In Mark’s Gospel, the temple in Jerusalem becomes the object of God’s judgment.  The temple apparatus had become a system of oppression and exploitation rather than a means of blessing for God’s people and for the nations. Jesus wants his disciples to discern the temple’s true condition and Mark wants his readers to do the […]

*Originally given at Midtown Christian Community, Sept. 4, 2010 Mark 11 shows us some of the ways, patterns, and dynamics of the Kingdom of God.  It also reveals to us some of the ways that we end up missing what the King and the Kingdom are all about. Last week I quoted from U2’s The […]

O Ruler of the universe, Lord God, great deeds are they that you have done, surpassing human understanding. Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth. O King of all the ages, who can fail to do you homage, Lord, and sing the praises of your Name? For you only are the Holy One. All […]

A few days ago, Metta World Peace (it’s just so hard to write that and not laugh) of the Los Angeles Lakers hit James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the head with an elbow. He claimed afterward that it was accidental.  It was part of his celebration of the previous play, and Harden […]

A few days ago, I wrote that Christian people, evangelicals included, have developed the terribly unfortunate habit of misreading the Gospels. It goes beyond unintentionally cultivated habits.  I think that reading the Gospels for what they’re really saying threatens to upset and destabilize our church community dynamics that have become predictable and comfortable.  Contemporary Christians—evangelicals […]

In the church calendar, today is the Feast of St. Mark, the Gospel writer.  I’m not sure it’s appropriate to say, but Mark is currently my favorite Gospel. Mark 1:1-15 is the Gospel text for today, and below is the prayer. The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, […]

I agree with N. T. Wright that modern Christians tend to misread the Gospels.  I think there are many reasons for this and many ways in which it happens. One instance of it is how we miss that the story of Israel and the reality of the Kingdom of God are central for the Gospel […]

One of the concrete ways that Christians misread the Gospels is by reading them without reference to Israel’s story.  When we open the pages of the New Testament, we are not encountering a beginning.  The Gospels are part of another story that is already well on its way.  They claim to bring the story of Israel […]

*Given at Midtown Christian Community, May 2, 2010 Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your […]

There is much to say about N. T. Wright’s claim that evangelicals, among other Christian groups, misread the Gospels. It seems to me that one factor that fosters such a misreading is that the gospel as entrance formula orients evangelical culture and theology.  Evangelicals are all about personal conversion—that transaction whereby someone becomes a Christian […]