Today we live in the wake of these changes. Christianity and its Jesus fell in the same way as all the other religions taken in by Rome . . . If the bloody violence of Christianity’s history has taught us anything, it is that we must question the Christian theory of justified violence including redemptive violence. Read more
Let’s lean more deeply into our shared lives. Let’s find ways relevant for our world today of acknowledging and tapping our interdependence and shared power, the power of community. Read more
Welcome readers! Please subscribe through the buttons at the right if you enjoy this post. In both Matthew and Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells his followers: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16, cf. Luke 10:3) The image of this saying is one of risk. In Change is Brewing, we prayed for laborers. Here we encounter Jesus sending forth fellow laborers and being honest and frank about... Read more
Seven years ago I wrote a series on Nonviolence. Much has changed for me since then. Originally, my understanding of nonviolence had been deeply influenced by those who define nonviolence in a way that is rooted in self-sacrifice. I’ve grown to understand nonviolence differently. I’ve grown to see that this way of defining nonviolence is itself violent. A healthier, more life-giving form of nonviolence is needed. This is significant enough for me that I believe a rewrite of that series... Read more
In Matthew’s gospel, we read of a societal change that was brewing in Jesus’ day: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of... Read more
Welcome readers! Please subscribe through the buttons at the right if you enjoy this post. In Luke’s gospel we read a story of Jesus rebuking his disciples: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the... Read more
Welcome readers! Please subscribe through the buttons at the right if you enjoy this post. In the gospels we read: “Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me,... Read more
Welcome readers! Please subscribe through the buttons at the right if you enjoy this post. In both Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels we read: “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son... Read more
Welcome readers! Please subscribe through the buttons at the right if you enjoy this post. In both Matthew’s and Luke’s stories about Jesus we see an affirmation of John’ previous ministry: “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” (Matthew 21:32) “(All the people, even the tax... Read more
Welcome readers! Please subscribe through the buttons at the right if you enjoy this post. Next in Matthew’s gospel we read, “As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you... Read more
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