Author Archive
Jeremy John
When a System Demands our Allegiance Away from Christ
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012
When I am faced with dishonesty and fraud on a systemic scale, I ask questions of God. But as I trace the origins of injustice, I am directed back towards humanity. The question becomes: what can we do to end injustice?
Recently, the Washington Post reported on the massive falsification of documents by banks:
“Employees at major banks who churned out fraudulent foreclosure documents, forged signatures, made up fake job titles and falsely notarized paperwork often did so at the behest of their superiors, according to a federal investigation released Tuesday.
…
‘I believe the reports we just released will leave the reader asking one question: How could so many people have participated in this misconduct?’ David Montoya, HUD inspector general, said in a statement. ‘The answer: simple greed.’”
Foreclosure Resistance, A Prayer
Sunday, February 26th, 2012
Oh Lord, save your servant who trusts in you. -Psalm 86
A prayer lifts up from the city, like the smoke of incense. A single prayer, in the myriad of others, a strand of smoke amidst a great burning.
Oh Lord, why do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? -Psalm 10
But God is listening. God hears the prayers of God’s people.
The question is, are we listening? For God, who hears the prayers of his people, is calling us to listen as well. God’s justice is a collective project.
The People’s Prayer Breakfast: An Alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
How does a Christian live in a power-mad world? A world that, from the perspective of the Beatitudes, is upside down. A world where the poor are getting poorer, and the rich are getting richer? Where nature herself strains at her bonds: straining for release from the carbon blanket that presses against her too hotly, maddened by a thousand poison-filled wounds? Where thousands sit in furtive silence to create machines like the one on which I write, their hands gradually succumbing to a thousand repetitions, frozen and swollen?
What does it mean to be a Christian in a world that is crucifying the poor and the environment on the same cross?
Hear the prayers of the people. Hear, oh God, the prayers of the people.
The Occupation of the Lord’s Prayer
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
The occupation is like Jesus’ parable, where a king invites all of his privileged, first-tier guests to the wedding. But nobody came. So the king takes the invitation out to the streets, inviting all who would come, the good, the bad, the homeless, and those with homes. And they came.
For it is written, God can make children of Abraham from the very stones of the earth. If the Christians will not occupy, God will make into his children the anarchist and the hippie, and whoever will answer his call.
The Lord’s Prayer calls us to participate in a movement confronting the dominance of Christ’s ancient foe, the love of profit above the needs of people, Mammon, in our own selves and in our government and economies.
Jesus, Forgiving Economic Debts and Personal Sins
Monday, November 14th, 2011
In the Lord’s prayer, our daily prayer, we pray, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
As we forgive our debtors.
Forgive us our debts.
In Aramaic, debt and sin are the same word, ḥōb.
So when Jesus tells a poor cripple to get up and walk, he tells him, “Your sins are forgiven,” he is using the Aramaic word, ḥōb, which could mean both things. In all likelihood, he’s not just forgiving a debt owed to God. He’s not just healing him of his illnesses. He’s forgiving his material debts, owed to other members of the community.
Occupy Wall Street, the Church, and the Apocalypse
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
How long have we been comfortable in the 1st world church? Nourishing ourselves on the warm broth of prayer and fellowship, resting and gathering strength, singing worship songs that seek an inward peace from God, a strengthened personal faith.
How much time do we spend on theologies seeking to eradicate lust, or to be more grateful for what we have? How long have we spent on our morning devotions, alone?
As another time understood, “Idle hands are the devils playthings.”
