So forgiveness pre-requires understanding the mistakes of the past? here hear re this opposing this me-first, America-first, white-first, male-first approach>…
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
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Lesson 11: Love As A Change Agent
Read MORE: Lesson 11: Love As A Change AgentA terribly significant reason for modern Christians using the love narrative to identify and understand themselves is usually ignored. When people rather blandly proclaim “God loves you, love one another,” they are usually thinking of love as not insisting on…
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Lesson 12: Why We Love Our Enemies
Read MORE: Lesson 12: Why We Love Our EnemiesThroughout my ministry, I have repeatedly reread two works in addition to the scriptures: Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov and Martin Luther King’s “Loving Your Enemies.“ Both express the love narrative I think the Church desperately needs to use in understanding and identifying…
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Lesson 13: How We Love Our Enemies
Read MORE: Lesson 13: How We Love Our EnemiesI’d like to continue citing Martin Luther King’s sermon, “Love Your Enemies,” because it describes forgiveness as an inherent characteristic of the Christian love narrative. Whenever I hear the most powerful man in the world claim to love everybody and…
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Lesson 14: Christian Love Involves Suffering
Read MORE: Lesson 14: Christian Love Involves SufferingI have been receiving so many thoughtful responses to Dr. King’s sermon that I decided to address them in the lesson next week. However, I thought it would be helpful to present his conclusion before doing that. Everyone of the…
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Lesson 15: Concerns About Christian Love
Read MORE: Lesson 15: Concerns About Christian LoveI had originally decided to use Dr. King’s sermon in order to take a three week vacation break and was thoroughly unprepared when so many people sent me probing responses. They seemed to indicate a desire for conversation about how…
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Lesson 16: Incarnation
Read MORE: Lesson 16: IncarnationI always thought of myself as a member of the “theology of the cross” school. Paul and Kerry, through brief exchanges on this site, have helped me see the limitations of this tradition, how it has led too many people…
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Lesson 17: Faith, Hope, and Love In Decision Making
Read MORE: Lesson 17: Faith, Hope, and Love In Decision MakingIt’s fine to speak of Christianity being unconditional love all the way down. It’s exhilarating to read St. Isaac of Syria write of even Hell being filled with God’s love. However, it is frustrating when various Christian groups totally disagree…
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Lesson 18: Environment
Read MORE: Lesson 18: EnvironmentCertainly a modern Christian narrative must include our relationship to the environment. Right now, the conversation addressing that issue in our society and the Church rages around the argument about humanity’s role in climate change. Like so much in our…
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Lesson 19: The Passion Narrative as Love Story
Read MORE: Lesson 19: The Passion Narrative as Love StoryHoly Week and Easter highlight the importance of a Christian narrative. Christians around the world observe these sacred times by participating in a story that has changed lives for 2000 years. Of course, there will be attempts to explain what…
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Lesson 20: Resurrection Appearances as Love Story
Read MORE: Lesson 20: Resurrection Appearances as Love StoryWhen I was a parish pastor, I felt a great challenge preaching the sermon on Easter Sunday. I realized that this might be the only time a large number worshipped all year. I also knew from experience that some of…
Recent Comments
An extremely timely topic. Thanks, Fritz!
yes we need to forgive our leaders yet make sure they do the right thing – which they aren’t.