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 1: The Prophets
Read MORE: Lesson 1: The ProphetsIn this series, I plan to examine the teachings of individual prophets, paying special attention to what they say about our present political situation. I think it’s safe to say that few of us know much about the prophets. I…
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Lesson 2: Amos
Read MORE: Lesson 2: AmosLet’s start with Amos. We know very little about his life. He shows up at Bethel in the northern kingdom of Israel, proclaiming God‘s judgment right before Assyria crushes her. Because he is from Judah, the king’s priest tells him…
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Lesson 3: Hosea
Read MORE: Lesson 3: HoseaAlthough Hosea proclaimed judgment against God’s people at around the same time as Amos, he certainly offered more hope. In fact, his ideas lay the groundwork for Jesus’ ministry. Hosea links divine judgment much more to Israel’s seeking security from…
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Lesson 4: Jeremiah
Read MORE: Lesson 4: JeremiahWhen I started this series exploring what Old Testament prophets have to say about the present political situation, I was afraid that I might force the issue. It turns out there’s no danger of that as the current administration does…
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Lesson 5: Daniel
Read MORE: Lesson 5: DanielThe Old Testament prophets try to explain how their God can be supreme while other nations, who worship different gods, continually defeat and control the Israelites. Their attempts sometimes produce inconsistent pictures of God. In one paragraph, he brings judgment…
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Lesson 6: The Minor Prophets
Read MORE: Lesson 6: The Minor ProphetsLooking at the other prophetic books individually doesn’t help much in trying to figure out what we should be doing in the 21st Century. Jonah is obviously another fictional story like those in Daniel, written to encourage people to obey…
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Lesson 7: Isaiah (Part 1)
Read MORE: Lesson 7: Isaiah (Part 1)The Book of Isaiah records perspectives of a prophetic school over three different periods: the 8th century BC, when the Assyrian Empire invaded, about 200 years later, when Israelite leadership lived in exile under the Babylonian Empire, and at least…
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Lesson 8: Isaiah (Part 2)
Read MORE: Lesson 8: Isaiah (Part 2)Chapters 40 through 55 contain some of the most beautiful and oft-quoted passages in the Bible. They record how Isaiah’s school interpreted suffering in the sixth century BC. Two hundred years have passed since the Assyrian Empire conquered Israel and…
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Lesson 9: Isaiah (Part 3)
Read MORE: Lesson 9: Isaiah (Part 3)Isaiah chapters 56 – 66 were written by a third member of Isaiah’s school to those who returned from the Babylonian Exile. The expectation was that once they’d come home, the nation would unite, the people would prosper, and their…
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Lesson 10: The Prophet Jesus
Read MORE: Lesson 10: The Prophet JesusThe one thing all religious people can agree upon about Jesus is that he was a prophet. Even Muslims believe he spoke on behalf of God. Like the Old Testament prophets, Jesus insisted that worship is useless if one does…
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.