The Toll of Bad Theologies on LGBTQ+ People

By Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw

Right now, much of southern California has been ravaged by fires for weeks. Nothing awakens the gremlins of bad theology like the roaring devastation of wildfires, the catastrophic winds and flooding of hurricanes, and other natural disasters. What is it about the human condition that makes it so simple to blame God when terrible things happen?

In the case of disasters that are exacerbated by climate change, it’s somewhat convenient to make God the scapegoat. This is an easy solution for those who are unwilling to look at humanity’s irresponsible behavior and how our mistreatment of the earth has very real consequences. The bad theology that is regurgitated during tragedy isn’t only about shifting blame to avoid responsibility as stewards of the earth. It’s a far more sinister plot to inflict trauma as a means of control.

LGBTQ+ folks and other allied communities have been torn apart by bad theology. As a Christian pastor, I spend a significant amount of spiritual and emotional energy working with people to heal the wounds caused by toxic theological tropes.

I have lost count of the number of times people have come into my office in existential crises. Often, this happens while I am doing something mundane, like creating graphics for the church website or looking at estimates for the cost of having the church air conditioning system repaired. Inevitably, it starts with “I’m sorry to bother you…” and then I find myself wading alongside someone through a flood of emotions that threaten to drown them.

This is sacred and holy work. While seminary did not prepare me for website design, balancing budgets, or understanding the inner workings of HVAC systems, seminary did prepare me for these conversations. After five years of seminary and 14 years of full-time ministry, first as a chaplain and then as a church pastor, I know the value and necessity of these conversations.

So, let’s talk about it. Let’s name the reality that right now, preachers all over our nation are traumatizing anyone who is different. So, in case you need to hear a more affirming take, let me assure you that gender-affirming care and marriage equality are not invoking God’s wrath on our nation.

The fact that you are living your life and being true to yourself does not cause wildfires, nor does it cause droughts, floods, or any other disaster. Hurricanes will rage, tornados will tear through towns, snowstorms will shut down cities, and right now, California is burning. All of these things are signs that repentance is needed, not repentance from our sexualities or genders, but repentance for how we mistreat the world. Let’s not blame the impact of climate change on God just because God is an easier target than fossil fuels, consumer culture, and the shamefully wasteful reality of American life.

Scripture gives us many examples of the need to repent. While some preachers might find it more convenient to point at queer folks and say that we’re the ones who need repentance and blame God for God’s anger management problems, I have a different take. Consider Jesus discussing separating the wheat from the chaff in the third chapter of the Gospel of Luke. This is one of those “unquenchable fire” passages that can make us feel a bit uncomfortable.

However, many biblical scholars have pointed out that Jesus is not separating people into categories but rather acknowledging that all of us have elements in ourselves that need change and transformation. Chaff is easily set on fire, leading to destruction; wheat is useful for food. But they come from the same plant. Every one of us has parts of ourselves that we no longer need. Everyone has elements of our lives that we need to be freed from so that we can better learn and grow.

If you have heard about the unquenchable fire and you have been told that your love or your identity makes you chaff that is destined to burn, you have been told a lie that does not serve your life. Separate yourself from harmful theology like wheat separated from chaff. When we burn away bad theology, we make space for new life to grow. Hopefully, in that new life, we can focus on what really matters: loving one another and being good stewards of creation.

Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw is Coordinator of the CLGS Transgender Roundtable