People are asking—Does Trump’s wounded head mark him as the Antichrist? The answer is no. And nobody else is the Antichrist, either. I don’t take apocalyptic literature in the Bible literally (I do, however, take it seriously). If I did take it literally, I might be persuaded that Trump is the Antichrist. When I was young, my parents raised me to interpret the events of the Book of Revelation as a literal prediction of future events. I must admit that... Read more
I’m not prejudiced,” my friend said. “I mean, I even have Black friends!” He needed help navigating cultural icebergs without getting sunk. He continued, “I even like rap music, Mexican food, and Asian art! My church did a mission trip to work with the Indians (American or South Asian, I can’t remember which). I was raised not to see color, to treat everybody as equal, and I raised my kids that way, too. So, I can’t be prejudiced. Pass that... Read more
What does the Bible mean when it says that Jesus emptied himself? Taoist philosophers Lao Tzu and Winnie the Pooh offer some insight. We live in a world preoccupied with acquiring more, filling ourselves to the brim. But Jesus, Lao Tzu, and Winnie the Pooh suggest that emptiness is a better way to be useful. Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Chapter 11 JH McDonald Version Thirty spokes are joined together in a wheel, but it is... Read more
Was Donald Trump’s shooter justified? Absolutely not—political violence never is! Every liberal and conservative should agree on this. I haven’t pulled punches in my opinion of Donald Trump. I believe he characterizes everything opposed to the love and peace of Jesus. For years, liberal and progressive writers have warned about the societal consequences of Christians climbing into bed with their “Chosen One.” For this reason, I’ve heard some suggestions that the best thing would be for the candidate to drop... Read more
Canadians are known for being polite and apologetic. But “I’m sorry, eh?” is more than a trope. It’s an expression of reconciliation. When I moved to Canada, I found that it’s not just a stereotype that Canadians are friendly and quick to apologize. The first day I visited the country, I went to Walmart and heard, “Sorry,” at least ten times. The world can learn something from Canadians about how to apologize. When to Apologize If you’re like... Read more
Gandalf and the apostle Paul shed light on the smoke and mirrors of religion and politics. Who’s blowing smoke in your life? In The Two Towers, Gandalf the Grey visits Theoden, king of Rohan. Much to his dismay, the good wizard discovers his friend possessed by the evil wizard Saruman who seeks to control him. Saruman’s lackey, Grima Wormtongue, has become the king’s advisor, whispering deceptions into his ear, and manipulating every decision he makes. Gandalf frees Theoden from Saruman’s spell,... Read more
On the Fourth of July, Americans hear “If my people, called by my name” taken out of context. But it doesn’t mean what you think it means. Many Americans are celebrating Independence Day in a Christian context. This could mean that the Sunday prior to the holiday, your church’s worship service was a patriotic gala. Or it might mean a civic celebration “blessed” to have a minister give an invocation. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is almost ubiquitous at these events.... Read more
Paul and the other apostles practiced selective Bible reading, just like Jesus. Here’s how you can learn to pick and choose verses like them. In my last article, “Be Like Jesus—Pick and Choose Your Scriptures!” I discussed a conversation with a friend, in which he accused me of picking and choosing scriptures to fit my personal beliefs. I pointed out that Jesus did exactly that and expects us to do the same. Check out that article, then continue with this... Read more
When conservatives say, “You can’t pick and choose which parts of the Bible support your beliefs, and ignore the rest,” How do you respond? Recently, a friend gave me this conservative line about selectively reading and interpreting scriptures. I pointed out that almost nobody follows the whole Bible. There’s a reason why Christians don’t sell our daughters for a bride price, or marry them off to someone who rapes them. As it should be, you never hear about Jesus’s... Read more
Everyone has darkness in their soul. Instead of trying to drive out darkness, Jesus and Lao say there’s a mysterious virtue in nurturing it. There’s a mysterious virtue hidden in the Tao Te Ching. This Chinese word for “virtue” is more than simple goodness. Instead, Te means a way of being that is full of harmony and authenticity. This verse explores how to live with such a virtue. Jesus and Lao Tzu agree that to nurture this virtue, you must... Read more
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