Jesus refuses to bolster the illusion that we protect ourselves by good and faithful living. …He dismisses that assumption by ignoring [the inquirers’] question. What Jesus does do is recognize [their] vulnerability, their feeling of being small and fragile, which...
00616 – Lent: A Time of Hunger for Truth-Telling
Lent is a time of hunger—hunger for truth-telling and a genuine repentance that flows from such truth-telling; and hunger for forgiveness from One who knows the truth about us but who nevertheless comes to us with the offer of amazing grace. from Journal for...
00487 – God will Continue Clipping
God will continue clipping until so-called Christians repent of racism and bigotry; until Skid Rows are replaced by avenues of compassion and streets of hope; until child neglect is replaced by child nurture; until murder, abuse, and rape yield to mutual respect… God...
00464 – Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus...
00454 – We Forgive Human Beings
We do not forgive hurricanes and floods; we forgive human beings who could and should have acted differently. We hold them responsible, and we hold them under the judgment of memory, especially so long as the perpetrators do not repent their actions. Even after they...