The Queer Christian: Navigating Faith, Church and the Bible

This sermon was delivered the Sunday after the 2024 Presidential election.

An election that has left many fearful.

Today we sit in our grief, tomorrow we sit in our anger, and then after that we accept that empire will never save us and we mobilize to create more just and safer communities and political systems

Struggling to decide on an abortion?

Bad news from an amnio or genetic screening?

Still feeling guilt from a previous abortion?

Reluctant to vote for a pro-choice candidate?

This short podcast could change your life.

“I’m afraid I’m going to hell because I’m not attracted to men. Please give me an unbiased interpretation of Romans 1.”

We received this question from a young woman, M.V.

This podcast was created by one of Google’s newest AI engines, NotebookLM. (https://notebookLM.google.com)

We gave NotebookLM M.V.’s question and these six quotes:

1. Justin Lee, from the book: “Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate”:

“Paul’s writings in Romans 1 are about people who turned away from God and engaged in lustful, excessive behaviors. This is different from a loving, committed same-sex relationship.”

2. Janet Edmonds who I have quoted frequently in this series, says in part: “The behavior Paul (…author of the book of Romans…) was addressing here is explicitly associated with idol worship (probably temple prostitution…’

“In the surrounding culture it was common for men of a higher status to take sexual advantage of male slaves or male prostitutes…”

“The laws at the time in Rome allowed a master to demand sexual services from any slave, male or female”

“Paul was not talking about homosexuality and didn’t have in mind specifically prohibiting consensual same-sex relationships.”

3. Matthew Vines, in his book “God and the Gay Christian”: says

“Paul’s references to ‘unnatural’ relations in Romans 1:26-27 are often misunderstood. He was addressing specific cultural practices of his time, not committed, loving same-sex relationships as we understand them today.”

4. Rev. Dr. Mel White, Book: “What the Bible Says—and Doesn’t Say—about Homosexuality”:

“Romans 1:26-27 must be read in the context of the entire chapter, which condemns idolatry and excessive lust, not loving same-sex relationships.”

5. Kathy Baldock, in her book “Walking the Bridgeless Canyon”:

“Paul’s use of ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ in Romans 1 reflects the cultural norms of his time, not a universal condemnation of same-sex relationships.”

6. James Brownson, “Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships”:

“Romans 1, 26 and 27 addresses behaviors that were seen as dishonorable and excessive, not the loving, committed relationships we see today.”

For more information about NotebookLM:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LMPb9JJnosPj8SPVRSF9z?si=rrOjkTrAR0eGO0Otrv5zfg&t=1466&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A44fllCS2FTFr2x2kjP9xeT

What do you say to a gay son or daughter when they come out?

With the benefit of hindsight Linda Robertson shares her thoughts on what she wishes she had said to her 12-year-old son Ryan when he came out.

This podcast is extracted from an interview with Becky Aste (a Trauma-Informed Marriage Coach) on her podcast, Your Breakthrough Blueprint, from an emotional episode called, Can I love God and my gay son too?

The complete interview is available on:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0O222LNg1w96K5VjlTOIkK?si=JZW0jHFnTvOhUDb3td-FLA

And Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-breakthrough-blueprint-with-becky-aste-for-the/id1676348200?i=1000664115395

Additional resources:

Linda’s website and original post: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/

Helpful resources recommended by Linda: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/resources/

https://reformationproject.org/resources/

https://www.qchristian.org/

Linda and Ryan’s Story:

Linda’s blog: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/blog-posts/

Long version filmed at Towne View Baptist Church in Kennesaw, GA in May 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3xiDek0aXg

Shorter version at NorthPoint Church in Atlanta from May 2021, which includes a question-and-answer session (helpful for parents):

https://youtu.be/wNS77sfT2zY?si=gzqrA6Yn1dzoRTYa

You can also view their story as part of the movie: For They Know Not What They Do, available on:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/They-Know-Not-What-Do/dp/B08HQYQJLC/

and iTunes: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/for-they-know-not-what-they-do/umc.cmc.2fm6il6v1aw47v5nvdv16w1nc

Linda’s Parent Support Group that meets every Wednesday: https://fs9.formsite.com/4BUph1/amlfznmjbc/index.html

The QChristian Fellowship: https://www.qchristian.org/

The QChristian Fellowship Parent team: https://www.qchristian.org/parents

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠⁠

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

I am 12-years old and gay.

In 2001, Ryan Robertson, 12-years old, reached out to his mother on Instant Messenger. Their lives forever changed.

Then, 11 years later, Linda Robertson told their story publicly on Facebook, hoping that it would help other families avoid the missteps and pain they experienced.

Here is the original Facebook post, read and dramatized by AI generated voices. I have changed only a few words for clarity.

Linda’s website and original FB post: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/

Helpful resources recommended by Linda: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/resources/

https://reformationproject.org/resources/

https://www.qchristian.org/

Linda and Ryan’s Story:

Linda’s blog: https://justbecausehebreathes.com/blog-posts/

Long version filmed at Towne View Baptist Church in Kennesaw, GA in May 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3xiDek0aXg

Shorter version at NorthPoint Church in Atlanta from May 2021, which includes a question-and-answer session (helpful for parents):

https://youtu.be/wNS77sfT2zY?si=gzqrA6Yn1dzoRTYa

You can also view their story as part of the movie: For They Know Not What They Do, available on:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/They-Know-Not-What-Do/dp/B08HQYQJLC/

and iTunes: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/for-they-know-not-what-they-do/umc.cmc.2fm6il6v1aw47v5nvdv16w1nc

Linda’s Parent Support Group that meets every Wednesday: https://fs9.formsite.com/4BUph1/amlfznmjbc/index.html

The QChristian Fellowship: https://www.qchristian.org/

The QChristian Fellowship Parent team: https://www.qchristian.org/parents

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠ 

AI synthesized speech: ⁠⁠Speechelo⁠⁠ and Descrpt

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

Almost half its users are Queer: Dateability is a dating app designed for the disabled and chronically ill communities.

Individuals with disabilities or chronic illness often encounter problems on dating apps. Alexa and Jacqueline Child have created Dateability, a safe and accepting space to find meaningful connections for people with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities.

To learn more about Dateability:

https://info.dateabilityapp.com/

Quote from Autism Research Center: https://autism.org/lgbtq-and-autism/

Elton’s Three Affirming Podcasts:

Bible and Homosexuality: An LGBTQ Positive View

https://open.spotify.com/show/4hXGABXM2JxyBJNAtqwc0m

The Queer Christian: Navigating Faith, Church and the Bible:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2iDmc5boju3rZyAYqiLOUA

La Biblia y La Homosexualidad - Valorando Minorías Sexuales: https://open.spotify.com/show/1prENuZWHDjYUsiRU684pd

Elton’s Three Rotary Podcasts:

Development Success Stories: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ezxqZIuL6OMFHC7dYLhNK

Inspiring Solutions for a Better World: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IDQhRnwnT1iqINDJo6rXc

The Weekly Rotarian:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3fbnO3K6fxKt9pfaTp8mYn

To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley: https://siliconvalleyrotary.com/

Gisell Quihuis, the Director of Faculty Development and Diversity at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and I have created a Spanish Version of this podcast called: “La Biblia y La Homosexualidad”

In this episode I also introduce my AI generated Spanish co-host, Catalina Maestra, who will be making appearances in some future English episodes.

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠ 

Synthesized speech using: ⁠⁠Maestra.ai

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

#Spanish

A transgender listener shares their pre-transition struggles and brings a unique perspective to Matthew 19:12.

For more on Matthew 19, and Jesus’s affirming words, see episodes: 6, 7, and 16.

Link to various translations of Matthew 19:12: https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%2019:12

Link to the history of the transgender flag: https://www.pointofpride.org/blog/the-history-of-the-transgender-flag

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠ 

Synthesized speech also using Descript

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

Is same sex attraction a mental illness?

UCLA Prof. Evelyn Hooker, whose research showed that gay men were just as mentally healthy as straight men. And how one cleverly designed experiment changed the views of many medical professionals and theologians.

Articles quoted:

Catholic Catechism: https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/568/

The Pope Speaks: https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-pope-chile-gay-20180520-story.html#:~:text=In%202013%2C%20Francis%20famously%20said,Catholic%20views%20on%20sexual%20orientation

Early DSMs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4695779/#:~:text=Moor%20%5B44%5D;%20Tripp%20%5B45,as%20a%20%E2%80%9Csexual%20deviation.%E2%80%9D

APA on same-sex attraction: https://www.psychiatry.org/file%20library/about-apa/organization-documents-policies/policies/position-2013-homosexuality.pdf  (see second sentence)

Mainstream health organizations:https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts#:~:text=the%20idea%20that%20homosexuality

Finding Affirming, Sex-Positive Counselors Who Do NOT Believe in Conversion Therapy:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt#organizations

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/california?category=gay (Find the LGBTQ Affirming pull-down or edit the URL and replace “California” with “Texas” or whatever state you’re in)

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/finding-an-lgbtq-therapist/

• https://allintherapyclinic.com/how-to-find-an-lgbt-affirming-therapist/

• https://directory.choosingtherapy.com/

• https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org/

On-line therapy:

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/best-lgbtq-online-therapy-options/

• https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/lgbtqia