WHERE TO BEGIN?
Finding Your “Why?”
Considering new perspectives can be a daunting task. So many questions arise…
– What is motivating or informing this new understanding?
– Why are people in my life that I thought I knew changing their minds?
– What are they seeing that I’m not seeing?
These are understandable and valid responses when encountering Christians who are expressing a non-traditional understanding of human sexuality and gender. Engaging these questions in good faith requires openness and a willingness to listen and learn. A good practice for generating this openness is to spend time in purposeful self-reflection on the question of “Why?”
– Why do you care about this?
– Why are you curious about learning more?
– Why are you willing to risk discomfort and insecurity by stepping into an
unfamiliar space?
Click the link above for an article meant to help facilitate a time of intentional introspection as you consider your own personal reasons for “Why?”.
An Introduction
After thoughtfully and prayerfully considering your own motivations for exploring the idea of LGBTQ+ inclusion and affirmation in the church, you may find that you’re ready to listen to what others have said. But with so much content out there, where does one even begin?
Here are three excellent places to start. Each of the following videos presents a coherent discussion for considering an expanded sexual ethic that includes relationships between gay, bisexual, and queer individuals. They are brief (about one hour each) and should not be understood to be presenting an exhaustive apologetic for an LGBTQ+-affirming theology. Each talk presents a different “flavor” in its approach to these ideas. Start with the one that most piques your interest, but feel welcomed to watch all three.
As you watch them, ask yourself, “In what ways is the speaker presenting arguments or ideas that I hadn’t previously considered in my own understanding of sexuality, ethics, and faith?“
The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality
with Matthew Vines
Matthew Vines is the founder and executive director of The Reformation Project. This talk, given in 2012 when Vines was still in college, explores the theological debate regarding the Bible and the role of gay Christians in the church. He examines the principal “clobber verses” from the Bible which have been historically used to condemn same-sex relationships and also presents his interpretive lens of judging good teaching from bad by looking at its “fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20). This talk served as the foundation for a more thorough analysis presented in the book God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships.
Learn more about Matthew Vines here.
Ending the Teaching of Contempt Against the Church’s Sexual Minorities
with David Gushee
Rev. Dr. David Gushee is distinguished professor of Christian social ethics at Mercer University and the former president of both the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics. In this talk, presented as the keynote address of The Reformation Project Conference in 2014, Dr. Gushee draws a powerful parallel between the Church’s historic and biblically-rationalized contempt for Jewish people and antisemitism with the more modern teachings of contempt for queer people and homophobia. The transcript for this speech was later published as chapter 20 in the definitive edition of Gushee’s book Changing Our Mind: A Landmark Call for the Inclusion of LGBT Christians.
Learn more about Dr. David Gushee here.
What’s Morally Wrong With Homosexuality?
with John Corvino
Dr. John Corvino is a professor of philosophy and ethics at Wayne State University. In this lecture, recorded in 2007, Dr. Corvino employs wit, humor, and thoughtfulness to dismantle common arguments against same-sex relationships, including those based on nature, harm, and religion. The ideas presented in this talk led to the publication of Dr. Corvino’s book What’s Wrong With Homosexuality?
Learn more about Dr. John Corvino here.
After watching one or more of the prior videos, check out another helpful resource: the Geeky Justin YouTube Channel. Justin Lee is a writer, speaker, activist, and former non-profit executive. He is the author of Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate. His channel contains dozens of videos including shorter breakdowns of specific topics, longer presentations, interviews, and debates. Here are three helpful short-form videos.
Learn more about Justin Lee here.
The Bible and Homosexuality: A Nuanced Approach
It’s time to rethink how we talk about homosexuality as Christians. Here’s why.
Can You Be Gay and Christian?
Some people say you can’t be both gay and Christian. Is that true? How can we know for sure? Justin Lee explains.
“Gay” vs. “Same-Sex Attracted”: It matters more than you think.
In some Christian spaces, “gay” and “same-sex attracted” mean two different things. But why? And does it really matter? Here’s the story you’ve never heard of how one word came to mean two completely different things—and why our choice today of “gay” or “same-sex attracted” could have ripple effects around the world.
Next Steps…
Having listened to these introductory conversations surrounding LGBTQ+ inclusion and affirmation, you might feel like you have more questions than answers. What threads might you pull on to see where they lead? Questions of theology and biblical scholarship? Questions about church traditions and structures? Questions about community ethics and personal morality? Questions about the lived experiences of others and identity? Questions about parenting and family? Questions about knowledge, truth, and faith? Click the link below to dig deeper into these and other related topics.