Locs, Heels, and the Bible

Luke 3:1-6 Advent is a season of paradox. It can feel like a see-saw of waiting and arrival, promise and fulfillment. It invites us to sit in the tension between the “now” of God’s work in the world and the “not yet” of God’s ultimate restoration. Luke 3:1-6 captures this duality perfectly (as much as any of us knows anything of 'perfection'). In Luke 3:1-6, John the Baptist calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord, proclaiming both an immediate need for action and a vision of salvation that stretches far beyond the present. God knows that the present is a dam wreck. The “Now” of John the Baptist’s Context Luke doesn’t waste words setting the scene. He anchors John’s ministry within the oppressive structures of his time: Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and other rulers dominate the political landscape, symbolizing systems built on exploitation and violence. It is no accident that John does not emerge not from these centers of power. Instead, we see him emerging fr...

Election season in the U.S. feels like riding a rollercoaster you didn’t want to get on, and one that you can’t get off of. It is full of stomach-churning twists and turns. For immigrants, people of Color, and anyone who’s lived on the margins, the stakes feel sky-high. Politicians on every side tell us that if “the other guy” wins, life as we know it will collapse. And honestly, it’s hard not to feel that way sometimes. This is a country divided by ideologies that seem to tear at the heart of humanity. We hear terms like “freedom,” “patriotism,” “security,” and “justice” tossed around, used both as shields and swords. What weighs heavily on my heart, though, is the way these words often feel hollow. They're wielded to separate, to strike fear, and to reinforce stereotypes that reduce people to caricatures. It seems the whole political stage has turned into a big show, not unlike The Hunger Games, with everyone scrambling to save their own district, even if it means destroying ev...

Did you know that Post-traumatic Slave Syndrome is a condition that many people of Color   are afflicted with?   So, when we have dialogues around systemic racism, oppression, and historical trauma, we should not overlook Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS). The term draws parallels to the more widely recognized Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS), and treats the lasting effects of slavery on generations of African descendants. PTSS challenges the belief that slavery is a relic of the past, irrelevant to today's society, and was a teaching tool, by highlighting how the trauma endured by enslaved people continues to impact their descendants.  Many people react to the notion of PTSS with skepticism, and often dismiss it as an excuse for current societal issues or as a way to place blame on history, or as a way to continue to ignore the clear and present danger that is in front of them. These reactions, however, show varying levels of understanding and emotional enga...

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Summer Games is always a spectacle with its blend of cultures, histories, and artistic expressions from around the world. Yet, there always seem to be killjoy clowns lurking in the arena waiting to find something to b*tch, gripe, and sh*t themselves about. Some person or group will take great offense over cultural representations that don't align with everyone’s beliefs or values. This phenomenon (or is it?) which is visible in the recent ceremony, highlights the power of the lenses through which we view the world. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that our way of looking at things, our values, and our moral outlook are the "right" way, and every other ideals are "wrong." Take, for instance, the recent uproar over the artistic depiction that some claimed resembled the Christian Last Supper. The criticism suggested that it was disrespectful and offensive to their religious sentiments. However, such a view often overl...

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people." - Isaiah 10:1-2 What would a prophet like Isaiah say about the scammy health insurance system? I feel like the health insurance (and likely other types of insurance) companies would have heard from God. Well, God has not gone silent and still speaks through prophets. I draw on the ancient text to respond to what is certainly acts of oppression by health insurance companies.  Prophets still call out injustices and oppressive systems that marginalize and harm the vulnerable. Today, one of the clearest examples of such systemic injustice is the health insurance industry in the United States. The way these companies operate is nothing short of a scam, with far-reaching implications for individual health, economic stability, and societal well-being. High Cost with Limited Benefits Health insurance premiums in the Unit...

"Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!" - Isaiah 10:1-2 (NRSVA) "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people." - Isaiah 10:1-2 (NIV) Christian nationalism. What in the name of passports is this?? Let's talk. This old and resurging ideology is a potent and dangerous political and cultural framework that conflates faith with national identity, and suggests that the United States is inherently a Christian nation AND that American patriotism is synonymous with Christian devotion. This ungodly craziness is underpinned by the belief that the United States has a divine mandate to be a Christian nation.  The images and language associated with this ideology—such as...