The birth of Jesus as told in the gospel attributed to Matthew focuses on a family fleeing a horribly oppressive political regime that is threatening to kill their newborn. Matthew’s murderous telling of events makes the birth narrative in Luke look merely pastoral—which is saying a lot since Luke’s version of events is also quite […]
Category: Faith and Politics
On Jesus’ Birthright
Only two of the four gospel narratives share stories of Jesus’ birth: Luke and Matthew. Each book gives us a decidedly different perspective on our Savior’s birth. Many of us, knowing the stories so well, have come to overlay the two narratives together. In so doing, we have muddied the payload intended by each gospel […]
On the Gospel’s Agenda
If we were to ask “what is the political agenda of the gospel” we might examine the gospel narrative attributed to Matthew. Indeed many squirm at the thought of the gospel having a political agenda. Those claiming a Christian identity might say the gospel is above politics, while those of a more secular-mind might say […]
On Time
Our perspective of time, for the most part, is confined to our shared mortal experience of circling around the sun on this terrestrial ball. While reflecting on the Church Calendar and its seasons over the past year, I have thought about this occasionally. Our ability to understand the infinite is extremely limited. The concept of […]
On Needing One Another
Jesus appointed twelve apostles. Did he really need to? As the Son of God, he surely could have just gone about his mission on his own, right? In today’s culture we tend to idolize those who are strong solitary characters that appear to not need anyone else. People who take on the evils of the […]
On Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day
Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day were the same day this year. It’s a fairly rare occasion and apparently happening only one more time this century (2029). And this almanac synergy is occurring at a time in human history where division is great and conflicts between peoples are growing more abundant every day. For those who […]
On Rebuke and Affirmation
Naturally I’m a slow reader, often going at a mental cadence akin to a pony ride. When I read the Bible this is usually the case as well. Sometimes, though, I listen to an audio recording of Scripture and that experience is as if I am suddenly galloping on a horse and experiencing a familiar […]
On Choice of Words
When we look at both faith and politics, we find a lot of rhetoric. Lots of words. Some may be just filler, but all are chosen—to persuade, reassure, distract, disarm, deflect, encourage, motivate, etc. (As is often the case, I find myself questioning the writing of this reflection at all, knowing that I am writing […]
On Our Saviors
Alongside examining what is sacred in our society and social circles, we must also reflect on who we elevate as our saviors—or, as we often soften the reality: our heroes, role-models, stars, icons, idols. These saviors we turn to come in all forms: respected historical figures, talented pop artists, savvy politicians, fair arbiters of justice, […]
On What is Sacred
At the intersection of faith and politics are frequent claims that this or that should be considered sacred. Those with a devoted faith must examine these claims critically, and for those that desire to follow Christ this means reconciling these claims with the call of our Savior and Lord.
Relevant Reformation 