We carry an arrogance with us in American Christianity. “I didn’t have slaves, so how am I responsible for this so-called racism?”
Or, “Our church doesn’t have abuse problems so why are you saying I need to repent? Repent for what? And then what?”
Read moreMy Lenten reading has me in Jeremiah. It wasn’t that long ago I was in Jeremiah in my Daily Office readings… It is a constant pummeling, but for good reason.
Read moreThe American Church falters and it grows more and more obvious that it does so without a clue.
My reading to day was from Jeremiah 8, so I will continue on this theme of refusing to repent because it runs parallel to our own day.
Read moreIt’s probably an apocryphal story, but I do love it:
According to a popular story that has circulated for a long time, a well known London newspaper in the early part of the twentieth century (usually stated to be The Times) asked the question “What is wrong with the world?” and received many replies. The shortest was from G.K. Chesterton, simply consisting of “I am.”
Read moreThe longer I live, the more I realize that we simply don’t know who we truly are until we’re tested. We can vocalize our beliefs all day long, but when living those beliefs is hard—when upholding our principles carries a cost—that’s when we learn what we truly value. — David French
Read moreMatthew 7:13–14 (NIV)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
I recently finished up another journey through the Sermon on the Mount and come away once again with awe. The Kingdom of God is so grand and powerful and our King invites us into this incredible life.
Read moreThe deep sin of racism is far more embedded in white American Christianity than we are willing to admit. We struggle in our collective sin mainly because evangelical Christianity (and fundamentalism on the right) focuses on the “individual” sin to the detriment of recognizing community sin.
Examples:
Read moreThere isn’t a time with only joy. There isn’t a time with only sorrow. And I’m grateful. This weekend has been full of sorrow, or should be, in our nation. But there is joy in the mix as well.
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