arms wide open

Where might the simplicity of God’s welcome be needed in your life today? To whom might you extend it without questions or barriers?

Acts 8:38

then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

This might be my favorite section of scripture. First, it’s the only time my name is used in the Bible (go read it!), and secondly, it’s a beautiful story of gender + sexuality inclusion in the early church.

You see, “eunuch” in the first century was a term often used for intersex people, homosexual men, or people who had been accidentally or intentionally castrated. Eunuchs went in between men’s and women’s spaces and challenged gender binaries. Putting our contemporary language and lens on them, they might be queer, gay, nonbinary, or trans.

And Philip baptized this Ethiopian eunuch. Without any debate about the realities of this person’s gender or sexuality. Just simply welcomed this person into the collection of Jesus’ followers. 

May our welcome of queer folks be as simple and unquestioned. Of course baptism and welcome is for you and for me. Of course it is.

Where might the simplicity of God’s welcome be needed in your life today? To whom might you extend it without questions or barriers? 

—Candace Woods