Happy Pride everyone! I am so glad you are on the planet. No matter who you love or how you look or how you identify yourself, you belong to God, and you are amazing!
What is it that makes the church so freaked about Queer people? We say we believe God made each of us in their own image. We say that we are Imago Dei — created in the image of God.
Each of us is awesomely and wonderfully created like God (Psalm 139). But what we really mean is you are like God if you are like us! If you look like us or like we think you should, join the club. The club could be loving humans loving each other and the world. But it seems most times, in times of deep foment and change, the church weaponizes its power to scapegoat people who are outside of so-called norms
I think the church should normalize love. Love period.
Love all the neighbors. Love all the people. Love all the Queer folk, all the Trans and Non-binary folk; let’s love the straight folk, the immigrants; let’s love hard, fiercely, and consistently.
Love is the way, the truth and the life.
Just love. Period.
Love liberates.
Big kiss, red lip.
Jacqui
P.S. Check out this lovely story WPIX did about the radically loving, Middle Church, that celebrates Pride 24/7. Come through, baby. You will love it!
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is senior minister and public theologian at Middle Church in New York. Celebrated internationally for her dynamic preaching and commitment to justice, she champions racial equality, economic justice and LGBTQIA+/gender rights. Featured on MSNBC, PBS, NBC, CBS and NPR, she is the author of several books, including “Fierce Love” and the “Just Love Story Bible.” Countless individuals and communities have been inspired by Lewis’ transformative work on her podcast, “Love Period;” in columns and articles; and on stages, in churches, on the street and in digital spaces around the globe.