In Mark 14:32-42, we find Jesus in Gethsemane with some of his disciples. He takes a few (Peter, James, and John) a little way off from the rest and asks them to stay awake with him. Here is what it says: 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he we...

Consistent theology refers to a system of beliefs about, and postures toward, God that is as consistent as possible within itself. The more pieces you add to a system, the more complicated it becomes. The more complicated it becomes, the harder it is to keep it consistent. I talked about that in my other post, Consistent Theology , but I didn’t talk much there about why it’s difficult to have a consistent theology. To understand that, I think we have to talk about first premises. What Is a First Premise? A first premise is the beginning or starting point of a line of reasoning. Definitionally, that's a pretty easy concept. If I say, “bananas are good,” then I can build all kinds of logical arguments about bananas and believe all kinds of things about bananas and how they relate to me or fit into my lifestyle — arguments that are built off of this idea that bananas are good. This is the kind of approach that people use every day to reason about almost anything. Sometimes,...

I speak often, and perhaps I have written often, about consistency in theology. It is one of the most important things to me in my pursuit of God that what I choose to believe be consistent with itself. Any theology, philosophy, or posture that is unwilling to subject itself to cyclical and reciprocal examination for the sake of consistency is not worth having. What Is Theology? Theology is the study of God or gods, but it can also refer to a system of belief or understanding about God, which is how I use it here. A person’s theology is their personal understanding about God that informs how they live and what they choose to do. It’s possible that a community might have a shared theology, a system of beliefs or understandings about God that guides their communal lives, but I usually refer to those shared theologies as doctrines or postures. My experience is that as communal doctrines or postures are examined in the context of each person’s life, differences in understanding rev...

He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39, NRSV One can’t pursue the core of Christianity without considering this passage. The greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is one that held a central place in Israelite history, and Jesus confirms its importance for his disciples when he answers this question: what is the greatest commandment? But, the greatest commandment isn’t our topic. Jesus identifies the second greatest commandment (unsolicited): love your neighbor as yourself. He says this is like the first (love God). I don’t know how many times I’ve talked about loving your neighbor or heard others talk about it, but that isn’t our topic, either. Our topic is what surrounds that second commandment. It’s the part that gives us a frame of referen...

TapTheForwardAssist , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God....

A common practice at the turn of a new year is New Year’s Resolutions. A new year is such a prominent marker for the passage of time and for major life changes. In some ways, it can feel like the start of a new job or school year or a new home; it’s a chance to be different, to be new, to be whoever we want to be. We can actually ask ourselves, "Who do I want to be?" We can resolve, "I’m going to be better, to be more fit, to be more focused and organized…" We open ourselves to the world of possibilities. For many people, however, these questions about what we could be and how we could be "better" or different are just the face of a deeper voice. Too often, "being better" is the phrase we use when we feel we're not already good enough. Many New Year's Resolutions are motivated by dissatisfaction or by our beliefs that others expect more from us. I'm reminded of the rich man who went to Jesus in Luke 18. He asked Jesus, "Wha...

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Romans 15:7, NRSV Welcoming someone is more than just greeting them when they arrive. Welcoming someone is more than just saying they're allowed to be there. Welcoming someone is more than just smiling at them and not saying mean things or being passive aggressive. Welcoming someone is about making space for them. It's about carving out a place for them in our midst. This is one of the biggest challenges for human beings. We are notoriously tribal and territorial, and even when we desire to be welcoming, hospitality is not in our nature. If we follow the laws of nature, we would continue in tribalism and exclusion. If we would welcome people for the glory of God, we will have to work at it constantly.