The Queer Christian: Navigating Faith, Church and the Bible

What did Jesus mean when he said, “Some are born eunuchs? Is this common translation (of Matthew 19.11-12) correct?

Homework Assignment from Episode 6

Who do you think Jesus is talking about in each of the three types of sexual minorities in Matthew 19: 11-12?

Answers

1. “Those who have been so FROM BIRTH.”

· Narrowest plausible answers: G or gay men; or Men who do not lie with women; or queer men.

· Broadest plausible answers: LGBTQIA+; or sexual and gender minorities; or those born sexually different; or queer people.

· Incorrect: Only those born without testicles.

Jesus is saying SOME sexual minorities are formed in their mother’s wombs for something OTHER THAN a traditional, husband-wife marriage with traditional gender roles.

2. “Those who have been made so BY OTHERS”

· Narrowest plausible answer: men who have been castrated by others.

· Broadest plausible answers: LGBTQIA+; sexual and gender minorities; those born sexually different; or queer people.

Jesus is saying SOME are sexual minorities for love. And, SOME are sexual minorities because of the influence of others (parents, friends, lovers, etc.)

3. “Those who have made themselves so FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”

· Narrowest plausible answer: men who are celibate for life for spiritual reasons, e.g., Roman catholic priests.

· Broadest plausible answer: all people who choose celibacy, even for one night when to have sex would be adulterous, or deceitful, or dishonest, etc.

Jesus is saying there are times in everyone’s life when celibacy is the God-honoring way to live: It can be for one night; It can be for a season of life; and for a few, for a lifetime.

Greek-English Translation

· https://biblehub.com/greek/2135.htm

· https://biblehub.com/psb/matthew/19.htm

References and URLs:

Reverend Jeff Miner quotes:

www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_evidence/born_gay

and books: www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ARev.+Jeff+Miner

Janet Edmonds quotes:

https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses

For more from my research about eunuchs in antiquity, see the notes in episode 6.

Quotes voiced by Speechelo

#affirmingchurch #gaychristian #lgbtpride #FaithfullyLGBT #affirming #lgbtchristian #pride #biblestudy #dobetteryounglife

Today, we look at Jesus own words on the topic of sexual and gender minorities.

Who are the three types of sexual minorities Jesus is talking about in Matthew 19:11-12?

1. “Those who have been so FROM BIRTH.”

2. “Those who have been made so BY OTHERS”

3. “Those who have made themselves so FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”

For the “homework,” use whatever translation you are most comfortable with:

· “Eunuch” or “sexually different.”

· “Mother’s womb” or “birth.”

Match the letters LGBTQIA+ with the three sexual minorities Jesus calls out:

1. from BIRTH;

2. by OTHERS; or

3. for the KINGDOM

LGBTQIA+ brief definitions: https://lgbtqiainfo.weebly.com/acronym-letters-explained.html

More detailed definitions: https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/what-does-lgbtqia-stand-for-full-acronym-explained.html

You are answering the question:

Who is Jesus talking about in each of these 3 groups?

· Some of Jesus categories may map to multiple letters.

· And some letters may be used more than once.

· You may also use terms not normally associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. For example, “castrated men” or “infertile men.”

References and URLs:

Janet Edmonds quotes:

https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses

From my research about eunuchs in antiquity:

1. www.gaychristian101.com/eunuchs-are-gay.html

2. www.thoughtco.com/eunuchs-in-the-roman-empire-121003

3. http://epistle.us/hbarticles/eunuchs1.html

4. http://epistle.us/hbarticles/eunuchs2.html

5. http://theologyattheedge.co.uk/tears-in-god-s-wineskin/31-tigw-part-1-eunuchs-eunuchs-in-the-old-testament

6. http://theologyattheedge.co.uk/tears-in-god-s-wineskin (see bottom 4 references)

7. https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~wstevens/riseofeunuchs.pdf see page 497.

8. https://books.google.com/books?id=tlvMHa6qKloC&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=Spadones

Quotes voiced by Speechelo

#Biblestudy #Christian #gaychristian #lgbtpride #Jesus #Christ #Affirming #lgbtchristian #Bible #QueerYouthOfaith #affirmingchurch #FaithfullyLGBT #queerallies #progressivechristian #affirmingchristian #trans #Lgbt #gay #Homosexual #Homosexuality

We continue examining the two "clobber verses" in the book of Leviticus with an affirming, LGBTQIA+ positive view of Bible scripture.

These two “clobber verses” (Leviticus 18.22 and Leviticus 20.13) have given many Christians great heartache. Do they really condemn all male homosexuality?

An older version of this episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WSU-DOLNbmw

References and URLs:

1. Janet Edmonds quotes and sources:

http://tiny.cc/Janet1

And http://tiny.cc/Janet2

2. Dr. Ralph Blair quotes: https://ecinc.org/clobber-passages/leviticus-1822-2013/

Levitical clobber verses:

3. https://sophiedora.wordpress.com/2019/03/05/the-clobber-verses/#:~:text=Leviticus%2018:22

4. https://postbarthian.com/2017/10/11/clobber-verses-six-scriptures-cited-gays-lesbians-sex-relationships-lgbtq/#:~:text=Levitical%20Law%20says

5. https://www.religioustolerance.org/interpreting-Leviticus-18-22.htm

6. List of Levitical sins: https://hill-kleerup.org/blog/2012/06/13/76-things-banned-in-leviticus-and-their-penalties.html

7. https://www.religioustolerance.org/hombiblot.htm#:~:text=Leviticus%2018:22

8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_Hebrew_Bible#Leviticus_18_and_20

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_homosexuality#Leviticus_18_and_20

10. https://unclobber.mykajabi.com/unclobbering-leviticus#:~:text=Preview

Travel safety for LQBTQIA+ individuals, families and employees:

A. www.asherfergusson.com/lgbtq-travel-safety/

B. www.safehome.org/data/lgbtq-state-safety-rankings/

C. www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/who-you-are/LGBTI

Quotes voiced by Speechelo

#Biblestudy #Christian #gaychristian #lgbtpride #Affirming #lgbtchristian #Bible #QueerYouthOfaith #affirmingchurch #FaithfullyLGBT #queerallies #progressivechristian #affirmingchristian #trans #Lgbt  #gay #Homosexual #Homosexuality

These two "clobber verses" in the book of Leviticus are among the Bibles most challenging scriptures. Join us as we continue with an affirming, LGBTQIA+ positive view of the Bible.

Today: Leviticus 18 verse 22 and Leviticus 20 verse 13.

References and URLs:

Levitical clobber verses:

1. https://ecinc.org/clobber-passages/leviticus-1822-2013/

2. https://sophiedora.wordpress.com/2019/03/05/the-clobber-verses/#:~:text=Leviticus%2018:22

3. https://postbarthian.com/2017/10/11/clobber-verses-six-scriptures-cited-gays-lesbians-sex-relationships-lgbtq/#:~:text=Levitical%20Law%20says

4. https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses/#:~:text=Leviticus

5. https://www.religioustolerance.org/interpreting-Leviticus-18-22.htm

6. List of Levitical sins: https://hill-kleerup.org/blog/2012/06/13/76-things-banned-in-leviticus-and-their-penalties.html

7. https://www.religioustolerance.org/hombiblot.htm#:~:text=Leviticus%2018:22

8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_Hebrew_Bible#Leviticus_18_and_20

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_homosexuality#Leviticus_18_and_20

10. https://unclobber.mykajabi.com/unclobbering-leviticus#:~:text=Preview

Travel safety for LQBTQIA+ individuals, families and employees:

A. www.asherfergusson.com/lgbtq-travel-safety/

B. www.safehome.org/data/lgbtq-state-safety-rankings/

C. www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/who-you-are/LGBTIQuotes voiced by Speechelo

#Biblestudy #Christian #gaychristian #lgbtpride #Affirming #lgbtchristian #Bible #QueerYouthOfaith #affirmingchurch #FaithfullyLGBT #queerallies #progressivechristian #affirmingchristian #trans #Lgbt #gay #Homosexual #Homosexuality

We dive deeper into these first two clobber verses: “Sodom and Gomorrah” in Genesis 19 and “The Murder of the Levite’s Concubine” in Judges 19-21.

What is really going on in these two stories? Are these mobs of gay rapists…? And what should we learn from these stories?

Transcript: https://affirmingscripture.com/3

A previous version of this episode called Mobs of Gay Rapists? is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zsCqbh9rAGg  (the audio is not quite as good as the podcast)

References and URLs:

“ANGELS OF INDETERMINATE GENDER IN GENESIS 19”

by Rev. Dave Barnhart (quoted in this episode– this URL loads slowly)

http://tiny.cc/DaveB1

More on the gender of Angels:

https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Gender_variance_in_Christianity#Angels_in_Christianity

Rape in clobber verses #1 and #2 -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_the_Hebrew_Bible#Genesis_19

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_the_Hebrew_Bible#Judges

And for more information on: Sodom and Gomorrah see episode 1 and its notes.

And for more information on: The Murder of the Levite’s Concubine see episode 2 and its notes.

Judges Chapters 19-21 parallels and foreshadows sexual violence against women, people of color, sexual minorities, slaves, prisoners and indigenous peoples. Here are a few references:

History of sexual violence against sexual minorities:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5791869/

www.jstor.org/stable/i40206369

www.jstor.org/stable/40663407

www.rainn.org/articles/lgbtq-survivors-sexual-violence

http://tiny.cc/Violence1

Sexual abuse of slaves in America:

http://tiny.cc/slaveryref1

http://tiny.cc/slaveryref2

Rape during wars:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wartime_sexual_violence

www.hrw.org/video-photos/interactive/2017/10/05/they-said-we-are-their-slaves

Sexual violence throughout history:

http://tiny.cc/Violence2

The rape of Indigenous peoples in America:

www.jstor.org/stable/25605630

Rap of men during wars and conflicts:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wartime_sexual_violence#Rape_of_men

This dark story of sexual violence has been twisted to blame gay men… Yet it has nothing to do with consensual same-sex relationships. Spanning three chapters in the Book of Judges, the Murder of the Levite’s Concubine foreshadows the treatment of minorities around the world.

Transcript: https://affirmingscripture.com/2

This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TNFQpguSvb0  (although the audio is not quite as good as the podcast).

References and URLs for this podcast on The Murder of the Levite’s Concubine:

1. https://whosoever.org/the-bible-and-homosexuality-judges-19/

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levite%27s_concubine

3. https://sophiedora.wordpress.com/2019/03/05/the-clobber-verses/

4. https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses/

5. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/concubine-of-levite-bible

6. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/030908929502006705?journalCode=jota

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_the_Hebrew_Bible #Judges

#Biblestudy #Christian #gaychristian #lgbtpride #Homosexual #Homosexuality#Affirming #lgbtchristian #Churchtoo #Rapeculture #Sexualassault #Sexualviolence #Bible #QueerYouthOfaith #affirmingchurch #FaithfullyLGBT #queerallies #progressivechristian #affirmingchristian #trans #Lgbt #gay

What is this story actually about? Gay men or…? The Prophet Ezekiel explains Genesis 19, the first of the “clobber verses.”

Transcript: https://affirmingscripture.com/1

This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ySuB631FzQA (although the audio is not quite as good as the podcast)

References and URLs for this podcast on Sodom and Gomorrah:

1. https://postbarthian.com/2017/10/11/clobber-verses-six-scriptures-cited-gays-lesbians-sex-relationships-lgbtq/

2. https://c-ucc.org/open-and-affirming-part-3-sodom-and-gomorrah-is-not-about-homosexuality

3. http://queergrace.com/sodom/

4. www.westarinstitute.org/blog/sodom-and-gomorrah-how-the-classical-interpretation-gets-it-wrong/

5. www.gaychurch.org/homosexuality-and-the-bible/the-bible-christianity-and-homosexuality/

6. https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses/

7. https://unclobber.mykajabi.com/unclobbering-genesis #:~:text=Preview 

8. https://medium.com/@adamnicholasphillips/the-bible-does-not-condemn-homosexuality-seriously-it-doesn-t-13ae949d6619

9. https://ecinc.org/clobber-passages/genesis-19-cf-1820/

#Sodom #Gomorrah #gaypositive #biblestudy #affirming #affirmingchurch #gaychristian #FaithfullyLGBT #lgbtchristian #christianparenting #progressivechristian #Christian #bible #affirmingyouthministries #queerallies #queerchristian #affirmingchristian #lgbtchristian

Questioning the Bible’s stance on same-sex attraction or premarital sex?

This podcast series debunks the myths propagated by conservative churches. We expose the shameful use of Old Testament verses to condemn gay Christians and spotlight Biblical scriptures that affirm queer identities.

Yes, there are pro-LGBTQIA+ scriptures.

And NOWHERE in the Gospel does Jesus forbid premarital sex, same-sex marriages, or female priests.

If your faith and sexuality seem at odds, these podcasts may help.

Too many churches teach a cultural gospel, a false gospel, that Jesus never preached.

In this series we will address the “clobber verses” conservative churches incorrectly use to condemn same-sex couples.

We will discuss the many affirming verses in scripture God uses to bless sexual and gender minorities.

And we will talk about the teaching of sexual purity. How many churches are teaching young Christians—straight and queer—non-Biblical rules that few can follow. And the guilt, shame and poor decisions that follow.