I find it appalling that President Trump has used both Wounded Knee and Pocahontas as political fodder. The history of the United States regarding indigenous peoples is rooted in the genocide of millions of men, women and children. For the president to make light of that reality demonstrates his ignorance, arrogance or outright racist views.
Declaring America’s real ‘national emergency’ – and hearing and heeding the prophets among us
America’s real ‘national emergency’ is a call to action among people of faith. We must hear and heed those prophets among us whose insights lean toward justice and offer us a way forward.
In America’s midnight hours, faith will improvise a way forward
From the formlessness of these midnight hours in America, out of the void of oppression and injustice, something is being born that will create a new song for all God’s people to sing. But the revolution, when it comes, will be improvised.
To my ‘future self’: instead of resolutions, recycle mistakes and regrets into something redemptive
I took up the New Year’s challenge of writing a letter to my future self. In the process, I discovered the importance of recycling today’s mistakes and regrets into tomorrow’s opportunities.
Rethinking that mission trip to Guatemala: advocating for justice, especially in light of U.S. complicity
Most well-meaning mission efforts in Guatemala at best address the symptoms and not the causes of Mayan suffering. In fact, these efforts may even contribute to the perpetuation of the systems of oppression that harm the Maya.
Falwell and Luther: a theology of glory versus a theology of the cross
Jerry Falwell Jr. and other evangelical leaders espouse what Martin Luther called a “theology of glory.” Falwell has a lot of company. Christian history is full of examples of people finding God on their side when articulating their theology, even, and especially when, their theology concretely harms people.
Consider birthday goals rather than New Year’s resolutions. Here are 8 of mine
Here are 8 of my birthday goals for the coming year, some more serious and challenging than others, offered in the hope that they might inspire a few ideas of your own.
A politician cursed. But the selective outrage of many Christians was also obscene
If you expended more energy in your outrage towards Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s use of a curse word than your outrage over tens of thousands of children dying of starvation, malnutrition and disease – and a host of other social injustice obscenities – perhaps it’s time to weigh carefully what you truly value in God’s world.
Responding to immigrants as ‘refugees from Bethlehem’: on the road with the Holy Family(s)
Whatever else the Jesus Story may mean, it must involve our response to “every stranger” as if they were “refugees from Bethlehem,” holy families in our midst.