The Gathering

Christian In Name Only - Week 4

There are 235 million people who identify as Christian in the United States alone. And yet, while many claim the label, not everyone lives the life. Too often Christianity gets used to defend things Jesus would have challenged—or even to justify hate in his name. In this series, we’re going to reclaim the narrative and get back to the heart of what it means to be Christian and live a life of faith. Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. The last distortion is a bit harder to name, but is something that is having a broad affect right now. Christianity is being used to support an unequal social order when Jesus practiced a radical equality.

Christian In Name Only - Week 3

There are 235 million people who identify as Christian in the United States alone. And yet, while many claim the label, not everyone lives the life. Too often Christianity gets used to defend things Jesus would have challenged—or even to justify hate in his name. In this series, we’re going to reclaim the narrative and get back to the heart of what it means to be Christian and live a life of faith. Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. The distortion we'll talk about today is the belief that it is faithful to exclude and marginalize certain people, when what Jesus practiced was the radical inclusion of all.

Christian In Name Only - Week 2

There are 235 million people who identify as Christian in the United States alone. And yet, while many claim the label, not everyone lives the life. Too often Christianity gets used to defend things Jesus would have challenged—or even to justify hate in his name. In this series, we’re going to reclaim the narrative and get back to the heart of what it means to be Christian and live a life of faith. Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. Today we will start with the first distortion because it is in the news and all around us right now: Christianity is being used to support violence when Jesus practiced and taught nonviolence.

Christian In Name Only - Week 1

There are 235 million people who identify as Christian in the United States alone. And yet, while many claim the label, not everyone lives the life. Too often Christianity gets used to defend things Jesus would have challenged—or even to justify hate in his name. In this series, we’re going to reclaim the narrative and get back to the heart of what it means to be Christian and live a life of faith. Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. But today I want to start with the overarching problem, because while it is bad right now, people misrepresenting God is not new. In fact Jesus dealt with it in his earthly ministry. And there is comfort in knowing that just as I am angry. And some of you are angry. JESUS is also angry about those who misrepresent him.

EasterSTL26

There is a line in the Easter story that I had never noticed or paid attention to. But this year, it stuck out to me. It happens right after the women hear that Jesus is risen, but before they actually see him. It says: So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy… (Matthew 28.8) Faith is living with fear and great joy. While faith starts in the dark, it doesn’t stay there. It was women in grief and fear that were the first ones to begin living with great joy. But it was a choice they made that day, to believe that good news. To believe Jesus was alive and ahead of them and making a way for them. To keep walking.