The Language Of Mystery Is Metaphor - Richard Rohr

'Whatever' Isn't An Option For Immigrant Children - Bethany Christian Services CEO Chris Palusky

"[Trump administration] actions are not consistent with the ideals of our nation. Instead, they undermine protections for vulnerable children."

Trump chief of staff John Kelly acknowledged in a recent interview with NPR that family separation “could be a tough deterrent” to illegal immigration.

In that same interview, the White House chief of staff argued that it wasn’t cruel and heartless to take children like Jose away from their parents because, “The children will be taken care of – put into foster care or whatever.”

Community organizations like Bethany stand ready to help these children find loving, temporary foster homes. We were disturbed, however, to learn what Kelly meant when he said “whatever”—and it isn’t what is best for children.

Citing an email sent to staff at the Pentagon, the Washington Post recently revealed that the Trump administration is preparing to hold unaccompanied immigrant children or children who have been separated from their parents at military bases.

These actions are not consistent with the ideals of our nation. Instead, they undermine protections for vulnerable children.

As Congress and the Trump administration consider actions to curb the numbers of children and families seeking refuge in the United States, I urge them to remember these immigrants have become integral members of our communities, our neighbors, and our friends.

The full article is available here.

Preaching Biblically About Justice Is More Dangerous In Trump Era - Diana Butler Bass

Even if a clergy person doesn't intend to be prophetic, if they are simply being faithful right now, Jesus’ and other Hebrew prophets’ words can't be contained - and may seem like a political attack to those aligned with or supportive of Trumpism.

Jesus -- and the Bible more generally -- say a lot of stuff that sounds political. About poverty, immigrants, outsiders, notions of ethnic superiority. About compassion and hospitality and justice.

Years ago, you could preach on any of these passages and people wouldn't like such sermons, but they didn't take them personally. They often simply chose to ignore them. 

But now? They get downright angry. 

In this time of Trump, the words the Bible contains about justice have reclaimed their power. They sound like they were intended to sound; a forceful critique of exploitative, oppressive and corrupted politics.

And even if a clergy person doesn't intend to be prophetic, if they are simply being faithful right now, Jesus’ and other Hebrew prophets’ words can't be contained - and may seem like a political attack to those aligned with or supportive of Trumpism.

I personally know a half dozen clergy who have lost their jobs over a sermon preached or a prayer prayed -- one that was interpreted as an attack on Trump or thought to "divide" a congregation.  And I know countless more who have been instructed by bishops, supervisors, senior clergy, or church boards to preach and pray on NOTHING that could even be construed as vaguely political.

Most of this is to placate conservative donors to religious organizations. But some is to protect the clergy.

The full article is available here

The Primary Prayer For A Christian - Richard Villodas

Prayer Is - Richard Rohr

Some Ways To Determine If Your Christianity Has Been "United Statesified" - Benjamin Corey

The powerful influence of U.S. culture has, for quite some time, seeped into the Christian faith to the point where, in too many instances, we have an entirely new product - and one we'd do well to dissect.

While the word “Christianity” seems to refer to a single religion, the reality is that many cultures have succumbed to a process of syncretism where there are actually many, many forms of Christianity that look nothing like the original picture on the outside of the box.

The United States is no different. The powerful influence of United States culture has, for quite some time, seeped into the Christian faith to the point where, in too many instances, we have an entirely new product.

Instead of Christianity as it was passed on to the disciples and early church, we have a church culture that is a uniquely U.S. version– and one we’d do well to dissect.

Here are some ways to tell if your Christianity has "United Statesified."

The Early Church's Pacifism, Nonviolence, and Shared Economy Seems Foreign
From a U.S. mindset, original Christianity and the first Christians appear nuts: they were universally nonviolent (against capital punishment, abortion, military service and killing in self-defense), and rejected individual ownership of property in order to redistribute their wealth (Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:35).

Your Chief Concern With Islam Is Warring Against It, Not Being Loving Like Christ
If your initial posture toward all Muslims is that of viewing them as a threat to do battle against instead of viewing them as people Jesus has commanded we radically and self-sacrificially love, you're not operating out of the chief calling of a Christ-follower; to love others.

If You Want To Cut Programs Of Social Uplift/Justice In Favor Of Charity Only
A value of the political ideology of many U.S. Christians is small government and that taxes are wage theft.  A Christian value is the elimination of poverty.  Though those who subscribe to the aforementioned political ideology also acknowledge that poverty should be dealt with, they often express that it isn't the job of the government to deal with it, and that church-distributed charity could solve the problem.  Even though that is empirically untrue, studies have shown that many average U.S. Christians don't give money to charity or even tithe to their church anyway.

You Say "We're A Nation Of Laws" About Immigrants vs Citing What Bible Says 
The Bible has plenty to say on immigrants, and consistently lists them as one of the vulnerable groups of people that God-followers are to care for.  While government does have a right to determine who can enter a country, the primary posture of a Christian should be that of radical love towards immigrants and refugees of every type.

If You Think Stopping Gay Marriage & School Prayer Are Most Pressing Issues
Culture war issues reliably drum up financial and ballot support for conservative candidates, but what of the primary admonition to Christ-followers to love our neighbors as ourselves.  In a globalized society, every creature dwelling on the earth is our neighbor. 750 million people around the world don't have access to clean water. 805 million people are chronically malnourished. Human-caused climate change is harming the planet that we're called by God to steward. 

Clearly, legislating marital opinions to achieve Christendom hegemony and attempting to enforce state-sponsored religion through school prayer - which is detrimental to both the state and to religion incidentally - are not the most pressing issues we face today.

The full article is available here

God's Grace Is Always Present - Gerald G May

Building Communities In Contrast To Empire - Richard Rohr

Faith & Climate Science - Trinity College Biology Prof Clayton Carlson in The Banner

Science continues to find new insights about God's good creation. As it does so, the church must finds ways to engage those results productively. For the sake of our witness, our young people, and our world, we must rise above fear, skepticism, and unwarranted optimism.

According to the Pew Research Center, only 50% of American adults (and just 28% of white evangelicals) believe that global climate change is caused by human activity. 

It's clear that there is ample motivation among Christians, like everyone else, to resist scientific discoveries that demand lifestyle changes we would rather avoid.

When Christians reject science generally, and scientific findings specifically, we are deprived of more fully understanding God’s majesty as Creator, and we ignore our responsibilities to be stewards of God’s creation.

This also hurts our gospel witness. Our neighbors, and particularly our young people, are paying attention. When the church is wrong about things that are easily proven, it is difficult for people to trust the church with matters of faith that are not easily proven.

The church has blessings to offer, and the scientific community has gifts to share. In order to develop a healthful relationship within which these can be exchanged, we must adopt a more productive means of engaging challenging science, including climate change.

Science continues to find new insights about God's good creation. As it does so, the church must finds ways to engage those results productively. For the sake of our witness, our young people, and our world, we must rise above fear, skepticism, and unwarranted optimism.

I believe a more productive way of responding to the science of climate change involves critical reading, thoughtfulness, and gratitude.

The full article is available here

Praying Is Living - Henri J Nouwen

Reflection And Renewal: Call Us Back To Grace And Away From Shame (based on 1 Corinthians 10:13)

Gracious and loving God,

We know we do not always live out what we claim to believe, and we can sometimes be our own worst enemy. Sometimes we turn away from you and from being our true selves. Often, we all-too-easily fall back into our familiar patterns that cause ourselves and others pain, heartache, and hardship.

Forgive us. We know that your grace and love for us is endless.

Help us to have open ears, eyes, and hearts to notice how you call us - again and again - back to love, back to grace, back to your light; and away from the selfishness of and shame from the things we’ve done wrong.

Give us the courage to be willing to be continually made new.

Amen

Call To Worship: Brokenness That May Be Our Own Doing Sometimes (based on Isaiah 42:3)

 

God, we come today as people whose lives contain brokenness. For some of us, a portion of our brokenness may be our own doing. But you’ve promised that you don’t brush aside the bruised and the hurting. Instead, you welcome all who come seeking. You reach out to all of creation with open hands.

So meet us where we are. We need your boundless, overflowing grace. You're a God of limitless love and mercy.

For this, we give you praise