four cubits and a span: sexuality

Browsing Category " sexuality "

SWALK (2020/02/23)

christian life, Jo Kitchen, podcast, poetry, sexuality, slavery, social justice, temple, wisdom

So many of our reading skills depend on our cultural background: the memes, metaphors, and idioms that make up our literary vernacular. This week, Jo Kitchen and I take on 1 Corinthians 6, which turns out to be particularly densely packed and full of rhetorical flair.

Read transcript

In Conversation with Deuteronomy 22 on Sexual Abuse

divine violence, Jo Kitchen, law, mental health, podcast, second temple judaism, sexuality, social justice

We're back with a summer hiatus special episode! I was delighted to invite my friend Jo Kitchen to re-record with me a segment on the second half of Deuteronomy 22. We look at how ancient patriarchal norms framed laws on sex and marriage, and how we can read scripture seriously today when we find in its pages the same attitudes that drive modern-day rape culture.

Special thanks to Viv Brown, Rebekah Lewis, and our other sisters in Christ who kindly volunteered their time to review drafts and notes of the material for this episode. Their feedback and input has been invaluable - thank you!

Read transcript

lovers and martyrs (2019/05/05)

early church, form criticism, law, mission, podcast, poetry, sexuality

This week's episode is super-late because I've been ill, but here it is anyway. There's plenty of material in this week's readings to make everybody uncomfortable, and that's without the stuff that I cut for length. Sometimes the Bible does that.

Read transcript

oath and wisdom (2019/03/24)

law, podcast, priesthood, rabbinic judaism, second temple judaism, sexuality, social justice, socio-rhetorical interpretation, wisdom

Lady Wisdom and Madam Folly are introduced at the start of Proverbs, and it's appropriate as we look for wisdom in the Law and the Gospel this week. It's hard to know where to go with either, but there are some story anchors that we can drop to get started.

Read transcript

instruction and humanity (2019/03/10)

gospel, history, law, podcast, poetry, priesthood, sexuality

Three quite different passages this week: a list of sexual "don't"s in Leviticus; part of the astonishing Psalm 119 that puts humanity and God only a Torah's-breadth apart; and the question of whether or not the author of Luke-Acts positioned themselves as an historian (spoiler: they didn't). Running through this episode, though, is a similar range of questions based on how (and why) we read the Bible.

Read transcript

theology of redemption (2019/01/27)

apocrypha, christian life, mission, podcast, poetry, sexuality, social justice, text

Redemption for all people in all places is a thread that runs from the Korahite Psalms (such as today's Psalm 49), through the centuries, to the writing of the apostle Paul (as in Romans 1-3). Two spectacular, inspirational texts to look at there this week. There's even a hint of the sentiment in Joseph's actions in Genesis 44, which brings the Joseph narrative full circle quite poetically.

Read transcript

retribution and conscience (2018/08/26)

christian life, history, monarchy, podcast, prophecy, sexuality

As we continue to engage with the historical storytelling of the Deuteronomist, we're confronted with whiny cry-baby King Ahab and a sneak attack by the challenge of divine retribution. Jeremiah has a screed against Moab and a peek into pre-exilic Israelite religion. But mostly we're spending this week with the apostle Paul, talking about sex, marriage, and the Christian conscience.

Read transcript

Changing The Script (Esther 1-2)

podcast, second temple judaism, sexuality, social justice, wisdom

After an extended break due to illness, four cubits and a span will be returning with new episodes in April!

To tide you over, this special episode is a nice follow-up to last November's episode Justice with Addie Whitcomb, where we looked at Esther 1. It picks up on some threads that we didn't have time to explore, and moves along into chapter 2 to look at Mordecai's part in Esther's story. I even have a go at putting Esther in its Jewish literary context by comparing it with other biblical and extra-biblical texts that put female perspective and power front and centre.

Rising Action (Acts 8)

gospel, inspiration, podcast, sexuality, text

From the most unlikely origins, Jesus will commission Paul to implement the great work narrated in the book of Acts - taking the gospel out across the Mediterranean world. But before Paul turns to Christ, even before Peter starts baptising Gentiles, comes the deacon Philip. In his preaching, the gospel smashes taboos of ethnicity, religion, and sexuality.

links