Category: Theological Animation

Breakin’ Down Messianism With Dr. Jim Perkinson

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Subverting Empire, Theological Animation2 Comments

messianismJim Perkinson is a long-time activist and educator from inner city Detroit, where he has a history of involvement in various community development initiatives and low-income housing projects. He holds a PhD in theology from the University of Chicago and is in demand as a speaker on a wide variety of topics (especially race, class & colonialism). He is also a recognized artist on the spoken-word poetry scene in the inner city. Many of his works are published. In this interview, we home in on his 2014 work Messianism Against Christology: Resistance Movements, Folk Arts and Empire.
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RD: What’s the difference between “messianism” and “christology?”

J-Perk: Messianism Against Christology: Resistance Movements, Folk Arts and Empire is a work committed to re-thinking the Christian tradition from the point of view of social movements rather than magnified individuals.   Jesus was a movement man—as were Moses and Elijah before him, and John the Baptist alongside him. “Messianism” is a word drafted into service as a movement term. Rather than focus on a great individual called “Jesus” comprehended as “the Christ,” the book examines his effort as part of a broader resistance initiative. The social movement launched by John was already in motion when Jesus first opts to begin public action. Continue reading “Breakin’ Down Messianism With Dr. Jim Perkinson” →

Challenging the Status Quo: Jesus Contests Scribal Authority

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Theological Animation4 Comments

Healing_of_the_demon-possessedBy Ched Myers, Fourth Sunday in Epiphany (Mk 1:21-28)

This is an ongoing occasional series of Ched’s brief comments on the Markan gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary during year B.

The first major narrative section of Mark’s gospel begins (1:16) and ends (4:36) by the shores of the Sea of Galilee. In it Mark paints a portrait of Jesus’ public ministry in and around the Galilean city of Capernaum. This series of episodes exhibits the three essential characteristics of Jesus’ mission: the healing and exorcism of marginalized people, the proclamation of God’s sovereignty and the call to discipleship. These practices result in escalating confrontations with the local authorities, culminating with open conflict in 3:1ff.
Continue reading “Challenging the Status Quo: Jesus Contests Scribal Authority” →

The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Theological Animation1 Comment

rest-and-recoveryBy Amy Epp, Associate Pastor for Christian Formation and Worship, Seattle Mennonite Church (you can read more of her writings here)

I have this knot in my shoulder.  It’s actually kind of dormant right now.  But when my shoulders start getting really tight, I know I’ve been working too much – or at least too much at my desk.  It’s the knot that tells me I’ve been carrying around the tension that is worry and stress and anxiety that comes from work.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who carries my work around in my body – ulcers have a kind of bad reputation for be the result of work-related stress.  Some people experience lower back strain.  Our bodies notice when we are working too much.
Continue reading “The Unforced Rhythms of Grace” →

“Let’s Catch Some Big Fish!” Jesus’ Call to Discipleship in a World of Injustice

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Theological Animation11 Comments

FishermenBy Ched Myers, Third Sunday in Epiphany (Mk 1:14-20)

This is an ongoing occasional series of Ched’s brief comments on the Markan gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary during year B.
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The Sea of Galilee is the ecological and social setting of the first half of the gospel of Mark. A large freshwater lake about seven miles wide and 13 miles long, its shore is dotted with villages connected with the local fishing industry, the most prosperous segment of Galilee’s economy. The lake (also called Sea of Genneseret, Lake Kinneret or Lake Tiberius) is fed by the Jordan River, which flows in from the north and out to the south. Some 209 meters below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. Due to this low-lying position in a rift valley, the sea is prone to sudden violent storms, as attested in the gospel stories.
Continue reading ““Let’s Catch Some Big Fish!” Jesus’ Call to Discipleship in a World of Injustice” →

Claiming his body as his Own

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Race, Theological AnimationLeave a comment

ww communionWritten by Lydia Wylie-Kellermann for a neighborhood Eucharist.

In a time when we are so mindful of the violence and racism done to black bodies and mindful of the privileges of our own bodies, we pause as a community to remember another body. One that was targeted and murdered by another violent system over 2000 years ago. Continue reading “Claiming his body as his Own” →

Baptized Into Our Bioregion

On By RadicalDiscipleshipIn Theological Animation, Watershed Discipleship2 Comments

the-Baptism-of-JesusBy Ched Myers of Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, hosting the Festival of Radical Discipleship in mid-February in Oak View, CA:

Yesterday, the First Sunday after Epiphany, was the Feast of Jesus’ Baptism. In the gospel reading, a particular preposition is used in refrain in Mark 1:9-12. Everyone else is baptized by John in the Jordan, but Jesus is baptized into the river (Gk, eis ton Iordanēn). Then that wild bird descends onto or into Jesus (eis auton). And right after this, Jesus journeys deep into the wilderness (eis tēn ‘eremon), on his “vision quest.”
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Questions From The Womb

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by tom airey
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And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:31-34

…the world hears the birth stories only to discount them as myth, or legend, or sheer fabrication, or alternatively it convulsively embraces them for what they are not–clubs with which to cow unbelief or bludgeon half-belief into full submission. One can only deplore this misuse, and hope for a rising generation better suited to receive the true value of the story Christians recall at Christmas.
James McClendon, Doctrine (1994)
Continue reading “Questions From The Womb” →