It is easy to get stuck in Luke’s grand and glorious vision of advent, and to find that kind of advent activism to be the whole story. But there’s a great example of what is meant and it can be found in Matthew 2. I quote the whole chp in the extra text below. Here is what Mary meant and here is what Zechariah meant when they spoke of an unjust ruler. They at least had in mind Herod the... Read more
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As those who read this blog regularly will know, I (RJS) am a scientist and a professor – at a secular University, not a Christian college. This perspective and expertise plays a major role in my view of scripture and creation. The question often comes up, however, of how to introduce a discussion of science, faith, and creation into a local church or a small group. This is a hard question, because emotions run high on all sides and most... Read more
This selection of new biblical studies books is a bit of a grab book of “must-reads” I saw at SBL. The Jesus Creed blog is committed to speaking about and against racism, and so we want to highlight a new liberation commentary edited by Brian Blount. The commentary is brief but packed with theological judgment: True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary . In my judgment, though they may disagree often, the audience most in need... Read more
I’m impressed not only with the activist vision of Mary in the Magnificat but also of the same kind of vision in Zechariah’s Benedictus vision. Here are his words from Luke 1: 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he... Read more
This series concerns Barack Obama, the Freedom of Choice Act, and what FOCA might mean for health care in the USA. The series is by Mary Veeneman, professor of theology and a Christian ethicist at North Park University. The issues that could flow out of FOCA — which Obama has said he will support — are so morally enormous we need to be vigilant in being strong advocates for the unborn and for the moral consciences of hospitals. There are... Read more
Rod Blagojevich, who rode a wave of replacing George Ryan (now in prison) to clean things up in Illinois, received a phone call at daybreak informing him of a warrant for his arrest. US Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, informed the public later of the charges — basically using power for bribery in order to secure a position for himself and a bigger income for his wife. He put a dollar sign on the person who was to replace Obama in the... Read more
The second act of advent is activism in the kingdom work of God. We now look at what Mary thinks the kingdom will bring and so today I bolden the Magnificat’s appropriate portions that spell out what that kingdom means: 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.From now on all generations will call me blessed,49 for the Mighty One has done... Read more
One of the aims of our conversation on this blog is to grapple with the issues of reasonable faith. As a professor and a scientist, I (RJS) find this a crucial and unavoidable discussion. It is a fact of our modern (or postmodern) church that we must develop a way to think about our faith that engages heart, mind, soul, and strength. In the current conflict between science and faith the discussion often boils down to knowing; how do we... Read more
In our last post on new books we listed some top-notch new reference books and commentaries. Today I want to mention seven new books in theology and Christian thought. I begin with what is becoming an international argument: the relationship of theology and biblical studies. The issue is not only who gets the first or final word, but who sets the categories. Does theology or does biblical studies? Here are three books that are reshaping the conversation and that are... Read more
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