Jesus, Queen of Heaven

There was recently quite the brouhaha in Glasgow, UK. It didn't seem to hit the airwaves in the US so much. But if this play was being produced on any US stage, I'm sure there would be massive protests and cries of outrage. Jesus, Queen of Heaven portrays Jesus as a transsexual. From the website: Jesus is a transsexual woman. And it is now she walks the earth. This is a play with music that presents her sayings, her miracles, and her testimony. And she does not condemn the gays or the queers or the trans women or the trans men, and no, not the straight women nor the straight men neither. Because she is the Daughter of God, most certainly, and almost as certainly the son also. And God’s child condemns nobody. She can only love... The producer of the show, Steven Thomson, has said, "Jesus Queen of Heaven is a literary work of fiction exploring the artists own personal journey of faith as a transgendered person." Given that I haven't traveled overseas... well, ever... it's safe to say that I have not seen this show. I have not read this script. I have no idea what all was portrayed. But the idea of the show has me deep in thought. From what I can tell, the play is about the return of Jesus to Earth- as a trans woman. I actually am not getting caught up in the idea of Jesus being a trans woman. The outrage seems to be really focused on that specific idea. But here's my head keeps going... we don't know what the return of Jesus will be like. Isn't it possible that he may return in a form that isn't immediately accepted and loved? Isn't it possible that he will return in a more challenging form? Because God is love, right? And part of what we, as Christians, aim to do is love the way God loves us. So perhaps thinking of Jesus as a trans woman is an important lesson. Perhaps thinking of Jesus as a trans woman gives us an opportunity to look at the people around us, especially those that we discount and look down on, those that we condemn and fear, and see Christ in all people. An opportunity to challenge ourselves to love more deeply, accept more openly. Perhaps this play, this idea can push us to see a chance to step up in our Christianity and be more open, loving, and accepting of all of God's children. I also find myself baffled at getting caught up in Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit needing to be defined by sex or skin color or appearance. Personally, I feel like the Holy Trinity transcends any of that. I was nodding my head in agreement when I read The Shack and was presented with the idea that God presents in whatever form we need to see God in. For some, the gentle old father figure is intimidating but a robust and compassionate mother figure is welcoming and comfortable. Mackenzie, I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature. If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it's because I love you. For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest you call me "Papa" is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning. To reveal my self to you as a very large, white grandfather figure with flowing beard, like Gandalf, would simply reinforce your religious stereotypes... Even though I use terms like Father and Son in reference to God and Jesus, I don't feel like my mind assigns a gender to either one. When I pray, when I seek comfort or guidance, when I praise and worship... it isn't about a man or a male figure. It's about God. It's about love and peace and joy and ministry. None of that is defined by man, woman, black, white, trans, tall, short, or whatever. Outrage over the idea of Jesus returning as something completely outside of the stereotypical realm of comfort for most Christians is certainly going to push buttons, raise eyebrows, and cause hurt and anger. But is it really about the ideas presented? Or is the reaction really about the ideas being so beyond our comfort levels that we feel like we can't do anything but protest?