"Subversive" How? 1 of 3 posts

"When you say that your Visions are Subversive, what does that mean?"

There are three ways that I consider my visions to be Subversive. Here's the first.

In the traditional definition, to subvert something is to tear down, remove, or hinder a structure or system, a power or authority. In our society, two such structures are designed to "keep things (or people) in their place."

What made me subversive is that over the course of decades and decades of ministry in various venues, I found that I have affinity for (and membership in) two communities that are often considered to be mutually exclusive.

In short, I cannot deny that I am an Evangelical. Theologically, not socio-politically, by David Bebbington's definition: I am one who holds to biblicism, christocentrism, conversionism, and activism as scripturally sound engagements of my spiritual nature. But how can I proclaim that gospel when the official structure of (socio-political) Evangelicals unbiblically attacks any romantic and/or sexual activity other than what occurs in cisgendered, heteronormative monogamy?

In return, our LGBTQIA+ community reacts strongly to most "Evangelicals" because of their specious denial of our personhood, much less our identity, expression, and/or orientation. There has been erected a wall of separation between these two communities, even when many of us long for some reconciliation between our faith-of-origin and our queer existence.

So, I find a structure built in a queer defense against Evangelicalism. And I find a structure built in opposition to the LGBTQIA+ community. I would like to subvert them both, in service of a hope for reconciliation. If not reconciliation between Evangelicals and the queer community, then at least between all of us and a Creator who Themself can be said to be polyamorous (as any good Trinitarian would tell you).

More to follow. But I welcome questions and comments in the meantime.

As for the images attached: Where better to emphasize subversiveness than the disintegrating barracks where the U.S. military used to house, and to train, and from which to deploy the forces intent on maintaining our social, political, and religious structures?