Camels and Needles

It's always a bad move to invent a Jesus who agrees with us rather than challenges us.

Black Theology and Black Power

I only made it two pages into James Cone’s 1969 book, Black Theology and Black Power, before I knew I needed to buckle up and take this one slow. He spoke with…

If we can use the Bible to support slavery…

While watching the movie Harriet last week, I was emotionally moved many times at how Harriet Tubman’s faith led her to do incredibly heroic acts because she knew it was the right…

The Centurion

To oppress someone is to have your boot on their neck. In the Bible, the Jews spent most of their time under the neck of other people’s boots. There were some golden…

All theology has an adjective.

Jared Byas

A Reconstructed View of the Bible

I grew up worshipping the Bible. The Bible was the main source of truth–God’s instruction book for life. Perhaps more than anything else, being a Christian meant believing the Bible. And if…

Esther, Saviors, and Rajnikanth

Our congregation recently went through the book of Esther. To start the series, the preacher told us that Esther is one of the most favorite books of the Jews after the Torah.…

Empire creates the façade of peace and security, all the while perpetuating suffering for other parts of the world.

Kurt Willems

I Don’t Believe Anymore

Dear white churches, I’ve been with you for decades. I never missed a service on Sunday. I came during the week and volunteered my time. I gave up on other dreams so…

The American white man has always had an easy conscience.

James Cone

Looking Out for John the Baptist

No other biblical figure inspires me as much as John the Baptist. He stands on the fringe of religious society. He speaks to the insiders from the outside. He’s not afraid to…

I Tried to Love Dandelions

I bought a house with a great yard–our first home and our first yard. I like to consider myself ecologically-minded; I like things natural, even unkempt is ok for me. I can’t…

Teaching the Bible to Kids

When I volunteered to teach my son’s elementary Sunday School class, I received login details to an online service from a large Christian publisher. When you log in, you can see videos,…

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

Desmond Tutu

Interview Recording 059 Subjects: Berenice (wife of Simeon) & Joanna (wife of Matthias) [start recording] Ok, let’s start at the beginning. How old was Zechariah when this all happened? “Oh God, what…

Job

We aren’t very good at handling poetry in the church; most of the good stuff goes way over our heads. We look at Song of Solomon and try to squeeze it into…