TransPreacher

I love irony.

Irony and sarcasm are some of my favorite things in life.

However, there are times when irony seem a little much.

On the last day of Pride month the Supreme Court ruled that a business can deny its services to LGBT+ people. The case heard may have originated with a fake customer request, but that doesn’t matter because the ruling has been made. And this ruling not only has the potential to allow for discrimination against LGBT+ people, but any other protected class of race, age, orientation, or ability.

Happy Pride.

And this ruling followed the Supreme Court striking down the use of affirmative action in college enrollment. But people like Mike Pence have made statements that somehow 400 years of racial discrimination have been overcome.

Happy 4th of July

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence stating that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In his most famous speech, Dr King refered to the Declaration of Independence as “a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.”

King went on to say:

“It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”

The recent actions of the Supreme Court have only put America in to further default to people of color, LGBT+ folk, and all Americans.

In this climate, the rhetoric against transgender people has become dangerous and people’s prejudice has been reinforced by over 500 anti-trans laws proposed in state governments across our country.

Let freedom ring.

And yet, scripture tells us we have been set free. What does that mean for us as queer people of faith?

Free to be laughed at in public?

Free to be condemned by our siblings in faith?

Free to be turned away from businesses?

No

We are free to exist and our existence is a powerful statement that empowers the people around us to stand in their strength and authenticity.

As queer people, we are free in Christ, free indeed.

The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Romans: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

To say that there is no condemnation in Christ means that we queer people are free from the people who want to misuse scripture to condemn us.

To say that there is no condemnation in Christ means that we queer people are free from thinking we are outside the circle of God’s love. God created us and celebrates us. We are queerfully and wonderfully made.

To say that there is no condemnation in Christ means that we queer people do have freedom and independence. When other people turn away from us or judge us, that is no longer our stuff, but there’s.

We queer people are free to shine the light of Christ that uniquely radiates from us in our pride rainbows.

We queer people are free, we are free indeed.

Not yet free with the protection of the government, not living in to the promises of the declaration of independence, but free in Christ.

So let us stand tall in our beauty and our strength and may our queer freedom set all people free to shine with the glory of God.

May the light of our glitter overcome all darkness. Let freedom ring.