The idea of Jesus’ work as perversion is found in Luke 23:2,14. Perhaps because the modern English definition of “pervert” is usually confined to shades of sexual deviance, more modern translations now tend to replace it with “inciting the people.”
(New Revised Standard Anglicized) verse 2 “They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation” verse 14 (Pilate) “said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people”
Amplified Version verse 2 “They began to accuse Jesus, asserting, “We found this Man misleading and perverting our nation” verse 14 (Pilate) said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corrupts and incites the people to rebellion.
The Greek word translated as perverting is diastrephonta and means to “twist,” “turn away,” or “mislead.”
This wonderful twist on scripture (and twisting would make it perverted!) was pointed out to me in From Sin to Amazing Grace, Discovering the Queer Christian by Patrick Cheng, who was citing the work of another gay theologian, Robert E. Shore-Goss who has written a number of books including, Queering Christ and Queering Christianity.
The assumptions I glean from the gospel stories about Jesus’ ministry reveal that to “Flourish in our faith” our body & sex-positive approach is body-liberating, pleasure-embracing, diversity-celebrating, and nurturance-enriching.
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