The urgency of joy. The phrase has captivated my imagination for some time now, as I seek joy in the midst of a world crying out in pain. In a nation of mass shootings and executions, in a world devastated by war crimes and the crime of war, where working for peace means learning the depths and pervasiveness of violence, despair threatens to seep in through the air I breathe. Hope often evades my grasp, and fear like a weight... Read more
In her latest book, Accidental Saints: Finding God in all the Wrong People, Nadia Bolz-Weber has a beautiful reflection on the Atonement. Nadia writes about failing a member of her church during his time of need. She confesses to a friend and fellow pastor named Caitlin. After she confesses, Caitlin responds, “Nadia, Jesus died for our sins. Including that one.” “Jesus died for our sins.” The phrase is enough to make many progressives like myself cringe. But, in her characteristic... Read more
Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverends Tom and Laura Truby show 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 Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight Tom and Laura’s sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, Tom explores the story of the... Read more
A few weeks ago I wrote an article about Bernie Sanders. My point was to highlight how Bernie refuses to play the game of political scapegoating. He was baited by an interviewer to attack Hillary Clinton and he refused to do it. Instead, he spoke about the issues. I argued that we need political leaders like Bernie Sanders. Well, I was accused of endorsing Bernie. The accusation might be fair because I am feeling the Bern. But I’m also feeling... Read more
This article is part of my blog series inspired by Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice by James Alison.* Where Can We Find I AM? Children learning Bible stories for the first time often ask, “Where is God?” They are seeking a literal answer, of course, because for them the world still lacks form and structure. Everything in it needs to be named and sorted out. By trial and error, they figure out that there are fuzzy things... Read more
Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverends Tom and Laura Truby show 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 Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight Tom and Laura’s sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, they discuss the human problem of... Read more
Since my family recently moved to the Portland area, we’ve been looking for churches to attend. Besides visiting a church, the best way to gain a feel for a church is to visit their website. Specifically, their About Us page. Since examining church websites, I’ve noticed some pretty strange beliefs out there. Many churches have a list of beliefs that are important to them. What is the first belief on many church websites? The Bible. One church begins its list... Read more
The scariest thing about mass murderers is just how normal they are. In the wake of Umpqua Community College shooting last week, the New York Times published an article titled, “Mass Murderers Fit Profile, as Do Many Others Who Don’t Kill.” Here’s a very disturbing line: What seems telling about the killers, however, is not how much they have in common but how much they look and seem like so many others who do not inflict harm. What’s so scary... Read more
Kelly was on my mind Tuesday night as I fell asleep. I woke up yesterday devastated to learn that none of her appeals had saved her life. While hope resurfaced when the execution of Richard Glossip was stayed for 37 days, I still pray, knowing that only his method of execution, not his possible innocence, is being considered. I pray for Alfredo Prieto, who may die today despite arguments that he is intellectually disabled. And with a full and heavy heart, I also... Read more
By now you’ve heard that Pope Francis met with Kim Davis last week. I’d like to make two things clear up front: First, I love Pope Francis. I think he is making huge leaps in the right direction for Christianity on a global scale. Second, I think Kim Davis was absolutely wrong to deny marriage licenses to gay couples. I firmly believe that her stance against gay marriage is a misreading of scripture and Christian tradition. I believe that Christians... Read more
Teaching Nonviolent Atonement
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In