A Fresh Perspective

One of the more confident claims made by historical Jesus scholars is that Jesus of Nazareth was a healer – he healed people. It is one of the most confident historical claims that can be made about Jesus of Nazareth. But if you asked these same scholars about a particular healing story – whether or not a particular story is historical – they would say maybe or maybe not. The reason they would say that is because they know that the individual healing stories in the Gospels are first and foremost not historical reports, but proclamations of the good news focused on the living Christ and his presence and power in his followers. So they function something like parables, though I’m sure many of them contain memories and echoes of specific healings. In the story or rather stories before us Jesus crosses back into Jewish territory. I say stories rather than story, because we actually have two stories here fused together by Mark in his typical sandwiching style where he starts one story,...

On Friday, June 19, Dylann Roof, charged with nine counts of murder in the shooting deaths that occurred at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, appeared before a bond hearing court. Family members and friends were permitted to speak to the suspect. Roof could hear them, but he couldn’t see them. Anger was clearly expressed, but in redemptive, not destructive ways. Felicia Sanders, mother of Tywanza Sanders said, We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautiful people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts … and I’ll never be the same. Tywanza was my son … my hero … may God have mercy on you. Bethane Middleton-Brown, representing the family of the Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor acknowledged her hurt and anger but then said, We have no room for hate. We have to forgive. I pray God for your soul. Alana Simmons, granddaughter of Daniel Simmons said, Although my gran...

I recently wrote two pieces published at Baptist News Global (“ A Scripture Lesson on Fundamentalism ” and “ What does a progressive Christian statement of faith look like ?) that ignited a response I repeatedly hear from conservatives. Their claim is that progressive Christian faith is based on subjective criteria not rooted in any objective reality. Of course, their objective reality is their inerrant Bible. One frequent commenter on my articles said: “The authority for what is written begins and ends with those that wrote it. . . . These so-called progressives don’t use the term infallible but in reality they see what they wrote [the reference here is to  the Phoenix Affirmations ] as correct without any authority except themselves.” Another who is also a frequent contributor of articles on the website said: “I fail to see how on the progressive worldview any of these [ the Phoenix Affirmations ] can really be taken as more than mere expressions of personal pre...

The Phoenix Affirmations is a set of twelve principles originally composed by a community of clergy and laypeople from Phoenix, Arizona. As word spread a number of Christian scholars and progressive Christian leaders from around the country added their input and helped to give shape to their current expression. These principles seek to convey the major values that ignite and fuel progressive Christian faith. Dr. Eric Elines, senior pastor of Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ authored the original version of the Affirmations and has written an excellent commentary on them titled, The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity , published by Jossey-Bass (2006). Here they are: CHRISTIAN LOVE OF GOD INCLUDES: 1. Walking fully in the Path of Jesus without denying the legitimacy of other paths that God may provide for humanity. 2. Listening for God’s Word, which comes through daily prayer and meditation, studying the ancient testimo...

It is unfortunate that the phrase “born again” has come to be associated with a particular kind of Christianity generally known for its belief in biblical inerrancy, its literal interpretation of scripture, its condemnation of our LGBT sisters and brothers, and its entrenchment in right wing politics. The phrase occurs in John 3:3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus,  “No one can see the kingdom of God unless one is born again.” The word translated “again” also means “above” and is so translated in the New Revised Standard Version. The Gospel writer probably intended this double meaning. To be born from above does not mean that God sweeps down from the sky to invade our lives. It is simply another way of talking about being “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8), who like the wind cannot be managed or manipulated. Fundamentalists literalize this image. They turn the “kingdom of God” into heaven and claim that unless one has a new birth experience, which they usually associate with beli...