From rejection to radical welcome: Isaiah 56 through a trans lens

Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Isaiah 56:1-8 shares God's message of not only tolerance but radical welcome for the ultimate Others of the biblical world: eunuchs. How did Isaiah 56's author come to understand Divine affirmation for this denigrated group, when Deuteronomy 23's author had offered only rejection? And why does this scripture resonate deeply with many transgender persons of faith today?

Click here for an episode transcript.

For my Isaiah 56 translations notes, click here.

For other thoughts and resources on Isaiah 56 and biblical eunuchs, scroll down to "Better Than Sons or Daughters" on this webpage.

Talking Points:

• (0:00) Message from a listener — Rowan brings news of London Pride, finds blessing in their daily work
• (4:28) Introducing my sermon on Isaiah 56:3-8; reading the scripture passage
• (7:30) My personal story — realizing my church's promise of unconditional welcome was conditional, after all; finding solace in God's good news for eunuchs and foreigners in Isaiah 56
• (11:53) Eunuchs as the "Ultimate Other"; differences from and resonances with today's transgender community
• (16:28) Historical context — how Judah's traumatic exile moved rejection of eunuchs from the political to the personal
• (19:55 to end) The challenge to faith communities today — to live into Isaiah 56's radical welcome, we must ensure trans folk are not merely tolerated, but fully belong

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This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn.

This episode also makes use of "Green-Fields" and "Arrival" by Scott Holmes via Free Creative Commons (CC-A-NC) License. Find the songs at scottholmesmusic.com.