Some people have recently said some things that lead me to think there is confusion about me and what I do so I want to take a minute to clear things up.

I lead a group of people who minister to and love the very poor and homeless. And as long as that is all I talk about, then most folks have no problem with me or my work. But when I talk about gay issues, or gender issues or imply the church ever did anything wrong, folk become very concerned. And tell me that if I stray off homeless issues, they won't support me. Or even be associated with me. In fact, some have actively tried to stop me. One guy called churches that I work with and told them I was a false prophet and heretic. (As we say in the South, "bless his heart".)

Let me be loud and clear about something. The same thing I see in Jesus that leads me to have concern and love for the very poor and homeless puts me squarely on the side of anyone who is on the margins.

Let me be even more clear:

I have only one desire, one mission, one calling. It is to reach out to those-

who are broken
who are hurting
who are marginalized
who feel forgotten
who are passed-over
who are weeping
who are unloved
who have been so hurt they are afraid to love
who have been told they are outside of God's love
who have been hurt in the name of God
who are not sure there is a god
who want to give up
who are so lonely they ache
who have only seen God used as a weapon
who have serious questions they are afraid to voice
who are afraid to hope anymore
who have been told their sexuality or gender separates them from God
who  have been been made to feel less than fully human -

and to tell those people that God is on their side.

Jesus called them the poor in spirit. And he called them blessed.

And said they get the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you have this God thing figured out, if you%u2019re convinced that you do all the right things that make your God happy, if you have no questions, no doubts, no fear %u2013 you aren't poor in spirit you are rich in spirit.

And Jesus doesn't have much of anything to say to you.

Sorry. I know that isn't what you wanted to hear.

But that is what I am here to say, and shout, and live out.

READ THE REST

This gets a big loud pentecostal holler from me.

Today, when religious institutions exclude women from their hierarchies and rituals, the inevitable implication is that females are inferior. The Elders are right that religious groups should stand up for a simple ethical principle: any person’s human rights should be sacred, and not depend on something as earthly as their genitals.

A great piece from Nicholas D. Kristof in the New York Times.

The Buddha resolved that dilemna by encouraging a space of "not knowing."  Cultivate "the faith to doubt."

You must doubt deeply, again and again, asking yourself who the subject of hearing could be.  Pay no attention to the various illusory thoughts and ideas that may occur to you.  Only doubt more and more deeply, gathering together in yourself all the strength that is in you, without aiming at anything or expecting anything in advance, without intending to be enlightened and without even intending not to intend to be enlightened; become like a child within yourself...--17th Century Zen master Taksui

Love this. Thanks Brittian

THE FAITH INSTINCT

How Religion Evolved and Why It Endures

By Nicholas Wade

310 pp. The Penguin Press. $25.95

In any case, Wade says, religion is not going away, because it’s imprinted on the human genome.

A version of this article appeared in print on December 27, 2009, on page BR16 of the New York edition.

Very interesting.

Are Baptists Softening on the Emerging Church?

November 18, 2009

in church, emergent

This one is:

Some critics see the emerging church movement as a heretical compromise with a pluralistic, truth-denying culture. Baptist history might offer an alternative explanation—ecclesiology is more defined by the practices of a Spirit-led community than by assent to the statements of a modern theological meta-narrative. Conversely, the emerging church movement may provide hope for reformation to Baptists ignorant of the difference between modern truths and Truth incarnate.

via The Baptist Standard :: The Newsmagazine of Texas Baptists – 2nd Opinion: Emerging church: Threat or ally?.

My comment on Tony's facebook:

good lord who isn't softening on the emerging church these days? pretty soon it's just going to be the pitiful rabid neocalvinists hunting down the heretics...then where will the world be. Woe to us all ;)

Interesting little column. I don't like much of Calvinism - new or otherwise...just sayin'.

But Andrew Jones has a more gracious and balanced perspective than I so I'll share with you his pov.

Two people who have played key roles in my evolving spiritual expression and experiences as a Christian are Miraslov Volf and this man - Samir Selmanovic. Religious people everywhere should hear his words with and open heart…and Samir doesn’t just talk about it, he lives it. Check out Faith House Manhattan for more info on his good work.