Heavy Burdens: Bridget Eileen Rivera on Confronting Church Harm Toward LGBTQ Christians

Exploring how the church has harmed LGBTQ Christians and how repentance can lead to healing and restoration, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford talk with Bridget Eileen Rivera about her book "Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church." They delve into the double standards and injustices faced by LGBTQ individuals in Christian communities, discussing the importance of open dialogue, humility, and genuine listening in fostering true reconciliation. Key Takeaways: • Understanding Double Standards – How LGBTQ Christians face unique burdens not placed on heterosexual believers within the church. • The Origins of Sexual Orientation Concepts – Bridget explains the historical development of how sexuality became linked to identity and the impact of Freudian psychology on Christian perspectives. • Repentance and Restoration – Discussing what genuine repentance looks like in non-affirming churches to heal the harm done to LGBTQ individuals. • The Role of Conversation and Listening – Emphasizing the importance of open dialogue, humility, and stepping back to reassess how the church engages with LGBTQ topics. Guest Highlight: Bridget Eileen Rivera – Author, speaker, and advocate for LGBTQ Christians. Bridget shares her journey as a Christian committed to traditional sexual ethics while passionately advocating for the dignity, inclusion, and better understanding of LGBTQ individuals in the church. Resources Mentioned: • "Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church" by Bridget Eileen Rivera – Link • Bridget's Blog – Meditations of a Traveling Nun – Link • Bridget on Twitter – @TravelingNun Join the conversation as we explore how to walk in repentance and restore relationships within the church community. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to stay connected. As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy