Opinion | God Loves All Humanity, Even Queer People

I have some news to share with you; not quite gospel, but I did attend church this past Palm Sunday – my first visit in a long time (though I’m not sure if my dad’s funeral counts as a visit). After an uplifting service, I took some peaceful moments to reflect on the ‘word’. I scribbled down some urgent thoughts but decided to wait until Easter to share my insights. Now that Easter is here… voilà!

In my usual reading routine, I chose to dedicate this week to exploring the book of John along with a few others for personal spiritual growth and to fill some adult time. Initially, I aimed to grasp the story of Jesus in the context of Passover, but I soon became deeply engrossed in the intricate personal struggles and life of Jesus.

My approach to scripture was open-minded, as I was not in a church setting; I was reading the text in its raw form (at least from the Bible, not from those medieval tablets or stones). I kept in mind that biblical interpretation is not fixed and has evolved over time alongside the church’s history.

What stands out vividly is the reality that there exists a character who is not striving to validate his identity, yet society insists he must do so, leading to condemnation and persecution.

This sparked my interest in examining Jesus through a personal lens. As I explored the book of John, I intentionally identified themes that resonate with the struggles faced by Queer individuals. In the lead-up to Easter, I reflected on these themes, and below are my conclusions. Primarily, I draw connections that highlight the issues of marginalisation, acceptance, and liberation, while also addressing those who misuse the name of Jesus to condemn Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people.

I would like to begin with a disclaimer: I do not claim to be ordained to interpret the Bible. My insights come from a scholarly viewpoint and a conscious bias toward the queer community. Nevertheless, I recognise my position within the body of Christ due to my Christian beliefs and my connection to the church as an institution. My intention is not to be blasphemous but to place Queer individuals within the context of Christ.

Through the insights of God’s modern-day disciples, I aim to deepen my understanding of Him. With this knowledge, I approach this topic with the empathy and respect it warrants, and I am eager to engage in meaningful dialogue and understanding. I am also aware of the conservative viewpoints that argue same-sex desire is sinful and against divine will; however, as in church, I want to honour the one who spoke first, God.

While my understanding of God may be limited (shaped by both church teachings and my own imagination), I see my journey as a continuous one, dedicated to discovering who God truly is. A part of me is committed to following some of His teachings.

From what I have gathered, I remain mindful of the truth that God embodies divine will, extending love to all who believe in Him through His son, Jesus Christ.

God’s affirmed love for all

According to the New International Version in John 13:16 “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. I picked this up as God’s foundational commitment of his love for all humanity, regardless of identity or background.

The theme of God’s love for all of us is demonstrated by John 3, but to better grasp its emphasis on the unity and equality of all believers in Christ, regardless of social distinction, including queer, I cross-referenced Galatians 3:26 (NIV) which says, “there is neither Jews nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The note I made upon engaging with the meaning of the concept of ‘God is love’ is that God has a firm expectation for all us believers to demonstrate love and compassion to one another, but to also love others as we love ourselves. I found my way to Matthew 3:16 in the same version which confirms my note on God’s expectation. In verse 37 it reads, “Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind, this is the first and great commandment”, verse 39 reads, “Love your neighbour as yourself”.

As I traversed this biblical landscape of the book of John, in Verse 4, I made a conclusive discovery that love originates from God and thus it is central to the Christian faith, suggesting that God’s love extends to all humanity. It reads, “Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God, because God is love.”

Does this then make homophobic people devoid of God’s love? Not for me to answer. But in hindsight, I would say, the hate and intolerance of same-sex desiring is misdirected. Many interpreters of the word have come to use the misinterpreted story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) to make their case that the cities were destroyed primarily because of same-sex desiring, and they are actually misleading, as this passage speaks of other sins such as inhospitality, violence, social injustice, arrogance, gluttony, and neglect of the poor and needy.

The term ‘sodomy’ (derived from the city of Sodom) should not be used to exclusively reference same-sex or queer love. Now knowing that love comes from God, equating sodomy with queer love is a misapplication of the story. The term historically refers to acts considered morally unacceptable, including the violent and inhumane behaviour depicted in Genesis 19.

So, for me the tale of these cities rather tells a story of a profound warning against societal indifference to justice and compassion, thereby emphasising a broader moral responsibility towards others. Now back to the themes that I found to resonate with the struggle of queer community.

Jesus as marginalised and his struggle for acceptance

From inception through to the end of the book of John, Jesus is a subject of marginalisation and rejection by society. He is seen to be an outcast and through this, he is associated with tax collectors, the poor, ‘sex workers’ (Categorised as key population today) and others condemned by society’s standards. This for me came out strong as Jesus’s way of challenging societal norms of that time. Queer people, especially those who subscribe to the Christian faith should find solace in Jesus’s love and acceptance in the face of exclusion by many denominations.

Jesus is rejected by his own

As with many queer people, Jesus faced rejection even from his own people. In verse 1:11 of John, we are told of how even religious authorities rejected him, it reads: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” This is the reality for many queer people. Many are confronted with rejection from their families and communities.

Authentic to his identity

Despite being denied access and made inferior, Jesus remained true to his identity and mission as his true self. The entire journey of this passage in the Bible documents how he came to terms with how people did not believe him to be who he affirmed to be. This remains the case for many queer people who are often victims of condemnation by the court of public opinion and sometimes the church itself.

Jesus is persecuted

Jesus may have subtly warned queer people amongst all other condemned groups when he said in John 15:20: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” The daily lives of many queer individuals are marked by constant discrimination, violence and sometimes torture.

Jesus’s pursuit of truth and liberation

According to John 8 verse 32 that reads “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” This passage resonates with the lived experiences of queer people and their constant activism and advancement of identity and inclusive politics.

This Easter, I plead with all believers and other faith groups to always remember that the heart of Christianity is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, who emphasised love, inclusion, and justice. Revisiting biblical texts with a contextual and compassionate lens reveals that many traditional interpretations may not align with these core principles.

Amid the celebration of his lasting legacy in the lives of Christians and as we seek to embody Christ’s message, I implore those guided by his principles to prioritise the dignity and humanity of all individuals, affirming their worth and welcoming them into the faith community.

I am aware that Easter services are a moment to reflect for all believers. Queer people are also among those who believe, provide a seat for them, without judgement or condemnation. Happy Easter!