Especially when there’s cultural debate around a particular issue, people get trolled, families split apart, and pastors get fired when you start asking how we can take Jesus seriously.
Do churches live out of their memories or their imaginations?
If your church constantly allows your memories to overrule your imaginations, you will die. It really is that simple.
The king’s priests vs. the prophet of God
It was a showdown of biblical dimension: The king’s priests versus the prophet of God. The photo showed the evangelical leaders laying hands on President Trump in the White House. Then here comes the Rev. William Barber challenging their actions…
Four questions every stewardship committee should be asking but probably isn’t
Many questions are being explored as these faithful teams attempt to craft a working budget for the year ahead. Here are four questions they would do well to ask.
It’s time to admit it: Those jobs aren’t coming back
We can stick our head in the sand if we want, cheer for the lie at all the campaign rallies — or we can start envisioning a new world which values people over productivity, the common good over common goods.
Speak up. Don’t pay someone else to do it for you
Despite what our economy has taught all of us about the methods of production, you can’t outsource self-sacrifice on behalf of your faith to a Bangladeshi factory worker or to an overly-educated white dude in a robe or skinny jeans or both.
Finding wonder and foreboding in the pathway of a total eclipse
Our experience of a total eclipse should illumine a spirit of contemplation as we marvel at God’s handiwork and the perdurance of an expanding universe. It also urges us to find ever more constructive ways to hold both science and faith in our heart. Holding them together makes for an informed sense of wonder.
Where will you draw the line?
Where will you draw the line on America’s current political and cultural challenges? Lately, every day seems to bring new surprises, new revelations, new moral tests. How far will be too far for you?
Keeping the White House white
I will love by resisting the institutional sin which suppresses the votes of those on the margins. I will love by resisting the institutional sin designed to keep the White House white.
Love is loudest even when hate has the bullhorn
We’ve seen a lot of hate over the last few days. Too much hate, too close to home. Sights and scenes that remind us of previous chapters in our nation’s history and all that still remains broken in our neighborhoods and in need of healing in our world.
Bitterness: The Church’s silent killer
Continually ruminating on our hurts and peeves creates a spiritual toxin which accumulates over time. The brain keeps sending and resending negative messages.
We’ve condemned white nationalism. Now the harder work begins
Decrying white nationalists is an ethical lay-up for which no white person should feel the slightest hint of self-congratulatory pride. To concretely repair racial injustices and facilitate socioeconomic advances for persons of color is the more difficult work to which we can commit ourselves.