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 21: How Does God Operate in this World (Part 3)
Read MORE: Lesson 21: How Does God Operate in this World (Part 3)Bob and Myron were discussing which option is more an impediment to Christian faith: 1) God only rarely intervenes in the natural world or 2) God can not or elects not to intervene at all. Both indicated neither option is…
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Lesson 22: How Does God Operate in Natural Events
Read MORE: Lesson 22: How Does God Operate in Natural EventsLet me add another thought before we move on. We used to see meaning in nature and even thought we could discern natural laws which taught ethical principles. So it made sense that we could ask questions such as “How…
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Lesson 23: How Does God Operate in People?
Read MORE: Lesson 23: How Does God Operate in People?Lupe from Bolivia in the Lesson 20 comments wrote: “The grain of sand has no notion of the beach, the drop of water has no notion of the ocean. They are, for a certain period of time, and so are…
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Lesson 24: How Does God Operate Through People? Part 2
Read MORE: Lesson 24: How Does God Operate Through People? Part 2Last week I noted that just about every major character who acts for God in the Old Testament is called “God’s Servant”. I suggested Isaiah’s four servant hymns offer the best definition of what that means: God’s servant works for…
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Lesson 25: How Does God Operate Through People? Part 3
Read MORE: Lesson 25: How Does God Operate Through People? Part 3Both Bob from Italy and Lupe from Bolivia move us to acting for God as service rather than servanthood. Bob speaks of co-operation and individual acts of mercy, such as feeding the hungry neighbor. Some theologians believe we should make…
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Lesson 26: How Does God Operate?
Read MORE: Lesson 26: How Does God Operate?I can best explain my position on suffering by enclosing below a short paper I wrote decades ago to start discussion at a Lutheran conference. I think the Christian faith is contrarian by nature. We have some trouble seeing that,…
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Lesson 27: How Does God Operate Through Words?
Read MORE: Lesson 27: How Does God Operate Through Words?Enough about God operating through natural events and people! Let’s get to the bottom line. God operates in this world primarily through words. The religions claim words provide our contact with God. The ancient Vedas of the East say, “On…
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Lesson 28: How Does God Operate Through Words? Part 2
Read MORE: Lesson 28: How Does God Operate Through Words? Part 2Last week Bob commented, “How do we separate these false prophets from those who truly proclaim the word of God? I think to do so we have to have a conception, an overall picture, of what Christianity truly is… So…
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Lesson 29: How Does God Operate Through Words? Part 3
Read MORE: Lesson 29: How Does God Operate Through Words? Part 3Two weeks ago I suggested present day false prophets are either liars or bull-shitters. Bob added a third category- the truly stupid. Last week Myron agreed that “an informed consumer” is our best hope in overcoming these “wolves in sheep’s…
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Lesson 30: How Does God Operate Through Words? Part 4
Read MORE: Lesson 30: How Does God Operate Through Words? Part 4Bob suggests we’ll always have false prophets, because we’ll always have people looking for religious interpretations that support their preconceived ideas and prejudices. I think we are bound to have more, because of the way modern media uses words. We…
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.