ByMathew Skinner Sometimes, the worse the tragedy, the more abhorrent the theology it elicits. Still numb from the overwhelming evil perpetrated against helpless children and schoolteachers last Friday, now we have to read idiocy from James Dobson and others who declare the senseless carnage a sign of God’s judgment against America. His words are disgraceful. I find them exploitative and unchristian. Certain Christians seem compelled to speak for God in disorienting moments like … [Read more...]
Can We Speak of God’s Activity, in Triumph or Tragedy? (Luke 1:39-55)
January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
On the Fiscal Cliff with John the Baptist: Luke 3:7-18
December 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Carolyn J. Sharp Recently I had the unsettling experience of receiving unsolicited financial advice from John the Baptist. Not directly, of course— his counsel was mediated through an ancient codex, the Gospel of Luke. Written in the latter part of the first century, this text has been lovingly interpreted by monks, artists, preachers, musicians, and biblical scholars from past eras to today. Luke is a rich source of traditions about Jesus of Nazareth, and given the Gospel’s clear … [Read more...]
Who Was He? Malachi 3:1-4
December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Nyasha Junior Who was Abraham Lincoln? You may get different answers depending on whom you ask. He is known as the Great Emancipator. He was a self-taught rural Kentuckyian. He was a husband and father. Also, he was a pragmatic politician. The new film, Lincoln, seeks to address this question by focusing on the political struggles for the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the last few months before Lincoln’s death. ON Scripture: Who Is the … [Read more...]
After the Chaos Ends: Jeremiah 33:14-16
December 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Amy Erickson Jeremiah’s promise of a future restoration for Israel and Judah centers on the image of a righteous branch. This image, while somewhat strange to our culture, carries along with it a rich and varied tradition, deeply rooted in the world and literature of the Old Testament. The tree of life in the Garden of Eden links trees with ideas of abundance, fertility, and renewal. The Old Testament also uses arboreal imagery to talk about leaders, especially kings. In the famous … [Read more...]
Signs That the End Is Near: Mark 13:1-8
November 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Adam J. Copeland No matter the tragedy these days, some religious leader or blogger will attempt to connect it to God’s judgment. Some say superstorm Sandy was God’s wrath on liberal New York and New Jersey. Others fault 9/11 on “the homosexual agenda,” whatever that is. Many argue July’s shooting in Aurora, Colorado, would have been prevented were it not for liberals or conservatives. Relying on Faith, Gerritsen Beach Residents Weather Hurricane Sandy … [Read more...]
The Value of Chump Change: Mark 12:38-44
November 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Greg Carey Is poverty what it used to be? Or has poverty grown so shameful that we dare not speak its name? So determined are we keep poverty out of view, we erase the presence of the poor from Jesus’ teachings. The widow we encounter in Mark 12:38-44 provides a case study in poverty and oppression. Unable to confront poverty, we have turned her into something safer – an example of generosity. The election has just passed. As I’m writing this, I don’t know who will win. I do … [Read more...]
God’s Return Policy: Jeremiah 31:7-9
October 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Gregory Lee Cuéllar Debates on immigration in the United States continue to move in the default direction of North/South. As such, the prominent debating points often direct public attention to the U.S./Mexico border fence and the Latina/o community. By sleight-of-hand, many in the mainstream media tend to recast a centuries-old U.S. immigration experience as a Latina/o problem. Unlike the variety of migration stories in the Bible, the forces creating migration for many Latina/o … [Read more...]
Is It Possible To Govern “Biblically”?
October 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By Matthew L. Skinner Temptations to hold and wield power are usually tough to pass up. Power is alluring whether we imagine having it over others or on behalf of them, whether it’s power in society, at home, or in a workplace. … [Read more...]
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