Pastor Foltz is Pastor Emeritus of Saint James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, PA and author of the the Frontline Study content.
We usually pass off the Joseph story as a clever children’s tale. In truth, as written in Genesis 37-50, it is a rather sophisticated attempt to understand God‘s participation in our world. We still ask the questions it addresses. It quickly becomes apparent that this is a retelling of Cain and Abel, which describes the […]
Another feature of the Genesis and Johannine creation stories that is usually overlooked is the importance of words. God creates by speaking. The good order of creation has all living beings in conversation. The corruption of the order is illustrated by the inability of competing cities to share the same language. Genesis ends with words […]
This new series will be based on fundamental Bible stories. In a time of severely divided Christianity, turning to the Bible helps us remember who we are, what we believe, and what we are to do. That’s especially important when so many active Christians no longer know the scriptures. Let’s start with the creation stories […]
David Brooks recently wrote, “Donald Trump believes in one thing. He believes might makes right.” That provides a good wrap-up for this series. I come away thinking most Americans seem to believe only one thing. Might makes right. Over 40 years ago, in his classic After Virtue, Alastair MacIntyre foresaw this could happen. He argued […]
Power is simply the ability to do something. I decided to examine it to better understand our society’s acceptance of an abusive form. Public figures profess absolute power, enabling them to do whatever they want, even to define what is right or true. Private individuals think freedom gives them the power to say or do […]
Most of the Bible is addressed to people who lived under bad government. With very few exceptions, the kings and emperors who had power used it to take advantage of them. In response, biblical ethics offered practical advice about coping with evil rulers who abuse their subjects. For example, if you read the Sermon on […]
One of the first things that MAGA did was establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). That sounds like a good thing. We want to use power with little or no waste. However, my ears go up whenever I hear the word. I think of Jacques Ellul and Ivan Illich observing everything in a technological […]
Recently, I again heard politicians using “America First” to express their positions. At first, I assumed it referred to buying American goods to support American businesses. We should be willing to pay more so our friends have jobs. However, eventually I realized MAGA was using the slogan to express restoring US world dominance. “America First” […]
The nation is reeling after just three weeks of the Trump administration brandishing naked power. Many citizens are trying to figure out how we got to this place as if knowing might contribute to overcoming the violence. When I ask about this, I remember a visit to the South several years ago. All the conversation […]
”Love your neighbor” could be rephrased “Masters, act as servants.” If we have power over others, we are to use it to care for them, not to take advantage of them. Thinking about this brought to mind two ethical observations that rang true 25 years ago and still do today. Both were propositions about changes […]
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