Tag Archives: Power
Gifts of Power
Black Women Mystics Gifts of Power Thursday, August 1, 2019 Rebecca Cox Jackson (1795–1871) was born into a free family in Pennsylvania. After a mystical encounter, she divorced her husband and became an itinerant preacher. She discovered the Shakers and eventually founded the first black Shaker community in Philadelphia. Jackson’s spiritual awakening was catalyzed by… Continue Reading Gifts of Power
A Subtle Peril
Mystic: Howard Thurman A Subtle Peril Wednesday, July 24, 2019 Howard Thurman lovingly critiqued Christianity, which has often ignored the direct teaching and witness of Jesus in relationship with those who are oppressed. This excerpt is from one of Thurman’s most well-known books, Jesus and the Disinherited. I think this message is important today and… Continue Reading A Subtle Peril
The Edge of the Inside
Prophets: Part Two The Edge of the Inside Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Prophets, by their very nature, cannot be at the center of any social structure. Rather, they are “on the edge of the inside.” They cannot be full insiders, but they cannot throw rocks from outside either. A true prophet must be educated inside… Continue Reading The Edge of the Inside
Struggling with Shadow
Prophets: Part One Struggling with Shadow Tuesday, July 2, 2019 The Hebrew prophets are in a category all their own. Within the canonical, sacred Scriptures of other world religions we do not find major texts that are largely critical of that very religion. Prophets can deeply love their tradition and profoundly criticize it at the… Continue Reading Struggling with Shadow
Trinitarian Revolution
Trinity: Part 2 Trinitarian Revolution Friday, May 17, 2019 I think we are in the beginnings of a Trinitarian Revolution. History has so long operated with a static and imperial image of God—as a Supreme Monarch and Critical Spectator living in splendid isolation from what he (and God is exclusively envisioned as male in this… Continue Reading Trinitarian Revolution
The Power of Giving and Receiving
Trinity: Part 1 The Power of Giving and Receiving Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Christians will continually misinterpret and misuse Jesus if we don’t understand the circle dance of mutuality and communion that he participated in from all eternity (which we call “Christ”). Instead, we made Jesus into a monarchical “Christ the King,” a title he… Continue Reading The Power of Giving and Receiving
Practical Christianity
Following Jesus Practical Christianity Thursday, January 24, 2019 When the Christian tradition chose an imperial Christ, living inside the world of static and mythic proclamations, it framed belief and understanding in a very small box. The Christ of the creeds is not tethered to earth—to the real, historical, flesh-and-blood Jesus of Nazareth. Instead, this image… Continue Reading Practical Christianity
A Changing Religion
Early Christianity A Changing Religion Monday, September 3, 2018 Much of what Jesus taught seems to have been followed closely during the first several hundred years after his death and resurrection. As long as Jesus’ followers were on the bottom and the edge of empire, as long as they shared the rejected and betrayed status… Continue Reading A Changing Religion
A Bigger, Inclusive Table
Eucharist A Bigger, Inclusive Table Monday, July 23, 2018 The table of bread and wine is now to be made ready. It is the table of company of Jesus, and all who love him. It is the table of sharing with the poor of the world, with whom Jesus identified himself. It is the table… Continue Reading A Bigger, Inclusive Table
Service Instead of Domination
Politics: Week 2 Service Instead of Domination Monday, July 16, 2018 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. —2 Corinthians 13:13 Without the nondual mind, it’s almost impossible for us to find another way of doing politics. Grounding… Continue Reading Service Instead of Domination
