#nadia bolz-weber

[nerdygaymormon]

[theinwardlight]

I told them that this is a God who has always used imperfect people, that this is a God who walked among us and who ate with all the wrong people and kissed lepers. I told them that this is a God who rose from the dead and grilled fish on the beach with his friends and then ascended to heaven and is especially present to us in the most offensively ordinary things.

Nadia Bolz-Weber, Accidental Saints

[ceooftheshitshow]

[thepeacefulgarden]

[mmwm]

LINK FEST: 19 DECEMBER

Links that may or may not be related to gardens, food, travel, nature, or heterotopias and liminal spaces but probably are. Sources in parentheses. essay: 5 Teachings From The Japanese Wabi Sabi Philosophy That Can Drastically Improve Your Life (Omar itani). “Uketamo means acceptance to the core. The Yamabushi understood that the sooner you can accept all the good and bad things life throws at…

[coreglia]

Where Is The Life I Deeply Desire?

Oh Shit, I’m Standing In It “Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.” J.D. Salinger Truthfully, the life I most deeply desire might be the one I am living. It’s not perfect, and yet, I’m not trying to be aggrandizing or make some philosophical leap beyond my scope. It’s just that it appears that my life is a composite of all my previous decisions (good and bad) and a…

[iscariotapologist]

Nadia Bolz-Weber

[rainbowstainedglass]

Prayer by Nadia Bolz-Weber:

Dear God,

You’re gonna need to help out today.

If people in my life need some comfort and reassurance, it can’t really come from me today because I am in need of the same. I just can’t just blow sunshine up anyone’s ass today, Lord, so I ask that you send what they need, please.

If it is possible to remind us that millions of human beings throughout history have lived through worse political situations and still managed to make art, and find joy, and share meals and resist despair, could you do that for us please? And then keep guiding us toward their wisdom.

In fact, cover us all in a wisdom that is not available in memes, and hot takes.

And help us remember to drink some water today.

In other words, have mercy upon us.

[theridgebeyond]

guys, uh, i think i might like being lutheran

[philogyny08]

+

[nerdygaymormon]

Matthew 25:1-13 - Parable of the 10 Virgins

Something about this parable and how we teach it has always felt off to me. We tell this story as one of scarcity. We teach the story as though the bridegroom doesn’t have enough grace for all of us. 

That doesn’t fit with a Jesus who turned 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes into enough to feed 5000 people and even had leftovers. The gospel is one of abundance, there’s enough blessings for all.

My church often teaches that this is a story about the Last Days. We need to carefully work hard to squirrel away enough oil over our lifetime and guard it because we can’t share with others and they can’t share with us. Nobody can share their testimonies with us, we have to gather our own. If that’s the case, then why do we gather together to worship, why is the Sacrament a communal activity, why do we have a monthly testimony meeting at church?

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For a refresher, here’s the parable as relayed in the King James Version:

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

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I like the way that Nadia Bolz-Weber updates this parable to our modern day:

It feels like Jesus is saying the Kingdom of God is like a bad dream where I’m supposed to go pick someone important up from the airport like . . . Dolly Parton, but I forget to fill my gas tank and then I’m idling outside baggage claim for so long I doze off and then when Dolly Parton finally texts she’s almost there, my car starts beeping that it’s nearly out of gas but then I realize the dude in front of me has a gas can strapped in the back of his monster truck and I ask if he can help me out but he just points to the overpriced gas station outside the airport and in a panic I use the fumes in my tank to get there but then when I’m filling up my Subaru I see Dolly Parton drive off in the passenger side of the dude’s F150 and she doesn’t even return my wave -  like she doesn’t even know me. 

So stay alert. The kingdom of God is like that.

Nadia follows this with questions, what are we supposed to learn from this story:

That we should not rely on others? That we should not give to those who ask of us? I mean, that would be weird wouldn’t it, if Jesus just suddenly took back everything he said about generosity and self-giving and instead gave us a parable about how we should be stingy and self-reliant?

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Nadia provides an alternative interpretation to the story. The bridesmaids are foolish, not because they didn’t bring extra oil or because they fell asleep, but because they listened to the other bridesmaids. Some of the ‘wise’ bridesmaids said you can only greet the groom if you’ve already met your needs. Those foolish ones are made to feel ashamed. 

The foolish bridesmaids didn’t trust that the light of those around them could be enough to guide them. Light from a lamp doesn’t only shine for the person holding it. Others can see the light and can see the path being illuminated. Yes, if everyone had their own light then they could see better, but it doesn’t mean only those with the light can see and everyone else is blinded by darkness. 

If you had light and another didn’t, wouldn’t you offer to have them walk with you and let your light guide the way? And wouldn’t we want someone to do that for us if our light ran out?

The person who cried out that the bridegroom is coming, how did they know this? The bridegroom must have a lamp which could be seen from afar. The foolish ones didn’t trust that the light of Christ was enough. They didn’t believe the groom would offer to hold out his light where they could see it. 

In an effort to fix their situation, they missed the wedding banquet. Is the bridegroom calling them foolish because they listened to the other bridesmaids and doubted him and his goodness?

The bridegroom said “I know you not,” because they hadn’t come to him with their situation but rather wanted to be independent of him. Are we too busy trying to be self reliant that we don’t have time for Christ?

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The part of the parable that really cuts is when they are knocking on the door and the person inside says “I know you not.” Do we really think someone who is seeking Christ will be turned away? 

These aren’t people who can’t be bothered, they aren’t off engaged in other questionable activities. These are folks who show up and have a lamp FULL of oil, they’re where they are supposed to be because they are seeking the groom.

Someone shows up to church and is willing, is seeking, is following, and Christ is going to turn them away?

The focus is on what they are lacking. We all are lacking, is that what we should focus on, that we aren’t good enough for Christ, He won’t want to see us?

Maybe the parable is saying instead of trying to solve everything on their own, if the foolish bridesmaids approached the groom, he could’ve solved this, that he can meet our shortcomings.

They didn’t have faith that the bridegroom would let them in if they didn’t provide their own oil. They didn’t believe he would welcome them to the feast. Instead they believed the groom had no mercy or grace to offer them.

The way I’ve always heard this parable taught, we believe the assumptions presented by the bridesmaids without questioning if this is really what the groom requires.

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We are all sinners, we all fall short of perfection, none of us can save ourselves no matter how much “oil” we’ve gathered. In the parable, they all are awaiting the bridegroom with lamps full of oil and are looking for him. As they wait, all of the bridesmaids fell asleep. 

When the call came, they all responded to the call that the bridegroom is approaching by trimming their lamps, but they’ve waited so long for the groom that their lamps go out. 

I wonder if having our lamp go out is akin to when people face hard things in life and their faith falters, or to having some doubts. Everyone deals with hard things.

Those with extra oil refill their own lamps and tell the others that they won’t share and to go away and solve their own problems. In the LDS Church, we might use the phrase to go be “self reliant.”

When the ‘foolish’ bridesmaids show up to the banquet, the door is closed. The parable doesn’t indicate who closed it. It does not say that the bridegroom closed the door, locking everyone else out. It never is taught that the groom is keeping them away. In fact, the bridegroom wanted them to be part of the procession and to attend the banquet, they were invited guests.

Rather than a parable of hope in the ability of the Lord to save, I usually hear it presented as a fear-based warning that you better not be a ‘foolish’ one who wasn’t prepared and didn’t do enough. 

I think we are all foolish in the exact same way as the foolish ones in this parable. They fell for the belief that they were lesser and not wanted, and then they leave. The “wise ones” made the others feel this way. My experience is it’s other believers, other church goers, who act as gatekeepers and make us feel ashamed that we fall short.

It’s not included in this parable, but I think the promise that the first shall be last and the last shall be first should be a warning to the “wise ones.” How would they want to be treated if they were “last,” and they should start treating everyone that way because one day you may be last. 

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Why are Christians commanded to worship together? Why is community so important? Nobody can do this all on their own. We need to borrow oil. We need the light given by another’s lamp. If we only provide for ourselves, what is the point of building a community?

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My queer application is that I think most Christians would view queer believers as “foolish” and we need to go away and get ourselves fixed and in line with how they think we should be, only then are we welcome to come back. They think queer people won’t be invited to the great banquet of the Lord.

Do we listen to those who say Christ’s blessings aren’t enough and queer people will be excluded? Do we believe there’s no mansions awaiting us in heaven? Do we believe God made us queer and then rejects us for being queer? 

It is no wonder most queer people leave the church. It’s a place full of rejecting messages to queer people. The gospel is often not presented as good news but instead as a way to clobber queer people.

[genderkoolaid]

Everyone reading this post should go look into liberation theology right now

In general, I think it's currently really important for progressive Christians to be very loud about being both progressive and deeply religious Christians, and for everyone else fighting for progressive values to be supportive of them doing just that. I know that's like, idk, counter-intuitive or cringe or whatever, but seriously folks, the alternative is that progressive Christians have to be quiet about their faith to be accepted within broader secular and interfaith progressive advocacy, which means that the regressive asshole Christians (a) sound that much louder and (b) dominate the USian religious landscape all the more. That's a problem, for all of us.

We need people pushing back within the faith as well as outside of it, because that destroys any edifice that this is about Christianity and religious freedom.

You can be a devout Christian and also:

Openly, proudly, and without being forced to remain celibate or otherwise limit your full expression of self, identify as LGBTQ+ or be a supportive ally.

Advocate for full reproductive autonomy and comprehensive sex education.

Love and support people of other religious groups, non-religious people and/or atheists, by choosing to believe that a truly loving God would not pursue anything less than universal salvation.

Stand against evangelism and proselytizing as they have thus far been interpreted and used, because there are ways to interpret the Great Commission that don't promote colonialism and cultural genocide.

A steward of the earth, protecting God's beautiful creation and lovingly tending to it as the unique and incredible gift that it is.

A believer in science, rationalism, and human progress as part of God's divine plan for humanity.

A believer in history and someone who understands that the Bible can be both divinely given and open to interpretation (no really)(if you're confused, please talk to a knowledgeable traditional Jew)

An ally to Jews, who stands against supercessionism and antisemitism in the church.

And in before regressive Christians come shouting at me that (1) what do I know, I'm a Jew and (2) no lol you can't because of ___ reason:

My source is that I've personally met and talked to Christians of great faith and integrity - people who embody the closest forms of kindness I've seen to what Jesus himself advocated - who are each of these things.

It is 100% possible; you just choose to believe otherwise.

[ranger-kellyn]

actually the real reason i keep putting off a reread of come as you are is because i'm gonna have to reread through one of her beginning anecdotes again that is her recapping one of her opening lessons to her college students something like, "go home and take a mirror and really get a look at your own vagina. it's one thing to know where the clit is -- it's empowering to know where your clit is" and how apparently, students regularly tell her they ended up crying because it's the first time they've ever in their whole life (and these are like???? college age so 17+???? years old?????) actually looked at their own vaginas and like........i just get so angry at society at large i wanna black out just thinking about it

[closetcatholic]

how pernicious is it, given how beautifully we are designed, that for many of us, the church taught that you cannot trust your feelings, that pleasures are to be avoided

~ Nadia Bolz-Weber, “Are birds getting louder?” Substack newsletter