Growing up, reading the book of Revelation was such a frightening task for me. The mark of the Beast? 666? I understood the concept of God’s judgment but so much of the imagery was wild. I wasn’t as familiar with this movie until high school, but the “Left-Behind” movies are probably what has shaped my understanding of this book the most.

Christian traditions have differed in the right way to interpret this book for centuries, but reading “Reading Revelation Responsibly” by Michael J. Gorman has given me a foot to stand on.

We can get so caught up in the…

Dr. Esau McCaulley (PhD, St. Andrews) is assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. His publications include Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance and numerous articles in outlets such as Christianity Today, The Witness, and The Washington Post.

Today, September 1st, is the release day for “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation As An Exercise in Hope”.

I greatly enjoyed reading this work by Dr. Esau McCaulley. It was the balm my soul needed. During a summer where news of…

After these last few publicized cases police brutality towards Black people, now more recently with Jacob Blake, I find myself thinking of families and communities that are bearing the pain, sorrow, and trauma years, maybe even decades after the event. Jacob Blake is fortunately alive at the time I am typing this, but so many have not been fortunate.

I think of those left behind: George Floyd’s nephew. Ahmaud Arbery’s best friend. Breonna Taylor’s lover. Michael Brown’s father.

There are further costs that are tormentingly endured by the family and loved ones well after the cameras and media dies down.

…

So imagine a community where everyone — across every conceivable human construct (ethnicity, gender, class, etc) — was invited to be a part of, as equal members?

Where there is such a solidarity that the burdens of one part of this community is carried by the rest of this community — even across geopolitical and national boundaries?

Where there was a willingness to suffer greatly even at deep personal cost for the well-being and flourishing of one another?

Where those who have wealth and properties regularly re-distribute these to those who have nothing?

Where the poor are lifted up and the rich are humbled?

Where members of this community practiced radical hospitality to strangers?

Where those who used to be committed to stealing and theft are now…

Lord God,

George Floyd. Ahmaud Arberry. Breonna Taylor. And So many other names. Though history may forget them, Lord you can never forget them and how their lives were ended.

Every single beautiful Black face, name, and life is known to you, the one who sees.

Our blood cries out to you:

How Long, O God? How Long? How long?

We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Our hearts are melting before the fire. Our knees are bending under the weight, and we can’t stand. Black men and women murdered by police. At Home. In the Park…

Frederick Douglass, a renowned Black abolitionist, writer, statesman, and literary genius, spoke about the “Christianity of This Land” and the “Christianity of Christ” in 1845 in his appendix to his autobiography :

“Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference — so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of…