Posts from the Blog of an (un)Tamed Cynic
My Easter Vigil sermon… Each of the four gospels found in our Bible tells the story of Jesus is a slightly different way. Each version of Jesus’ story represents the particular contexts, questions, and concerns of the individual gospel writers and the communities for whom they were writing. To fully appreciate these distinctive tellings of [...]
In 1937 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who publicly opposed the Nazis, published an influential book called The Cost of Discipleship. In it he famously contrasts cheap grace with costly grace. Cheap grace is that which demands nothing of those whom receive it. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without [...]
Throughout Lent, I read with interest Tony Jones’ posts on the atonement. I read his e-book, A Better Atonement, and watched his recent sermon at Baylor University Chapel. [A quick note, rather than a full review, of Tony's e-book. I'm intrigued by the way Tony is leading the charge toward electronic self-publishing. The e-book version [...]
Like so many times when we read the Bible, if we don’t pay attention to the original context of a particular passage, we miss the point or—even worse—read it in a way that is quite different from how it was intended. In the case of Holy Week, it is critical to understand the political, social, [...]
This is the sermon I preached today at our Fourth at Four jazz service. The scripture reading is Mark 8:31-38. “Journey” is a metaphor that is often used during the season of Lent. We journey with Jesus toward the cross. We journey with each other in the sacred rhythms of the liturgical season. We journey [...]
