How do we, as followers of Jesus, respond to our government’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy? The lesson from Jesus’ parable of the great feast is that there are no reserved tables for honored insiders at the messianic banquet. Insiders who send their regrets are out and outsiders are in. Before relating that to the immigration policies of nation-states, we will want to take a hard look at the welcome mat of our churches. Do we actually welcome everyone? While our government cannot imagine the kind of radical welcome that Jesus proposes, we can at least insist that we follow the rule of law and show compassion by not separating children from parents when families that cross our borders seeking asylum.
Summary: Like me, many get a little queasy with some of the bloody atonement language in our Christian hymns and liturgies. It fails to communicate but, even worse, it can…
Summary: The issue underlying Jesus’ dispute with the Pharisees regarding Sabbath laws is similar to the controversy over American immigration laws today. Laws that are supposed to protect and provide…
Summary: Nicodemus is an enigma. Is he a spiritual seeker or a spy sent by the religious leaders to see what he could find out? We don’t know. It’s telling…
Summary: How do we reconcile violence in the Bible with our commitment to the Bible as our authority for life and faith? Part of the answer is the recognition that,…