Christian Nationalism Isn’t Christian

We Have a Much Higher Calling Christian Nationalism is simply nationalism and nothing more. How else could churches in both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Easter while calling themselves right and their opponent wrong? Yes, that is a form of Christian Nationalism, albeit not what we usually mean in the U.S.A. We have forgotten what the …

Read more

Who or What Holds Your Allegiance?

The real answer may not be your first response. My mind keeps returning to the picture from January 6 of the man who used the U.S. Flag that he was carrying to beat a police officer. I’m sure if you asked this man, he would describe himself as a patriot. But consider that, as a …

Read more

A Gracious Host — NOT!

I’ve had the good fortune to be the recipient of hospitality from many of people and in a variety of places during my life. Sometimes it was a simple meal obviously stretched with rice, potatoes or noodles to accommodate extra mouths. Other times it meant weeks or months of staying in a home as guest, …

Read more

America Is Not a Christian Nation — Never Has Been, Nor Should It Be

As both a Christian and an American, I firmly believe in the separation of Church and State. Please hear me out. We are nearing Thanksgiving in the U.S. and are surrounded by reminders of the Pilgrims sitting down with their new neighbors to give thanks for surviving to that point. It’s easy to forget why …

Read more

The Bible and Bigotry

“Why is it that those who hold the Bible in high regard also tend to be those who are judgmental and self-righteous?” Eddie Chu It’s a fair question. In fact, it sums up the dissatisfaction of many who have changed churches or left organized Christian religion altogether due to bigotry, with or without their faith …

Read more

Mad At God

It’s OK to be mad at God. Really. It took me a long time to figure this out. And I think it applies to everyone, regardless of your spiritual tradition, but I will speak from my own Christian background, as that is what I know best. The first time I really got mad at God, …

Read more

What is Grace? Part 2 — The Practical

In What is Grace? Part 1, I discussed grace as being a facet or realization of divine, unconditional love. By that definition, grace is not limited to Christianity, but is evident in many traditions around the world. The next question becomes: What is our response? How do we live a life grounded in grace? Grace …

Read more