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Progressive Christian

2020-03-23T11:42:44-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

STABILITY AND NEEDING TO STAY HOME

Last updated on: March 23, 2020 at 11:42 am By C. Don Jones

The New Testament writers understood the importance of social stability. The letters of Ss. Peter and Paul include requests for prayers for the leaders of the government to provide peace, security, and order. These prayers are not acts of patriotic support for the government or the empire. They are offered for good order to be preserved so that the church can experience peace. Essentially, the writings of the New Testament reflect a community living in exile. They followed the example... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

Community

Love as action

2020-03-20T04:35:31-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sufficiently Religious

Last updated on: March 20, 2020 at 4:35 am By C. Don Jones

Early in 1991, the telephone in the church parsonage rang. The senior minister answered the call. An agitated voice on the other end of the line asked the question. “Is this the end times?” Other ministers faced the same issue. Often the ministers knew the people that called them. Sometimes they had no idea who the person was. Many other times the minister would have a vague recollection of having met the person leaving the Sunday worship. The call was... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

Identity

2020-03-17T10:55:44-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hope Beyond Pestilence and Despair

Last updated on: March 17, 2020 at 10:55 am By C. Don Jones

I am tempted to despair in this time of global pandemic. I see a denial on the part of some for political reasons. The denials take the form of conspiracy theories about where the virus originated or who caused it. I could be equally disheartened by the desperation I see when hoarding begins and by the cynicism of price gouging. The despair appears as infectious as the COVID-19 virus that plagues the world. Isolation appears to be the rule of... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

2020-02-26T16:17:38-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why Ash Wednesday?

Last updated on: February 26, 2020 at 4:17 pm By C. Don Jones

Imposing ashes is one of the distinctive attributes of Western Christianity. It is the beginning of Lent – the Great Fast of Spring. Lent begins on Wednesday a traditional day of fasting for weekly practice. Friday is the other traditional fast day. Carnivale and Mardi Gras are celebrations before the fast begins. They are celebrations of being alive. Shrove Tuesday – the English version of Mardi Gras – is much more subdued. It is a time for giving thanks for... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

Spiritual development

2020-02-24T18:14:43-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The World of Cleverly Devised Myths

Last updated on: February 24, 2020 at 6:14 pm By C. Don Jones

Transfiguration Sunday has passed. St. Peter reminds us that the world is becoming new. The experience of the Apostles was real. Jesus was giving his disciples a preview of the glory of the Resurrection and the life it would bring. “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

2020-02-20T18:46:20-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What Makes A Pastor?

Last updated on: February 20, 2020 at 6:46 pm By C. Don Jones

What is a pastor? It is commonplace to define the words minister, pastor, evangelist, and preacher as labels for anyone who wishes to speak in the name of God. Unfortunately, doing this gives too vague a definition and makes the work done as a pastor as somehow marginal. I want to define the term in this column because many preachers and teachers wish to take that title on themselves without being responsible for the work the title implies. Evangelists often... Read more

Uncategorized

2020-02-10T19:12:54-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I DID NOT KNOW

Last updated on: February 10, 2020 at 7:12 pm By C. Don Jones

1 Comment

“I had no idea?” The statement above is one I have heard many times since I began the sobriety journey. It is usually said with a varied senses of amazement, pity, and sorrow. One friend in particular said, “I was with you every week for a year; and I had no clue.” It was not a surprise to me that he said it. We were in a clergy covenant group. We met to discuss the issues of our ministries and... Read more

Uncategorized

2020-01-27T21:08:51-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

St. James Church

Last updated on: January 27, 2020 at 9:08 pm By C. Don Jones

I find from time to time that I ask an old question. What kind of church would Ss. Peter or Paul recognize as reflecting the values of the Christian Church? Today I want to consider what sort of church St. James would recognize. James the Brother of Jesus was all the rage a few years ago. First, there was the St. James Ossuary. An Ossuary is stone burial box. One year after the death and entombment of a person in... Read more

Uncategorized

2020-01-22T18:18:17-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Strange Day for Remembering

Last updated on: January 22, 2020 at 6:18 pm By C. Don Jones

I opened my copy of Common Prayer this morning. The heading for this date concerns the Supreme Court decision in 1973 Roe v. Wade that ended restrictions on abortion up to the time when the fetus can survive outside of the mother. Honestly, if it had not been for that reminder I would have not even thought about the issue. My faith-practice does not revolve around the issue. I believe that with the exception of people who see abortion as the paramount... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

2020-01-16T21:51:49-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A CRISIS OF PAIN

Last updated on: January 16, 2020 at 9:51 pm By C. Don Jones

I was glad to hear my Annual Conference was offering grants to congregations to aid in fighting the opioid addiction crisis. I still am happy this is being done. Addiction has plagued communities, families, and congregations. Bad information has caused many congregations to misunderstand addiction. The misunderstandings have taken several forms. Here are a few Moral Failure. I was brought up among people who saw alcoholism and other addictions as moral failure or lack of self-control on the part of... Read more

Spiritual development

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