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My deeply held religious belief
I’ve grown quite tired of the phrases “deeply held belief” and “sincerely held religious belief”. They’ve been coming up a lot lately, especially with that interesting woman from Kentucky. Or those people with the restaurant or the one with the bakery. But we know it from the Hobby Lobby decision. Deeply held, sincerely held belief. We…
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Knowing Jesus, Knowing GOD
Wisdom to the Hebrew people wasn’t just learning, but was expressed in proverbs, teachings that could be memorized and shared. The more wisdom you had memorized, the wiser you were. the pursuit of wisdom, spirituality today Proper 15B | 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 & John 6:51-58 What is wisdom? Before we talk about Solomon’s legendary wisdom,…
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King David’s Faithiness
When David was creeping on the roof, looking in windows like a perv, he saw this woman, naked, bathing. And in true Biblical form we’ll say that “lust was in his heart”. Which just sounds like the euphemistic excusing “boys will be boys” of Biblical interpretation. It makes David seem so innocent to his urges:…
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The scandal of Jesus
Jesus doesn’t force us to believe. Jesus doesn’t want us to work on the earnestness of our belief: just believe harder – believe more – believe right: to force us to get it. Jesus gives us signs and invitations and these opportunities to see something truly profound: to see this life with a sense…
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Of what are we afraid?
This is what trust looks like, what faith looks like. Not only in the mustard seed, but in the calming of storms. Not only in the theoretical, but in our lives; in our triumphs and challenges; in our doubts and our assurances; in our despairs and our elations. GOD is there and way more committed…
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A Poem for Freddie Gray, Baltimore, and all of us
GUILT When the preacher said “I’m absolutely convinced that a riot merely intensifies the fears of the white community while relieving the guilt.” My white ears hear the condemnation and the righteous call for peace. My poet ears hear the economy of language and concern. My pastor ears hear the prophetic reminding us our guilt…
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Moving away from Anglo-Catholicism
I went to seminary to learn how to do church “right”. Seriously. That’s what I thought. I thought that going to seminary was about learning the methods, the practices. How to hold your hands and how to stand. One of my favorite moments from the end of the first year, when a few of us…
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I’m Reevaluating the Cross
After listening to Tony Jones speak about his new book, Did God Kill Jesus on Homebrewed Christianity, I found myself being pushed into new territory in my faith. Partly because I probably am one of those progressive Christians who wants to sanitize the faith and take the blood out of it. I think there’s more…