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| Fr. Shay Kearns |
Brian G. Murphy
December 17, 2017
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When I look at the things I’m passionate about: Christianity, activism,
performing, working out, sex & relationships… I see a common thread:
they are all embodied.
But my understanding of Christianity wasn’t always of an embodied faith. Queer Theology gave that to me, and it saved my faith.
The faith of my childhood and early adulthood was obsessed with beliefs. What did I believe about the nature of God, the process of salvation (and reconciliation and justification and atonement). What creeds did I assent to. Even mundane things like did I think masturbation was sinful or not.
It was dizzying always trying to make sure that I “believed” the right things.
And confusing that two people with no recognizable differences in their lives could be destined for heaven or hell based solely upon whether they’d said a certain prayer, silently in their head. (And whether they’d sufficiently proved they meant it by attending the right church and talking about the right beliefs — but it was the prayer that did the saving, not the actions)
Some forms of Christianity teach us to fear and hate our bodies. That our bodies' desires are sinful—or tempting at best. That what our bodies tell us are thorns in our thighs. That our bodies and our souls are at odds with each other.
What a terrible way to view what 1 Corinthians calls a temple. What Romans describes as a spiritual act of worship. What Psalm 139 tells us was knit together by God.
For queer people, our bodies are intimately entangled with our spirits—our bodies are critical. We use them to make love to each other and we use them to manifest our true genders.
We can no more deny our body than we can deny ourselves.
And that is the queer Christian gift to Christianity: a reminder that Christianity is—has always been—embodied.
Jesus is described as Emmanuel—God with us. The story of Christianity is the story of a God who took on human form. Who dwelt amongst us. The story of Christianity also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells within us — that God dwells within us. Within our bodies.
The same bodies that have queer sex. The same bodies that undergo gender confirmation surgery. God loves us in our orgasms and God loves us with our scars.
Speaking of scars… Fr. Shay put together a moving video sermon on bodies, scars, and the story of Doubting Thomas. I think you’ll dig it.
But my understanding of Christianity wasn’t always of an embodied faith. Queer Theology gave that to me, and it saved my faith.
The faith of my childhood and early adulthood was obsessed with beliefs. What did I believe about the nature of God, the process of salvation (and reconciliation and justification and atonement). What creeds did I assent to. Even mundane things like did I think masturbation was sinful or not.
It was dizzying always trying to make sure that I “believed” the right things.
And confusing that two people with no recognizable differences in their lives could be destined for heaven or hell based solely upon whether they’d said a certain prayer, silently in their head. (And whether they’d sufficiently proved they meant it by attending the right church and talking about the right beliefs — but it was the prayer that did the saving, not the actions)
Some forms of Christianity teach us to fear and hate our bodies. That our bodies' desires are sinful—or tempting at best. That what our bodies tell us are thorns in our thighs. That our bodies and our souls are at odds with each other.
What a terrible way to view what 1 Corinthians calls a temple. What Romans describes as a spiritual act of worship. What Psalm 139 tells us was knit together by God.
For queer people, our bodies are intimately entangled with our spirits—our bodies are critical. We use them to make love to each other and we use them to manifest our true genders.
We can no more deny our body than we can deny ourselves.
And that is the queer Christian gift to Christianity: a reminder that Christianity is—has always been—embodied.
Jesus is described as Emmanuel—God with us. The story of Christianity is the story of a God who took on human form. Who dwelt amongst us. The story of Christianity also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells within us — that God dwells within us. Within our bodies.
The same bodies that have queer sex. The same bodies that undergo gender confirmation surgery. God loves us in our orgasms and God loves us with our scars.
Speaking of scars… Fr. Shay put together a moving video sermon on bodies, scars, and the story of Doubting Thomas. I think you’ll dig it.
Today I’ve got a challenge for you: love your body. Maybe you’re not at a place where you can love it unconditionally (maybe you never will be) but find one part of it to love. Or take one action to treat it better. Your body is the very manifestation of who you are — and a manifestation of God in the world. That’s pretty awesome. You’re pretty awesome.
Blessings friend,
Brian G. Murphy
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