Sermon: Take What Belongs to You and Go!

Last updated on: September 28, 2017 at 5:13 pm By Tom Truby

In the kingdom of heaven no one is entitled because everything is given gratuitously. It’s all grace! -Rev. Tom Truby Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby shows that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each week, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as examples of preaching... Read more

Dear Wheaton College: Hazing Has No Place in Christ’s Kingdom

Last updated on: October 2, 2017 at 8:54 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

In the wake of a horrific crime at Wheaton College, Lindsey Paris-Lopez suggests the Christian college should foster team bonds through service, not hazing. Read more

Trump’s Mythical Narrative: Truth, Lies, and the NFL

Last updated on: September 27, 2017 at 7:41 am By Adam Ericksen

Do you remember two weeks ago when Donald Trump surprised everyone by working with Democrats to come to a consensus on the DREAM Act? Many thought the president was finally pivoting. He was turning a new leaf by attempting to unify the country. His base wasn’t happy, but many of us were hopeful that the leader of the US might be moving in a new direction. But then Friday happened. Trump decided to pick a fight with the NFL. He... Read more

God’s Justice Is Good News: Claiming Restorative Justice

Last updated on: September 27, 2017 at 7:33 am By Adam Ericksen

Some people claim that Jesus didn’t advocate for justice. They have a point if you think that justice and retribution are necessarily connected. But they are not. Jesus transforms our understanding of justice, not by connecting it with retribution, but with forgiveness. Jesus taught his disciples to forgive not just 7 times, but 77 times. Obviously, forgiveness isn’t about counting up to 77 times and then quitting. Seven is the symbolic number for completeness in the Hebrew Bible. Using 77... Read more

Sermon: Double Knowing – On Stumbling Blocks and Forgiveness

Last updated on: September 20, 2017 at 11:12 am By Tom Truby

“Maybe the kingdom of heaven is a place where all recognize themselves as those who throw stumbling blocks and yet are forgiven.” -The Rev. Tom Truby Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby shows that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each week, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will... Read more

Orwell’s 1984: Rethinking Doublethink

Last updated on: September 19, 2017 at 1:08 pm By Suzanne Ross

AstonRep Theatre Company is bringing an adaption of George Orwell’s prescient novel, 1984, to the Chicago stage and their timing couldn’t be more perfect. Our public discourse seems to have slid down the rabbit hole of “doublethink”, Orwell’s wonderful expression for deliberately forgetting what we know to be true so we can believe a lie. The line between fact and opinion has become so blurry that it has become fashionable to quote Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan who said, “You are... Read more

I Refuse To Accept That Permanent War Is Inevitable

Last updated on: September 18, 2017 at 10:44 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

Twice in less than 24 hours I’ve been told that there is little we can do about our state of permanent war. I was told this by people I respect and who I know, in their own ways, are working toward goals of reducing suffering and making the world a kinder place. In each case, there was a context to their words. Though the contexts were different, the essential message from each of these people was that we need to... Read more

The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood Interview: “The Execution of God” on the RavenCast

Last updated on: September 20, 2017 at 11:43 am By Adam Ericksen

The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood joined the RavenCast to discuss his book The Execution of God: Encountering the Death Penalty. Jeff has written 16 books and has appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, and many other news outlets. He writes for the Patheos blog Engaging Radical Theology and his website revjeffhood.com. You can listen to the MP3 or watch the video below. MP3 Video Christians follow Jesus, a man who was executed on a cross by the political... Read more

White House Aid Attacks ESPN Reporter, Proving Reporter’s Point About White Supremacy

Last updated on: September 13, 2017 at 5:45 pm By Adam Ericksen

In a press briefing today, Sarah Huckabee Sanders suggested that ESPN should consider fire firing Jamele Hill. Why would the White House get embroiled in a scandal with an ESPN reporter? Hill is an African American woman who tweeted: Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists. — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 11, 2017 When asked about the tweet, Sanders replied, “I think that’s one of the more outrageous comments that anyone could... Read more

Sermon: Beautiful Community with No Bitterness

Last updated on: September 13, 2017 at 1:56 pm By Tom Truby

“Jesus seems to be modeling a way of reducing and defusing tension in a community. He refuses to throw a stumbling block in front of his neighbor. Sometimes you do things even though you technically wouldn’t have to just because you know your neighbor will interpret it badly. Acting in love for the other is your criteria, not law.” Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby... Read more