Category Archives: Index

A Question about Congregational Autonomy

I get emails. Here’s one with a very thoughtful question about congregational autonomy — … According to Josephus, there were 100,000 Christians in Jerusalem at the end of the first century (or so I have heard – I have not … Continue reading

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Colbert and Congregational Autonomy

Just thought you’d enjoy Colbert’s take, as a Catholic, on the Anglican split over gay priests.

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of Community (Breaking Bread)

I was about to move on to the next topic when I realized I’d never addressed the description of Christian community found in Acts 2. Immediately after Peter’s sermon and the baptism of 3,000, we read, (Acts 2:42-47) They devoted … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: God’s Justice and Illegal Immigration, Part 3

Notice how we tend to think about political issues. * Some of us see political issues as entirely separate from Christianity. Church has nothing to do with illegal immigrants. The Bible simply doesn’t address such things. * Others see the … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: God’s Justice and Illegal Immigration, Part 2

We are the aliens The next theological observation is found in several verses, such as — (Heb 11:13) All these people [in the honor roll of faith] were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the … Continue reading

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Surprised by Hope: God’s Justice and Illegal Immigration, Part 1

I’ve been trying to think of a good example of the difference between the Christian perspective and the political perspective for class. I think illegal immigration likely shows the difference as well as anything. Imagine that you’re a U.S. Senator. … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of Community (More Hauerwas)

I probably shouldn’t spend this many posts on the subject — except it’s an area where we struggle … a lot. In America today, community is largely gone. We often barely know our neighbors. We find work is the center … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of Community, Part 4 (Small Groups)

The fashionable remedy to the Biblical need for community is a program of small groups — and they are fast becoming a standard part of how everyone does church. Which worries me, because if everyone is doing it, it must … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of Community, Part 3 (Kingdom Parables)

Have you ever noticed how often Jesus begins a parable with the “Kingdom of Heaven is like …”? Well, replace “Kingdom of Heaven” with “church”* and re-read those parables. For example, (Mat 13:31-32) He told them another parable: “The kingdom … Continue reading

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Which Gospel? The Gospel of Community, Part 2 (Romans 12)

Notice how in Romans 12 Paul speaks of individual transformation, but  this is expressed over and over again in terms of relationships within the Kingdom — (Rom 12) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer … Continue reading

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