When people most seek him, Jesus runs away. When people finally get an inkling, a glimpse of who he is, Jesus disappears. When people at last realize that there is something different about this teacher and healer, Jesus vanishes, eager almost in his need to be absent and alone. Unwilling to be found, to be known, to be contained or owned. This, of course, isn’t the same Jesus we learn of in Sunday School, the Jesus who says that all... Read more
This is the second in a series of unconventional retellings of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Read Part One, The God Samaritan here. ***** Wrong place, wrong time, I believe, is the phrase most folks would use to describe my present predicament. Not that I can tell you much about how I came into my present predicament. There was a violent hot pain on the back of my head, then warm and sticky on my neck. Then peaceful dark. I... Read more
For many of us, the Parable of the Samaritan has lost much of its original punch, having grown old and bland through familiarity and distance. So, during the coming weeks, I will be offering three different, unconventional retellings of the Parable of the Good Samaritan in hopes of reinvigorating our imaginations and reclaiming the story’s unsettling example of radical generosity. The old preacher had been around long enough to know a fraud when he saw one. And he had grown... Read more
Given that it’s primary season in South Carolina, I couldn’t help but chuckle when I stumbled across this church sign while driving in the state. It is the perfect encapsulation of Christian Nationalism. I couldn’t have made this up if I wanted to! If only all churches were this honest about their political allegiances. And if only the Republicans had an ounce of this honesty in their current political campaigns! Read more
Among progressives, Martin Luther King, Jr Day might just rank ahead of every other federal holiday on the calendar. Whereas Columbus Day often brings out no small amount of criticism over America’s colonial past from progressives, the Rev. King’s birthday offers us a prime opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to condemning racism and injustice in America. White progressive Christians such as myself pride ourselves in holding the right beliefs — orthodoxies, really — on these matters that defined the Rev.... Read more
Late last week, I took my two boys grocery shopping, and my observant four-year-old remarked with dismay that all the wonderful Christmas decorations had disappeared from the store. For more than a month, he had been delighted by the festive decorations, which of course, made grocery shopping easier for me. Instead of having him beg for gummy snacks and cookies, we played the Who-Can-Find-The-Christmas-Decorations” game. So, if you happened to be shopping in the same store as me, you would... Read more
Some time ago, my friend and writer George Elerick asked his readers if the church has a future, and if so, what would it be? My response was instantaneous. Imagination. And I think it is precisely what is glaringly absent from many of our churches today in America. Now, I’m not talking about using our imaginations to come up with trendy, hip or innovative church models, not even progressive ones. Don’t get me wrong, these are vitally important, but I... Read more
“Silent Night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, ’round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night, son of God, love’s pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.” As you read the final installment of Christmas, Undocumented, I hope you will hold this song in your... Read more
UPDATE: Part Two will be available for download Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. This project started with a simple question: “How would Jesus be born today?” My answer to it might make you uncomfortable. It did me. This week, to inaugurate my new blog at Patheos, I am offering an in-depth, feature-length retelling of the story of Jesus’ birth. In this re-imagined story, you will find all the familiar scenes and characters — the Annunciation with Mary and the angel,... Read more
Of course there’s a war on faith, Rick Perry. There has been a war on faith for about a century now. But it’s not President Obama who is waging this war. Nor is it liberals who are attacking faith in this country. In a touch of irony, it is a number of the very people at whom your ad is no doubt targeted who are waging an all-out war on faith. The war on faith is being waged by literalists who have, for a 100 years,... Read more
Edges of Faith
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