Help! What is a theocracy?

Last updated on: February 22, 2017 at 3:53 pm By Christy Thomas

As messy as these multiple forms of beliefs have become, a theocracy would insist upon one, and only one, of those as the “correct” belief system. Dear Thoughtful Pastor: What is a Theocracy? Does our Constitution allow for a Christian Theocracy? Democracy means “rule by the people” as “demos”=“the people.” Theocracy means “rule by God” where “theos”=”God.” God is supreme ruler in a theocracy. God’s laws are the laws of the state, Officials, elected or self-appointed, serve as chosen by... Read more

Do not fear the clown, fear the supremacists behind him

Last updated on: February 16, 2017 at 2:06 pm By Christy Thomas

We have truth here: the White Supremacist movement found their dupe in the soulless body of 45*, a man whose only goal is life is to be unfetteringly rich and endlessly adored by an impenetrable ring of loyalists. Sure I’m caught up in the political news. Thanks to a lingering bout with the flu, I have just enough energy to keep up, kind of, with the news, but not enough energy to write. But a quote from a Karl Rove... Read more

Help! Do we ignore, avoid, or confront evil?

Last updated on: February 15, 2017 at 12:40 pm By Christy Thomas

Evil is often disguised in a subtle call to comfort, to security, to safety. It will involve only the smallest of compromises. Dear Thoughtful Pastor: There is evil in the world, at many levels, from government and business, down to communities and ourselves. On encountering evil, what is our Christian responsibility, either as a church or individual? Ignore it, avoid it, confront it or something else? It seems like we should be taking some action, but often it seems like... Read more

Help! White nationalism and the human pecking order

Last updated on: February 7, 2017 at 3:46 pm By Christy Thomas

Here’s the thing: we humans, similar to small-brained chickens, have this need to know our place in the pecking order. Most want to peck our way to the top, uncaring of the damage we do to others in the process. Dear Thoughtful Pastor: Is White Nationalism in any way compatible with Jesus’ Commandments? No. I suppose I should expand on that answer. Adherents and apologists for White Nationalism suggest that there should be a nation set aside where “whites,” however... Read more

Moonlight: black turns blue, a gay youth grows up

Last updated on: February 5, 2017 at 7:26 pm By Christy Thomas

For this white girl, with my solid if somewhat boring and protected middle-class past, Moonlight was a troubling immersion into a foreign land. I didn’t understand 90% of the dialogue. The black, inner-city rapid-fire patois left me puzzled about the details. Nonetheless, the story itself, encapsulated by the excellent actors, captivated me. (Actors: Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali.) For this white girl, with my solid if somewhat boring and protected middle-class past,... Read more

Comfort, toxicity, vulnerability and loss of the village: we mourn

Last updated on: February 5, 2017 at 6:19 pm By Christy Thomas

She exchanged the perfection of control for the perfection of never-ending vulnerability. The only end of this is utter exhaustion and inability to function. I put down Comfort Detox by Erin M. Straza (IVP Books, 2017) with a sense of relief. I had finished the book. With never ending energy, Straza exhorted the reader to leave behind the worship of comfort. The primacy of comfort leaves us shielded and padded and insulated from the raw needs of a broken world. We become... Read more

Help! Can a divorced person marry again?

Last updated on: February 4, 2017 at 11:21 am By Christy Thomas

But . . . divorce does happen. Always has, always will. Sometimes relationships become so evil that the best solution for all is to dissolve it. From the earliest times, there has been a legitimate out when a spouse proves unfaithful. Remember that unfaithfulness comes in many different forms. Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I am a born again Christian. I love the Lord with all of my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am divorced. Can I ever, without... Read more

The con man, the church, human gullibility and our beliefs

Last updated on: February 3, 2017 at 2:11 pm By Christy Thomas

Once we have spent time in a particular belief system, especially in a “church” environment that demands massive contributions, unquestioned loyalty, absorbs all spare time and which forms the entire social network for people, most don’t have enough mental energy to figure out that something is terribly wrong. A year and a half ago, I did a “mystery worship” at a nearby prosperity, “come-here-and-get-rich” church, lead by an apparent Joel Osteen wannabe, Keith Craft. You can read a full description of what... Read more

(President) Bannon anticipates war with China: an idealist’s response

Last updated on: February 2, 2017 at 10:38 am By Christy Thomas

Yes, I am an idealist, and think we need to stop fighting one another except in cases to stop outright aggression. War . . . the thought makes me ill, but the world has been at war since Cain killed Abel. Jealousy is the usual cause: someone has more than me. In the first instance, Abel had more of God than Cain. Today, some nation has more (people, resources, power, influence, etc.) than another, so instead of working things out... Read more

Bannon/Trump does not trump the constitution: new lawsuit filed

Last updated on: February 1, 2017 at 1:11 pm By Christy Thomas

Please note: from this point forward, I intend to refer to the POTUS as Bannon/Trump. This nomenclature reflects the reality that it is white supremacist Steve Bannon that calls most of the shots right now and acts as de-facto president. Here is an excellent analysis of the rise of President The following article explains another lawsuit that has been filed against the immigration ban. The chaos that election of Bannon/Trump has brought about, not to mention the heartbreak. Keep in... Read more