The Word As Resistance

Paul’s call for Christians to be reconciled with God implies structural change, not just interpersonal healing of division. In this episode, contributor Margaret Ernst claims that reparations are an essential part of the ministry of reconciliation called for by Paul in 2nd Corinthians.

A reflection on Luke 13: 1-9 from an anti-racist perspective. What is at stake when in our preaching and theological reflection we decide to engage current events, or not? When do we just need to take swift, clear action? When do we need to temper our passion with patience? The transcript for this and every episode may be found here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance....

What happens when we look honestly at our problematic ancestors? How do we think and talk about Abraham, recognizing that he founded a people who would colonize Canaanite land? Is there a way that we can redeem our ancestors and become the ancestors our descendants need us to be? And what does any of this have to do with the college admissions scandal that broke this week?

John Bergen looks at how we must shed our theology of imperialism this Lenten season. Transcript and resources for action can be found here: www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word…nce.html

Rev. Anne Dunlap offers an Ash Wednesday reflection and call to action that remind that we are made of the stuff of the earth, and that Ash Wednesday is the call to return to wholeness. Transcript and resources for action can be found here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

"White supremacy, is a violent distortion of memory. It is why I did not understand the connection between a whitewashed Jesus and the occupation of Palestine." Blyth Barnow takes on Luke 9:28-36 and tells a story about Mt Tabor, Transfiguration, and the occupation of Palestine. Check out the transcript here: www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word…nce.html

"Creativity is key...abusers, bosses, and colonizers are disturbingly creative, and so resistance must be creative, too." John Bergen takes on the challenging Luke 6 teaching, "Turn the Other Cheek," as a practice of defiance for asserting humanity and dignity in the face of violence and occupation. Check out the transcript here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

Podcaster Nichola Torbett recently discovered, much to her dismay, that she actually "trusts in the flesh" more than in God, and that white supremacy nearly guarantees that. What does this have to do with blessings, curses, beatitudes, and collective liberation? Listen in to find out!

The dominant history of what it has meant to be “fishers of men” has been laced with Christian Supremacy and colonialism. But what if instead we brought a fervor of evangelism to bringing white people into racial justice movement? In this episode, Margaret Ernst looks at how Luke 5:1-11 asks us to cast our nets deep and wide to catch our people for the work of liberation. Transcript with credits,...

A critique of Psalm 71 and making "emergency calls to God". Also, turning to the gospel reading from Luke 4, don't worry about being a badass. Organize instead.

"All the people means ALL the people." Rev. Anne Dunlap reflects on Nehemiah 8 (no really!)and Luke 4 as invitations to keep expanding our imaginations about what it means to be human, what it means to be free, and what "all the people" can really mean. Action link to support folks impacted by the government shutdown: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N7vhcF7syIOv7vR4EZ5w1G7NzdRm9SVRJ8pplu_x3qc/...

John Bergen explores strategies for building movements that welcome in differing gifts and strategies. Transcript with credits, copyright information, and links to more resources available on our website: www.showingupforracialjustice.org.

Join Nichola Torbett in exploring the unclaimed radical power of baptism. Transcript with credits, copyright information, and links to more resources available on our website: www.showingupforracialjustice.org.

This week's lectionary focuses on the Epiphany in Matthew 2. We explore and affirm "other ways of knowing" and imagine what it would mean to translate the politics of the body that surround the Epiphany into today's struggle for immigration justice, especially for children. From contributor Haven Herrin of Soulforce. The transcript may be found here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-wo...

Rev. Anne Dunlap's favorite Christmas carol asks "Shepherds, why this jubilee?" Rev. Anne reflects on the story of the angels announcing good news to the shepherds in Luke 2 and asks what "good news" might cause the shepherds to jubilee, and what that means for us as white folks in the 21st century. Transcript here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

"I can't think about the Magnificat this week without thinking about Jakelin." Rev. Anne Dunlap says that Mother Mary's revolutionary song, the "Magnificat," describes a world safe for children, including her own, and including children like Jakelin Caal Maquin, the 7 year old Maya Q'eqchi girl who died in US border patrol custody this month. Take action to investigate Jakelin's death here: http:/...

Rev. Will Green reads *against* the story of John the Baptist in Luke 3 to offer tools for white folks deepening our activism, and draws connections to immigration and the migrant caravan as well. Transcript is available here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

Can we find the courage to allow those things to collapse that must collapse in order for white supremacy and patriarchy to die? In this episode, Nichola Torbett explores what our apocalyptic Advent text for this week has to teach us about radical letting go. Find the transcript here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html The transcript with action links and referenc...

In this week's podcast, Rev. Anne Dunlap takes on the mash-up of "Christ the King" Sunday and the national "Thanksgiving" holiday that fall within days of each other. How do we as white Christians start to reckon with 2 traditions that have caused so much harm? The transcript with action links and references can be found here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

This week Haven Herrin reflects on how the stories of Hannah and her child Samuel might offer white people tools for dismantling white supremacy and white privilege. The transcript with action links can be found here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

Amidst the pain and grief of white supremacist attacks on Jewish people, black people, and trans and non-binary people, we are reminded that we still have the power of choice: To choose to resist, to welcome, to seek liberation. For all those murdered in the past two weeks, may their memories be a blessing. Transcripts with links to the actions can be found at: www.showingupforracialjustice.org/th...

Whiteness would have us avoid the situations, people and realities that the gospel calls us to engage. When there is conflict between whiteness and the call from God (as there always is), white people need to question and ultimately reject whiteness. This week's readings from Isaiah 53 and Mark 10 are good resources for such reflection. Also, BAIL EVERYONE OUT OF JAIL! Transcript available here: h...

How can we make good use of the deepening crisis in the United States as Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court? Can this actually serve God's love and justice? In this episode, Job joins Christine Blasey Ford and others undergoing unearned suffering to point the way. Transcripts with links to the actions can be found at: www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word…nce.html

Haven Herrin takes on the story of Job and makes connections to the violent legacy of columbus and how sexual violence is a tool of colonization. "Racial violence, sexual violence, and the violence of colonization are intrinsically bound." Transcripts with links to the actions can be found at: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/the-word-is-resistance.html

The week Rev. Anne Dunlap works through the story of Esther and how power is used for both domination and resistance. Vashti and Esther's powerful "NO" is a prophetic vision of a different world from the one they live in. They prompt us to ask ourselves, "what is our resistance for, anyway? For better access to domination? Or for building up a whole new world?" The transcript, with action links su...