Who Stole My Bible: Reclaiming Scripture as a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny

Last updated on: November 3, 2020 at 12:45 pm By Clint Schnekloth

A Review: Because Scripture has been hijacked by religious, cultural, and political forces, we need books like this one that free it from its conscription as justification for oppression. Jennifer Butler is uniquely positioned to offer readers a primer on progressive Christian organizing, and I would have anticipated such a primer from her. That she instead reclaims Scripture, offering nine new entries into ancient texts, comes as a pleasant and welcome surprise. Let me start with a simple recommendation. If... Read more

Where Has Christian (or even American) Commitment To Sacrifice Gone?

Last updated on: October 26, 2020 at 9:08 pm By Clint Schnekloth

During the Second World War, Americans sacrificed in many ways. The United States rationed gasoline, sugar, butter, and other goods and diverted them for the war effort. Such sacrifice was considered patriotic, part of a unified war effort to combat fascism. Juxtapose this with the mentality of so many Americans today, whose basic response to calls for simple forms of sacrifice is: “I’m not going to wear no damn mask!” I wonder, where did the patriotic commitment to sacrifice go?... Read more

Constitutional Originalism, Biblical Fundamentalism, and Church Confessionalism: Amy Coney Barrett and Secularized Theological Concepts

Last updated on: October 19, 2020 at 9:22 am By Clint Schnekloth

Let’s start with church confessions. Not all churches look to the same thing for their organizing authority. Of course most Christian churches look to the Bible (and the Christ they encounter there) as the ultimate authority, but the way that is clarified varies by tradition. Might be the pope. Might be a prayer book. Might be the experience of the Holy Spirit. For Lutherans it is the confessional documents. Lutherans have had, ever since the 16th century, a closed set... Read more

“I Despise Your Festivals”: What Is Worship For?

Last updated on: October 12, 2020 at 12:54 pm By Clint Schnekloth

There’s a surprising turn in the beloved Psalm 51. The psalmist sings, “For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” A reader might then conclude, “God isn’t into all these sacrifices offered at the temple after all. God desires not sacrifice but repentance.” But then the psalm concludes: “Do... Read more

A Teaching Letter On Baptism In the Time of Coronavirus

Last updated on: October 5, 2020 at 2:27 pm By Clint Schnekloth

Christianity is sacramental. It is neither exclusively focused on words, as if it were solely a message detached from the bodily, nor is it completely embodied and physical, not needing words or explanation. In most Christian traditions influenced by Augustine, the sacraments have been defined most simply in this way: the promises of God connected to a physical sign. The number and type of sacraments have differed (marriage, ordination, anointing of the sick, and confirmation are Roman Catholic sacraments but... Read more

On Reading the Whole Hebrew Scriptures In Midlife

Last updated on: October 1, 2020 at 8:28 pm By Clint Schnekloth

Some Notes In Three Stages While Reading the Pentateuch, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim I. Early Notes For years now I’ve known the Hebrew Scriptures were organized in a different order from what Christians call the “Old Testament.” Basically, the first five books are the same in both, called the Torah or Pentateuch. Where things change are in the second section, what Hebrew Scripture calls Nevi’im. The prophets. Which starts Joshua-Judges-Samuel-Kings, then continues with three major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and then... Read more

Sanctuary: Being Christian In the Wake of Trump

Last updated on: September 21, 2020 at 2:52 pm By Clint Schnekloth

Full disclosure: a few summers back our family took a road trip with long stops in D.C. and Manhattan. We stayed in the vacant parsonage of a friend near the capitol, and then in Manhattan we slept on the floor of a room on the second floor of Heidi and Gregorio’s home/parsonage. In other words, I know the author of this book, Heidi Neumark, and it colors how I review it. I’ve slept in her home, watched the cat make... Read more

Qanon vs. Christianity

Last updated on: September 15, 2020 at 12:30 pm By Clint Schnekloth

“The matter is quite simple. The bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever... Read more

People of Faith, During COVID-19 Stay Focused on Workers Rights

Last updated on: September 3, 2020 at 7:58 pm By Clint Schnekloth

There is a spirituality of labor, and a definite approach to work that Christianity has upheld over the millennia. Labor Day weekend is a good time to reflect on this legacy. Bottom line: Christian faith sees dignity in work, and dignity in those who labor. It partners with God in defending justice for workers. As a child who came of age in the 80s, I remember what a huge labor and protest period it was. I know, this is another... Read more

Reviewing John J. Thatamanil’s Theology of Multiple Religious Participation

Last updated on: September 2, 2020 at 2:46 pm By Clint Schnekloth

It is one of the primary Christian virtues that teaches us to approach other religions hospitably rather than antagonistically. “If Christians are to exercise a virtue that lies at the core of Christian tradition–namely, hospitality–we must be prepared to receive as well as to give” (17). Multiple religious participation has often been characterized by theologians uncharitably as individualistic, just religious consumers choosing from a smorgasbord of options. But in reality, many multiple religious practitioners do so not out of hyper-individualism,... Read more