Someone recently asked me to construct a theology of racial inclusion based on the Bible. This is what I came up with… Introduction “The Bible says plain as day that white people are chosen by God… It’s absolutely of the devil to say otherwise… Haven’t you been listening to the preacher? Blacks are just not on the same level when it comes to God.” These comments occasionally filled my brain when... Read more
The Definition of Justice: Love or Revenge // Howard Thurman v. Michael Bell Howard Thurman, in his Jesus and the Disinherited, and Michael Bell, in his God Hates Fags, have different ways of talking about the construction of oppression, enemies, and what one should do after the construction of such enemies. Such constructions determine if the work will actually lead to a sustainable peace or if the work will lead to the continuation physical and emotional violence. ... Read more
These thoughts were adapted from the work of social ethicist Dr. Robin Lovin. In fact, this is an attempt to create a brief description of his thought. Lovin was important in the development of my early theological understandings of the self and the other. I guess you could say that his work was a launching point for my journey into more explosive things. “When we encounter a gracious God in the midst of actual ethical life, that... Read more
Decolonizing Jesus? : Is this a joke? While I’m sure they mean well, I’m also sure that they are misguided at best. Lately, I have stumbled across multiple white folk posting about the need to decolonize Jesus. On it’s face, the sloganeering seems incredibly positive. I mean who wouldn’t want all of the isms purged from theological manifestations adopted as canonical by the western church. The problem is that the phrase ” Decolonize Jesus” will never get you there. ... Read more
“The shooting at a White Settlement church last Sunday that left two men dead has rocked communities of faith, leaving many to wonder how congregants can feel safe again in their places of worship. Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus is asking officers who attend faith services to do what they can to add a sense of security by wearing their uniforms. Kraus took to Twitter late Friday to implore his officers belonging to a religion to wear... Read more
Nobody was really listening. Truth be told, most of the folks occupying the pews couldn’t hear even if they wanted to. Regardless, the preacher is going to preach. That’s what he gets paid to do. If you’d been there long enough, you knew everybody that could possibly come through the door. Even the most troubled souls had been there before. In the midst of such an environment, the church decided that guns were necessary to protect them from whatever demons they... Read more
I don’t own a gun…but if I did…I know that I would have shot myself by now. I guess that’s why I’ve never bought a gun. I’ve long wondered what has kept me hanging on through one period of mental destruction after another. Though medicine can keep them away for a time, I always know that they’re coming back. I always know that the pain will eventually take me. Hope dies last…and that is the only theological problem. ... Read more
Matthew 19:16-24 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father... Read more
November 27, 2019 Evolution to Revolution I’ve been engaging things I did not know that I would find. Such is the nature of the random to the prescribed. There were the sounds. There were the sights. There were the… Such is the nature of the random as opposed to the prescribed. I never wanted to walk the path that was laid before me. I wanted something different. I wanted something real. Surprises birth faith and faith... Read more
Thanksgiving… Feathers. Moccasins. War Paint. Battle Cries. Arrows. We only had to be quiet momentarily. Once we got done with the pilgrims, we could really let it rip. On the playground, we fought like our lives depended on it and enjoyed every minute of it. I thought nothing of it. Why would I? I was having a blast. Nobody told us that it was important to respect Native American cultures. I don’t think anybody cared. Time did what my teachers couldn’t. Slowly, knowledge... Read more
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