They say “don’t meet your heroes,” but aside from some embarrassing fawning on my part, I’m glad I got to meet theologian Willie James Jennings. We were next to each other in the coffee line at the Festival of Homiletics in my home city of Pittsburgh, and I got the chance to tell him what a profound impact his work has had on my journey and the faith community I lead. All this to say, I’m thrilled to share that Jennings will be giving the Century’s annual lecture next month in Chicago. If you’re in the area, please consider joining us on Sept. 26!
For me, this upcoming event feels timely. I could use an infusion of Jennings’s theology right about now. We have some new essays this week that also speak to our times, articulating some of what is broken and pointing us in hopeful new directions. Mac Loftin uses European scholarship on far-right politicians’ uses of the Bible to make sense of rhetoric in the US. Peter Marty considers the power of a genuine apology and explores why they are so rare in today’s landscape.
Scroll down for even more new content. Our video of the week is a fun one: Screen Time columnist Kathryn Reklis chats with me about one of my favorite TV shows (The Pitt) and why it’s so good. Plus even more great content, including an essay about the struggles of gentle parenting and a reflection on the significance of woundedness.
Jon Mathieu Email me: Have you ever gotten to meet one of your heroes? Click to schedule a Friday lunch chat with Jon
Screen Time columnist Kathryn Reklis chats with Jon about one of his favorite shows. What is so good about the medical drama’s pacing, characters, and themes?
“Having a colostomy bag is something associated with ill and older—and therefore vulnerable—people. Yet the One Who Saves has a side wound, too. He carries it forever into the being of God.”
