David K. Mercier
Dear Queer Christian: The Rules Were Never the Point
(1 Timothy 4–6)
(1 Timothy 4–6)
Dear Queer Christian,
You’ve heard the rules.
You’ve been told how to act, how to dress, how to “present.”
You’ve memorized the verses they weaponized.
You’ve tried to walk the line they drew with trembling legs.
But here’s what I hope you know now, babe:
You don’t need to earn what’s already yours.
You don’t need to perform faith to be faithful.
You don’t need to sacrifice joy to be spiritual.
You are not a disruption.
You are a reminder—That holiness isn’t fragile.
That joy isn’t a liability.
That your freedom is a fruit of the Spirit, not a threat to it.
There will be people who cling to rules because they’re afraid of what freedom unleashes.
Let them be.
But you?
You were made to dance barefoot on tradition’s broken glass.
You were made to feast where others fast.
You were made to bless your body and trust your belonging.
So take up space.
Ask better questions.
Live free.
Because the rules were never the point.
Love was.
And it still is.
—Someone who tried rules, then found grace instead, Paul 1 Timothy 4-6
MORE BELOW THE VIDEO
WATCH THE SERIES | MORE ABOUT DAVID
1 Timothy 4–6
1 Timothy 4–6
Why Liberation Is Better Than Control
Paul warns Timothy about people who turn religion into a system of control: rules about food, bodies, and behavior that have nothing to do with freedom.
It’s a kind of faith that looks tidy but leaves people exhausted.
Sound familiar?
This letter calls us back to something deeper.
For queer Christians, that deeper thing is liberation.
A spirituality that says:
You don’t have to pass the purity test.
You don’t have to trade your wholeness for belonging.
You don’t have to shrink to be “used by God.”
Liberation isn’t just the removal of rules—it’s the recovery of joy.
Joy that refuses to apologize.
Joy that resists being micromanaged.
Joy that lives loud, honest, and free.
Reflection
When have you felt pressure to follow religious rules that didn’t resonate with your spirit?
What’s one way you’ve reclaimed joy, freedom, or integrity in your faith practice?
How might you embody a spirituality that’s centered in liberation rather than control?
1 Timothy 4–6
P.S. Would you take a sec to subscribe on YouTube? Or check out my other posts?
RECENT POSTS:
Why Pride Still Matters in 2025: A Message to LGBTQ+ Christians & Allies
David K. Mercier Why Pride Still Matters in 2025: A Message to LGBTQ+ Christians & AlliesPride Month, for many people, looks like glitter and rainbows and parades — and yes, that’s part of it. But Pride started as a protest. It began in June 1969, when queer and...
Dear Queer Christian: What Grace Makes Possible (Titus)
David K. Mercier Dear Queer Christian: What Grace Makes Possible (Titus) Dear Queer Christian, You’ve been told you can’t lead.That your heart is weakness.That your story is too much, your joy too loud, your questions too complicated. But here’s the truth:Your life is...
The Clobber Passages: A Brief Look At What the Bible Really Says About LGBTQ People
David K. Mercier The Clobber Passages: A Brief Look At What the Bible Really Says About LGBTQ PeopleWhat the Bible Really Says About LGBTQ People (The Clobber Passages) This is a very brief overview of the verses historically used to clobber queer people out of...
For Anyone Told They Can’t Be Gay and Loved by God
David K. Mercier For Anyone Told They Can’t Be Gay and Loved by GodDo you love God but feel like you don’t belong in church anymore? Yeah… I’ve been there. For a long time, I thought being gay disqualified me from God’s love. I spent years serving in ministry —...
Resources in your Inbox
SUBSCRIBE
Select your email preferences:
0 Comments