2020 has been quite a year- I don’t think anyone would disagree. Learning to be comfortable with discomfort and extraordinary circumstances has just become part of our everyday lives. As we move towards a new year, we all seem to be reflecting on what parts of “normal” are worth returning to.
What’s “normal” for one person, however, is often overlooked by many. The social unrest of this year showed a light on the fact that, as a society, we have a lot of work to do.
Historically, Christianity, one of the dominating world religions, was a branch of Judaism, an offshoot when people around Galilee and Judea started following around a poor carpenter, a Jew, of no real importance or station in life, who began preaching about the way to have life in more abundance.
Although it’s unclear if Jesus of Nazareth actually meant to establish a new religion, but fast forward 2000 years and a church with as many flavors, colors, and textures as exist is present in all the variations of modern Christianity. So today, Christmas day, as I reflect on this year, it seems very appropriate to post this new episode of “Waiting in the Car” with special guests Dr. Michael McKeever and Dr. Robert Wallace, academic and pastoral theologians, and lives of dedication to the messages found in books of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.
Obviously a departure from our “norm”, but perhaps not; as we seek to dialogue about meaningful and relevant, and above all, interesting ideas, Mike and Robert help us dissect the value of “church” in today’s society and its meaningful contributions to the tumultuous and important aspects of how our we need to come to terms with our own past, our wounds, and those who have been wounded. As representatives of two different denominations of Christianity, both men discuss their commitment to their personal growth and their hope for the future during a time where many young people have decided the church isn’t a venue where genuine growth or societal change can take place.
So whether you’re a believer, a leaver, an atheist, or you choose no label at all, we think you’ll thoroughly enjoy the authentic, and sometimes silly and hilarious, dedication to the good of humankind and the belief that all people have hope for a life full of flourishing.
