Changed Theology is Possible | Week 1 | Liberated to Love: A Teaching Series
From the first pages of Genesis to the last chapters in Revelation, we see human understanding of God and God’s relationship to Creation change and shift. Food laws, circumcision, and purity rituals, all once hallmarks of a faithful lifestyle, evolved and eventually faded out of practice for early Christians despite their powerful historical significance. The Messiah, once believed to be a warrior destined to set Israel free from political oppression, manifested in Christian tradition as a kind, humble carpenter sentenced to death by Roman authorities. From start to finish, the Bible is full of surprising evolution.
Throughout the Bible we hear the retelling of old stories through a different lens to meet the emerging needs of the people, and we see biblical narratives take on new significance and theological meanings over time. Hebrew Scripture prophets like the author of Isaiah cite early religious understandings from the past, but ultimately point people to something new (Isa 43:18). Throughout the Gospels, Jesus also points to theological understandings in the past before ultimately directing listeners towards new perspectives. “You have heard it said... but I say...”, became a call for people of faith to reexamine their established theological viewpoints (Matt. 5). In Mark 7, Jesus explicitly repudiates Biblical food laws, because as stated in verse 19: “In saying this, Jesus declared all foods ‘clean.’” In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus’ reinterpretation of Old Testament Sabbath law, proclaiming “If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent” had murderous consequences(see Matt 12:14).
So even from Jesus, new theological interpretations were not always well received. Jesus was chased out of cities (Matt 12), plotted against (Matt 12 and 22), and ultimately crucified (Luke 23) because what He had to say was not like the old ways. Theological change did not however end with Jesus. In Acts, when Peter broke with tradition and ate with Gentiles, people got very grumpy with him (Acts 11:2). Paul settled many a fight over meat, not by reinforcing existing prohibitions, but by changing the requirements to better fit the needs of the community (1st Cor. 10). As Christians, our theologies have evolved over time to reflect a more holistic understanding of God’s love for us and how we subsequently reflect that love towards ourselves and neighbors.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing “Liberated to Love: a Teaching Series” providing theological foundations that help us to seek justice and love mercy as LGBTQ+ Christians and allies. It is our hope that this series will empower our community with important teachings that point towards liberation by looking at the life of Jesus—and the arc of Scripture— which should inform our journey towards seeking full affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities.
For some of us, these posts will renew within us our understanding of the 'good news' already close to our hearts. For others, they will bring life-altering liberation. May all of us experience the goodness and presence of our Creator throughout.
