avatarEsther Spurrill-Jones

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8"><p>When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. — 1 Corinthians 13:11–12</p></blockquote><p id="a974">I have put away anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry. I now see myself face to face.</p><p id="31ca">Every day, I learn better how to love.</p><p id="3167">I am a queer Christian. And, understanding myself as queer has made me a better Christian, and has brought me closer to Jesus.</p><figure id="6448"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*IwCH61gsR9RT0y_U.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="04b6">This story is a response to the Prism & Pen writing prompt, <a href="https://readmedium.com/being-queer-filled-my-life-with-joy-do-you-have-lgbtq-change-stories-477dccf990e2"><b>Being Queer Filled My Life With Joy! Do You Have LGBTQ Change Stories?</b></a></p><div id="4d2c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/being-queer-filled-my-life-with-joy-do-you-have-lgbtq-change-stories-477dccf990e2"> <div> <div> <h2>Being Queer Filled My Life With Joy! Do You Have LGBTQ Change Stories?</h2> <div><h3>A Prism & Pen writers prompt</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*zlZsA9f6MWdlx0Z_ACRL-Q.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h2 id="07a9">Prompt Stories So Far —</h2><div id="473c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-grandparent-was-arrested-for-using-the-womens-bathroom-fb7900494107"> <div> <div> <h2>My Grandparent Was Arrested for Using the Women’s Bathroom</h2> <div><h3>I overheard the secret from our family gossip’s whispers</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*G30uiIzfcgvfnya1KUcfsg.jpeg)"></div> </div> <

Options

/div> </a> </div><div id="948b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-first-moments-of-true-transgender-joy-b43c8d54250"> <div> <div> <h2>My First Moments of True Transgender Joy</h2> <div><h3>Being queer filled my life with joy! A Prism & Pen writers prompt</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*KeQedS07nTSjYev-)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="7e22"><i>Esther learned to read when she was four years old, and began writing shortly thereafter. She is a <a href="https://readmedium.com/when-i-call-myself-queer-9ae5312bcbbd">queer</a> <a href="https://readmedium.com/yes-i-am-still-a-christian-79858ded741e">Christian</a> poet, crafting with words to create art and music.</i></p><p id="e62c"><i>Enjoy my work? <a href="https://ko-fi.com/estherjones#">Buy me a coffee!</a></i></p><div id="9f7f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/yes-i-am-still-a-christian-79858ded741e"> <div> <div> <h2>Yes, I Am Still a Christian</h2> <div><h3>I am a disciple of Christ</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*xPmeRvdTvKyuk4qa)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="60fa" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-christians-become-lgbtq-allies-how-the-christian-post-gets-it-wrong-a9f553e09c1f"> <div> <div> <h2>Why Christians Become LGBTQ+ Allies: How The Christian Post Gets it Wrong</h2> <div><h3>What if it’s because God leads us?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*rIlYAtSO1Gx5OKzy8vhb4Q.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Being Queer Made Me a Better Christian

A response to Being Queer Filled My Life With Joy! Do You Have LGBTQ Change Stories?

Image by Steve Haselden from Pixabay

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. — Anna Bartlett Warner

I grew up in the Christian church, and I’ve always loved Jesus and wanted to be a good Christian. This has been easier and harder at times in my life, and it was never harder than when I realized that I was queer and that meant that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ would assume I was going to Hell if they knew.

However, nothing in my life has brought me closer to Jesus than working through my LGBTQ+ identity.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. — 1 Peter 2:9 KJV

When I was a teenager and a young adult, I believed what I was told by men who interpreted the Bible that same sex sexual activity was sinful. I had no idea that I was queer, and it took me a very long time to figure it out.

Today I believe that the church and LGBTQ+ people have a lot in common, if we would only see it.

Love is the foundation of both movements. The early church was persecuted by the ruling authorities of the time, and LGBTQ+ people are still persecuted today. Both groups exist outside of society in some way.

God is Love. Love is Love.

I am weird, peculiar, queer. I am Christian. Every side of me is odd.

Some have called me oxymoron, impossible, abomination, sinful.

God calls me good.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. — 1 Corinthians 13:11–12

I have put away anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry. I now see myself face to face.

Every day, I learn better how to love.

I am a queer Christian. And, understanding myself as queer has made me a better Christian, and has brought me closer to Jesus.

This story is a response to the Prism & Pen writing prompt, Being Queer Filled My Life With Joy! Do You Have LGBTQ Change Stories?

Prompt Stories So Far —

Esther learned to read when she was four years old, and began writing shortly thereafter. She is a queer Christian poet, crafting with words to create art and music.

Enjoy my work? Buy me a coffee!

LGBTQ
Christianity
Christian
Love
Change
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