There is a lot of talk about “thoughts and prayers” these days. In the wake of tragedies some say they are sending prayers, and others deride those comments as shallow without action. Both sides have some merit to their statements. The eternal truth is that prayer itself is an action. Furthermore, prayer can provide proper […]
Tag: Jesus
On Marveling
Our modern society is information driven. We seek out facts, desiring to know the answers to everything. We rarely step back and simply marvel. In the Gospel narratives, those encountering Jesus frequently find themselves in wonder when they hear Jesus’ teachings or see His actions. Different translations have used different words for this: astounded, amazed, […]
On Sin and Grace
Jesus re-defined the Ten Commandments, saying “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:34-40) In effect, He also re-defined sin. We can now diagnose sin simply, like this: Sin is when we do not […]
On Affirmation and Rebuke
You might say that Jesus’ magnum opus on moral ethics is His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). When we zoom out and look at the sermon as whole we find it equal parts affirmation and rebuke. The affirmation is one that humans are special and beloved by God. When Jesus says “you are the light […]
On Jesus (part three)
When we strip Jesus of His authority (see yesterday’s post) we inadvertently also strip away His dual humanity and divinity. Yet, it is the most controversial and key claim that Christ-followers make: Jesus the Christ is both Savior and Lord. When we say He is our Savior, we affirm His full humanity and when we say […]
On Jesus (part two)
There are several key attributes of Jesus that the church at the time of the Reformation had muted: Jesus’ authority, divinity, and humanity. Uniquely, those same attributes are often muted in many churches today, as well as in our hearts. So, today, a reflection on Jesus’ authority: While the church became more powerful and structured, […]
On Jesus (part one)
Similar to how Scripture had become buried and re-worked by 1517 (to benefit the authorities of the day and keep the powerful in control), so too had become the central figure of Christianity, Jesus the Christ. His words had become watered-down and His identity had become muted. Now, it is important to add that it […]
On Scripture (part three)
Like most things in life, simply starting is the hardest part. When you think about starting a diet or something like that you could spend hours looking up what to do and what options you have. The hours turn in to days, and the days turn in to weeks. And you make no progress. The […]
On Tension
Up to this point there has been an undercurrent theme in these posts. We could call that theme “tension” (other words like “balance” or “discernment” could also be used). Understanding that rooted and fruitful faith means living a life of tension sets the stage for future reflections on this blog. When we embrace tension (both […]
On Silence
We know little about the first 30 years of Jesus’ life. History is mostly silent on the matter. I sometimes ponder about the Jesus of his teens and 20s: What did he do when he was a young adult? Did he do the work of his earthly father, Joseph? (A carpenter.) Or did he do […]
Relevant Reformation 