Thanks, Jim. Yes, the statement is very weak. Could have been written in response to Hitler's invasion of Poland or indeed Putin's invasion of Ukraine. It's the same sort of statement that the German Lutheran church made in response to Hitler's actions. or that Patriarch Kirill made to passively give license to Putin's military actions. Slap on the wrist at best. China is smiling re it's plans to one day invade Taiwan. As Jim points out the church has been co-opted by domestic politics. Thus this is the best the church can do. Isaiah would be embarrassed. Calling it "pastoral" doesn't help.
I say this lovingly, Susan. You have no idea how smug, condescending and patronizing your blog will come off to many. Your Joshua/Caleb story analogy is, sadly, another example of "convenient" misuse of scripture. Amazing, our human capacity for rationalization.
Posted in: A Pastoral Statement on Venezuela, Justice, and Truth
Thanks, Jim. Yes, the statement is very weak. Could have been written in response to Hitler's invasion of Poland or indeed Putin's invasion of Ukraine. It's the same sort of statement that the German Lutheran church made in response to Hitler's actions. or that Patriarch Kirill made to passively give license to Putin's military actions. Slap on the wrist at best. China is smiling re it's plans to one day invade Taiwan. As Jim points out the church has been co-opted by domestic politics. Thus this is the best the church can do. Isaiah would be embarrassed. Calling it "pastoral" doesn't help.
Posted in: Whose Report Do You Believe?
I say this lovingly, Susan. You have no idea how smug, condescending and patronizing your blog will come off to many. Your Joshua/Caleb story analogy is, sadly, another example of "convenient" misuse of scripture. Amazing, our human capacity for rationalization.