Musings

Thoughts on Biblical and Theological Themes, as well as Other Things

recent posts

  • Vol 2:2 – Is the Term “Christian” Indeed a Helpful One?

    Vol 2:2 – Is the Term “Christian” Indeed a Helpful One?

    In Ephesians 2 Paul expresses that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross broke down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentiles.  Through the cross, Jesus destroyed the barrier(s) that exists between humanity in order to create one new humanity that is centered in him, reconciling all to God through the cross (see Eph. 2:14-16).  Further, in Paul’s letters he has expressed that in Christ there is no longer divisions between persons, between communities (see Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). In essence, the cross of Christ not only conquers the power of sin and death and the grip that these have over humanity, over us, but the cross also destroys the divisions that exist between and among us and others, between human communities. 

    I have often wondered in today’s world whether labelling ourselves as “Christian” may indeed create more barriers between people and communities, rather than creating open doors which invites people into experiencing and participating in the fullness of life that comes through the love and grace of Jesus.  Could our insistence in identifying ourselves with the label “Christian” indeed thwart sharing the love of Jesus in the world? 

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  • Vol 2:1 – Seek First the Reign of God – A Political Perspective?

    Vol 2:1 – Seek First the Reign of God – A Political Perspective?

    I find myself not being left or right politically.  But also, I do not classify myself as someone who is in the middle as a moderate.  My worldview, my perspective on life, comes from a different place altogether, that shapes not only my politics, but most everything in life. 

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  • Vol 1:12 The Jesus Message

    As we come to celebrate Christmas we may wonder what the Christmas message is about or indeed is.  For the culture it is about peace, joy, hope, goodwill to all humanity, alongside the giving and receiving of presents.  It seeks to be a message of hope that stands in contrast to the strife, greed, famine, abuse of power and oppression that is the nature of our day to day existence in the world.  In fact for many, because of the state of the world, both politically and economically, the message of Christmas is all too obscured.

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  • Vol 1:11 The Temptations of Prosperity, Influence, and Power

    The lectionary text for Sunday, November 23rd came from Jeremiah 23.  It regards shepherds that lead the people astray.  We do not have to look too deeply into the North American church to discern that we have not done well in heeding this warning.  Our disobedience as pastors who have not “tended the flock” but rather sought our own ends – is plainly described as our engaging in evil doings (see Jeremiah 23:2).

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  • Vol 1:10 – Allegiance: Whom we serve shapes the kind of citizens we are!

    I have had more than one conversation in which I was asked which party I support, whose policies I am aligned with.  In our current political climate these are indeed loaded questions.  I respond that rather than identifying with one political party over another, my identity is centered in Jesus Christ.  I seek to shape my political perspectives by my relationship with Jesus. 

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  • Vol 1:9 – Living Christianly

    The question whether we are or can be a Christian nation is getting much attention in our current political climate.  I don’t know to what extent I have anything to add, however, I do have some questions and a few thoughts.

    My last post was a personal reflection in which I expressed that I seek to place Jesus at the center of my life and actions.  Perhaps in exploring what kind of nation a Christian Nation might be, we need to ask to what extent is Jesus at the center of this discussion?  It might be more important to first discuss what it means to live Christianly, meaning, in what ways do we live out being centered in Jesus and living out what is important to Jesus? 

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  • Vol 1:8 – A Personal Reflection

    I regard myself as a simple man, though often I think of myself more highly than I ought. 

    I am a theological person, as others have noted.  I am not talking about holding to dogma or doctrine, per se, but regard theology as the Spirit breathing life into all that is.  And so, I am one who thinks and seeks to act guided by theological perspectives, viewing and engaging life, social issues, politics, history, and numerous experiences through a worldview that is rooted in God’s Story and Vision, specifically that of Jesus Christ – though I have friends and colleagues who are much better theologians than I am.  They are more articulate, more prolific, more nuanced than I ever can be, even will be.  I read what they write and am grateful of what I learn from them.

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  • Vol 1:7 – How Secular is Jesus?

    In a previous post I noted that Jesus did not come to start a religion – namely, Christianity (that was the doing of those who sought to align religion with the power of the state, such as in the 4th century with Constantine), but rather, Jesus mission was to restore humanity, for humanity to be more humane, which he exemplified through his example and actions in interaction with others.  Though the cross is central to this in unmasking the principalities and powers – that’ll be for another post. 

    The question in this post is this: If Jesus did not come to start a religion, were his actions deemed religious or can we state that through his incarnation he sought to be thoroughly secular?  It all depends what we mean by secular.

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  • Vol 1:6 – Religious Language – Is it Helpful?

    Over the years I have discovered in teaching required religion courses at the college level (which students were required to take – and perhaps many did not want to be there) that there is a built in bias towards religious vocabulary, religious language (perhaps in many cases, legitimately). Words like God, sin, salvation, repentance, obedience, to list a few raise in people certain preconceived understandings or emotional responses which shut down an openness to explore what God’s Story and Vision may entail.

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  • Vol 1:5 – Jesus! God with Us? — What If God Was One of Us?

    I concluded my last post with the following statement: “the next post offers some thoughts on how God became one of us in the person of Jesus, dwelt among us, for the purpose of restoring our breathing, restoring us (even, to re-story our lives), so that we might catch our breath again and be able to breath deeply – celebrating and giving praise to The One whose name we breathe.”

    Perhaps before I get into that, it might be important to think about the relationship between the One Who Is, Who is Being itself, the One whose name is expressed by the action of breathing and Jesus, whom John proclaims as God becoming one of us (John 1:14) and Matthew expresses as God with us (Matthew 1:23).

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