Queer Theology

What about the story of Jesus crucifixion between two thieves is so compelling? Brian and Shay talk about this text and how it confronts us and forces us to change.

The post Choosing to Die – Luke 23:33-43 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This week we talk about what it means to be persecuted for your faith. Is there really a war on Christians in the United States? How do we understand Jesus’ words in Luke that say we will be hated by those around us?

The post War on Who? – Luke 21:5-19 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay have a special podcast for Transgender Day of Remembrance. They talk about what this day means to them and offer specific ways that you can observe this special event.

To learn more about Transgender Day of Remembrance visit www.transgenderdor.org

The post Transgender Day of Remembrance 2013 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Who Are Your Saints? Brian and Shay talk about the festival of All Saints. What does it mean to have a day to remember and celebrate the saints? How can All Saints’ Day be commemorated queerly?

The post All Saints Day 2013 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay tackle this week’s uncomfortable Gospel reading. What is the difference between the tax collector and the Pharisee? What does this passage have to say to us today?

The post What about sin? – Luke 28:9-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay take a look at the story of Naaman and explore how it compares to the queer experience. Why do we sometimes believe we have to make things hard on ourselves? What would it look like if we simply decided to do the easy thing instead.

Read the transcript (PDF)

Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease. Now Aramean raiding parties had gone out and captured a young girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife.

She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master could come before the prophet who lives in Samaria. He would cure him of his skin disease.” 4 So Naaman went and told his master what the young girl from the land of Israel had said.

Then Aram’s king said, “Go ahead. I will send a letter to Israel’s king.”

So Naaman left. He took along ten kikkars of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. He brought the letter to Israel’s king. It read, “Along with this letter I’m sending you my servant Naaman so you can cure him of his skin disease.”

When the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes. He said, “What? Am I God to hand out death and life? But this king writes me, asking me to cure someone of his skin disease! You must realize that he wants to start a fight with me.”

When Elisha the man of God heard that Israel’s king had ripped his clothes, he sent word to the king: “Why did you rip your clothes? Let the man come to me. Then he’ll know that there’s a prophet in Israel.”

Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and become clean.”

But Naaman went away in anger. He said, “I thought for sure that he’d come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the bad spot, and cure the skin disease. Aren’t the rivers in Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all Israel’s waters? Couldn’t I wash in them and get clean?” So he turned away and proceeded to leave in anger.

Naaman’s servants came up to him and spoke to him: “Our father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? All he said to you was, ‘Wash and become clean.’” So Naaman went down and bathed in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said. His skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he became clean.

He returned to the man of God with all his attendants. He came and stood before Elisha, saying, “Now I know for certain that there’s no God anywhere on earth except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.”

The post Do the Easy Thing – 2 Kings 5:1-15 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about the gift of queer testimony and making space for queer and trans* people to tell their stories.

Check out this year’s Queer Theology Synchroblog!

The post Fan the Flame – 2 Timothy 1:1-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Shay talk about the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man in this week’s podcast. What are the importance of names in the story? What are the importance of names in the queer community? Tackling issues of Transgender Day of Remembrance and more, Brian and Shay queer this familiar story.

The post Names – Luke 16:19-31 appeared first on Queer Theology.

What is the role of negative emotion in the life of a Christian? Is it ever okay to be angry and rage? What is the role of a preacher in creating space for anger? Brian and Shay tackle a passage from Jeremiah.

Photo credit: Original by Moyan Brenn, modified under Creative Commons

The post Is There a Balm in Gilead? – Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 appeared first on Queer Theology.