The Queer Christian: Navigating Faith, Church and the Bible

The vibrant diversity of gender-fluid and non-binary individuals in Native American cultures; the tragic ban of same-sex marriages by the Navajo Nation Council; and the role of Christian churches in a cultural genocide, which attempted to erase the history of Two-Spirit individuals and their unique and respected roles in many tribes. Quoted or referenced in podcast: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/10/23/navajo-gay-marriage-ban-lgbtq/ https://lgbtqhealth.ca/community/two-spirit.php https://www.ihs.gov/lgbt/health/twospirit/ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/11/two-spirit-people-north-america https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203%3A28&version=RSV Additional References https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/the-history-of-two-spirit-folks https://www.kqed.org/arts/13845330/5-two-spirit-heroes-who-paved-the-way-for-todays-native-lgbtq-community https://www.them.us/story/lgbtq-two-spirit-native-americans-changing-the-world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-spirit Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠ Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠  #Bible #Christian #Affirming

In December of 2019, I had a major stroke. You can follow my whole story on a podcast called, Elton's Stroke Story:On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7dkQIUUccg9pK5yb0JZ1EHOn Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/eltons-stroke-story-the-surprising-science-of/id1852870340On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfamAaYMYI0vaJF9RVzaJVdQaVbw64GMh

The story of Alan Turing leaves me completely choked up. It is arguably one of the cruelest ironies in modern history: a man who helped defeat the NAZIs, was persecuted by the very government he helped save… Because he was a homosexual. Cover art from the book: Alan Turing: the Enigma, by Andrew Hodges

We revisit a horrific story from the book of Judges that historically was used to condemn gay men. But there are no gay men in this story

We revisit the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in the book of Genesis with an AI generated episode.

Cultural genocide. It's just heartbreaking. EltonFor more information on this topic see episode 22.

This is an update to a previous episode on the movie 1946 The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture an award-winning documentary that investigates how a modern biblical translation error fueled the anti-gay movement within Christianity. My original podcast:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6txwGIR55Pqceq08LEm8udI highly recommend the movie:https://www.1946themovie.comThe 1946: The Culture Shift Tour podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/6oBw211oEqZfb9VygyUmWR

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 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13.References and URLs:Levitical clobber verses:https://sophiedora.wordpress.com/2019/03/05/the-clobber-verses/#:~:text=Leviticus%2018:22https://ecinc.org/clobber-passages/leviticus-1822-2013/https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses/#:~:text=Leviticushttps://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/the-clobber-verses/#:~:text=Leviticus

This is an AI remake of Episode 5: What Did Jesus Say About Sexual and Gender Minorities?

Last week’s murder of Charlie Kirk has been challenging for many Christians. How should we Christians think about the assassination of Charlie Kirk?I found this sermon by Pastor Dave Peterson helpful. Delivered on September 14 as, Spiritually Formed: By Mercy, I hope you find comfort and insight in it as well.Elton

Does the Bible actually condemn all homosexuality? The case against homosexuality and sexual minorities is much less clear cut than most conservatives believe. Pastor Lambert reviews the 6 clobber versus most frequently used to condemn same sex relations.Pastor Zach W. Lambert speaking at Restore Austin. www.restoreaustin.orgThis is part 4 of 4 from a sermon called: All-Inclusive - Homophobia and TransphobiaBook List:God and the Gay Christian by Matthew VinesSex Difference in Christian Theology by Megan DeFranzaChanging Our Mind by David GusheeScripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships by Karen KeenBible, Gender, and Sexuality by James BrownsonWalking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock

Affirming Scriptures from Matthew, Isaiah and Luke.Pastor Zach W. Lambert speaking at Restore Austin. www.restoreaustin.orgLGBTQ+ people are fully loved exactly as they are and fully included in every part of our church family. This is part 3 of 4 from a sermon called: All-Inclusive - Homophobia and TransphobiaBook List:God and the Gay Christian by Matthew VinesSex Difference in Christian Theology by Megan DeFranzaChanging Our Mind by David GusheeScripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships by Karen KeenBible, Gender, and Sexuality by James BrownsonWalking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock

Pastor Zach W. Lambert speaking at Restore Austin.LGBTQ+ people are fully loved exactly as they are and fully included in every part of our church family. This is part 2 of 4 from a sermon called: All-Inclusive - Homophobia and TransphobiaBook List:God and the Gay Christian by Matthew VinesSex Difference in Christian Theology by Megan DeFranzaChanging Our Mind by David GusheeScripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships by Karen KeenBible, Gender, and Sexuality by James BrownsonWalking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock

Pastor Zach W. Lambert speaking at Restore Austin.LGBTQ+ people are fully loved exactly as they are and fully included in every part of our church family. This is part 1 of 4 from a sermon called: All-Inclusive - Homophobia and TransphobiaBook List:God and the Gay Christian by Matthew VinesSex Difference in Christian Theology by Megan DeFranzaChanging Our Mind by David GusheeScripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships by Karen KeenBible, Gender, and Sexuality by James BrownsonWalking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock

What Should Pope Leo Do Next? A controversial game plan that will please almost no one. Referenced in this Podcast: Scott Austin Key andEvery Shelter, an organization which empowers refugees to build shelters: We Design Shelter Solutions for Refugees - Every Shelter https://everyshelter.org/ "All-Inclusive - Homophobia and Transphobia," Sermon by Pastor Zach Lambert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3d_mhbTwL4or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69RLRBxTUJJz4zXrq6nKiJ The fascinating history and back story of Pope Paul VI's ban of birth control in Humanae Vitae: https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/new-birth-control-commission-papers-reveal-vaticans-hand #Bible#Christian #Affirming

Grandpa Scott and Grandpa Bobby Two Gay Grandpas Travel YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@twogaygrandpastravel Their Podcast: Travel Your Heart: https://open.spotify.com/show/29TnR3cpXCGRlif38XYy6P Original Rotary interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WSHhnO0xEp63ZKSnPQKlH PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Allies of LGBTQIA+ individuals): https://pflag.org/ The Boulder County (HIV) AIDS project: https://www.bcap.org/ The Trevor Project (for Queer/LGBTQ+ Youth): https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Netflix documentary, Join or Die: https://www.netflix.com/title/81746809

Grandpa Scott and Grandpa Bobby: Two Gay Grandpas Travel YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@twogaygrandpastravel Their Podcast: Travel Your Heart: https://open.spotify.com/show/29TnR3cpXCGRlif38XYy6P Original Rotary interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WSHhnO0xEp63ZKSnPQKlH PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Allies of LGBTQIA+ individuals): https://pflag.org/ The Boulder County (HIV) AIDS project https://www.bcap.org/ For LGBTQ youth, The Trevor Project:https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Reference to “Mrs. Cleaver” from the TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_CleaverReference to the LDS Church: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints Reference to AIDS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS

“ I could literally talk your ear off for hours about all the good fruit I experience on a daily basis in the lives of my queer friends. It's just endless. “On the other side, the fruit of the anti-LGBTQ theology has been literally devastating.”  Linda RobertsonMore of Linda’s Story can be heard on two previous episodes of this podcast:“A Mother’s Regrets” (15 min.) and “I Believe You – I Have Your Back” (11 min.)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 (1 hr.) is available on:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0O222LNg1w96K5VjlTOIkK?si=JZW0jHFnTvOhUDb3td-FLAAnd Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-breakthrough-blueprint-with-becky-aste-for-the/id1676348200?i=1000664115395

The American church is facing an unprecedented shift, with younger generations rapidly dechurching and stepping away from organized religion. In this episode, we dive into the reasons behind this trend with my daughter, a Stanford epidemiologist and biostatistician. Raised in an evangelical megachurch, deeply involved in campus ministry, and now attending an LGBTQ-affirming Presbyterian church, Elizabeth shares some of her experiences and observations. We discuss the key factors driving millennials and Gen Z away from traditional churches, including the treatment of women, queer individuals, and other marginalized groups. Elizabeth shares insights on how church teachings on sexuality, authority, and social justice have influenced her peers' decisions to leave—or stay—in religious communities. From purity culture to the political entanglements of modern Christianity, we explore why so many young people feel disillusioned with faith institutions and what it would take for churches to truly be places of belonging. If you're curious about the intersection of faith, justice, and identity—or wondering what an inclusive church looks like—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. We cover everything from affirming theology to the broader cultural shifts shaping young people's spiritual lives. Tune in as we unpack what it means to question, evolve, and reclaim faith in a changing world.

Romans 12 and Google AI on dealing with difficult relatives.