity teaches about them. Does not checking a certain set of boxes make you less of a Christian and does that mean you’ll go to Hell? 

We then queered the text from 1 Corinthians, one of the texts that is often used against us. It talks about sexual immorality and how our bodies are a  temple and should be treated as such. But it’s helpful to understand the history behind this text and how its writer, presumably Paul, might have some personal issues with his own body and with sex. More on that in today’s episode, so stay tuned.

Key takeaways:

Mentioned in the episode:

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I have the freedom to do anything, but I won’t be controlled by anything.  Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, and yet God will do away with both. The body isn’t for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.  God has raised the Lord and will raise us through his power. Don’t you know that your bodies are parts of Christ? So then, should I take parts of Christ and make them a part of someone who is sleeping around? No way!  Don’t you know that anyone who is joined to someone who is sleeping around is one body with that person? The scripture says, The two will become one flesh.  The one who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Avoid sexual immorality! Every sin that a person can do is committed outside the body, except those who engage in sexual immorality commit sin against their own bodies. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Don’t you know that you have the Holy Spirit from God, and you don’t belong to yourselves? You have been bought and paid for, so honor God with your body.

Photo by Simon Rae

The post My Temple My Rules – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Happy New Year! We hope you had a lovely NYE celebration, hopefully, safe and at home. 

In today’s episode, we received a reader question on Tumblr asking how to be proud of who you truly are and still be a Christian despite learning that being queer is a sin. “Is there anything in the Bible on accepting yourself and being proud of who you are without it being vanity?” 

We also queered the text from Acts which Fr. Shay loves because of how the early Christian community is messily and gloriously human. It also shows that if there is a compelling message or movement people always want to be part of it. Tune in to hear more of how we queered today’s text. 

Key takeaways:

Tricky Question About Sex Workshop: queertheology.com/trickyquestions

Links mentioned:

How to set Sexual Resolutions

Some resources about Pride: My First Pride, PRIDE (SHAME) issue of Spit & Spirit, Coming Down From The Pride High

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took a route through the interior and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you came to believe?”

They replied, “We’ve not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Then he said, “What baptism did you receive, then?”

They answered, “John’s baptism.”

Paul explained, “John baptized with a baptism by which people showed they were changing their hearts and lives. It was a baptism that told people about the one who was coming after him. This is the one in whom they were to believe. This one is Jesus.” After they listened to Paul, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in other languages and prophesying. Altogether, there were about twelve people.

Photo by Jeremy Bishop

The post Grow And Change – Acts 19:1-7 appeared first on Queer Theology.

In today’s episode, we answer an anonymous reader question from Tumblr. The reader is a transfeminine nonbinary person who is scared to transition for fear of a transphobic family. “What should I do? Do I lose everything for me or do I suffer for others?” 

We also queered the text from John 1:1-18 where we realize how similar the gospel is to Queer Theology and the work that we all do. We acknowledge the fact that there are congregations that read and understand the gospel of John in ways that it wasn’t meant to be understood. But more importantly, we recognize the beauty and boldness of what this text really means.  

Key takeaways:

Links mentioned:

If you want to support the Patreon and help keep the podcast up and running, you can learn more and pledge your support at patreon.com/queertheology

If you’d like to be featured in future episodes, email your question or Bible passage suggestion to [email protected] 

In the beginning was the Word

    and the Word was with God

    and the Word was God.

The Word was with God in the beginning.

Everything came into being through the Word,

    and without the Word

    nothing came into being.

What came into being

    through the Word was life,

    and the life was the light for all people.

The light shines in the darkness,

    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.

The true light that shines on all people

    was coming into the world.

The light was in the world,

    and the world came into being through the light,

        but the world didn’t recognize the light.

The light came to his own people,

    and his own people didn’t welcome him.

But those who did welcome him,

        those who believed in his name,

    he authorized to become God’s children,

        born not from blood

        nor from human desire or passion,

        but born from God.

The Word became flesh

    and made his home among us.

We have seen his glory,

    glory like that of a father’s only son,

        full of grace and truth.

John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;

    as the Law was given through Moses,

    so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God.

    God the only Son,

        who is at the Father’s side,

        has made God known.

Photo by Cosmopolitano Music

The post Body & Flesh Matters – John 1:1-18 appeared first on Queer Theology.