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“Democratic Space” (excerpted from The Introduction) It was Martin Luther King Jr. who, in 1963, spoke to “the fierce urgency of now.” Now more than then, we need…
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Excerpt from “The Deep Down Things”
Since our young years of learning how to sense the bloom in a wine and how to cross the line just enough to get a good laugh out of a…
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“Ritual Acts”, an Excerpt from “Meaning in the Moment”
Ritual Acts Our bodies are not passive in rituals; they are active, and that increases the transforming power of rituals. In my sabbatical-ending ritual, I used physical things in a…
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Caught Up In The Rapture
By Joel SimpsonChristians have always talked about Christ returning. The earliest creeds of the church talk about Christ’s return. It’s also mentioned in some New Testament letters from people like the Apostle…
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A Word from the Holy Land: Global Immersion
Please watch this conversation with my friend Jer Swigart from Global Immersion — LIVE from Jerusalem. He has been working for peace in the Holy Land for years, and he…
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Excerpt from “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future”, by Robert P. Jones
On May 4, 1863, the steamboat Northerner pushed up the Mississippi River from St. Louis, bound for Fort Snelling, a military outpost north of St. Paul, Minnesota. Just a few…
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Brother Francis
St. Francis of Assisi died on October 3, 1226… So, this week Christians around the world celebrate his life. I wrote this little tribute. Brother Francis by Shane Claiborne Despite…
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St. Francis, Pray for Us
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published on the RLC blog on October 4, 2011. Today (October 4) Christians around the world celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi,…
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We’ve Missed the Point of the Gospel
By Tawnya LayneI like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. –Mahatma Gandhi I love the church. As a member of several different congregations…
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Christian Criminal Justice
By Matt MartensAs I’ve watched the national conversation concerning criminal justice play out among evangelicals in recent years, the focus has typically been either on the system’s inputs or on its output,…
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Everything is Political, oh my! Why Churches Should Build Better Capacity for Political Dialogue
A short anecdote from a podcast I was listening to recently keeps replaying in my mind: a man was walking with his friend and his friend said, “I’m hungry. I’d…
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Connecting With the Good News Generation
By Tom SineI have some bad news and some very good news for Red Letter Christians. Many of you likely already know the bad news, a growing number of those under 50,…
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An Excerpt from “Sacred Belonging”
By Kat ArmasWe got the news late one Sunday morning in mid-July that my father-in-law had died unexpectedly. The phone rang loudly that day. Not only did the noise startle my spouse,…
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A Tribute to Rich Mullins
By RLC EditorTwenty-six years ago today on September 19, 1997, this world lost a musical treasure when Rich Mullins was killed in a tragic accident en route to a benefit concert. He…
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Working on our Posture: Talking about God’s Mission with Shane Claiborne
By RLC EditorIn June 2023, Shane Claiborne paid a visit to Church Mission Society in Oxford UK for a lively conversation about mission with Naomi Steinberg. “I grew up with a version…
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Yesterday’s Jesus
For some Christians, what Jesus expects of his followers is negotiable though his words are written in red. Who these Christians expect Jesus to be is also hit or miss…
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The Fight Against the Execution of Anthony Sanchez in Oklahoma
By RLC EditorFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 13, 2023 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Red Letter Christians unequivocally stands against all executions. We have, and will continue to, stand with advocates on the frontlines abolishing…
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The Rationale for Christian Nationalism
The ideology of Christian nationalism has no connection to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul was extremely upset that the Galatians perverted the gospel of Christ into something contrary…
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Praying with the Street Church of Radical Forgiveness
Praying with the Street Church of Radical Forgiveness by Adam Bucko from his book Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide Each year when we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, I…
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48 Years Wrongfully Imprisoned, Glynn Simmons is now Free
By RLC EditorGlynn Simmons spent 48 years wrongfully imprisoned, the first few under sentence of death. Glynn is now free, undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer, and he needs our help. Here’s a…
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The Kingdom Is Yours
”The Kingdom Is Yours is a song for everyone who thought God left them when he was needed the most. The opposite is the most true. God shares his hope…
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Who Carries the Vision?
Editor’s Note: originally published on RLC blog on October 14, 2019. Around the moment when the hand of our historical clock was ticking from B.C. to A.D., Herod ruled Judea…
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Remembering We Can Fly
Video Produced by Art Hooker. Mixed and Mastered by Jay Kale. Co-produced by Lisa Sharon Harper and Andre Henry, performed by Andre and written by Lisa with Common Hymnal’s Phillip…
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s visit with Shane Claiborne in Philly
Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of getting to know Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his wife Caroline. As the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin…
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On global warming, yes, there is hope
By Thomas ReeseEditor’s Note: This piece originally appeared in Religion News Service. The good news is there are ways to reduce and eliminate the growth in global warming; the bad news is I am not…
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Global warming is here and it is getting worse
By Thomas ReeseEditor’s Note: This piece originally appeared in Religion News Service. We are like frogs in a pot of water being slowly cooked as the temperature rises. We don’t have the sense to get…
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The Intersection of Ableism and Christian Nationalism
According to Christians Against Christian Nationalism, Christian Nationalism is an ideology that “seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy.” The definition…
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Prophetic Peacemaking: Closing Plenary at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (Chicago 2023)
Transcript: Prophetic Peacemaking: Closing Plenary at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (Chicago 2023) By Shane Claiborne [The Parliament of the World’s Religions was founded in 1893 around a common…
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The World’s Religions Converge in Chicago
By Brian KaylorEditor’s Note: This piece was originally published on A Public Witness, Word and Way and is shared here with permission. “How did someone rooted and grounded in a Baptist version…
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Book Review of Erin Jean Warde’s, “Sober Spirituality”
Melanie Springer Mock Review of Erin Jean Warde, Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol (Brazos Press, 2023) In some ways, the ubiquity of mom-and-wine kitsch reflects the…
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Excerpt from “American Idolatry”
In the summer of 2021, the unmarked graves of hundreds of Indigenous children were uncovered near a Christian boarding school in Saskatchewan, Canada. The graves contained close to eight hundred…
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Where the Wind Blows
Last Easter Sunday we had to hold our service in the park. I remember listening to the sermon with my bare hands sinking into the grass whist birds chirped overhead.…
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My Favorite Part of Summer Break is There Are No School Shootings
By Liz DayeMy favorite part about summer break used to be beach trips with my kids, and lazy mornings baking in the kitchen. But right now, my favorite part about summer is…
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“Yehoshua the Rabbi”, An excerpt from “A God Named Josh”
By Jared Brock“Yehoshua the Rabbi”, An excerpt from A God Named Josh, chapter 4, pages 45-47 It is important to note that Yehoshua—Jesus’ given Hebrew name—was not a Christian, nor a pastor. Indeed,…
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Set Free
By Dean WrightIn 1933, a young pastor and a historian walked through the countryside of Germany, just beyond the city of Finkenwalde. They talked about the experiment this young radical pastor, Dietrich…
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An Excerpt from Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in the Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery
An Excerpt from Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in the Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery, by Caroline Beidler, MSW (Published here with permission.) One of the many things I love…
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Irrelevancy Attracts Irrelevancy
By Bill MeffordRecently, I attended a clergy meeting in order to invite faith leaders to be a part of a national campaign seeking to address the overdose crisis and to create harm…
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The Proud Boys Vandalized His Church … Rev. Bill Lamar Filed a Lawsuit
By RLC EditorShane Claiborne talks with Rev. Bill Lemar about the Proud Boys lawsuit. Great chat. Give it a listen!
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The Liberatory Nature of Religious Freedom
Lately the news has been filled with mentions of religious freedom, how it should be applied, and what, if any, limits it must observe. The Supreme Court recently ruled on…
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Wandering on Holy Ground
Midrash. This was the meandering Sunday morning discussion topic that began in the desert with Moses and ended with a collective witness to the justice work of feminism. Most hadn’t…
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Threshold
Day in and day out-for years-he came into our kitchen holding a can of soup, slowly opening it and then eating it directly out of the container, cold. At…
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I Miss Going To Church
I miss going to church. That might come as a surprise to those who have followed my 3-year journey out of church in general and pastoral ministry in particular. Perhaps…
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A New Story of Transformation
We live in a perilous time. Our world is in crisis. We worry that balloons flying over different countries could start World War Three. According to World Hunger Education Services,…
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Christian Leaders from Around the Country Reading FREDERICK DOUGLASS’ 1852 speech “WHAT TO THE SLAVE IS THE FOURTH OF JULY” (Read on July 3, 2021)
By RLC EditorEditor’s Note: originally published on RLC Blog on July 3, 2021. One-hundred and sixty-nine years ago today, abolitionist, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass gave a speech to the 600 members…
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Excerpt from “The Ballot and the Bible”
A city on a hill. These words have captivated Americans for generations. They encapsulate our sense of collective destiny, divine mission, and moral strength. They pack into one little phrase…
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“God so loved the World”
As we approach July 4, and as many churches around the country host “Celebrate America” services this Sunday… I offer this little reflection. Hope it’s meaningful. Feel free to use…
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Queer Joy of Belonging
By Jenn ZatopekOn the first weekend in June, my partner and I served communion at our friendly LGBTQIA+ church and my heart touched the marvelous love of God in our beloved community.…
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RAW Tools 44K Countdown
By RLC EditorSo far (as of 6/25/2023), 42,940 minutes of forging have been logged, and below are some images of just a few of the creations formed from the heartfelt efforts of…
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A Pride Month Lesson from Ted Lasso
By Jon MathieuThe hit show Ted Lasso recently concluded its third and final season on Apple TV+. I think the most valuable of the ambitious comedy’s accomplishments may be its image of…
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The Mind of Jesus
By Jon CanasAn extract from the essay of the same name from the recently published book, Religion, Politics, and Reclaiming the Soul of Christianity: A Spiritual Imperative for Our Time and Our…
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“God is Justice”, an excerpt from “All God’s Children”
Adapted from All God’s Children by Terence Lester Adapted from Chapter 3, “God is Justice” The word justice appears hundreds of times in the Bible. At its core, biblical justice…
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We May Not Have the Same Responsibility, But We Each Have an Opportunity to Work Towards Racial Justice
Last month, our nation remembered the terrible killing of George Floyd, who died in 2020 after former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on him and suffocated him to death. The murder was…
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Overcoming Shame
By Karen KeenShame is a common experience of marginalized people. Not surprisingly. It does a number on you when others look askance at what makes you different and pull away as a…
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A Psalm of Lament for Gun Violence in America
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published on May 4, 2023 on the Chasing Justice blog, A Psalm of Lament for Gun Violence in America A Psalm of Lament for…
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Loving: A Poem on Interracial Marriage in America
I grew up in the United States as a biracial (Asian/white) kid in a loving Thai-American family. It was not until my 30’s that I realized how recently my parents’…
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Statement on the Church of Uganda’s support for Anti-Homosexuality Act | The Archbishop of Canterbury
Recently Uganda has passed legislation known as “The Anti-Homosexuality Act,” that penalizes same sex relationships. It was already a crime to be gay in Uganda, but this new law extends…
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Searching for Jesus During Pride Month
In a season of sharp partisan division, much of it centered on sensationalized depictions of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender people and drag performers, June 1 marked the beginning of…
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Why Stay Christian: A Pride Month Pondering
For various reasons, it may come as a shock to you that a church would choose to spend a whole six-week series exploring the question Why Stay Christian. But for…
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An Oldie But a Goodie – Paying America’s Debt on the Backs of the Poor
By Bill MeffordWith talks over raising the debt ceiling at loggerheads, Republicans have turned to a long-time favorite practice of theirs: blaming the poor. One of their demands to pay the country’s…
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It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month
It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, so it’s time for Christians to turn off social media, ignore the news stories, and further entrench themselves in the beliefs they’ve been told. Or maybe…
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Gun Violence Prevention Month: The Work of RAWtools
By Mike MartinAccording to the Gun Violence Archive, over 44,000 people died by firearm in 2022. That’s 120 people per day. Gun Violence is now the leading cause of death for kids…
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RAWTOOLS Guns to Garden Tools Livestream Blacksmith Marathon
By RLC EditorRAWTOOLS NATIONAL 44K EVENT – MAY 31- JUNE 30 Guns to Garden Tools Livestream Blacksmith Marathon in Remembrance of Over 44,000 Individuals Lost to Gun Violence in 2022 Throughout Gun…
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INVITATION: Faithful America Sermon Drive Against Christian Nationalism
Preach and Pray to Confront Christian Nationalism Faithful America is organizing a sermon drive against Christian nationalism for next Sunday, June 11 — the week of Flag Day. We’re calling it “Preach…
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Enemy Love
Excerpt from Lancelot Schaubert’s, Least of these Least, published 2023. Used by permission. The gospel would be easier if it existed just for my buddies, but I’m not that kind…
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Why Christianity is on the Decline in America
Christianity has a problem. In America, the number of people who claim to be Christian has been rapidly declining over at least the past decade or so. At the same…
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It’s Time To Change the Abortion Debate in America
Editor’s Note: Reprinted by permission of NCR Publishing Company www.NCROnline.org Originally published: It’s time to change the abortion debate in America | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org) Photo: A pro-choice and an anti-abortion demonstrator confront…
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White Christian Nationalism isn’t Christian at All: Part 2
The rise of Cotton Mather, Puritan justice, and slavery. To many, July 4, 1776 is the official date of the creation of the United States of America. Colonists, though, had…
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White Christian Nationalism isn’t Christian at All: Part 1
White Christian Nationalism isn’t Christian at all. As we remember the events of January 6, 2021, I want to reflect on the deep story that informs white Christian nationalism and…
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Excerpt from “He Called Me Sister: A True Story of Finding Humanity on Death Row”
I hadn’t even realized that, although we had visited in various combinations at random times, we had not all four been there together for a while. He counted the minutes…
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On Mother’s Day: Faith leaders call to end gun violence
By RLC EditorEditor’s Note: This press release first appeared on Religion News Service on May 2, 2023. Over 550 faith leaders call for Mother’s Day to be declared a national day of…
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How Our Naivete Keeps Us From Doing Justice (and what to do about it)
For way too long, I went through life second-guessing people who told me about different types of mistreatment they experienced, witnessed, or heard about. I doubted that what they were…
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Excerpt from “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew”
By John BlakeExcerpted from MORE THAN I IMAGINED © 2023 by John Blake. Published by Convergent, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. No part of this…
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Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport!
Our nation has gone through a great deal since its founding. Particularly around the issue of racism. We started as a nation built on the backs of slaves stolen from…
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Introduction to Christianity & Critical Race Theory
Content taken from Christianity and Critical Race Theory | Baker Academic by Robert Chao Romero and Jeff M. Liou, ©2023. Used by permission of Baker Academic www.bakeracademic.com. I first came…
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Why the US Senate Needs to Affirm Equal Rights for All Citizens
Editor’s Note: Previously published on RNS on April 27, 2023. It is time to abolish the myth of ‘differently equal’ once and for all. (RNS) — “As pernicious as the…
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INHERIT YOUR CALLING TO JUSTICE
By Ross MurrayI held my fortieth birthday party at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Yes, the same Stonewall Inn where in 1969 a three-day riot—led by transgender women, drag queens,…
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Opening the Door to Women’s Ordination
Editor’s Note: Published on April 29, 2023 on WomensOrdination.org blog, The Table. Sitting behind the cantor podium in a candlelit chapel adorned with poinsettia and pine, I was first struck…
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What Does It Really Mean to Be Pro-Life?
Editor’s Note: Originally published on Stefan Weathers’ blog on April 6, 2023. With Women’s History Month ending last week and this week being Holy Week, the week leading up to…
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Why Do We Drink?
When I meet with a recovery coaching client for the first time, I ask for a brief history of their relationship with alcohol. I listen for the narratives inside a…
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Fault Lines in the Faith
By Sue FulmoreA small gap, poised to shift, turns deadly. A fault line holds the potential of an earthquake— a catastrophe waiting to happen. Life near a geological fault requires a suspension…
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Capitalizing on Panic
I saw a story in The Washington Post where a man named Kevin Thomas started making pop-up safe rooms for schools – kind of like the panic rooms that became a status symbol…
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60 Years Ago: MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail – A Reading
By RLC Editor60 years ago today, Dr. King wrote his letter from the Birmingham jail. It speaks to the moment we are living in right now. A few years ago @RedLetterXians faith…
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Recovering Rest, Recovering Humanity
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published on the Church Anew Blog on March 8, 2023. Republished here by permission. One summer in high school I painted barns with “Uncle Billy” Cook and…
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“TELL THE REST” an excerpt
Excerpt from Tell the Rest, by Lucy Jane Bledsoe In this excerpt from a much longer scene, Delia returns to the church and office of the pastor who’d sent her…
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“for small activism” & “for seeing color”
for small activism O You Who Plant Trees from Mustard Seeds, When my daughter becomes despairing over the state of the world —which she will— when she realizes that her…
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Struggles of Faith in the Journey of Peacemaking, Part 2
By Peggy GishPart II As we continued to work alongside many creative and courageous Iraqi human rights workers, we became more conscious about rooting out aspects of colonialist attitudes or patterns of…
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Struggles of Faith in the Journey of Peacemaking, Part 1
By Peggy GishPart I It was 5:35 in the morning, March 20, 2003—in Baghdad—when I woke to the sound of the first explosions. The dreaded war had begun. I had been in…
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Trump’s “Unholy” Week: Theology and Politics Take Center Stage
Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared on Diana Butler Bass’ blog, The Cottage on March 30, 2023 and is used here with permission. Donald Trump was indicted this afternoon. We…
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Crucifixion Complex
By Brian KaylorEditor’s Note: originally published at Word & Way, A Public Witness, by Brian Kaylor, President & Editor-in-Chief, Word & Way and is reprinted here with permission. Over the weekend, former…
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Palm Sunday Reflection
Here’s a little reflection on the subversive anti-imperial meaning of Palm Sunday. (originally posted to Facebook on March 28, 2021). https://www.facebook.com/ShaneClaiborne/videos/276427290741332
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Christ, Not Guns: A Reflection on the Nashville Shooting
It happened again. This time, 6 people were killed, three of them 9-year-old children. Gun violence has hit nearly every community in our country – from small towns like Hesston, KS to…
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Prison Profiteering and Princeton Theological Seminary
Prison profiteering is a serious justice issue occurring in the United States. Anywhere from commissary items, clothes, phone calls, and even housing has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. Incarcerated people and…
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The People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series: Herman Lindsey – The Forgotten
By RLC EditorThe People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series Death Penalty Action, in conjunction with Red Letter Christians and The Wonder Brothers, has been working for over a year to fund…
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The People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series: Ron McAndrew – The Warden
By RLC EditorThe People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series Death Penalty Action, in conjunction with Red Letter Christians and The Wonder Brothers, has been working for over a year to fund…
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The People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series: Derrick Jamison – The Innocent
By RLC EditorThe People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series Death Penalty Action, in conjunction with Red Letter Christians and The Wonder Brothers, has been working for over a year to fund…
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The People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series: SueZann Bosler – The Daughter
By RLC EditorThe People vs. The Death Penalty Film Series Death Penalty Action, in conjunction with Red Letter Christians and The Wonder Brothers, has been working for over a year to fund…
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The Malnourished
Excerpt from Lancelot Schaubert’s, Least of these Least, published 2023. Used by permission. St. Paul said if a man does not work he will not eat. Yet Jesus fed the…
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White Jesus, Black Stories
The following article is adapted from KTF Press’ new book, Faith Unleavened by Tamice Spencer-Helms. You may also listen to the podcast episode of Shake the Dust to hear Tamice…
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20-year Anniversary of the “Shock and Awe” Bombing
By RLC EditorShane Claiborne and Diana Oestreich in an impromptu and powerful revisiting of the events of the Iraqi bombing from 20 years ago. https://www.facebook.com/redletterchristians/videos/20-year-anniversary-of-the-shock-and-awe-bombing/770310827614867/
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Rest in Power: My Final Conversation with Arthur Brown, Jr. (Immediately Before His Execution)
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published by Jeff Hood at Patheos and is published here with permission. *This is my account of the final conversation I had with Arthur…
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“Let anyone who is without sin…” : On Serving as Arthur Brown Jr.’s Spiritual Advisor During his Execution
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published by Jeff Hood at Patheos and is published here with permission. I used to think that God was everywhere…but God don’t live in…