The recent actions of the Tennessee Legislature to expel two Black Democratic representatives scream for answers. Why would members of the Republican Party, who have spent the past seven years swearing on a stack of Bibles, sometimes held upside down,…
God’s pronouns are they/them
God transcends gender. Theologically speaking, God is nonbinary. That means in English, God’s pronouns are they/them. God is trans. I’d love to say this thought was originally mine, but that would be another cis white man commandeering someone else’s thought,…
The Hateful Faithful are a threat in every religion and every country
In the past week, followers of Jesus observed Maundy Thursday and Good Friday rituals followed by Easter Sunday. The same week, adherents of Judaism were preparing for Passover. Meanwhile, followers of Islam were observing daily fasts during the month of…
Easter Monday at Bubba-Doo’s: The car wash explained
I needed the day off, although I would have gotten by OK if the church were open. Thankfully, my congregation has for years closed the church office so the staff can have the Monday after Easter off. Easing around home…
Critical Race Theory lines up with a biblical worldview
I first came to use Critical Race Theory as an academic tool about a decade ago. Around that time, I was helping lead a tour of urban Latina/o students at the university I worked at, together with a Christian urban…
Hypocrisy
When we boil down all the assorted examples of how evangelicals have sold themselves to Donald Trump for 30 pieces of silver, one word summarizes it all: Hypocrisy. Call it irony. Call it opportunism. Call it greed. Call it a…
The Barabbification of America
Across the world, many religious people shall regard this week as holy. Jews shall celebrate Passover, while Christians shall commemorate the Crucifixion. Christians shall soon celebrate the Resurrection, known to many as Easter. I’m watching a familiar phenomenon happening in…
About those C and E people
Perhaps we are the most vulnerable to channeling the Prodigal Son’s older brother right about now. As we anticipate sightings of Christmas and Easter worship attenders this Sunday, we may find ourselves thinking, “Well, there you are, all happy and…
On becoming ninnies and brutes
“Without men, women become precious; without women, men become philistines.” In other words, we make ourselves into ninnies and brutes. This footnote by Karl Barth to a section of his Dogmatics has stayed with me for almost half a century….
My new favorite disciple of Jesus
My favorite disciple used to be Peter. I loved how much Jesus loved and trusted him even though Peter often missed the mark, speaking and acting without remembering what Jesus taught him. Peter stepped out of the boat and sank….
Holy Week clean up
This morning, as I was drinking my second cup of hot, caffeine-flavored water on the back porch, Juan Pablo rounded the corner of my house, coming from the front yard with a large, black garden trash-bag. I was not surprised…
Confessions of a female Baptist pastor
I read the letter Pastor Mike Law wrote and it was a waste of my time. I knew it would be, but I just wanted to feel angry all over again because it feels good until it doesn’t. Same stuff,…