Tag Archives: Sin
A Quiet Refusal
Action and Contemplation: Part One A Quiet Refusal Thursday, January 16, 2020 Because Jesus did not directly attack the religious and institutional systems of his time until his final action against the money changers in the temple [1], his primary social justice critique and action are a disappointment to most radicals and social activists. Jesus’… Continue Reading A Quiet Refusal
Bigger Than Personal Moral Failure
Action and Contemplation: Part Two Bigger Than Personal Moral Failure Tuesday, January 14, 2020 Contemplation helps us discern what is truly important in the largest, most spacious frame of reality and to know what is ours to do in the face of “evil” and injustice. As a confessor, I know for a fact that many… Continue Reading Bigger Than Personal Moral Failure
Accountability Is Sustainability
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part One Accountability Is Sustainability Friday, December 13, 2019 Step Five: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. [1] So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you. —James 5:16 Both Christianity and the Twelve Steps… Continue Reading Accountability Is Sustainability
Facing Reality
Shadow Work Facing Reality Friday, September 13, 2019 To love is to be conscious, and to be fully conscious would mean we are capable of loving. Sin always proceeds from lack of consciousness. Most people are just not aware and not fully living in their own present moment. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they… Continue Reading Facing Reality
Doing the Inner Work
Shadow Work Doing the Inner Work Thursday, September 12, 2019 People often asked Dr. Jung, “Will we make it?” referring to the cataclysm of our time. He always replied, “If enough people will do their inner work.” This soul work is the one thing that will pull us through any emergency. —Robert Johnson [1] Historian… Continue Reading Doing the Inner Work
Speaking the Truth from Within
Prophets: Part One Speaking the Truth from Within Monday, July 1, 2019 A prophet is one who names a situation truthfully in its largest context without being pulled into dualistic factions. Scripture shows the Hebrew prophets speaking to the people as one of their own, not above or apart from the community. Prophets share in… Continue Reading Speaking the Truth from Within
One in Love
Unity and Diversity One in Love Sunday, June 2, 2019 The primary problem is that our identities are too small. We tend to rely most on our smaller, cultural identities and ignore our larger, common identity as members of the body of Christ. . . . Indeed, adopting a common identity is the key to… Continue Reading One in Love
Jesus’ Passion
Jesus’ Death Jesus’ Passion Friday, April 19, 2019 Good Friday Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan continue reflecting on the meaning of Jesus’ death: Jesus was not simply an unfortunate victim of a domination system’s brutality. He was also a protagonist filled with passion. His passion, his message, was about the kingdom of God. He… Continue Reading Jesus’ Passion
Savior of the World
Jesus’ Death Savior of the World Monday, April 15, 2019 Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:57 How does Jesus the victim transform us? How does the lamb of God “take away” our sin (John 1:29), to use the common metaphor? How does Jesus “overcome… Continue Reading Savior of the World
The Scapegoat
Jesus’ Death The Scapegoat Sunday, April 14, 2019 Palm Sunday The ingenious Hebrew ritual from which the word “scapegoat” originated is described in Leviticus 16. On the Day of Atonement, a priest laid hands on an “escaping” goat, placing all the sins of the Jewish people from the previous year onto the animal. The goat… Continue Reading The Scapegoat
