[IN REFERENCE TO AN OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGE] “SO WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT JESUS?”
I had an Old Testament professor who failed a person because they mentioned Jesus in their final paper. She was like, “Under NO circumstances are you allowed to read Jesus into the Old Testament. You may be all like, ‘well this prophet was talking about Jesus’- no. NO. That prophet was talking about the Messiah. That prophet ain’t got no idea who JESUS was! How could he?? JESUS WASN’T EVEN BORN YET!” …She was kind of passionate about it. None of us dared mentioning Jesus in that class.
I love my theology professor in a kind of "I really want to be your friend and have you give me advice on things, but I respect you so much that I'm also deeply intimidated by you."
- Classmate: ...That brings to mind the story of when Jesus had to speak to the masses so he went out on a boat, departing from the lake shore, and entered into this liminal space, all so that he could be heard by the crowd. How he was both distant enough, and close enou -
- Professor: Yeah, I just keep thinking about the Monty Python version. They're all, "We can't hear you! Speak louder!" *chuckles* Sorry, that's just what always comes to mind.
“Not talking about Seminary.”
Like I mentioned previously, I went to get coffee with some classmates of mine who were all girls. It was deemed a sort of “Lady-Theologian Night”, but shortly after we sat down, one of my friends made the request that we “take off our seminary hats” (as in she thought we should talk about something other than classes, reading, etc.).
Which was fine. Great, in fact.
But the thing was, out of the five of us sitting there: one was a newly-wed, the second a VERY soon-to-be-wed, the third was a single but had been previously wed and was now extremely complicated, and the last two were just simply single.
I was one of those last two.
And I really had high hopes for the evening. I knew we would talk about relationships at on point or another, I just didn’t think we would spend the whole time talking about it.
But we did.
And I love my friends, and I want to show support and attentiveness to their situations, and meet them where they are….but I was also hoping for a little bit more.
Afterwards the “other single girl” told me how she was disappointed that, once the “seminary hats” were off, all we could find to talk about were boys/relationship problems. And I agree.
Are our lives really that boring?
I just can’t stop thinking about it.
—
It should be mentioned, however, that at one point I was able to participate in discussion when one friend turned to me and asked, “So Julia, who are YOU dating?” (Note: She may or may not have been sarcastic, I still can’t tell.) Regardless, I took a moment, composed myself, and raised one finger to the sky as I mouthed the name “Jesus”.
I’m glad at least that I have friends who appreciate my sense of humor, if not my sense of irony.
—
Jesus is my bro, yo.
Bro Jesus might be my new favorite thing. Well, you know…next to the normal Jesus.
(via occupyjesus)
(via occupyjesus)
If you’re comfortable risking the use of lethal force to defend your property or that of your neighbors, you’re doing so against the teachings of Jesus. If you’re a Christian and yet you think risking the end of another person’s life to protect your house or possessions is reasonable, we don’t merely have a difference of opinion. I’m calling you out and telling you to repent.
Zimmerman was armed, we’re told, because there had been numerous burglaries in the neighborhood and he wanted to protect his community. By carrying a gun, he implicitly acknowledged his willingness to use it in defense of property. I understand that many Americans have no problem with that. But a Christian must object.
As someone who has been robbed, had guns held to his head, and sat under the threat of lethal force as I watched my apartment being ransacked, I can emphatically say it is wrong to use force to defend your possessions. I did not sit there seething, wishing I had a gun. I offered the men a drink. I share this not because it is remarkable but because it the least that any Christian should be expected to do in similar circumstances.
Hmmm…interesting. Usually I don’t reblog articles or essays regarding a topic like this, but this one is an interesting one to think about.
(via emmtotheatt)
A Christian magazine is devoting a full-page ad to raising awareness about LGBT youth homelessness. Wow. More.
Faith in humanity restored temporarily
yes yes YES
COME ON CHRISTIANITY YOU CAN DO IT
WOOOOO
This makes me happy.
These reactions make me sad. I mean, of course I’m happy that awareness is being raised on the subject. And I’m glad that the fact that a Christian magazine printing this has warmed some people’s hearts. But mostly I’m sad. Sad that any hearts ever needed to be warmed in the first place. Sad that the image of Christianity has strayed so far that people are pleasantly surprised when we actually help those who are marginalized, oppressed, and in need. Because if Christianity behaved how it was meant to behave….if Christians behaved how we were meant to behave…this advert shouldn’t have surprised anyone.
God is love. We should always align ourselves with movements that show love. Doing otherwise is simply not of God. Simple as that.
![teamcoco:
Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus in a pancake. [more photos]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1ppmjsihF1qdqyxho1_1280.jpg)
Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus in a pancake. [more photos]
Richard Rohr (via azspot)
I know what this guy is getting at, and I generally agree with his general message. But I also disagree with his generalization of Protestants and Catholics. I speak more of Protestantism because that is my field of experience, but not all Protestants act the way he describes, and I’m sure the same goes for Catholics. In fact, there’s a large amount of Protestants who do not believe in “sola Scriptura” these days. In fact, many of his points are out-dated or misplaced. Not all Protestants abuse the Bible. Not all Protestants are ‘Evangelical’, and even among the Evangelicals there are some who are very involved in social justice. I can agree his general sentiment, that humans have done a number on Scripture, but his gross amount of stereotyping makes him little better. In fact, the only person I actually agree with in this argument is Thomas Merton. Unfortunately, Mr. Rohr took one quote and ran with it in an unhealthy direction. Funny how a text can be misused, isn’t it?
(via emmtotheatt)
