Dear Reader,
I'm sure you are aware of what is happening in this world, whether you support the Black Lives Matter movement or not. I sure am.. We can't look at anything now and not see the pain of this world. But that is a good thing. Hear me out. The reason it is a good thing is because we are finally talking about it heavily in our society today. Change is happening! 

I have heard people tell me that protesting is fine and all, but once you start looting and damaging property then that's the problem. Yet the people who are protesting are not looting. The correct statement would be that LOOTERS are TAKING ADVANTAGE of the protests. I want to be angry at those who don't see why these protests are so important. It is very difficult for me to understand how anyone can look at these protests and get defensive and threaten them. 

Black Lives Matter (BLM) are fighting a battle, a war that has been going on for over 400 years. Do you realize that the last slave in the United States was only TWO generations ago? Look it up! Do you know when desegregation ACTUALLY happened? The legal ruling happened in 1954 but was fought and people found loop holes. Desegregation took decades to be fully realized in the United States. Did you know that white parents got around the desegregation of schools by pulling their kids out of public and putting them into "segregated academies"? Yeah that happened. Do you know what gerrymandering is? According to the dictionary it is, "manipulating the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class." This happened to school districts. The leaders rearranged the school districts to keep children of color out of their zones and keep the white ones in. Technically black kids could attend the white schools, but because of zones it was rare. 

The segregation by communities caused them to be incredibly impoverished because no one would hire black people at a reasonable pay rate. Public schools rely heavily on property values/taxes, and thus the schools were impoverished as well. According to EquitableGrowth.org, "There is evidence that some school districts have purposefully gerrymandered district lines to segregate low-income students. A piece from Vox points out that since 2000, more than 70 communities have made attempts to secede from their school districts, two-thirds of which have been successful. As an example, organizers in Gardendale, Alabama seceded from the Jefferson County school district 6 years ago. These organizers made the argument that schools were already overcrowded and underfunded, and that by better controlling the geographic composition of the student body, they would be able to reallocate school resources. As a consequence, they were systematically carving out affluent school districts, leaving low-income students to be redirected to underperforming schools in the area."

Why should Christians care? In response, I want to leave you with a speech given by Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

"Somebody once remarked that we learn from history that in fact we do not learn from history.  It is quite staggering that we should read of attacks by louts on foreign workers in Germany simply because they are of a different race.  One would have thought that with the memory of the Holocaust fresh in their minds the last thing Germans would want to be guilty of is a resurgence of racism. Unfortunately, neo-Nazism has indeed reared its ugly head with the vicious attacks on Gastarbeiters by youths who have no compunction about evoking the memory of Adolf Hitler.  We should be careful though that we do not become hysterical and my formulations earlier would be perilously close to the kind of generalization that can easily evoke a panic-stricken reaction.  We should in soberness give thanks for the fact that tens of thousands of decent Germans have marched in massive demonstrations to protest against this new socio-pathological phenomenon.  But we have sadly to admit that there is a new xenophobia abroad.  It is a characteristic of periods of transition when familiar landmarks have been shifted or removed, landmarks that have served to help people find their bearings, that almost inevitably there is a nostalgia for the security that comes from having simplistic answers to complex questions and a desire for an absolute certainty.

No wonder there is a growth in fundamentalism, epically religious fundamentalism, especially among Christians and Muslims.  These persons are upset that there are often no straightforward answers to the many ambivalences and ambiguities that characterize life as most people experience it.  They are impatient with the diversity to be found as in a plurality of ideologies, political options, religious faiths, cultures and ethnic groups.  They hanker after homogeneity.  They spew forth intolerant views about issues relating to, for example, human sexuality and particularly homosexuality, about abortion, about interfaith dialogue, about morality, etc.  Some of the more horrendous manifestations of this intolerance of diversity are being seen in what has euphemistically been called 'ethnic cleansing' in Bosnia and the awful genocide in Rwanda.

The circumstances obtaining today provide fertile ground for the growth of racism.  When the economy is not doing too well and people are competing for scarce jobs in a time of high unemployment and recession and therefore of an increase in crime, then they start looking for scapegoats.  Foreigners and those who do not resemble the majority in one way or another become ready-made candidates for bearing the blame for whatever is going wrong.  Hitler was cunning in using the prevailing difficult economic situation of the day to blame the Jews for the misery that the true Aryan Germans were experiencing.  He was on an unbeatable ticket.  Nazism, which we all today condemn as so obviously evil and immoral, spread like wildfire, much to the surprise and chagrin of many of us.

We must be ever vigilant because racism is again on the rise and there are those who don’t think it is such a bad thing because it can be made to seem innocuous, dressed in the garb of ethnic pride and a legitimate self-determination, it has been possible for a Mr. Duke, known to have been a high-ranking member of the Ku Klux Klan, to be quite unbelievably a credible candidate running for the Governorship of Louisiana.  His racist antecedents did not rule him out automatically and categorically as one might have expected.  He put up a very good show at the time.  And that is quite, quite scandalous, because my dear friends, racism can never be benign.  It can never be respectable.  It was racism that blotted the world’s copybook by giving us slavery-doing commerce in fellow human being.

It was racism that produced the awful ghastliness of the Holocaust in which millions of Jews were killed after being subjected to the most appalling suffering and degradation.  There was nothing benign and nice about putting children into gas ovens after transporting them in inhuman conditions in cattle trucks.

It was racism which produced the awful excesses of the Ku Klux Klan whose emblem was a flaming cross – almost the ultimate blasphemy and sacrilege – when they made life a sheer hell for blacks through their lynchings.  There was nothing benign or respectable about that. 

It was racism that gave the world apartheid where people in the land of their birth did not vote just because of the colour of their skin; where children were stunted psychologically, emotionally, intellectually, and physically, not accidentally, but by deliberate government policy; where to oppose such a system earned you a banning order that consigned you to a twilight existence as a prisoner at your own expense, or detention without trial, where you might undergo unspeakable torture, or you died mysteriously in detention, as did Steve Biko.  Or you served an unconscionably long prison sentence for having the audacity to claim that you too were human: that you had fundamental inalienable rights: that you had a dignity that should not so callously be trodden underfoot and rubbed in the dust – as had Nelson Mandela, spending 27 years in incarceration, and many others.  Or to have to go into exile as happened to Oliver Tambo who, like so many others, was in exile for over 30 years.  Or you were the target of sinister hit-squads.

No, my friends, there has been nothing nice and benign and respectable about the racism that was called apartheid.  It was accompanied by harassment of innocent people, by their vilification and denigration in the State-controlled electronic media and in some of what were sycophantic lick-spittle newspapers which were the apartheid Government’s lap dogs.  Let me add that there were undoubtedly courageous journalists and newspapers which helped to keep the torch of freedom flickering.  But the point I want to stress is that there is a growing racism abroad and it must be opposed with all the vehemence and determination at our disposal, because racism can ultimately never be benign, nice and respectable.  It is always evil, immoral and ultimately vicious and not to be tolerated by Christians and people of goodwill as well as those of other faiths.  I want now to show that racism on all scores is immoral, evil, unbiblical and unchristian."

Read the full speech the second source linked below!

 

Written by Alexander M. Burchnell
Edited by Christopher J. Burchnell

Sources

1) EquitableGrowth.org https://equitablegrowth.org/gerrymandered-school-districts-perpetuate-segregation-by-keeping-low-income-students-out-which-is-bad-for-economic-growth/#:~:text=Gerrymandered%20school%20districts%20perpetuate%20segregation%20by%20keeping%20low%2Dincome%20students,of%20children%20in%20public%20schools.

​
​2) Speech by Archbishop Desmond Tutu https://www.epicenter.org/why-as-christians-we-must-oppose-racism/

Works Cited
Cruz, Joan Carroll. See How She Loves Us: Fifty Approved Apparitions of Our Lady. TAN Books, an Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC, 2012.
Guenois, Jean-Marie. “How the Vatican Sees Marian Apparitions.” EWTN, www.ewtn.com/ catholicism/library/how-the-vatican-sees-marian-apparitions-5922.
“Marialis Cultus (February 2, 1974): Paul VI.” Marialis Cultus (February 2, 1974) | Paul VI, www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p- vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus.html.
“Mary #3: Lourdes and Fátima.” Catechism Class, Mariology, 2004. https:// www.catechismclass.com/reading.php?lesson_id=473&page_id=1.
“Mary #5: Miraculous Medal, Knock, and La Salette.” Catechism Class, Mariology, 2004. https://www.catechismclass.com/reading.php?lesson_id=473&page_id=1.
“All About Mary: Apparitions Statistics, Modern.” University of Dayton, Ohio, 17 Jan. 2020, udayton.edu/imri/mary/a/apparitions-statistics-modern.php.
Odell, Catherine. Those Who Saw Her: The Apparitions of Mary. Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 1986.
“Redemptoris Mater (25 March 1987): John Paul II.” Redemptoris Mater (25 March 1987) | John Paul II, www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp- ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, translator. Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 2006.
Varghese, Roy Abraham. God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary. Crossroad Pub. Co., 2011.

I teach Sunday school for elementary school students in my church. The ability to serve is one of the many joys of being a member of an affirming congregation, and as an out Christian, I don’t take it for granted.  

Today’s message for the kids was a simple one: You can know Jesus even though you’ve never seen Him. 

Between Covid-19’s world pandemic and the racial injustices that have sparked protests all across the country, it’s hard to see Jesus in the world or in our daily lives. With almost apocalyptic-style imagery on our television screens and computers, it’s all too easy to feel like God isn’t there, in our midst, walking alongside us through this crisis. After much prayer and contemplation, I have come to the revelation that actually, He’s right there in the midst of the protests and in the riots, defending the powerless and speaking truth to power. Jesus is here, and black lives matter to Him. 

Sometimes we forget, but central to the Old Testament prophets, and to Jesus’ ministry that set the foundation of the New Testament, is the concept of social justice. Jesus echoed the teaching of the prophets, such as Jeremiah’s proclamation, “Thus says the Lord: Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver the robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. And do no wrong or violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place (Jeremiah 22:3, Modern English Version). We are commanded to execute justice for all of God’s people, regardless of race, gender, or status, and wealth. To those oppressed, we are commanded to do no harm, and instead, to help and aid in allyship. 

As the prophet, Micah asks, “...And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, English Standard Version). We are commanded to advocate for justice and to denounce the unfair and inequitable treatment of minorities as we see it in this country. As Christ-followers, we are called to vehemently oppose the injustices of others. So, in the midst of demonstrations and political action, Jesus is there, calling His congregation to stand up against the injustices of this world, and specifically, to say with Him that Black Lives Matter. 

As queer Christians, it is our duty to follow Jesus and lean into this work. We must speak out against injustice and adopt anti-racist policies; we must work together as a congregation to fight racist policies and laws, in the name of He who created and loves us all. Our advocacy and our work should be intersectional and intentional, fueled by faith. 

Central to our faith journey is hope, and I do have hope that America will bring justice and equity to those who have, for the duration of our country’s history, never known it. I believe that our congregations, no matter what denomination, will answer the call to stand in the face of injustice, just as Jesus instructs. And while these times may seem filled with unrest, I choose to look to them instead with hope and faithfulness, believing that Jesus is moving and bringing change in our midst.

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Dear Reader,

This blog post will be in essence a journal entry for myself. I have been struggling with motivation far longer than this quarantine. I think it started back in September of last year when I started experiencing medical issues. I just don't have much motivation to do my normal 9 to 5 job. I am able to work on personal projects but not 10 hours straight as my day job requires. My hope is to one day work in ministry full-time, but until then I need to bite the bullet.  

I think God knew I needed time off. My company moved everyone to work from home, and since I am considered at risk, I was the first to go. Unfortunately, no one could get me access to work from home. It took over a month to get my pin to work that let me into our virtual system. So, during that time, I was able to work on passion projects and be lazy when I needed to be. 

May 1st was the first day working at home. I only worked a couple hours before experiencing some more technical issues which are still present as I type this a day later. We hope to have it fixed by this afternoon. Am I experiencing burn out? Does it have something to do with my anxiety disorder? No clue. I pray that I am able to get through this.

Thanks for letting me vent for those who read this far. Let me know in the comments if you've experienced anything like this. If so, what helped?

Until next time!
Written by Alexander M. Burchnell
​Edited by Christopher J. Burchnell

Dear Reader,

If you have been following my faith journey via this blog or our social media, you would know that I became a Christian again a couple years ago. I was baptized in March of 2018 at an unaffirming church. I have since then found an amazing church that supports my marriage and transgender status; for this I am incredibly grateful. 

The church we are at fosters a safe space to explore oneself, including beliefs. We still hold to Jesus being the Lord and Savior of us all but we are able to interpret what the rest of it means. For example, some Christians believe in the Holy Trinity while others believe differently. Some are pro-canonization of the Bible while others aren't. Some are interested in Biblical feasts and others not so much. Even though we are one church body, it doesn't mean that it isn't incredibly diverse. We can have different interpretations without fracturing, and that is the beauty of Landmark Worship Center. 

Recently, we sat down on our Pastor's back porch just talking as Southerners tend to do. The topic of the Laws came up, which caused me to spiral down a rabbit hole for a few hours. The question was posed, did Jesus fulfill the Law to the point that we are no longer bound in it or do we still need to try to follow it to the best of our ability? Some said yes to the latter. Jesus fulfilled the sacrifices required by those who break the law. Atonement isn't something we do anymore thanks to Christ. Foods are no longer sinful because Jesus stated, "...It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart."  But what about the rest of the Laws? Do we still abide by them or do we let the Holy Spirit guide us from within? 

While my husband Chris and I drove home that night, I continued to ask questions. Should we still follow some of the laws? Should they be a guide post or goal to achieve? Are we offending God when we where mixed fabrics? How can I possibly follow over 600 laws? These questions crashed in my head and started raising anxieties for me. My husband, the wonderful man that he is, helped me to gain some clarity and perspective. Jesus died for us so that we are set free from the law, free from having to worry as I was doing in those moments. If Christ wants us to follow something or make a change, he will guide us to do so. He wants to take our fears and burdens from us. Just relinquish it to Him and let it be. That, gave me peace. 

Our belief in Jesus is a never ending journey. When we try to place an "end" to it, which can include trying to pin something down like following the law, we become focused on the wrong thing. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Until next time,
Written by Alexander M. Burchnell
Edited by Christopher J. Burchnell

​The next day, after a blessedly rock-free sleep, Tal and Aira arrived in a part of the forest unlike anything they’d seen previously. The trees were just as thick around them, but the ground they walked on was somehow tamer. Aira found herself stumbling over roots and rocks less. In fact, she realized, she didn’t see any on the path. And, moreover, the ground had become a path in truth. Perhaps even a road. As they continued, large paving stones dotted the way until finally they were all Tal and Aira were walking on.

The scents in the air changed. Where before, Aira could smell the leaves of the trees and small animals, she now smelled something musty and slightly burnt. Like the smell of cookfires and fur. She glanced at Tal and noticed a slight smile on his face. He seemed to feel her eyes on him because he looked over her and nodded.

“Good guess,” he said, “I do believe we are here. Look in the trees on either side of us. Do you see them?”

Aira felt her heart flutter, and her stomach jump as she looked. There, in the shadow of the trees, were figures carrying crossbows and spears. Some even had purple and teal glowing lights around their hands, obviously readying Nightforce to use against Tal and Aira should they prove hostile. Aira gulped and tightened the grip on her crossbow but resisted the urge to summon her Nightforce to her hands. She would not want to be the reason these figures attacked, though she would be prepared. Glancing over at Tal, she was surprised to see his smile fading and his eyes narrowing.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, betting that he would be able to hear her. He was part werewolf after all.

He shook his head at her and motioned her to stay with him. Then he eased the sword from its scabbard, his stance becoming more guarded and somehow more athletic. Did he think they would attack?

Suddenly, a tall man appeared next to them and began walking alongside Tal. “Greetings, travelers. What brings you here?”

Tal flicked his green-black eyes down at the man, taking in the long dagger held ready in one hand and the purple glow of Nightforce cloaking the other. “I was summoned by the Alpha. I have traveled from Lartnek to meet with your leader.”

“Hmm,” the man sighed, tucking a strand of black hair behind his pointed ear, “I don’t suppose you have the summons on you? To verify that you are who you say you are?”

“I can share the memory of when we received the summons, but no. I do not have a physical copy.” Tal smiled, disgruntled.

“Then I must insist you wait here while I bring the news of your arrival to our Alpha. We have had some trouble with outsiders recently. I would not wish to harm you if you are speaking the truth. Could I learn your names? So that I can bring them to the Alpha?”

“I am Tal from Lartnek. This is Aira. She is a fellow werewolf and has come at my behest to help me on this journey.”

The werewolf nodded and gestured to a small clearing ahead full of moss-covered stumps. “Please, take your ease. I will return promptly.”

Tal groaned as he lowered himself onto one of the stumps, slamming his sword back into its sheath. Aira suppressed a smile and sat too, setting her crossbow on her lap and raising an eyebrow at Tal.

“Not quite the reception you were expecting?”

“No. I expected our missive had reached the Wolves far before we got here. We did walk most of the way. I hope it wasn’t intercepted.”

“Is there some group that wouldn’t want you to come?”

“Not that I’m aware. Can’t be too careful, though. And besides, if someone did intercept the messenger… well, who knows if they left him alive.”

Aira looked down. She hadn’t thought of that. The past few days she had been so wrapped up in her own survival, she really didn’t consider the survival of others. Before this week, she hadn’t really thought about needing to stay alive at all. That was a given. But now, on the run and this diplomatic mission, she was embroiled in more complicated situations than any other time in her entire life.

The leaves rustled behind her, and she whirled, bringing her crossbow up. How she had gotten to her feet, she could not remember, but now she was up and face to face with a young werewolf, wrapped in soft brown robes tied with a green sash.

“Aira. Settle.” Tal said gruffly, “I’m sorry, youngling.”

She shot Tal a glare, “What is he doing creeping around us?”

The werewolf bowed deeply, pressing his palms into his thighs, “I’m sorry if I have offended you, Warrior. I was curious about the visitors and came to see. I thought I might help with a tour if you are admitted.”

His speech was very formal and he kept his eyes averted, even after he rose. Aira frowned and looked at Tal, but he did not seem put off. In fact, he did not make direct eye contact with the boy either.

“Could we know your name? My name is Tal, and this is my traveling companion, Aira. She is a werewolf like yourself.”

“I am J’ander. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Are you not a werewolf, Warrior Tal? You smell like one, but then again not.”

Tal smiled, “Only half. My mother was a werewolf. My father was a Draconian.”

“That would explain it. How long have you known Warrior Tal, Warrior Aira?” J’ander asked, turning back to Aira.
“A few days, now, I suppose.” she sat back down, crossing one leg over the other, ‘J’ander, why do you keep calling Tal and me, Warrior?”

He blinked, looking between them, “You carry weapons and you wear trousers. If the weapons didn’t mark you Warrior, your dress does. Is this not your way?”

“My trousers mark me as a warrior?” she looked at Tal. “No. No, in my city only men wear trousers and women usually wear dresses.”

“Are all of your men warriors? That seems a waste. Not all men are strong enough to fight and protect the Pack. Why would they all need trousers?” J’ander shook his head. “I do not understand. If a woman wants to protect the Pack, why should she have to wear a dress?”

Thankfully, the werewolf that had escorted them to the clearing returned just as she opened her mouth to try and answer J’ander. She really did not know how to explain to this youngling that in Nefti, women wore dresses and men trousers regardless of their occupation. It wasn’t job-related.

“Tal of Lartnek and Aira. The Alpha will see you now. J’ander, since you are here, please escort our guests to the Alpha’s tent. Then find yourself back at your chores. Your mothers will not be pleased to see you neglecting your duties.”

“Yes, Thane,” J’ander bowed again, “Please follow me. I will take you to the Alpha.”

Dear Readers,

I want to personally thank you for all the support you have gifted us over the last two years. We have grown exponentially and I am constantly amazed at how blessed we have been. As you can see by the blog title, we have some updates to share. As you have seen, if you follow us on Instagram and Facebook, we are now the media production company for Landmark Worship Center. What does that entail?

We have a main team that you will see more of as time goes on: myself (Alex Burchnell), Chris Burchnell, Christin Barrett, and David Bennett. Chris is our editor for this blog as well as Landmark's. He also helps with filming when needed. Christin and David are our main production crew when it comes to filming services, podcasts, etc. They also post daily discussions on Landmark's Facebook group. 

What does this mean for our current partner program? Well, not much will change. We still accept guest blog posts, graphic designs, etc. The only requirement to be an official partner of QCFV would be to create and send in a piece at least once a month. If you cannot commit monthly you can still send in guest posts but we would not list you as a partner. We would simply have your information at the bottom of each post you send in.

If you are an existing partner this will apply to you as well. If you have questions, please email me at QueerChristianFamilyValues@gmail.com for further discussion. If we do not get a response of confirmation from you by May 15th we will remove you as a Partner with the ability to submit as a guest.

I look forward to building QCFV's ministry to promote the affirmation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Christian faith.

Until next time,
Alexander (Alex) M. Burchnell
​President/Owner of QCFV

Dear Readers,

Things have been stressful lately, have they not? I for one have had a time adjusting to being home 24/7. I am working from home now, of which I know is a privileged where many, including some on the QCFV team, aren't as lucky. We wanted to do something to give a glimmer of happiness in this dire time. We here at QCFV and Landmark Worship Center would like to announce a binder giveaway! 

The rules are listed on the application posted below, but here is a summary: To enter you must be under the transgender umbrella, follow us on all social media, re-post the giveaway and tag us, and fill out the application in full. This giveaway was announced on our social media on April 2nd and the ability to apply is extended through May 2nd. If you apply after the closing date you will not be entered to win.

The binder can be of any type but we will be ordering from Underworks. Please know your size as we cannot assist with returns unless the fault is on Underworks.

We look forward to having more giveaways like this in the future!

​Click this link to fill out the form!

Until next time,
Alexander (Alex) M. Burchnell
President/Owner of QCFV

My name is Tiffany. I am an MTF transgender and also a Christian. I am still trying to reconcile everything in my life but wanted to share my story about my journey and where I am at today. 
I was born in the late ’60s in the NE United States. Our family was not very religious but had Catholic roots. We did attend church occasionally, mostly around Christmas and Easter or for other special occasions. I was baptized as an infant, though probably more out of tradition. I also made my first communion in the Catholic Church. As I got older and headed off to college, church was not a regular part of my life, although I still considered myself Catholic. 
I also started to have thoughts and feelings when I was young about what it would be like to be female. I can’t recall exactly what age the feelings started, but I was quite young. I was not sure what to do and did not share this with anyone. The feelings would come and go and increased in intensity over time. At that time, things like transgender were not well known, talked about, or accepted, so I was not really sure what to do. At one point in my teen years I decided to try on some of my mother’s clothes when nobody was home, and it just felt right. Now I really did not know what to do about this. I would look at girls and sit and wonder what it would be like to be one of them; meanwhile, I just tried to be one of the guys and fit in because that was what society expected. 
I thought maybe things would change over time, but they did not. I got married and had kids, but the feelings were still there. We did start to attend church more regularly, though, as a family. First the Catholic church; then we tried other various churches for a while before ending up at a Pentecostal church. It really felt like home and we became regular attendees. I then made a decision to start taking ministry classes and became an ordained minister within the church. I thought for sure this would change things, but it did not. The feelings were still there, and I was not sure what to do. Questions ran through my mind like, was God ok with this? Why did I feel like this? Is this right?
The real question came down to how to reconcile these feelings with the Christian faith. I did not ask to feel like this. I hoped these feelings would go away, but they did not. Maybe they would subside for weeks or months, but then they would come back. I just could not shake the desire to be female. Everything the church taught was that this was wrong. I prayed, but the thoughts and feelings persisted. I did not want to just justify them or interpret Scripture to fit my situation. I really want to follow God and His plan for my life. 
So here is where I am at today. I do not believe this is a salvation issue. I know that I am a sinner and need to be redeemed. John 14:6 says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This makes it clear that the only way to be saved is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, which I have done. Once we begin to follow Jesus, we are still sinners, but we should strive to be more like Him. If you go back to Genesis 1, God created man and woman and it was good. It is also clear that He expected us to have natural relationships and offspring to populate the earth. But then the fall in the garden occurred. Our sinful nature was awakened. That does not justify sin, but just like sickness and illness, man was now corrupted. This is the only explanation I can come up with to explain why I am like I am. I did not choose to feel like this, and I can only assume that I was born this way. Not what God originally intended, but a result of the fall of man. This is where I am currently at but still seeking answers. 
So, I have accepted who I am and am now working to deal with everything. It is very difficult to do on my own, as until recently I had not come out to any friends or family, and living a double life is also not easy. I finally decide to open up to my sister, and she was very understanding and supportive. She said that she loved me no matter what and is there for me. That means so much to me, and it is nice to now know that I do have some support. 
I have reconciled to take things a day at a time and continue to pray and focus on God and allow Him to guide me. I just want to glorify Him and show others the love of Christ. I know I don’t have the answers and really have no choice but to just trust in Him. I just look forward to the day where I can openly be “me” and don’t have to hide anymore. 
I know for some, being transgender today is just a fad or fetish. We definitely live in a different world today than when I was younger. But I also know for some it is real, and many are dealing with a similar situation as me. Some friends and family may be accepting, but others may not. I think you just need to assess your situation and make the appropriate choices which are not always easy. Being a Christian really helps though, as you can rely on God to help guide you. I have prayed and given everything to my loving Father. If you put your trust in Him, He will not let you down! 

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The Oh Hellos: Striving to create better art for the Christian Community

Dear readers, 

       Ever since I was little, I don’t remember ever loving Christian music at any point in my life. Or, at least, not the music they commonly play in church. Hillsong Music, Bethel Music, Elevation Worship, or any of the other popular worship songs had never touched me the way some other songs could. I would always linger in the back of the room, dazing off, wishing we could skip ahead to the service.  And now that I’m getting older, this strikes me as odd. Because I LOVE music. Each song created a new world for me visually. Each song had its appeal. Owl City with its fanciful technological sounds, Pentatonix with its distinct vocality, Twenty One Pilots with its almost depressing yet hopeful aesthetic. But there was something about the worship music that never “lit me on fire” like the songs said they would. Eventually, I learned to tune it out and ponder what I would do in the coming week.

         Now, eventually, as I got older, I began finding Christian music that I enjoyed, like TobyMac, Jamie Grace and Hollyn. (None of whom usually play during worship service.) But it still struck me as strange I didn’t like any of the music at the worship service. Now, in part, it is a personal thing, since until now I had always struggled to make my relationship to Christ personal. This compounded with my overall different worship style makes traditional worship for me annoying, but that didn’t stop me from liking the music from the above artists. So what is it? Is it simply personal taste, or is there something about traditional worship music that needs changing? 

         Well, truthfully, a bit of both. I know people who love traditional worship music, and that’s fine. Sometimes it comes down to personal taste. As I mentioned before, my worship style is different and comprises listening to Christian podcasts while drawing, or taking in the sunny day or city-scape around me while enjoying some Owl City or TobyMac. Some people feel moved by traditional church songs. It gets them through tough times and helps them feel connected with God. But the sameness of our worship songs showed a seemingly small problem that goes unnoticed by most unless they have a keen eye for art.

As an artist, specifically a Christian one, I wanted to know why I didn’t like the worship music in church. Was there more to it than my differing worship style? So I looked into it—and discovered there were others like me. People who felt dissatisfied with the Christian content that was being presented. Not just the music, but the movies and the TV shows. It all felt—bland, samey, and uninspired. Most Christian movies even have the same plot. A family goes through tough times, and right when they least expect it, God shows up and fixes it. You may think, “Spirit, aren’t you being picky? It’s just a movie!” And, yeah, you’re right. I’m being picky. In fact, I’ve gotten into many an argument with my dad about being too picky regarding the newest “Star Wars” movies.

But being picky—criticizing the movies we love, are what push people to move forward. If fans hadn’t been picky, Paramount Pictures never would have redesigned the character for Sonic in the 2020 Sonic movie. And I’ll be the first one to say the original design was bad. If fans hadn’t been picky, Sony Animation would have never changed their movie lineup to movies that now exceed The Emoji Movie, which was also terrible.

I will point out—there is a big difference between politely criticizing and harassing someone because you didn’t like the film or song or animation. But I digress. The point is, most mass consumers aren’t thinking about the quality of the content they consume. They take their kid to see a colorful movie to distract them for a bit. They listen to songs because the beat is catchy. They watch a show because it’s cheesy. There isn’t a problem with just enjoying something because it’s bad and cheesy, or because it’s nostalgic rather than good. But this is producing a problem that is becoming more and more common. Media that is fueled off of being nostalgic and making you feel good, rather than making you think or even doing both.

Markets are becoming oversaturated with just mediocre content rather than movies and TV shows that are amazing and awe-inspiring. I’ll be the first to admit, this isn’t that big of a deal in the long run. Subjectively bad movies can impact just as much as subjectively good ones, not to mention that everything is, after all, subjective. But it still is good for everyone to ask for objectively better movies. 

Fiction, especially good fiction, is one way we digest the world and evaluate ourselves, our situation, others, and life. And having mediocre fiction that doesn’t accurately reflect our situation means we lose a critical lens we have in our world. Good fiction is good when it has diversity, relatable characters, and accurate portrayals of real issues in the world. Good fiction allows us to experience the world from the eyes of others. A major example of the inverse happening is when the movie Split released, which portrayed a person with schizophrenia/dissociative identity disorder as a mentally unstable murderer and kidnapper, leaving people like DissociaDID to combat the stigmas left behind by these films in YouTube videos. 

     This dilemma regarding mediocre media is something you can see throughout TV, film, music, and novels, throughout secular media (like Disney’s constant releasing of live-action remakes, and Illumination Animation’s unwillingness to take risks with their films anymore although their first blockbuster, Despicable Me, was a risk) and in Christian media, specifically movies and music. In fact, to showcase this point, a YouTube channel run by two Christian brothers put this to the test by teaching their viewers how to write a worship song in 5 minutes or less. 

     The constant evolution of media always grows stagnant eventually, running out of ideas until a younger generation grows into the old creative positions, sharing their own life stories, but it seems more common with Christian media. One of my favorite video essays by Josh Keefe on YouTube details it better than I can, saying, “I found it incredibly ironic that music made from a group of people who believe in a limitless and creative God only reflected what was being done in the pop industry.” 

     However, there are still people trying to push the boundaries of content creation, secular and Christian. Into the Spider-Verse set a new standard of animation and storytelling in 2018. Rian Johnson tested the limits of fandom and rewriting old stories with The Last Jedi in 2018. Rebecca Sugar began a shock-wave of queer inclusion with her groundbreaking show, Steven Universe as early as 2016.

     Indie and Alternative bands have also begun making rounds in popularity, including AJR, and a newer and smaller band named The Oh Hellos. You may have heard one of their older songs around Tik Tok or YouTube called “Soldier, Poet, King”. 

     While they are still relatively small, only having around 52,000 subscribers and six albums, their music has impacted many so far and is leading a tiny revolution in changing the way we think of Christian music. Like the Dawn describes a poetic version of the creation story, intertwining scripture in a way that calls back to its original roots of being stories passed down from family to family in the Hebrew tradition. The album Dear Wormwood takes inspiration from C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, having characters, both real and fictitious, test past relationships and break them off in an almost letter format through the point of view of the main characters.

     And yet, we still have to talk about their current series of EP’s, Notos and Eurus, music which is both beautiful, and causes one to stop and introspect regarding their own behavior towards others, reminding us to make sure we don’t “keep that old wheel turning.” 

    “How does this relate to Christian media?” you may ask, and the answer is complicated. Perhaps just as complicated as the themes presented in these two EP’s. The short answer is that this small band has been pushing the fronts of Christian music in a way that is both creative and thought-provoking. They intertwine relevant themes in their songs, themes that tie in with the state of modern content creation, and our current political climate in a world rampant with fear and pain.

     Over these next four to five months, I would like to write a series of essays examining the themes of the work of Tyler and Maggie Heath as we look at the albums Notos and Eurus, tying the themes back to modern day violence, hatred & bigotry, and learning how to move past that as queers, Christians, and everyone in between. And while we’re at it, we’ll take a brief look at the current state of music and media across both secular and religious categories and see what we can do to move past it.

     Disclaimer: I in no way claim to be an expert in any of these subjects regarding media and movies and am just a teenager sharing things I have noticed and observed. As for the meanings behind what Eurus and Notos mean, I can only speculate. I mostly am using the website Genius Lyrics. I will also link additional websites and articles as I use them. Regarding the people making the music and films, while I may talk about them in a negative light, I in no way mean to offend or bash the creators or anyone who may enjoy these media pieces. I want to encourage thoughtful conversation around the media we consume.

With that being said, I will aim to release 1 essay a month, with the first two being actual analysis, and then leaving space for the last three to be essays tying all the themes together. 


                        Your friend,
                                      Spirit
P.S.
     A big thanks to Alex for allowing me to post this on his website since I don’t have one of my own, and I would like to thank you for reading this! I think fiction and art are very important to how humans interact with the world and each other, and I think this is something we should realize. Being okay with having only okay movies will give us okay results, and I’ve seen what people in the arts can produce. With that being said, in even the worst of movies, it’s possible to find even the smallest of things to enjoy! Split saw an excellent actor in James McAvoy,  Disney has been pushing technological boundaries with their live action movies, and Christian movies and music are great to check out if you’re just needing an emotional pick-me-up! Remember to always see the bright side, especially in today’s cruel world. Criticise with caution and try not to hurt others or be aggressive. Even in genuine commentaries like this one hopefully was, it’s important to highlight the positive! So have a good day, and be the best human you can be!
     

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