LGBTQ Rights
LBGTQ rights are central to the work of Political Theology Matters. Our mission is to provide news and words of encouragement to the LBGTQ community from a theological perspective and to advocate for full inclusion.
Working for LGBTQI Inclusion
Marcia was an activist attorney in the early days of LGBTQ suffrage. She had a traumatic coming out experience believing that her love of Christ and sexual orientation were mutually exclusive. Marica and her spouse of 6 years were partners for 32 years before they could legally marry! Marcia draws from this experience of second-class status to inform her understanding of being the “other,” marginalized and outside the “norm” of society. While she is not a person of color and cannot fully comprehend the experience of racism, she is a woman and has also experienced significant sex discrimination.
We are all children of God
Marcia founded the Lazarus Lives! Project on Facebook for LGBTQ young adults (initially), to get related news and words of encouragement from a theological perspective. While we have come a long way from where we were 30 years ago, right wing Christians still work to undo our recently established constitutional right to marry. Violence has increased against our communities, and we must band together to do more, and be a source of strength and comfort as we always have. We are children of God, made in God’s image and worthy of religious inclusion and justice.
Why do we need Political Theology?
Progressive Christians remain relatively quiet in the public square, even though the federal constitution protects our speech. Compared to more traditional corners of Christ’s vineyard, we fail to respond and assert our theology. The reasons for this are varied, yet we need to express our theology clearly and proactively whenever and wherever possible.
Christ calls us to work for social justice, just as he did. We interpret the Gospel as inclusive and compassionate. As a result, we must respect others especially when they differ from us or need our help. Our theology of radical hospitality welcomes and respects all people. Therefore, we have a duty, if we call ourselves Christians, to spread the Good News of love, peace, and compassion. Political Theology is essential today, perhaps now more than other. It cuts through the divisiveness with a message of love and hope.
Framing our theological discussions
Unfortunately, we usually react to an opposing theological understanding. Instead, we must frame our theological discussions. For example, Jesus told Peter to “Feed my sheep, feed my lambs, feed my sheep,” after Jesus rose from the grave. What does feeding Christ’s lambs and sheep look like today?
Caging children and infants fails to feed or nourish them. Detaining refugees indefinitely does not constitute caring for them. Consequently, when we engage in political theology, we offer the public another viewpoint to consider. It is not about getting into big arguments with opponents, because the foundation of a democracy is a free exchange of ideas.