If It Is Antisemitic to Complain About Israel, then the Hebrew Prophets and Jesus Were All Antisemitic. ◦

Posted: May 13, 2024

IF it is antisemitic to complain about Israel, Bible writers were anti-Semitic.

0 comments

Jesus Named Wicked Ways (9 Examples) – See What Bothers Him About Us! ◦

Posted: August 24, 2023

Jesus named wicked ways … explicitly. That is, Jesus of Nazareth himself was explicit 1000 years after God said to Solomon that His people must “turn from your wicked ways”. Jesus was explicit 2000 years before we go on not caring what he said.

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Try Mainstream Churches – You Might Be Healthier, More Comfortable Here With The Rest of Us! ◦

Posted: August 14, 2023

[Mainstream churches – often called mainline – might be good for you. This is from a reader back in 2005. More true today. My 2023 notes are in brackets like this sentence.]

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Christofascism – It’s Real, It’s Deadly, And It Intends to Dominate Us All

Posted: July 30, 2023

The book “Confronting Christofascism,” makes this starkly clear:
“We are dealing with something far beyond the contents of the Christian Gospels.” (p4)

1 comment

Micah 6:8 – He Turns Us Toward a Beautiful Life After His Anger

Posted: July 15, 2023

Justice – Mercy – Humility, all REQUIRED by the Prophet Micah.
No excuses apply, of theology, creed, Bible interpretation, politics, economics, race, class, whatever.

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Was Social Justice Part of Jesus’ Message? Oh Yes. 4 Scriptures.

Posted: June 20, 2023

What does Jesus say about social justice? I’m not going to argue percentages here. Let’s just see some very clear things he said so we can deliberately choose to believe in him – or not.

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About PublicChristian

Posted: January 30, 2023

I’m very concerned about how the Gospel and Scripture are (mis)represented in popular culture, religious media, and the churches. It’s also a great concern how truth in general is misrepresented …

6 comments

Spiritual Tune-up. YOUR “HABIT and Cherished Thought.” (Gen J L Chamberlain)

Posted: January 20, 2019

The importance of habit was not only Chamberlain’s theory, you know, like we all say cliches about life. He lived it. This is from his explanation of why he was truly ready at a crucial moment during the Civil War’s Battle of Gettysburg.

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Speak Up! “Lift your voice; declare to my people their sins.” – Isaiah 58

Posted: November 22, 2017

God requires the prophet Isaiah to speak up about what he sees – what is clearly going on in the economy of his nation.

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If You Do Not Love Your Neighbor Whom You CAN See – Can You Love God?

Posted: February 20, 2017

The author of “1 John” makes a blunt and very logical analysis of our emotional attachments – or professed attachments – involving neighbors.

6 comments

Nonviolence. Turn the Other Cheek MEANS Resist Courageously, Non-Violently

Posted: October 18, 2016

Should Christians practice resistance, practice nonviolence? Is it ever appropriate for Christ-followers to resist people in authority? There is much in the behavior of prominent influencers, including politicians, that cries out for criticism and resistance.

49 comments

Jesus Emphasized Issues that Churches Avoid

Posted: July 16, 2008

The teaching of Jesus was obviously very practical and very this-worldly – so says John Howard Yoder.

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Christian Theocracy (Some Religious Group Runs the Government) – We’d Regret this Nightmare for Democracy.

Posted: September 21, 2006

I am a church person, a person of Christiain faith, but opposed to Christian theocracy (or any kind!). I don’t think we need rulers who rule as if they were God.

4 comments

Veterans ask: Support the Troops? “Ma’am, We ARE the Troops.” Put your money where your mouth is.

Posted: September 15, 2006

Veterans replied “Ma’am, we are the troops” to a woman during the Vietnam War who urged protesting Vietnam Vets to “support the troops.”

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Was Jesus Violent When He Harassed the Temple Money-Changers?

Posted: June 20, 2005

When considering “was Jesus violent?” one incident often comes up – the time when he overturned money-changers’ tables in the temple compound in Jerusalem.

18 comments

Cover for Evil: Machiavelli, Ledeen, Bush, and Jesus

Posted: April 27, 2005

A recent comment questioned a post I made about the morality of Machiavelli’s principles, as against what Jesus taught and practised. These are very basic issues of political morality.

5 comments

Wislawa Szymborska, poem: Cleaning Up The Mess(es)

Posted: April 23, 2005

This poet puts things so matter-of-factly, and sees so realistically. I see this applying to more than military activities – see after the poem.

2 comments

Why Many Christians Do Not Vote Republican

Posted: February 10, 2005

The problems remain. This was written 20 years ago!
We (and I) have learned some things since then. But Wow! The problems remain, and have grown; which means these things still need thinking and talking about. They need criticism.

33 comments

The Dangers of Christian Dominionism – the Christian Right’s Lust to Control You

Posted: January 8, 2005

[I do not know the author of this. See note at the bottom.]
The dangers of christian dominionism are not new, but let’s be familiar with what it stands for
to avoid being oppressed, or deceived by its heresy.

14 comments

Is Jesus a Republican? Is Jesus a Liberal?

Posted: August 14, 2004

As far as we know, Jesus never directly mentioned either homosexual behavior or abortion / infanticide. And we can be sure that’s not because he cared nothing for moral or social issues. He cared a great deal.

29 comments

Category - OffTheTop

OTT – Off The Top of My Head.
These posts don’t offer links to other sources or authorities. They are my considered thinking from decades of experience, trying to live Christian spirituality, and thinking and studying about Biblical teaching and how it applies in our own real world.

Category - OffTheTop

Please, We CAN Enjoy the Love and Joy We Have – That Itself Is a Major Act Against the Fascism.

Brief Thoughts on the Election. Dare We Still Love?

Maybe God IS Still Speaking, But Christians Don’t Want to Listen.