At the heart of theologies that liberate is the belief that there is nothing inherently good about suffering. Suffering is not redemptive, salvation is. So we must eschew shitty soteriologies that place suffering at the center of Christ’s work.

Sadly, this Advent Card Talk is applicable every year...

“As a white person, I haven’t experienced bone-deep rage many times in my life, if ever. I have zero experience with grinding, tormenting, humiliating oppression. By praying this psalm, I came face to face with the tiniest glimpse of what it’s like to be oppressed, and the fury it deserves.”

Sometimes kings want to dance in the streets with their scepters hanging out. Sometimes you want to mourn the death of children through social media. We do not have to shit on other people’s joy or pain while processing our own legitimate emotions. There is room for both.

Schadenfreude:  "enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others." Sometimes God wants to kick your enemies in the face on your behalf.

As we ponder the new year we would like to make a simple biblical suggestion: "God is in control" is often an example of Christian fatalism: an anti-intellectual, un-spiritual, amoral cop-out. God may have work to do, but so do you. 

No matter the "winner," many of us will feel argghghhahrrrr! We submit ten cards from our Red Letter Deck with the wisdom Christ has for us in the midst of this election season. 

When everything seems— when everything is— completely and utterly broken, the righteous continue to love while just barely keeping their shit together.

There are 66 books in the (Protestant) Bible, but only about eight in the Good Christian's Choice Selections of Common Praise for Worship, Remembrance, and Joy Together in Song Book of the Faith . . .