“The tongue is a fire”

Maybe it’s just because I’m an editor at a magazine, but I am often struck by the power of words. And so I was fascinated by our new essay by Brandon Ambrosino. He observes that Franklin Graham has been troubled by the president’s language (for its profanity) and notes that Jesus cares about Trump’s words too—but for very different reasons. Words create worlds, they make meaning, they lift up the downtrodden. They can also tear down and deal death; as the book of James warns, at times the tongue “sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire by hell” (3:6).

The immense influence of language is not unique to the Oval Office. Hojung Lee notes the hope-filled possibilities of the religious words in Octavia Butler’s Earthseed novels. Melissa Florer-Bixler writes about the media’s consistent bias against Palestinian people.

Our video of the week features one of this year’s new Voices columnists, Phil Christman. He chats with me about how good it is to have loud kids in church. Plus more great content below!

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You will know a tree by its salty fruit

“For these folks, the bad language is merely accidental; it doesn’t go to the heart of who Trump is. This would be news for Jesus, for whom language is an issue of the heart.”

by Brandon Ambrosino

The wisdom of Earthseed

“Octavia Butler imagined a future where America falls apart, but she also imagined a protagonist who helps to reconfigure the shattered pieces. Three of the principles of her imagined religion can be a compass for us now.”

by Hojung Lee

VIDEO: When unruly kids save church

Columnist Phil Christman chats with Jon about the value of unruly children as part of a church service.

In the Lectionary for April 17 (Maundy Thursday)

We need to find a way to wash each other’s feet, even when waging war feels better.

In the Lectionary for April 18 (Good Friday)

Good Friday is an annual reminder to ask who is crucified in our midst to distract from the crimes of those in power.

In the Lectionary for April 20 (Easter 1C)

As the women prepared the oil and spices, I think they must have told stories.

Maundy Thursday archives
Good Friday archives
Easter 1C archives

The US media is biased against Palestinians

“I invite you to know and remember, as an act of compassion and humanization, the names of Palestinians who suffer under Israel’s repression.”

by Melissa Florer-Bixler

Embracing mystery with David Lynch

“The original Twin Peaks series debuted on primetime television 35 years ago this week. I’ve devoted much of the last two years to studying David Lynch for various projects. As I fell in love with his vision of the world, I asked many questions. Chief among them: Why?”

by Christopher Thiessen