Part 5 of our Revelation series looks at the church’s call to resist the seduction of Empire and worldly power, avoiding the mark(s) of the Beast and bearing the marks of Christlike character. We should fix our eyes on the New City that will someday come down to Earth, and become a here-and-now colony of Heaven in the middle of this groaning creation. … More Apocalypse Now 5: Garden City
This week’s service honors Father’s Day, Keri’s birthday and Conversation #3 on Racial Righteousness with a message by Pastor Jon Tyson of Church of the City, New York, on Jesus, power and privilege. … More Conversation #3: What About White Privilege?
We’ve been taught to see evil and injustice in mainly individualistic terms. The Book of Revelation confronts and exposes oppressive “cultures” and exploitative economies represented by the “Beasts” and “Babylon” and the Harlot. This makes Revelation a very timely book as we expose aspects of American society and our history that has the “marks of the beast.” … More Sermon: Apocalypse Now Part 4 – “Babylon & the Mark of the Beast”
There is no shame in being privileged or being white; it’s whether or not we’re aware of this privilege, understand that privilege often comes at another’s expense, and, most importantly, what we decide to do with our privilege. … More Jesus, Power, and Privilege
When I have been confronted with claims of racial injustice, white privilege, and racism as a ‘social issue’, I was taught to dismiss such thinking as a concoction of liberals and certain black leaders who are still living in the past. … More Confessions of a Responsible, Hardworking White Guy Who Earned His Own Way (cough)
A prayer from Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971) … More A Prayer in the Confusion
Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Yet, in this moment, white Christians should also heed Jesus’ brother’s advice: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak … More Conversation #2: Being Black in America
The lesson that God would judge a city for its economic practices is a sobering thought. The fact that much of the condemnation appears to stem from its self-indulgence should hit with particular force at modern consumer culture … More Revelation Reveals a Tale of Two Cities
Phil Vischer (Veggie Tales) and his law professor brother Rob taught a class that touched on the Black Lives Matter movement, asking and attempting to answer the question, “Why so angry? Isn’t racism over?” … More Conversation #1: History of Post-Civil War Racism
When someone’s name is taken away, that person is dehumanized. In a very real way, our name is our identity. No one has the right to take it away or change it. … More What’s in a Name?
This is a “kairos moment” for the white church and America that I pray doesn’t pass us by leaving us unchanged. … More Pastoral Letter: A ‘Kairos’ Moment for the American Church
This is a challenge to follow King Jesus into greater public goodness and witness just one day before our country was rocked by the murder of George Floyd sparking protests around the world. … More Daily Spark: “A Bigger Story to Live In”
My worst fear — and it is well-founded — is that the white church will continue to be influenced and shaped more by partisan political rhetoric than by the God-ordained, Biblically drenched, Jesus-centered pastors and prophetic Christian voices God has placed in our lives for such a time as this. … More Pastors & Prophets, or Political Pundits?
“The time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim 4:3). … More Daily Spark: “Escaping the Echo Chamber”
It’s time for the Body of Christ to grow up. Like a refrigerated teething ring given to an infant cutting her teeth, I have offered Paul’s ‘Body Metaphor’ for the church to chew on as we seek to become One Unified Body of Many Ethnic Parts. … More It’s Time to Grow Up
Today we hear a raw and impassioned message by Pastor Greg Boyd challenging the white church to wake up to our nation’s Original Sin of racism. … More Sunday Service – June 7, 2020 – “Enough Is Enough: Toward Racial Justice”
The “Love Poem” in 1 Corinthians 13 is often pulled out of context and read at weddings. When applied to racial division and ethnic differences in the local church, its doubly explosive! … More Seek the Greater Gift of Racial Sensibility
I’m watching America burn, and watching fingers point in all directions. Of course, I’m not a racist. I’ve never kneeled on anyone’s neck or denied housing to anyone. So I’m clean. Right? … More Racial Injustice has Benefited Me
This is the task of the church today: for Christians of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to receive those of different backgrounds as a gift to broaden our perspective and deepen our love as we learn to not only understand each other’s experiences, but enter into each other’s pain and, God willing, to learn how to suffer in solidarity with them. … More Giving Greater Honor to Minorities
Paul emphasizes our mutual interdependence in the Body which, when applied to race/ethnicity, offers some of the following revolutionary and far-reaching principles for racial healing and cooperation in the church. … More An Intoxicatingly Beautiful Unity-in-Diversity
We’ve never needed Mr. Rogers-like leaders more than we do right now. … More What Would Mister Rogers Do?
Let us revisit Paul’s ‘One Body, Many Parts’ metaphor and draw out key insights for more nurturing more harmonious multiethnic relations. … More One Body, Many Ethnic Parts
In the age of Trump, Christian leaders and committed followers of Jesus know deep in their bones that a kind of “melting” needs to take place if the message and mission of the gospel is to bear fresh fruit in a culture where so much is rotten. … More Beyond the Melting Pot
After a week of rioting and violent protests following the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, we gather to lament our broken world and pray for God’s healing, peace and justice to rain down. … More A Service of Lament – “Gasping For the Breath of New Creation”
Almighty God, who sits on the throne judging right… … More Two Prayers for Justice
Kingdom Harbor 