About Out in Scripture

You don’t have to leave your mind, heart and body behind when you encounter the Bible. This Human Rights Campaign resource places comments about the Bible alongside the real life experiences and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith and our allies.

Out In Scripture is a collection of over 175 conversations about the Bible. With the skilled help of 100 diverse scholars and pastors, from over 11 different denominations, you will discover a fresh approach to Scripture. Here you can be honest, question and go deeper.

Out in Scripture is a great devotional resource as you consider your life of faith and put that faith into action. It is also especially helpful for preachers preparing sermons based on the Revised Common Lectionary.

The Bible’s not about beating you up, but lifting us all up. It includes the seeds of liberation and justice. You, too, can be out in Scripture.

The Out in Scripture Collection

The lectionary is a three-year plan of selected Bible readings for each Sunday of the year. To figure out what are the assigned passages for a particular week in the Church Year, check out the 2009-2011 Lectionary Calendar. Find out even more about the lectionary at the Consultation on Common Texts

Select Bible conversations from the following seasons. The conversation will appear at the bottom of the page.

Year B

Year C

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6th Sunday in Lent, Palm - Passion Sunday, Year A

Palm Sunday- Inspiring Thanks and     Resistance Jesus, who will soon be rejected, becomes the source of support and deliverance for a people searching for resistance and change. This week's lectionary Bible passages: Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (This year’s conversation focuses on the readings for Palm Sunday, rather than those for Passion Sunday.)

Who's Out in the Conversation What's Out in the Conversation Prayerfully Out in Scripture

Who's in the Conversation     A conversation among the following scholars and pastors
“We are given a glimpse into the liberating nature of acts of praise and worship which in its essence is truly a holistically somatic, bodily experience.” Leah Lewis	“Because of God, Jesus is able to resist the nations who surround and oppress him.  Jesus, who comes in the name of God, is involved in resistance and his actions lead to deliverance.” Jill Marshall	“Even when our expectations of victory do not materialize, the Palm Sunday passage reminds us that our hope is in a Savior who specializes in resisting the status quo and enacting authentic change.” Shively T. J. Smith

    What's Out in the Conversation
    A conversation about this week's lectionary Bible passages

The two readings for Palm Sunday, Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 and Matthew 21:1-11, share the imagery of a grand entry into the city alongside thanksgiving, singing and waving branches.  A further connection between these two passages is the quotation of the psalm by Matthew: “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9; Psalm 118:26).  Historically, this psalm was the last of the Hallel psalms sung at the Jewish festival of Passover.  The use of this psalm echoes the celebration of Passover and the collective remembrance of deliverance of God’s people from slavery and oppression.

	What are some unexpected “celebrations” in the collective memory of your congregation and the LGBT community that lift up God’s liberating actions?

The strangeness, however, of the Matthew scene in chapter 21 is not mitigated by its connection to the psalm.  We see Jesus riding on a jackass and a colt with a large crowd of believers shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  (verse 10).   Only believers could envision and venerate this humble man on two meek mammals.  Only believers could conduct themselves with such blatant exuberance in the midst of such a materially impoverished Ruler.  Intellectually, what an ironic and incongruent impression this picture provides. 

But these believers, similar to the psalmist in Psalm 118, demonstrate a sure and euphoric knowledge that their Messiah has come.  Both passages address a festive entrance of the Ruler and celebration of our Lord’s goodness.  We are given a glimpse into the liberating nature of acts of praise and worship which in its essence is truly a holistically somatic/bodily experience.  Interestingly, one’s “righteousness” or lack of seems not to be a bar to praise and adoration.  We Christian’s often miss the mark when we think being free from guilt or sin is the critical standard for relating to the Godhead.

We wonder who in the crowd in Matthew 21 and who participating in the liturgy in Psalm 118 was truly righteous and meek.  Only God knows and will ever judge rightly.  Sin, real or perceived, does not foreclose on one’s ability to approach God.  Indeed, sin provides all the more reason to seek God’s face, grace and mercy. 

	How has stereotypes hindered you, the LGBT community,  and your own faith community from seeking and praising God?  What are some constructive ways for overcoming those negative stigmas?

Ultimately, the community of the psalmist and the community around Jesus rally around their entrances through rejoicing and giving thanks.  Jesus’ entrance, however, causes another reaction — turmoil (Matthew 21:10).  Literally, the whole city of Jerusalem was shaken and stirred.  Their reaction sets into motion the events that lead to Jesus’ death.  The entrance of an individual who enacts resistance and deliverance naturally inspires two reactions — thanksgiving for some people and agitation for others.

How can we be the catalyst for resistance and deliverance and how do we prepare for reactions of both thanksgiving and agitation?

Perhaps the most suitable prayer and reflection comes from today’s scriptural passage from the book of Psalms. As you pray and meditate on Psalm 118, ask yourself: “How does Jesus’ movement towards mission and victory encourage me in my own life’s mission?”

    Psalm 118:1-8; 14-17
    [from The New Century Psalter (Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 1999) 162-63.
    Used by permission.]

    
    O give thanks to God, for God is good;
        God’s steadfast love endures forever!
    Let all Israel say,
       “God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
    Let those who fear God say,
        “God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
    Out of my distress I called on God,
        who answered me and set me in a broad place.
    With God on my side I do not fear.
        What can mortals do to me?
    God is on my side to help me:
        I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
    It is better to take refuge in God
        than to put confidence in mortals.

    God is my strength and my might;
        God has become my salvation.
    There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
        “The strong hand of God does valiantly;
        the mighty hand of god is exalted;
        the strong hand of God does valiantly.”
    I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of God.
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Bible passages are selected based on the Revised Common Lectionary, copyright © 1992 by Consultation on Common Text (CCT). All rights reserved. Used by permission.