For LGBTQ+ Students at Christian Universities by Mel Kulenski

**For LGBTQ+ Students at Christian Universities**

Mel Kulenski

Day 1 of 6: Queerphobic Theology

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. -John 14:12 (NIV)

If you’re LGBTQ+ and attending a Christian university, you know that campus can be a minefield of microaggressions. There’s a reason microaggressions are commonly compared to mosquito bites—they’re small, obnoxious acts of prejudice that add up.

The most common instrument of microaggressions on Christian campuses? Queerphobic theology. This can take various forms. Many times, it flows from weaponization of the most obvious contenders: The infamous six “clobber” verses invoked in chapel sermons. Paul’s verses about male/female marriage, glorified in class. Adam and Eve, esteemed as cisgender ideals in student groups. A fellow student at my alma mater once mused aloud, while stroking his beard and looking contemplatively out a window, “I wonder if all gay people are called to celibacy,” as if it was some novel, innovative theological idea he blissfully pondered during afternoon tea with his wife and children. It was almost satire.

These bites might start small at first. But when your body starts getting covered? You might want to begin taking action—either to heal existing bites or prevent future ones.

As queer students, many of us have had to basically earn an unofficial degree in theology to accept and defend our own existence. We’ve relentlessly searched scripture, scoured websites like Queer Grace and The Reformation Project for LGBTQ+ affirming theological resources, prayed tearfully for any mustard-seed-like sign that God fully loves us. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop people from weaponizing decontextualized, poorly translated passages as some ultimate, literalist trump card. Little do they know: They’re not saving us from hell. Their life-stealing interpretive methodologies are normalizing our pervasive oppression.

But let’s not forget: Jesus boldly re-interpreted scripture while on Earth. In Matthew 5:21-48 he repeated, “You have heard it said… but truly I say to you.” We have permission to do this, too. When Christ shared about his own works on Earth—including re-imagining scripture—he noted that the Church will do “even greater things than these.” HALLELUJAH! We’re called to do better than these Christians’ harmful theology. We can build on their hermeneutics and enhance their exegesis. In a lesser-known parable, Jesus once said that the Kingdom of God is like “yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33 NIV). Is this not reminiscent of the Church’s evolving theological understanding of God? What if Holy Spirit is literally spreading Her inclusive wings, in a loving act of revolution, through the Church as time trudges forward?

Conversely, scripture warns of “hypocritical liars,” who “forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3 NIV). Is this not also relevant to today’s age, when many Christians are still hoping for legal reversal of same-sex marriage and prohibiting queers from marrying in their own churches? Then the verse goes on to discuss liars, who command folks to “abstain from certain foods.” I feel as though this applies to other unfortunate religious prohibitions related to the body, such as gender-affirming hormone therapy, which many transgender and nonbinary people pursue to promote gender congruence. The good news, though? Queer love and gender-affirming hormone therapy can be “be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3 NIV). Even more powerful, the following verses state that “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5 NIV).

Amen. That’s right: Everything God created is good.

What does this mean for LGBTQ+ students at Christian universities? I’d argue it’s a call to—within the limits of your ability and safety—surround yourself with the message: You are good.

Combat those microaggressions by doing the opposite: Make a playlist with only queer musicians. Follow trans influencers and role models on Twitter. Make your phone background the colors of the bisexual pride flag. Join Facebook groups with fellow LGBTQ+ affirming people of faith. Make yourself a bracelet with the nonbinary pride flag colors, or buy a demisexual-colored pin for your backpack. Watch movies with lesbian representation. As much as possible, saturate yourself with anything, big or small, that reminds you God created you good.

Choose one thing with a positive Queer message that you can add to your life today. Then, reflect on how this verse applies to your gender and sexuality: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” -James 1:17 (NIV)

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