Hero or Victim, But Never the Villain – January 31, 2021

/in /by

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

The next two biases look at the social-political dimensions of seeing: Confidence Bias: We mistake confidence for competence, and we are all vulnerable to the lies of confident people. Our brains prefer a confident lie to a hesitant truth. Conspiracy Bias: When we feel shame, we are vulnerable to stories that cast us as the victims of an evil conspiracy by some enemy “other.” Our brains like stories in which we’re either the hero or the victim . . . never the villain. The argument about meat/idols/worship in the Corknthian church shows what this can look like.

Seeing is Political – January 24, 2021

/in /by

 

Scripture: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10: Psalm 62:5-12

The next three biases look at the social-political dimensions of seeing: Conservative/Liberal bias: Conservatives and Liberals see the world differently. Liberals see through a “nurturing parent” window, and Conservatives see through a “strict father” window. Liberals value moral arguments based on justice and compassion; conservatives also place a high value on arguments based on purity, loyalty, authority, and tradition. Our brains like to see as our party sees, and we flock with those who see as we do. Consciousness bias: A person’s level of consciousness makes seeing some things possible and others impossible. Our brains see from a location. Competency bias: We are incompetent at knowing how incompetent or competent we are, so we may see less or more than we think. Our brains prefer to think of ourselves as above average. The story of Jonah helps us understand these biases; the psalmist grounds us in God.

 Seeing is a Social Act – January 17, 2021

/in /by

Scripture: John 1:43-51

The next three biases look at the social dimensions of seeing: Community bias: It is very hard to see something your group doesn’t want you to see. This is a form of social confirmation bias. Complementarity bias: If people are nice to you, you’ll be open to what they see and have to say. If they aren’t nice to you, you won’t. Contact bias: If you lack contact with someone, you won’t see what they see.. Weaving the story of Nathaniel under the fig tree with social biases helps us to see as Jesus sees.

We Didn’t Know – January 10, 2021

/in /by

Scripture: Acts 19:1-7

John the Baptist set the stage for change…and preached in the wilderness his message of repentance and life change. He baptized…but it was a precursor to baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is so much we don’t know about biases, systems, history…and opening ourselves up to new ways of seeing can bring tremendous freedom and release.

Why Can’t We See? – January 3, 2021

/in /by

Scripture: Matthew 2: 1-12

Two biases set the stage for all the others: Confirmation Bias: the human brain welcomes information that confirms what it already thinks and resists information that disturbs or contradicts what it already thinks. Complexity Bias: the human brain prefers a simple lie to a complex truth. We will look at how these two biases are in play at the experience of the Wise Men and King Herod.

Believe This: The Time has Come – December 27, 2021

/in /by

Scripture: “You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel.” “For Zion’s sake I won’t keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t sit still until her righteousness shines out like a light, and her salvation blazes like a torch.” (Luke 2: 31-32 and Isaiah 62: 1)

 The Good News that we have proclaimed for this Advent/Christmas season ends with a second chapter of Luke that starts, “When the time came…” Indeed, the time has come for us to move from the narrative of birthing to the narrative of restoration. The story of Jesus’ ritual cleansing as a child contains stories of people who had been waiting for this moment. But the time of waiting is over–for us too. Like Isaiah who says, “for Zion’s sake I won’t stay silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t sit still,” we will not stop our songs of resistance until justice shines out like a light for all.

I Believe in the Light: Illuminating Peace – December 20, 2020

/in /by

Scripture:“What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people.” (John 1:3-4)

“A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9: 6)

The “great light” prophesied by Isaiah in today’s text is echoed in the first strains of John’s Gospel good news: the light that brings peace–that saves the people from all that would extinguish it–has been there from the beginning. The Word is made flesh and dwells among us. This reign is now… will we believe it? Will we continue to put flesh on it, embodying the peace meant for all humanity?

I Believe in God: Ode to Joy – December 13, 2020

/in /by

Scripture:  “He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. I live on high, in holiness, and also with the crushed and the lowly, reviving the spirit of the lowly, reviving the heart of those who have been crushed.” (Luke 1: 52 and Isaiah 57: 15b)

Luke’s Gospel is an account in two acts, the biography of Jesus and the story of the consequences of his ministry in the development of the “Jesus community.” Especially for those who–whether Jew or Gentile–were deciding to become a part of this illegal movement and could garner punishment for their allegiance, the message of the uprising of the downcast, lowly, and oppressed is a welcome and inspirational account. Like the Jewish exiled people of Isaiah’s time, the promise of a reason for joyful praise is the good news they long to hear.

I Believe in Love: Daring Right Relationship – December 6, 2020

/in /by

Scripture:  “Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel (‘God with us’).” (Mathew 1: 23 and Isaiah 7: 14)

In both the Gospel of Matthew and Isaiah, a messenger appears as a sign from God, heralding a new era. In each passage, the words “do not be afraid” appear… offering a clue that the messenger–whether prophet or angel–was referencing something that induced fear in the recipient. A new way of being, relating and loving takes courage– eschewing the present order of things so that a new and better day can be born.

I Believe in the Sun: Hope for Tomorrow – November 29, 2020

/in /by

Scripture: “Prepare the way…”

“Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news.” “Raise your voice… raise it; don’t be afraid” (Mark 1: 1-15 and Isaiah 40: 1-11)

This Advent, we are looking to hear some comfort, some challenge and some good news. The prophet Isaiah and the four Gospel authors were writing in a time when people needed desperately to hear all of these as well. This first week, Isaiah and the gospel writer who published first–Mark–reassure the people that good news is beginning and yet they both say, “make yourself ready!” Raise your voices, change your hearts, get ready to be transformed, because now is the time. Have hope that we can do what needs to be done to bring more light into the world.