I am weary of “prophetic” preachments about justice that are divorced from the creation of justice, which requires both the remaking of existing institutions and the birth of new ones.
The Cosmic Christ and a truly inclusive Gospel welcome all. Do we?
We have taken a cosmic Gospel that redeems everything and replaced it with a puny, individualistic, if-you-were-to-die-today, only-the-soul-matters gnostic heresy. It’s not the real Gospel, of course, but sadly it has found a hospitable environment in many churches.
Is all sex, except sex within a traditional marriage, exempt from the blessing of God?
While upholding the goodness of marriage, maybe it’s time the Church dismissed the legalism of “marriage only” in favor of true, loving relationships that are consummated, not in following the letter of the law, but with the spirit of living principles – commitment, communication, trust, respect and a deep and true spirituality.
Letters to the Editor for 07.11.19
Freedom of the press is precious, yet it is illusory by Toby Druin, Waxahachie, Texas
Letter to the Editor – Freedom of the press is precious, yet it is illusory
Freedom of the press is precious, yet it is illusory by Toby Druin, Waxahachie, Texas
Entitled Millennials aren’t killing the American Church; entitled churches are
When there are four year olds in jail at the border and the Arctic Circle hits 80 degrees, it’s time to find out why exactly the world needs the unending existence of our aging fellowship hall and sparsely-populated sanctuary. If we don’t know the answer, I’m not so sure Millennial church members are going to pull us out of that tailspin.
Hungering for a Christian response to Mississippi’s veggie burger ban
The law raises difficult questions for legislators concerned that hamburgers are not ham, hot dogs are not dogs, circus peanuts are not peanuts, Buffalo wings are not buffalo and refried beans are not fried twice. Churches could divert attention by pointing out a host of problems bigger than lentil burgers that lawmakers might have addressed.
WWJDD: What Would James Dunn Do? America on July 4, 2019
Had James Dunn lived to witness this year’s Fourth of July event – hijacked by President Trump – he would have let his freedom of dissent ring loud and clear. At this moment in the history of American Christianity and American government, Dunn’s distinctive gospel dissent needs to be heard and heeded.
Racial justice: apology without restitution, lamentation without transformation
We must not only deal with the ongoing effects of atrocities, we must also change society itself. Lamentations may acknowledge sorrow over atrocities committed, but they do not repair the harm nor transform the world.
A question both ancient and modern: Whose side is God on?
It’s an over-reach to conscript God’s favor for our political calculations, as if God has a pre-determined plan for each discrete nation, political party or individual leader. Our prayers to God about present circumstances should prompt our own actions to mend the world. God is always on that side.
On July 4, I will not be celebrating. Here’s why
Political leaders’ amorality and immorality about justice has always been tolerated, if not actively enabled, by religious nationalists in congregations in all regions of the country and in every religious sect.
John the Baptist and religious liberty: getting right what many evangelical preachers get wrong
John the Baptist spoke truth to power, refused to pander to politicians and insisted that no earthly kingdom is coterminous with the Kingdom of God. In other words, John got right what many evangelical preachers get wrong.