The term "politics" comes from the Greek word "polis," often translated as "city" but refers to the ways in which people live together, made decisions, and structure their lives. Christ called the Church the Body of Christ, and he taught a way of living together, making decisions, and structuring our lives to reveal the Kindom of God. Unfortunately, just as the word "evangelical" is believed by many to have been hijacked by society, so "politics" have been hijacked by concepts of party affiliation, rather than a common good that seeks good for all. The church is always political because God uses the church to shape lives and faith to reveal what it's like to live by Christ's witness, but it is never supposed to be partisan. We will look at how we might open our eyes, minds, and hearts to see and recognize where worldly influences and powers are intertwined with our own lives, and reflect on how in seeing them, Christ can reveal alternative perspectives and actions that move us beyond ourselves. To be shaped by love to be love, as what "John Howard Yoder calls "the Body Politic," that has been established to offer an alternative way of living that changes the world one person at a time.
Today as we are “ I witnesses” to the naming of Jesus, we will catch a glimpse of the very essence of God. What can we learn from the name of Jesus Christ?
The author of I Witness: Living Inside the Stories of Advent and...
As we are “I witnesses” to the Christmas story this week, we will see that Mary and Joseph did not get all their questions answered in their bringing Jesus safely into the world. What can you learn from their experience?
The...
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As we are “I witnesses” to the Christmas story this week, we will see that Mary and Joseph did not get all their questions answered in their bringing Jesus safely into the world...
As we are “I witnesses” to the Christmas story for Mark’s telling of it, there is no mention of angels, shepherds, Zechariah and Elizabeth, or even Mary and Joseph. We hear instead from Isaiah of John the Baptist’s part of...
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Waiting can be so hard. Zechariah and Elizabeth waited so long to be parents. Can you imagine their surprise in the promise fulfilled in their son, John the Baptist? God has a way of asking us...
Our scripture today names Jesus as he “who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father” (1:5-6). We experience in Christ what it means to be loved and hear a call...
Our scriptures give us a rich foundation of examples of how we are to offer God our thanks and praise. Culturally we set aside a day for this, and our church offers a service each year to remember our blessings. Both activities offer traditions...
Today’s “Dwellings” topic relates to how we are to dwell in the accomplished work of Christ in our daily lives. Put simply: What does the cross of Jesus mean to you? Thomas à Kempis in The Inner Life said this about the...
John Wesley, the founder of our denomination, said about All Saints Sunday, “This is a festival I truly love.” He did caution about holding saints “in too high regard,” for fear of people not looking to Jesus as our prime...
