Partisan politics separates us; Christ’s table unites us. Divisions into red and blue, voter blocs and turn-out machines cheapens us; the Lord’s Supper strengthens us. Yard signs, social media fights, and bumper stickers reduce us; in the bread and the wine Christ’s love is multiplied beyond our understanding.
Inspiration pinned: The rise of spiritual quotes on Pinterest
Rather than demeaning the shallow nature of most spiritual/religious Pinterest quotes, faith leaders should take a gander and try to discern what is going on with users beneath their clicks, pins, and likes. In fact, we might even start a trend ourselves. Here’s a few of my own, ready to be made sharable and rendered in fancy font: “The Spirit moves in mysterious ways…even online.”
On Evangelizing Nones, Vagina-gate, & Christian Bullies
Last week, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a study, “’Nones’ on the Rise: One-in-Five Adults Have No Religious Affiliation.” This week, two related articles caught my eye. Ready for some unsupported, but perhaps helpful, connecting the dots? Here we go. For the full Pew study go here, but the stats should [...]
Scrapping Sunday School? Faith Development Today
Last weekend I spoke on a panel for a congregation’s Task Force on Faith Development. The congregation is a strong one with a great history and vital programming for all ages. It’s also, of course, enmeshed in our culture and congregational leaders are increasingly aware that their current model of Christian education, worship, and discipleship training [...]
Out of Touch Professors Like Me
It took about three weeks in my new post for me to feel like an out-of-touch academic. One afternoon last week I was sitting in my office about to send an email when I suddenly thought, “Oh no! I have no idea what’s happening in the church, ‘in real life’ ministry, right now.” It felt [...]
Embracing the Ideal of the Liberal Arts College
The adjective liberal in the phrase, “the liberal arts,” means ‘freeing.’ The liberal arts are those studies which set the student free — free from prejudice and misplaced loyalties and free for service, wise decision making, community leadership, and responsible living.
Hopes and fears from Collegeville
A post from the Collegeville Institute, Summer Writing Program: Theology in the Real World with Kathleen Norris “What are our hopes and fears for the week?” Kathleen asks us Sunday night as the shadows fall and the mosquitoes fly. “Write them down. We’ll share them in the morning.” Fears? Fear are easy. Anxiety is one [...]
Douthat & Bass: Asking the Wrong Question?
Arguing over why denominations are in decline is plenty fine for Sunday morning breakfast reading, but what most of us care about — especially, what young adults not connected to the church care about — is how they can see Jesus’ in the life and work of a faith community.
