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
Tag: featured
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Lesson 6: Eucharist as Eating Together
Read MORE: Lesson 6: Eucharist as Eating TogetherThe sacraments taken together express the fullness of the Christian life. Baptism welcomes us into the community that shares meals with each other and God. Although this might appear to be nothing extraordinary to an outside observer, the Church proclaims…
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Lesson 5: Baptism as Ritual
Read MORE: Lesson 5: Baptism as RitualBack in seminary, quite some time ago, I read an account of an early baptism. My recollection is that it might have been the earliest detailed rite that has come down to us. The candidates had been extensively prepared. Although…
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Lesson 4: Baptism as Community
Read MORE: Lesson 4: Baptism as CommunityBaptism marks the entrance into a new community that follows Jesus. One of its primary features is welcoming believers to the Lord’s table. The modern church makes a huge mistake when it fails to make this the boundary for who…
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Lesson 3: The Meaning of Baptism
Read MORE: Lesson 3: The Meaning of BaptismEarly Christians felt baptism was so important they built their houses of worship near running water whenever possible. Those who have visited ancient churches in their travels have seen many were constructed right over springs so that baptisms could be…
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Lesson 2: Sacrament as God’s Bodily Presence
Read MORE: Lesson 2: Sacrament as God’s Bodily PresenceThe sacraments remind us that Christians claim that God is more than spirit. Although most of us can remember having defined God as a spirit at various times, the Church has insisted God is a person. And we all know…
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Lesson 1: Sacraments as a Means of Grace
Read MORE: Lesson 1: Sacraments as a Means of GraceTalking to Derek last week, I was reminded that I wanted to push myself to look at the commandments and sacraments from a modern perspective. All of us are conditioned to use old concepts when speaking of ancient traditions. They…
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Lesson 11: Final Words
Read MORE: Lesson 11: Final WordsJews speak of the 10 as the 10 Words rather than the Ten Commandments. The first word is “I am the Lord your God” and the second, “You shall no other gods before me.” The rest follow naturally, both those…
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Lesson 10: The Tenth Commandment
Read MORE: Lesson 10: The Tenth CommandmentNeither shall you desire your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. This last commandment is a little troubling, not in its call for respecting other people’s personal property,…
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Lesson 9: The Ninth Commandment
Read MORE: Lesson 9: The Ninth CommandmentThou shall not covet your neighbor’s house. If you were examining the commandments for the first time from a purely intellectual perspective, chances are you would notice that respect for personal property plays a primary role. One prohibits stealing. Depending…
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Lesson 8: The Eighth Commandment
Read MORE: Lesson 8: The Eighth CommandmentNeither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. Sisela Bok once wrote that truth is as essential as the air we breathe and the water we drink. She claimed if we cannot believe other people are telling the truth,…
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.