Wor(L)d

Karl Barth said (paraphrasing) to do theology, you need the paper in one hand and the Bible in another. For the church to be relevant I like to say we must be "In the Wor(L)d." As Christians we all "do" theology whether we acknowledge that is what we are doing or not. But as Christians it is important to be intentional about the theology we are doing in our daily lives. Theology at its basic core simply means "the study of God." As Christians we are called to put our "study of God" into practice in our everyday lives by responding to what is happening in our world through the lens of scripture. Theology is no more than putting our study of God into our present context. I encourage you to know what is happening in the world around you--locally and globally--and use what we read, sing and hear on Sunday and other days of the week at church in your everyday lives, so that all might see how you are living and responding to our world in faith and all may come to know the God we love and worship. Bishop Holston likes to remind us clergy, "You may be the only scripture someone reads." How are you living scripture as you relate to the people and events of and in this world?

When Forgiveness Isn't a Virtue (WSJ Oct. 27, 2012)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204840504578085792155134574.html?KEYWORDS=when+forgiveness+isn%27t+a+virtue

As Social Issues Drive Young From Church, Leaders Try to Keep Them (NPR Jan. 18, 2013)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/18/169646736/as-social-issues-drive-young-from-church-leaders-try-to-keep-them

The Bible: It's Just Not that into You http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/bible-not-into-you

Top 10 Reasons Our Kids Leave the Church (Feb. 8, 2013) http://marc5solas.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/top-10-reasons-our-kids-leave-church/