The Acholi people, Kony's people, certainly suffered. They were the victims of pain. Sadly, Kony transmitted the pain to others instead of being transformed by the pain.
I worry that our "solutions" might repeat the mistake, transmitting and multiplying tragedy. So the film asks the right questions while perhaps trusting "redemptive violence" as the answer. I do not think outside military intervention will be effective-- as a Sojo, I do not think it is the Way of Christ. Nevertheless, I appreciate the film
Loving, gracious, God of all, bring your healing right here, right now to the people of Syria. May each and every Syrian be set free from violence, hunger, oppression, sin, tyrants, intimidation, and warfare. Set them free for loving their neighbors, local and global. In the name of Jesus the King. Amen.
Dr. King into a Christ centered love shaped justice and justice shaped love. So we love Franklin Graham, Barack Obama, Sojourners, the people who don't like Sojourners, and everyone else, because we will never be free until everyone is free, and love will not be complete until everyone has shalom with God, humanity, institutions, creation, and personal peace.
I'd rather avoid the complain and blame game. Instead let's listen and learn from the Spirit and one another. When we find ourselves being labelled as the enemy, then we know who we are supposed to love in that moment. Here, even in the comment section, we can practice Christ shaped love.
The story was about embodying Christ for people out in the street, going to them instead of waiting for them to come to us. So I read this as incarnational, not gnostic. I thought it was beautiful. Apparently the same words struck us differently. Peace to you, brother
We live in a pluralistic world. Not everyone looks like everyone else. Not everyone believes like everyone else. But everyone is our neighbor and Jesus commands us to love them as we love ourselves. He also teaches us to love the enemy, the ones who are difficult to love.
No matter how you label atheists of color, neighbor or enemy, we are to radically love them. Period. To be clear, I think of them as neighbor with whom I disagree.
I would respond to Piper's quote with this Dr. King quote: it may be true that the law cannot make someone love me, but it can stop them from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.
Piper makes clear who is in or out of his true church. The important thing is to protect physically, emotionally, and spiritually the vulnerable ones, including gay folks.
Over the course of my lifetime the union movement as become weaker. The average worker's compensation has not increased, as suggested by your thesis, but has fallen farther and farther behind. Meanwhile, the wealth of those at the top has skyrocketed
Yes, public servants should be compensated fairly. Teachers hold the future in their hands. Police and fire fighters put their lives on the line. Highway folks make it possible for the economy to work. These servants make possible everyone's "bottom line"- health, wealth, safety, and love
And the funding of government needs to be sustainable.
What do we mean by swearing? 4 letter words? Misusing God's name to curse, swear, lie, or mislead others?
In terms of the 4 letter variety, I think this falls into "food offered to idols". It doesn't bother me, and I try not to give offense to those who are offended by the words.
In terms of taking God's name to mean nothing or to use it in vain, that is much more deadly, not to mention common. Whenever God's name is used to injure, put down others, lift oneself over others, to demonize others-- that, to me, is blasphemous. Tony Campolo speaks of using the s- word and then describing how 25,000 children die each day and how we are more offended by the former than the latter.
Thanks to all who have offered comments and to Nadia for making us think
Here I write. I am able to think about my words. How might I scribble these thoughts, keeping in mind those who disagree with me? How might I be loving, even in the midst of deep disagreement? And yet, I often fail. In disagreement, there are friends here who believe I am unfair-- and definitely not Christ like.
Now I imagine the Govenor and the President. They have passionate disagreements! They are human, subject to pressures from both allies and foes. The cameras are rolling. And we all get to see and make judgments.
I don't know that any of us can measure up to the glare of the media and the "gotcha culture." I am saddened that intranet-party squabbles are becoming just as "uncivil" as inter-party competition. It is not a partisan problem, but a human problem.
Therefore, we have a wise Master who asks us to take the Log out of our own eyes before the delicate work of removing the Speck in our neighbor's eye. So often I confess that I twist the verse so that I am the one with the speck and "they" are the ones with the log. And that is human, too. So let us help each other to become more Christ like, even when we disagree.
Official rhetoric has helped fuel an escalation of tension between the United States and Iran. Do recent negotiations mark a change in direction, or just a temporary detour from the highway to military attack?
Comments
Drawing attention to the Kony crimes is good.
The Acholi people, Kony's people, certainly suffered. They were the victims of pain. Sadly, Kony transmitted the pain to others instead of being transformed by the pain.
I worry that our "solutions" might repeat the mistake, transmitting and multiplying tragedy. So the film asks the right questions while perhaps trusting "redemptive violence" as the answer. I do not think outside military intervention will be effective-- as a Sojo, I do not think it is the Way of Christ. Nevertheless, I appreciate the film
Let us celebrate this growth in perspective, even as we all continue to grow
Name calling is wrong from the left, right, and center.
I wish that we would realize that each person is an ikon of God.
And, it does no good to dehumanize someone who is dehumanizing others. That only spreads this virus when we should be stopping it
Amen!
I don't see how your reply relates to my comment. Haven't seen the movie in question. So... Peace!
AMEN!
49 comments here
Let us offer prayerful comments on the "pray for us" Syria post, too.
Blog readers, let us generate 50+ prayers here!
So often we have many more comments when we argue. How about we set a record here by posting prayers.
Shalom, salaam, irene, peace, Duh
Loving, gracious, God of all, bring your healing right here, right now to the people of Syria. May each and every Syrian be set free from violence, hunger, oppression, sin, tyrants, intimidation, and warfare. Set them free for loving their neighbors, local and global. In the name of Jesus the King. Amen.
Dr. King into a Christ centered love shaped justice and justice shaped love. So we love Franklin Graham, Barack Obama, Sojourners, the people who don't like Sojourners, and everyone else, because we will never be free until everyone is free, and love will not be complete until everyone has shalom with God, humanity, institutions, creation, and personal peace.
I'd rather avoid the complain and blame game. Instead let's listen and learn from the Spirit and one another. When we find ourselves being labelled as the enemy, then we know who we are supposed to love in that moment. Here, even in the comment section, we can practice Christ shaped love.
Rest eternal grant them, Lord. Shine your eternal light upon them. Comfort those who mourn. Amen
The story was about embodying Christ for people out in the street, going to them instead of waiting for them to come to us. So I read this as incarnational, not gnostic. I thought it was beautiful. Apparently the same words struck us differently. Peace to you, brother
This is a fantastic, imaginative story. Please offer more inspiring stories of how we might find ways to be Christ for others.
We live in a pluralistic world. Not everyone looks like everyone else. Not everyone believes like everyone else. But everyone is our neighbor and Jesus commands us to love them as we love ourselves. He also teaches us to love the enemy, the ones who are difficult to love.
No matter how you label atheists of color, neighbor or enemy, we are to radically love them. Period. To be clear, I think of them as neighbor with whom I disagree.
I would respond to Piper's quote with this Dr. King quote: it may be true that the law cannot make someone love me, but it can stop them from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.
Piper makes clear who is in or out of his true church. The important thing is to protect physically, emotionally, and spiritually the vulnerable ones, including gay folks.
Beautiful.
The institution is necessary, yet it can hold only so much maturity.
How much more is this true for nations.
So gather with 2 or 3 and keep going anyway.
Thanks, most of all, for the quote: I can do everthing except the one thing necessary :)
Over the course of my lifetime the union movement as become weaker. The average worker's compensation has not increased, as suggested by your thesis, but has fallen farther and farther behind. Meanwhile, the wealth of those at the top has skyrocketed
Yes, public servants should be compensated fairly. Teachers hold the future in their hands. Police and fire fighters put their lives on the line. Highway folks make it possible for the economy to work. These servants make possible everyone's "bottom line"- health, wealth, safety, and love
And the funding of government needs to be sustainable.
Jackf and x2kong's comments really lay out the two opposing perspectives on how to achieve the common good right now
What do we mean by swearing? 4 letter words? Misusing God's name to curse, swear, lie, or mislead others?
In terms of the 4 letter variety, I think this falls into "food offered to idols". It doesn't bother me, and I try not to give offense to those who are offended by the words.
In terms of taking God's name to mean nothing or to use it in vain, that is much more deadly, not to mention common. Whenever God's name is used to injure, put down others, lift oneself over others, to demonize others-- that, to me, is blasphemous. Tony Campolo speaks of using the s- word and then describing how 25,000 children die each day and how we are more offended by the former than the latter.
Thanks to all who have offered comments and to Nadia for making us think
Let us support this for the sake of our sisters, mothers, wives, and daughters!
They will know we are Christians by our love...
Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, boastful, arrogant or rude
Love does not insist on its own way
Love does not keep score of wrongs
Love rejoices in the truth
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
In the midst of another competitive, perhaps nasty, election season, we confess that love never ends
As we debate, converse and try to persuade, consider these words from my favorite archbishop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWlrKn8NdIE
Praying for you all that we might live within Christ's love for each and every human being
Much love, Sojourner! I observe the same dynamic. So let us practice another Way here- and beyond
Here I write. I am able to think about my words. How might I scribble these thoughts, keeping in mind those who disagree with me? How might I be loving, even in the midst of deep disagreement? And yet, I often fail. In disagreement, there are friends here who believe I am unfair-- and definitely not Christ like.
Now I imagine the Govenor and the President. They have passionate disagreements! They are human, subject to pressures from both allies and foes. The cameras are rolling. And we all get to see and make judgments.
I don't know that any of us can measure up to the glare of the media and the "gotcha culture." I am saddened that intranet-party squabbles are becoming just as "uncivil" as inter-party competition. It is not a partisan problem, but a human problem.
Therefore, we have a wise Master who asks us to take the Log out of our own eyes before the delicate work of removing the Speck in our neighbor's eye. So often I confess that I twist the verse so that I am the one with the speck and "they" are the ones with the log. And that is human, too. So let us help each other to become more Christ like, even when we disagree.
thank you for your thoughtful reply!