Highlights from the Queer Epistle of Paul to the ex-queers and "side b" gay Christians

What follows is a queered reading of highlights from Galatians.  It is written as if by Paul, who is, in this queer reading, ex-antigay crusader.  It is written to those being seduced and persuaded by the "ex-gay" and "side b" (queer, but celibate because to act on it would be sinful) Christian communities.  It stands on its own, but might be read alongside Paul's Epistle to the Galatians to see the parallels.  It is also important to note that I believe the Spirit of Scripture is still speaking and moving in us today.  Because of that, scripture needs more than to be queered.  It needs to be retold from a womanist perspective, reclaimed as the book of oppressed people of color, told again as the narrative of immigrants and the poor.  My rendering will fail to do all of that, so I encourage you to edit, in the comments if you wish!

CHAPTER 1

Paul, an evangelist-not sent by some political organization or by human authorities in religion, but through Jesus Christ and God the Mother, who vindicated Christ and did not leave Christ dead-and all of the members of God's family who are with me, 

To Christians in the "ex-gay" and "side b" communities:

Grace to you and peace from God and from Jesus Christ, who gave himself over to this broken world to set us free from the present oppressive age, according to the will of our God and Mother, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the queer-affirming grace of Christ and are turning to a different "gospel"-not that any of what they are telling you is good news of any sort, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the good news of Christ.  

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in anti-queer crusading. I was violently persecuting queer children of God and was trying to destroy their self-worth. I advanced in that movement beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more radical in my views of homosexuality and gender roles. But when God was pleased to reveal real Incarnate Love in Christ to me, so that I might proclaim it to the queer community, I did not need the approval of any "respected" church leaders, nor did I wait for churches and denominations to finish their long drawn out "holy conversations" about human sexuality, but I went away at once into gay bars and to pride parades and eventually returned to the churches to preach this.

Later I visited gay bars in some smaller cities, but the queer community in larger cities, all they knew of me was "The guy who was leading the anti-gay wing of a huge Christian organization is now out there promoting queer-affirming Christianity that he once tried to destroy."  And they knew God was up to something.

Chapter 2

Then, fourteen years later, I went to a major denominational meeting with Barnabas, and Titus came along.  I went up because I knew that's where God wanted me to go and speak.  Then I told them (though it was only in a private meeting with the appropriate committee leaders) the gospel message I had proclaimed to the queer community, because I wanted to know that I had not been doing all of this work just to have the church ignore it or table the discussion!  But there were still plenty of the ex-gay/anti-gay/"confront them in love"/"love the sinner hate the sin" people, who slipped in to try to find out how we were living in love and freedom in Christ Jesus, so that they could enslave us again in the church-we did not flinch in the face of this or back down, because we knew the truth of this message was too important for you!

It should have been quite clear that the same God who had called us to openly affirm women in ministry and emphatically denounce racism and sexism and all the other oppresive isms, had called me to preach this gospel to the queer community.  

But when Cephas came to San Fransisco, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly out of line; for until certain people came from the "love won out" group, he was happy to hang out with queer members and same-sex couples.  But after those people showed up, he started avoiding queer friends because he was afraid of what the "ex gay" and "gays should be celibate to be holy" crowd would say. And the other straight church members joined him in the hypocrisy. I said to Cephas in front of all of them, "If you, as a straight cisgender man and a Christian, live your life being comfortable with who you are, loving who you love and marrying and having sex and raising a family with your wife, how are you going to tell gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender and queer believers that in order for them to be a good Christian they have to NOT do all of that?!"  

I used to be in one of those narrow "us four and no more" churches and it killed me, so that I could finally live in the expansive and inclusive community of God. The same oppressive religion that crucified Jesus, crucified me with Christ.  Anti-gay Paul is dead.  Now it is the inclusive Love of Christ that lives in me.  And the life I am living now is that kind of inclusive, expansive, affirming love that God gave me.  How could I ever go back to the way I was?  If God's love that included me cannot include my queer sisters and brothers, then Jesus' message and death is meaningless.

CHAPTER 3

You foolish Christians! Who has bewitched you? You have seen before your very eyes how that kind of religion killed Jesus!  The only thing I want to know is this: if God wants gay people to be straight so much, why does God keep calling and using queer people?  Starting with that understanding of the love and call of God, are you now going to end by trying to be straight or rejecting your feelings and identity?  Were all of those moments with God just an elaborate joke God was playing on you from birth?

Do you think God was not present until you decided to work really hard to be straight? Those who are relying on being straight-acting enough, masculine enough, feminine enough, are going to be disappointed; because those expectations are not even realistic to begin with.  So it is evident that no one is going to get right with God by being straight. 

Before we grew into living this life of Spirit writing on our hearts, words of ancient scriptures still hinted that this is what it was all really about.  And now that we understand the message Christ taught about God, the world, and ourselves, we are not subject to some ancient code that was just hinting at this reality.  Just like what God said at Jesus' baptism, YOU are all the beloved child of God in whom She is well-pleased. There is no straight or gay, there is no male or female, there is no "acting on it gay" or "being celibate gay"-for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are marked as beloved, then you are Sarah's children, heirs of the promise that God was going to bring life where everyone said it could not be birthed.

CHAPTER 4

Now I hear you are back to doing all the same stuff the church that kicked you out did.  I am afraid that all my work for this message will be wasted on you if you just go back to that small god with rules that make no sense.  Friends, I beg you, listen to what God is saying through me, because I have listened to what God is saying through you.  Am I now your enemy for still telling the truth?  Those anti-queer people tell you how great and brave you are so long as you are obedient to their myopic view of following Jesus, but they have an agenda; they want you to get their approval and blessing so they can feel important.  

Friends, we are not the heirs of a faith that was meant to make the circle smaller, but of one that was meant to draw it wider.

CHAPTER 5

You have been set free to live free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let someone make you a slave again.  Listen to me!  I, Paul, am telling you that if you let them convince you that you need to be heteronormative or celibate, do not think there will be liberation or freedom in that.  If you accept what they say about you as a queer, then you will have to believe what they say about everyone else and God and the Bible too.  In the process of trying to be someone other than who you are, you will cut yourself off from Christ who loves the true you.  The Spirit is working in you, telling you that you are worthy of all of the fullness of life that others enjoy.  For in Christ Jesus, neither sexual or asexual or straight or queer counts for anything; the only thing that will bring real whole-iness is the love of God working in the authentic you.

You were doing so well; who stole your self-worth from you?  That kind of persuasion does not come from the One who calls you.  And, for those who believe it is ok to be queer as long as you do not "act on it," you have become a thief too-a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.  Those who are trying to confuse you about your worth as a queer person living out your queer life, will have to answer for the carnage they are leaving behind.

Listen, you are free to live your life now.  Do not waste this opportunity to use your freedom to liberate others.  All of the various verses of the Bible everyone wants to throw around all come together to say one thing: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  But if you use your life-giving inclusion to turn around and find someone else to exclude, you will just end up abusing people the way you were abused.

If you are led by the Spirit, you do not have to try to live up to the expectations of a oppressive system.  The signs of that system are obvious: bigotry, white supremacy, misogyny, erasure, justifications, excuses, self-righteousness, inequality, repression, fear, closets and condemnation and the like.  I am warning you; if this dominant system is where you are building your house, you are not building in God's city.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, justice, equality, and upsetting the cisheteropatriarchy. These things are never wrong. If we are here because the Spirit brought us this far, then let the Spirit guide us all the way.

CHAPTER 6

My friends, if you see someone straying off the path of full inclusion and liberation, you who are led by the Spirit should guide that person back.  Be careful that you do not ignore your own privilege when you are doing it.  You will fulfill the law of Christ when you side with the marginalized and the poor and the excluded.

Those who receive the gospel of inclusion and liberation must work for the inclusion and liberation of all people.  God is not mocked, if it is not good news for everyone, then it is not good news.

Do not grow weary in talking about queer liberation and working for it, because it will make a difference if we do not give up.  Every chance we get, we ought to stand up for queer people, especially at church.

I am going to stop here and write by hand.  Listen, those people telling you that you are broken or sick or disobedient are just projecting.  They want you to be "exgay" or "side b" so they can show everyone how righteous they are, because they know they really aren't.  They want to parade you around as a proof that they are right.  I hope I never parade anyone around except for Jesus who died rather than to listen to the lies of religious leaders or the bigotry of society.  Being straight or queer does not mean a thing; but being authentic and WHOLE means everything.  And if that is what you are doing, gay-straight-trans-cis-bi-lesbian or anything else, you are the true representatives of what God wants for all people.

May the broad and expansive grace of Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my beloved family.

People aren't illegal & America is far from Christian

Imagine if someone told you that you can't move to another state to get a job. That's exactly what the U.S. is telling our neighbors in Mexico. Why?  Because we have and have always had an immigration policy rooted in white supremacy and based on the ridiculous notion that country borders are somehow where human rights end. Borders established by theft, pillaging, rape, and slavery, I might add. I'm a radical. I don't believe it is moral in the slightest to tell people they cannot move or work. Documentation be damned (my ancestors didn't have it, I assure you!).  

We have not loved God with our whole hearts. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Not in the slightest. Not our citizenry. Not our neighbors in other countries. Like Cain of old, we have defiantly shook our fist at the God of the exiles and the strangers and demanded of God "are we our brothers' keepers?!"  God answered emphatically "yes" and we went on in our shameful denigration of our neighbors, all the while calling ourselves a "Christian nation."  We ought to be ashamed and broken hearted as a people over this. And we ought to show works meet for repentance by shaming any politician getting his political points by appealing to a racist, white supremacist policy...Trump...and any politician demanding we put walls up that are eerie reminders of the Berlin Wall but in our own nation...almost every GOP politician...and by voting for a just and moral free immigration policy and demanding our representatives get it done. 

People are not illegal.

Praying for the dead to the Virgin...in Spanish

Most of you know I'm a church hopper and a universalist. Maybe it's a reaction to my very narrow religious upbringing. Or just a reaction to the work of the Spirit. I haven't blogged in a while but perhaps this blog will be a branch out and a way forward for me to write. 

With my friend Wendy, we do a podcast where we visit various denominations and talk about it (churchhopperspodcast.com). But not all my spiritual experiences happen in those settings. Tonight it happened in the home of a coworker. 

A couple of weeks ago, my coworker lost a loved one. She was unable to travel the thousands of miles to be home. But as any good Catholic would, she has been holding vigil at her home for a week and praying the rosary for her loved one who has gone before. She invited me to attend and it was beautiful. Here's what I learned, observed, and felt in those moments:  

1. It was the women who went first to the tomb

The gathering tonight was open to men because I was there. But I was the only man. This isn't a criticism of the other men--they may have been there other nights or there may have been other reasons they didn't attend. But I notice across the spectrum of traditionally patriarchal religious contexts that it is the women who feel and move in and teach the faith...in life and in death. Just like the women who came first to the tomb of Jesus and who first proclaimed his resurrection. How have we valued and heard and lifted up the lives and voices of women in our worship?  

2. I believe in the Virgin

Tonight the Hispanic women gathered asked me two questions several times. First, where did I learn Spanish? (high school and some good Mexican friends). And then "are you Catholic?"  Well, of course I think I'm the most catholic of catholicism...if we are talking about universalism and the universal body of God. But no, I'm not Roman Catholic. So I just explained why I would be there to pray the rosary. Simply put--I believe in the Virgin. I believe in the Mother of God. And the mothers of God all around me...the ones in the room too. I believe in the Divine Feminine and her virginity is important to me only because it represents female autonomy without need for outside influence to bring forth life or the Divine. I believe in Mary, the mother of Jesus. And I do believe she was blessed among women and that the fruit of her womb was blessed. And if any of us who are born of woman will ever see God, then surely the mother of God (and all those who birth the Divine) will reign as Queen of heaven, of all the saints and apostles...and isn't it right to ask her to pray for us?  Because if there really is no death but the promise of eternal life, then surely there is a mystical communion beyond the communion we share here. 

3. Praying for the dead works

Now I'm not making a statement about affecting people's eternal state. How could I possibly know that?  But I know this. I didn't know my friend's loved one. But after praying for the Virgin to intercede for him, and gazing on his picture on the altar as we contemplatively prayed together, I felt a compassion and a connection with a man I had never met and would never meet here. A man who didn't speak my native language. Or hold my theological beliefs. And I felt compassion. I felt a real desire for him to truly rest in peace. And I felt a connection with those who grieved. I can only imagine the kind of sacramental moments those who did know him felt. I can't imagine a better way to grieve with those who grieve than to remember with them, to feel with them, to pray with them. 

4. Pentecost still happens

I knew most of the prayers in Spanish. I struggled to say them as quickly and sometimes reverted to English but that was ok. Like the original day of Pentecost when a group of schismatic radical Jews started speaking in languages that were a sign to those on the outside, so it is today. Those on the inside (and we are all both in the in crowd and outside the walls, depending on what area of life we are taking about) spoke their truth. And miraculously, those on the outside heads that Truth and it sounded EXACTLY like their own native tongue. Truth is not confined to a creed, a language, a nationality, an experience, or location. It is not bound by doctrine or framework. Rather, it is the free flow of the same Spirit between the most intimate of friends and between the most different strangers. As I prayed with catholic women who probably were praying with very different ideas about what prayer is, who God is, how God works, and even what it means to be a follower of God...I felt an enduring connection. I felt one body, one Spirit, one God and Mother and Father of us all. And I could truly pray with heartfelt meaning como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, de los siglos y los santos siglos, AMEN. 

Why you'll have to refuse me communion...

I know the rules.  Believe me, I do.  I was raised in Landmark Missionary Baptist churches...we didn't evaluate your baptism, or what kind of church you belonged to...we had a truly closed communion table.  If you weren't a member of THAT particular local congregation, you didn't take the Lord's Supper.  Growing up, I would've NEVER expected to take communion even at my brother's church...and I laid hands on my brother to ordain him as a deacon.

The discussion of "open table" versus "closed table" versus "close table" or everything in-between is so over for me.  I believe in the open table, because I honestly cannot reconcile anything else with the gospel of Christ who served even Judas at the table.  Yes, I'm aware of the arguments against that too...I preached them, remember?  They are without much merit in my book.  But this isn't really about books or bibles for me.  This is about people and tables and about whose guests we are when we come to "The Lord's Table."

I am a Christian.  One who understands all the nuance and doctrine around why certain churches don't allow people to take communion.  I know that I can't in some churches because I'm queer.  In others because I cuss.  Some because of what clothes I'm wearing.  In the Roman Catholic church, I supposedly can't take it because I've not been confirmed as a Roman Catholic.  The explanation is always something like "well, we believe in transubstantiation and we don't want anyone to take the host that doesn't believe in the literal presence of Christ."  Which, of course, would effectually cut out a great many Catholics who DO take the Eucharist each Sunday, since most of them usually look confused when I explain what it is that their church actually teaches about the Real Presence.

Sometimes coming to Christ's table and saying you belong there is an act of subversion...it subverts the Empire that seeks to consolidate power at the expense of God's people.  As a Christian, I am not trying to be rude or disrespectful.  I am not trying to mock your beliefs or disregard them.  Rather, I am, faithfully, quietly, and without fanfare, simply saying "This is wrong.  God is right."  Like the early Apostles told to stop preaching about Jesus, I ask "should we obey man rather than God?"  So I can't.  I don't make a big deal about it.  If I thought an individual with whom I have a relationship could be offended or misunderstand my participation in the holy meal, I would talk to them...I would consider the impact of my actions...and I would proceed as faithfully and as lovingly as I could.  And even then, I might do as I always have done and am committed to keep doing...go forward, and put out my hands in humble supplication for what we say is Christ for us, with us, and in us.

If I go and you say no, ok.  But you WILL have to tell me no.  You can refuse me communion...it's your church's right and the clergy person's right ("right" is certainly a loaded term in Christianity).  But you'll have to do it.  Don't expect me to refuse MYSELF communion!  You'll have to actually live out what you think is most important...because I'll be there in front of you with my hands extended and waiting.  But why would I simply refuse communion?  It makes no sense to me.

If you don't think that the bread and wine are really part of communion with God, then stop calling it communion.  And if you refuse me communion, that's fine...but you'll have to do it, because you NEED the spiritual exercise of asking yourself why you would deny ANYONE who says "I want communion."  Aren't you really just saying "no matter how much you want to commune with God, you can't...because _________."  Ok, you may believe that...but you'll have to be the one to say it by telling me no.

If it isn't a blessing for me because I'm denied the blessing, then stop calling it Eucharist (literally "bless").

If it's your church's own supper, then just don't call it the Lord's Supper anymore.

If it isn't an "outward sign of an inward grace" that I can testify to, then stop calling it a sacrament.

If you think there are people outside your church who are united with Christ but can't receive bread and wine in YOUR church, then just stop lying and saying "the body of Christ."  You don't discern the body...and Paul says that you eat and drink damnation to yourself (yes, THAT is what that scripture is ACTUALLY about...your church and how it cuts people out of communion, not "sinners" at the table).

Just call it..."Member Snacks"  That makes for a good bulletin heading...

How to have a conversation with today's church (most denominations)

It's just getting old fast. Having the same convos with everyone. 

Church: aren't we great?

Person: no actually here's an area that is bad. 

C: wow. And I thought we were doing so well. 

P: I can help you fix it. 

C: well I'm not convinced you're right about this thing that you would know more about than us, but in any case we have a committee for that. 

P: do you have ppl on your Cmte that get this thing? 

C: no but they get church. 

P: but the church is causing  the problem with the thing. You're not getting the thing. 

C: have you ever served on a committee in church? 

P: no but this thing directly affects me and I'm an expert on this. 

C: well, you just don't understand church. There's more here than just that one thing. Look at how well we are doing ordaining women. 

P: you have women ministers here? 

C: no but our denomination does. 

P: then how does...wait, that isn't even the thing!  

C: why do you want to focus so much on one thing?  We're talking about Jesus and so many other things. 

P: yeah but you asked me about how great church was and here's an area where we can do better. 

C: you must not know about our church. Here's a different thing we faced a long time ago and we fixed it really good. Trust us. 

P: I don't think it was really fixed. Cuz it looks like maybe this thing is connected. 

C: of course we fixed it. It's our history. 

P: well even if you did, the thing I'm talking about is broken. 

C: broken isn't a word we like to use. 

P: fucked up, messed up, unchristian, ridiculous, stupid, WRONG. 

C: you know, your voice is important...but I hear that you're really angry.  This church is really about being happy and peaceful. 

P: then maybe this church isn't for me. 

C: really?!  But we're so great!!

I'm sick of sagging pants...memes...and the condemnation, racism, and homophobia that goes with them.

I'm so glad I see this image from time to time...It reminds me of the various things I learned (usually visiting various churches) about the dangers of modern fashion...I want everyone to be fully warned.


 Ladies, if you cut your hair, you're advertising that you don't have any respect for God or His headship over you.  If you wear pants, you are advertising that you want to be a man and live like a man...it's a symbol of the kind of radical feminism that leads to lesbianism.  If you wear makeup, you are advertising your sexual availability to multiple male partners.

Gentlemen, if you have long hair, you are advertising your effeminate tendencies that could be a sign of homosexual attraction.  Men who shave their heads are advertising their neo-nazi leanings.  Guys who wear earrings are gay.  Boys who play with dolls are girly.  Couples who attend movies are worldly.  Men with afros are extremists.  People who wear turbans are all Muslim.  And men with beards or who wear buttons are advertising their membership in or support of a military organization.  Girls with multiple piercings are sexually active.  Boys who wear shorts are immodest.

Now, here's the thing--there are levels of professionalism in every profession and standards of dress in various situations...I wear a uniform to work every day and I insist that my employees adhere to certain dress standards.  But I'll be damned if I'm going to listen to people tell me that current fads within various social groups are a "sign" of anything or try to shame them into maintaining some arbitrary standard of "respectability."  Compare the fashion statements of "redneck" culture with "rap" culture and you'll find plenty of similarities...and plenty of critics for both.  Fashion isn't inherently "evil" or "dumb"--it's just clothes.  Why do you CARE so much about how that boy wears his pants on a trip to WalMart or how that girl wears her hair to the restaurant?  Jesus.  Get a grip.  They didn't consult you before walking out of the door for a reason.  Are you in authority over them?  Fine.  Exercise whatever authority you have, reasonably--enforce school or work dress codes, state and local laws...whatever.  But stop using your authority and/or privilege as ______ (fill in the blank) to ridicule and label an entire group of people.

Also, it's so funny to call people gay isn't it?  What makes this meme so funny is that it suggests that someone might want to have homosexual anal sex...which is so disgusting that it makes every white heterosexual immediate catch the code words you're sending them--about how privileged white straight people are...and those who act like them.  And to be able to caricature young people and predominately black young men as queer?  Well, we're all laughing now, aren't we?

You might want to check the Facebook pictures your kids are posting and learn a little grace when it comes to judging fashion, before you belittle, rage against, or mock stupid fashion trends.  You might want to think about the implications of the mythological "origins" stories that may or may not be true...especially as you enjoy your nice Christian holiday with decidedly pagan traditions (see your local Jehovah's Witness neighbor for more info).  Check out the latest fashion show for whatever company you buy your clothes from and you'll see just how utterly ridiculous their style is too.

One day, they'll all make fun of us and wear our outfits as halloween costumes as well.  It's about as dumb as trying to decide which hymns are good enough for church because they don't contain that "satanic rock back beat."

Oh, and pull your pants up and get off my damned lawn!

A Facebook rant on privilege, justice, and Ferguson

Take a good look at the memes here that are making their rounds on FB as we speak...and don't be tricked into thinking they are any less bigoted than the water hoses that tried to stop a movement for dignity and freedom in Alabama and across the south. I know it seems "reasonable" to say that Dr. King led a movement that didn't result in riots like what we are seeing in ‪#‎Ferguson‬. The line of reasoning, almost always from white friends and neighbors, goes on to suggest that Ferguson isn't about racial justice, but just another group of thugs and looters doing harm. The line of reasoning is shortsighted, myopic, and false.

Never forget that respectability politics didn't keep ‪#‎MLK‬ from being targeted by the national state police (the FBI) as a communist collaborator. His phones were tapped. He, and the entire civil rights movement, was reported to the (white) public as being an arm of communist Russia. Eventually, he was assassinated. He did everything properly...the "right" way to protest injustice. He did nothing illegal. And he was killed. After his assassination, there WERE riots. And I'm sure unsavory types within the communities where those riots took advantage of the social situation and looted stores and vandalized property. But it is a matter of public record that prior to those events, unsavory types within the highest levels of government and power in the United States had already looted and vandalized the souls and entire lives of an entire segment of our citizenry. AND they all said it wasn't about the color of skin either--it was always something else...the looting, the red scare, the communist undertones, the violent rhetoric etc. And, we too quickly forget, Dr. King told us what riots are--"The language of the unheard." So when we respond to people who aren't being heard with "shut up, you're doing this wrong," we are doing violence to people, not just to property.

So the next time someone might be tempted to say that what is happening in Ferguson isn't respectable like Martin Luther King Jr.'s movement, which we "OF COURSE" respect...perhaps you might remind them that it's been 36 years since someone shot a black man on a motel balcony in Memphis Tennesee, 4 months since a white police officer shot Michael Brown, and only minutes since a black mother or father wondered if their own son, no matter how law abiding, would be next...shot down because they didn't stop quickly enough, reached for their pocket a little too fast, or misunderstood what the nice cop said. Privilege is a NASTY thing...it numbs the people who possess it and it steals dignity and life from those who don't.

Yes, what happened in Ferguson is about race...of course it is. But that isn't all that it's about. It's about police in this country who are armed as well as any soldier. It's about more than the color of Darren Wilson. It's about the fact that Americans (of all races, but disproportionately minorities) are more likely to be shot by the people they pay to protect them. It's about police with guns, and abuse of power. And it's about the fact that when anyone suggests that racism isn't over in this country, there's always some privileged white person on FB who thinks that the only reason it isn't over is because black people won't quit talking about it.

Privilege is NASTY. It keeps the white people who hold it from ever having enough f'ing empathy to see that our black and brown neighbors who don't possess it are the ones who have to keep reminding people that it exists...and then get shamed for bringing it up again. End the shame.‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ and as long as someone's child is being killed, those whose lives are most impacted by it will keep talking about this. Keep calm, and listen.