Trauma isn’t just something that happens to us directly; secondary trauma can also come from the heartache we carry for others. Understanding our trauma responses as we seek justice is essential as Christians. Meeting Jesus As We See Injustice Since putting together the Five Phases of Rising Up Guide I’ve paid a lot of attention to the way people respond to social issues and why. I’ve definitely noticed how trauma frameworks and personality contributes to the way we respond to... Read more
Once I found myself in a conversation with a friend about whether environmental justice was an extra-Biblical addition to Christianity. My friend made a good point–can’t things like recycling or advocating for environmentally friendly laws take our attention away from knowing God and making him known? Doesn’t it make us feel needless guilt when the earth will be destroyed and God will make a new one anyway? In some ways, I got her argument. But ultimately I didn’t agree. I... Read more
The first time someone told me they believed slavery was a Biblical precedent I was just beginning a career in the anti-trafficking movement, and we were watching the film Amazing Grace, which tells the story of William Wilberforce and the historical abolitionist movement. I was appalled—and immediately went into fight mode. Yet as this individual pointed out that slavery was even in the New Testament, referring to the Roman household codes, I began questioning myself. What if I was wrong?... Read more
A friend of mine, a federal employee, recently shared about how the government rollback of DEI policies in her team was going. The responses in the comments section were all over the place, representing how the Church is divided over this. Over the past few months we’ve been left hanging questioning how Christians should respond to DEI initiatives. Different Views on Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Policies (DEI) Politically conservative groups and many Republican evangelicals view Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies... Read more
I often get hung up on the phrase in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but I also know now that when the founding fathers wrote it, they didn’t exactly mean all of humankind. This equality was reserved for white, male, adult property owners. It is no wonder we approach the... Read more
StuckBeing a light in the world is a never-ending job. Mundane moments, hard times, overwhelming responsibility, the pressure of vocation, and trauma we encounter in life can easily push service-oriented Christians to burnout. Is there a way Christians living on mission can protect against burnout? Hello, Burnout For much of my life, I knew exactly what I wanted to do–I wanted to change the world! I ended up going into ministry and international missions. Later I studied social issues and... Read more
Throughout history, followers of Christ have wrestled with how we are supposed to interact with the systems of government that rule over us. When we can’t flourish, or don’t see others able to flourish under political regimes, we find ourselves asking how we are supposed to respond. Are Christians called to resistance? Recognizing a Need For Resistance I’m writing this on the first day of Black History Month, this year’s theme, African Americans and Labor. At the same time, I... Read more
We tend to think of privilege as relating to race or socioeconomic status. But there are other privileges we need to be aware of, specifically about our access to opportunities for friendship. Have you considered that it is even a privilege to break-off relationships? The Privilege To Break-Off Relationships After the 2024 election, I wrote the article Should Christians Let Politics Define Their Friendships? This is still just as relevant of a question the week of the inauguration as it... Read more
After 36 years of attending church every Sunday, I stopped going. At first I stopped going because of crisis. But it bothered me that I felt so guilty for not going, like I was letting the expectations of others down. And especially that I didn’t look like a church-goer. It unveiled my own religiosity. I began wondering if much of what I did as worship was actually performative. And even more importantly, I began asking what a life of worship,... Read more
During the Christmas season, Christians often focus on specific names for God. Whether we pray to Baby Jesus, write sermons on the Prince of Peace, or sing our invitations for Emmanuel to “ransom captive Israel,” there are a distinct few go-to names. But what about the King of Justice? As I’ve been reading the prophecies about Jesus as the coming Messiah this holiday season, I’ve been struck by how rarely we use Jehovah Tsidkenu as a name for God, let... Read more
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