Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
More Annotations
A complete backup of iridiumbrowser.de
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of chernigiv-rada.gov.ua
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of nourishedmums.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
Favourite Annotations
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/turske-serije/male-tajne-2010/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/turske-serije/moja-draga-2011/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/preljubnik-epizoda-29/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/turske-serije/izgubljene-godine/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/jama-epizoda-128/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/marasli-epizoda-17/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/turske-serije/licem-u-lice-2017/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://balkanje.com/latino-serije/ljubavnici-2005/
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
Text
JOHN PAVLOVITZ
And that’s the sad truth here: the refusal of tens of millions of professed adults to be vaccinated despite the unthinkable death we’ve witnessed, is a symptom of a political movement that was so bereft of ideas, it needed to turn a pandemic into a war against theiropponents.
EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE March 11, 2021. March 11, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden REPUBLICANS CALL DECENCY "WOKE" BECAUSE THEY'RE INDECENT The politics of fear is nothing new. We’ve seen it throughout history. It’s a well-worn playbook. When you lack actual ideas, you need an enemy. When you have nothing redemptive to offer, you have to create a monster to push back against. When you are devoid of decency, you need to vilify it and somehow Continue Reading Republicans Call Decency “Woke” Because They’re Indecent NO, I WON'T AGREE TO DISAGREE ABOUT YOU SUPPORTING TRUMP To Whom It May Concern, We recently found ourselves in a now-familiar location: hopelessly stuck in an unnavigable impasse on our respective paths, unable to find a way forward. And, as in so many times before, when the friction became too great and the exchange too heated and the tension too uncomfortable, you dropped an Continue Reading No, I Won’t Agree To Disagree About 10 WAYS AMERICAN CHRISTIANS ARE COMPROMISING OUR OWN If this were a prize fight, organized Christianity wouldn’t quite be knocked out yet, but it would certainly be on the ropes and we’d be way behind on points coming to the bell. It’s no secret that people are leaving the Church in record numbers and although they may not all be rejecting Jesus, they are surely Continue Reading 10 Ways American Christians Are Compromising Our OwnJOHN PAVLOVITZ
And that’s the sad truth here: the refusal of tens of millions of professed adults to be vaccinated despite the unthinkable death we’ve witnessed, is a symptom of a political movement that was so bereft of ideas, it needed to turn a pandemic into a war against theiropponents.
HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE March 11, 2021. March 11, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden REPUBLICANS CALL DECENCY "WOKE" BECAUSE THEY'RE INDECENT The politics of fear is nothing new. We’ve seen it throughout history. It’s a well-worn playbook. When you lack actual ideas, you need an enemy. When you have nothing redemptive to offer, you have to create a monster to push back against. When you are devoid of decency, you need to vilify it and somehow Continue Reading Republicans Call Decency “Woke” Because They’re Indecent NO, I WON'T AGREE TO DISAGREE ABOUT YOU SUPPORTING TRUMP To Whom It May Concern, We recently found ourselves in a now-familiar location: hopelessly stuck in an unnavigable impasse on our respective paths, unable to find a way forward. And, as in so many times before, when the friction became too great and the exchange too heated and the tension too uncomfortable, you dropped an Continue Reading No, I Won’t Agree To Disagree About 10 WAYS AMERICAN CHRISTIANS ARE COMPROMISING OUR OWN If this were a prize fight, organized Christianity wouldn’t quite be knocked out yet, but it would certainly be on the ropes and we’d be way behind on points coming to the bell. It’s no secret that people are leaving the Church in record numbers and although they may not all be rejecting Jesus, they are surely Continue Reading 10 Ways American Christians Are Compromising Our Own IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. A REVOLUTION OF NOTHING History will record and quantify the events of January 6th, but it will tell a very different story than the one playing in the heads of the perpetrators and of their disgraced, emotionally bankrupt white messiah. This was an empty insurrection. It was a hollow treason. It was a meaningless rebellion. It was a deadly, costly nothingrevolution.
CHRISTIANITY ARCHIVES We all have stories we like to tell ourselves; narratives we create to frame the world around us. Those stories often help cushion the blows and soften the impact when things around us are too frightening, too disorienting, too difficult for our minds to deal with.GOD WRECKED AMERICA
Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP I’ve seen this movie before. It doesn’t end well. As a Christian for most of my life and a pastor for nearly three decades, I’m quite familiar with the story: supposedly faithful people fashioning an idol made of gold and cravenly bowing before it, in complete contempt for the God they claimed Continue Reading God Wrecked AmericaJOHN PAVLOVITZ
Stuff That Needs To Be Said. Image: nydailynews.com. It was early in 2016. The Republican politicians and the celebrity Evangelical preachers met with the devil in secret. IF GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE If God is really love, if that truly is the essence of the Divine, then God is for same-gender marriage, non-heteronormative marriages for the same reason God is for any loving, respectful union. If God is love, God is for a mutually-beneficial relationship between two adult people; where they each find connection, affection, and devotion in JOHN PAVLOVITZ THE MOURNING AFTER: GRIEVING SOMEONE WE LOVE THE MOURNING AFTER BY JOHN PAVLOVITZ 5 Acknowledging Our Grief Anniversaries I always struggle on sunny Saturday mornings. It was a brilliantly blue-skyed September Saturday four years ago, when I bounded down the stairs onON THE DAY I DIE
On the day I die a lot will happen. A lot will change. The world will be busy. On the day I die, all the important appointments I made will be left unattended. The many plans I had yet to complete will remain forever undone. The calendar that ruled so many of my days will now be irrelevant to me. All the material Continue Reading On the Day I Die THE PROBLEM WITH AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY ISN'T JESUS The people who have a problem with American Christianity, know that the problem with American Christianity isn’t Jesus—it’s that so many professed Christians in America simply refuse to listen to him. If they were to let the actual words of Jesus take root in the deepest recesses of their hearts, they’d transform a movement that has IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. This has always struck me as Continue Reading It’sJOHN PAVLOVITZ
And that’s the sad truth here: the refusal of tens of millions of professed adults to be vaccinated despite the unthinkable death we’ve witnessed, is a symptom of a political movement that was so bereft of ideas, it needed to turn a pandemic into a war against theiropponents.
EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well beyond it.. They chose not to bring comfort or rest or peace to the assailed, harassed, and helpless in LET MY PEOPLE VOTE: WHY VOTER SUPPRESSION IS UNBIBLICAL In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron demand Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites, they are reminding him that humanity was designed to be free; that every single human being was individually created with purpose and promise by God, to be masters of their own destiny and directors of their own path. God fiercely Continue Reading Let My People Vote: Why Voter Suppression is Unbiblical JOHN PAVLOVITZ THE MOURNING AFTER: GRIEVING SOMEONE WE LOVE THE MOURNING AFTER BY JOHN PAVLOVITZ 5 Acknowledging Our Grief Anniversaries I always struggle on sunny Saturday mornings. It was a brilliantly blue-skyed September Saturday four years ago, when I bounded down the stairs on WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden EVANGELICALS, IT WAS A SIN SUPPORTING HIM Evangelicals, It Was A Sin Supporting Him. December 20, 2019. January 14, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. Dear Evangelicals, It’s time. It’s time to admit that this was all a horrible mistake; that whether you were misled by a pastor or deceived by a politician, or lied to yourself, or were blinded by hatred for Barack Obama—or whether yousimply
IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters. For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain.JOHN PAVLOVITZ
And that’s the sad truth here: the refusal of tens of millions of professed adults to be vaccinated despite the unthinkable death we’ve witnessed, is a symptom of a political movement that was so bereft of ideas, it needed to turn a pandemic into a war against theiropponents.
EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well beyond it.. They chose not to bring comfort or rest or peace to the assailed, harassed, and helpless in LET MY PEOPLE VOTE: WHY VOTER SUPPRESSION IS UNBIBLICAL In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron demand Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites, they are reminding him that humanity was designed to be free; that every single human being was individually created with purpose and promise by God, to be masters of their own destiny and directors of their own path. God fiercely Continue Reading Let My People Vote: Why Voter Suppression is Unbiblical JOHN PAVLOVITZ THE MOURNING AFTER: GRIEVING SOMEONE WE LOVE THE MOURNING AFTER BY JOHN PAVLOVITZ 5 Acknowledging Our Grief Anniversaries I always struggle on sunny Saturday mornings. It was a brilliantly blue-skyed September Saturday four years ago, when I bounded down the stairs on WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden EVANGELICALS, IT WAS A SIN SUPPORTING HIM Evangelicals, It Was A Sin Supporting Him. December 20, 2019. January 14, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. Dear Evangelicals, It’s time. It’s time to admit that this was all a horrible mistake; that whether you were misled by a pastor or deceived by a politician, or lied to yourself, or were blinded by hatred for Barack Obama—or whether yousimply
IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters. For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well beyond it.. They chose not to bring comfort or rest or peace to the assailed, harassed, and helpless inJOHN PAVLOVITZ
Stuff That Needs To Be Said. Image: nydailynews.com. It was early in 2016. The Republican politicians and the celebrity Evangelical preachers met with the devil in secret. REPUBLICANS CALL DECENCY "WOKE" BECAUSE THEY'RE INDECENT The politics of fear is nothing new. We’ve seen it throughout history. It’s a well-worn playbook. When you lack actual ideas, you need an enemy. When you have nothing redemptive to offer, you have to create a monster to push back against. When you are devoid of decency, you need to vilify it and somehow Continue Reading Republicans Call Decency “Woke” Because They’re Indecent THE PROBLEM WITH AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY ISN'T JESUS The people who have a problem with American Christianity, know that the problem with American Christianity isn’t Jesus—it’s that so many professed Christians in America simply refuse to listen to him. If they were to let the actual words of Jesus take root in the deepest recesses of their hearts, they’d transform a movement that hasJOHN PAVLOVITZ
Words can do incredible damage, but sometimes they can’t hold a candle to silence. Often it is those words that have been withheld which leave the greatest scars upon us. It is in that terrible absence that we are dealt the harshest blow by those who claim to love us. NO, I WON'T AGREE TO DISAGREE ABOUT YOU SUPPORTING TRUMP To Whom It May Concern, We recently found ourselves in a now-familiar location: hopelessly stuck in an unnavigable impasse on our respective paths, unable to find a way forward. And, as in so many times before, when the friction became too great and the exchange too heated and the tension too uncomfortable, you dropped an Continue Reading No, I Won’t Agree To Disagree About THE GRIEVING NEED YOU MOST AFTER THE FUNERAL My father died suddenly while on vacation three years ago. The event rattled the bedrock of my life in ways that are difficult to describe, and taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned any other way. One of the truths I discovered, is that when you lose someone you love—people show up. Almost immediately they surround you Continue Reading The Grieving Need You Most After the Funeral IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. This has always struck me as Continue Reading It’s DEAR CHURCH, HERE'S WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING Dear Church, The Exodus has begun and it’s not going to stop. People are leaving you and they’re probably not coming back. I’ve been where you are and I know what’s happening within you right now. I know you’re panicking, scrambling to understand it all, trying to somehow stop the bleeding, to reverse the swift Continue Reading Dear Church, Here’s Why People Are LeavingJOHN PAVLOVITZ
I used to think I was a Christian.I’ve been a pastor in the local church for twenty-five years and a believer for most of my life. I’ve spent decades studying and teaching, working in the church, leading retreats and mission trips, caring for the needs of people, and working to emulate the Jesus I found in the Gospels. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE March 11, 2021. March 11, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well LET MY PEOPLE VOTE: WHY VOTER SUPPRESSION IS UNBIBLICAL In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron demand Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites, they are reminding him that humanity was designed to be free; that every single human being was individually created with purpose and promise by God, to be masters of their own destiny and directors of their own path. God fiercely Continue Reading Let My People Vote: Why Voter Suppression is Unbiblical WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden IF GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE If God is really love, if that truly is the essence of the Divine, then God is for same-gender marriage, non-heteronormative marriages for the same reason God is for any loving, respectful union. If God is love, God is for a mutually-beneficial relationship between two adult people; where they each find connection, affection, and devotion in IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. This has always struck me as Continue Reading It’sJOHN PAVLOVITZ
I used to think I was a Christian.I’ve been a pastor in the local church for twenty-five years and a believer for most of my life. I’ve spent decades studying and teaching, working in the church, leading retreats and mission trips, caring for the needs of people, and working to emulate the Jesus I found in the Gospels. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE March 11, 2021. March 11, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well LET MY PEOPLE VOTE: WHY VOTER SUPPRESSION IS UNBIBLICAL In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron demand Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites, they are reminding him that humanity was designed to be free; that every single human being was individually created with purpose and promise by God, to be masters of their own destiny and directors of their own path. God fiercely Continue Reading Let My People Vote: Why Voter Suppression is Unbiblical WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden IF GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE If God is really love, if that truly is the essence of the Divine, then God is for same-gender marriage, non-heteronormative marriages for the same reason God is for any loving, respectful union. If God is love, God is for a mutually-beneficial relationship between two adult people; where they each find connection, affection, and devotion in IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. This has always struck me as Continue Reading It’s I'M A CHRISTIAN PASTOR. EVANGELICALS HAVE TO BE DEFEATED I’ve been a pastor in the church for over two decades, much of that in predominantly white churches the American South. I’ve spent countless hours in church staff meetings and men’s Bible studies and youth pastor conferences. I’ve stayed connected on social media with thousands of people still there in those churches. I read what Continue Reading I’m a Christian Pastor I DON'T CARE ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP, I CARE ABOUT HUMANITY For months I’ve been hearing about pursuing a bipartisan America; about this nation needing to forge a new spirit of political collaboration if we ever hope to bridge the massive divides here. I’m tired of hearing that. We all know how we got here. We’ve all lived through the past five years. We saw the Continue Reading I Don’t Care About Bipartisanship, I Care About Humanity REPUBLICANS CALL DECENCY "WOKE" BECAUSE THEY'RE INDECENT The politics of fear is nothing new. We’ve seen it throughout history. It’s a well-worn playbook. When you lack actual ideas, you need an enemy. When you have nothing redemptive to offer, you have to create a monster to push back against. When you are devoid of decency, you need to vilify it and somehow Continue Reading Republicans Call Decency “Woke” Because They’re Indecent THE PROBLEM WITH AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY ISN'T JESUS The people who have a problem with American Christianity, know that the problem with American Christianity isn’t Jesus—it’s that so many professed Christians in America simply refuse to listen to him. If they were to let the actual words of Jesus take root in the deepest recesses of their hearts, they’d transform a movement that hasJOHN PAVLOVITZ
Words can do incredible damage, but sometimes they can’t hold a candle to silence. Often it is those words that have been withheld which leave the greatest scars upon us. It is in that terrible absence that we are dealt the harshest blow by those who claim to love us.JOHN PAVLOVITZ
Stuff That Needs To Be Said. Image: nydailynews.com. It was early in 2016. The Republican politicians and the celebrity Evangelical preachers met with the devil in secret.JOHN PAVLOVITZ
Stuff That Needs To Be Said. Thou shalt not steal. – God. Millions of people have lost their religion but they haven’t all given it upwillingly.
JOHN PAVLOVITZ
Let’s be honest here: our President is not a well man. To most objective observers this isn’t really up for debate anymore. His frenetic impulsiveness, his propensity toward violent outbursts, his elementary school vocabulary, his nonsensical Twitter rants, his allergic reaction to the truth, his public bullying of judges and FBIstaff.
RELIGION ARCHIVES
Fear can make you freeze. Worse than that, it can make you silent. The first time I questioned my theology (I mean really questioned it), I was flat-out terrified. Not terrified of God, per se (because I figured God being God and all, was more than big enough to handle my assorted queries), I was terrified of the people of God.. Like many Christians, I found myself within a spiritual community CHRISTIANITY ARCHIVES So, Christian Mom or Dad, your child has come out to you as LGBTQ. Whether this news comes completely out of the blue or whether you saw it coming for a while, it’s probably accompanied by a swirling flood of conflicting emotions and fears and questions.JOHN PAVLOVITZ
I used to think I was a Christian.I’ve been a pastor in the local church for twenty-five years and a believer for most of my life. I’ve spent decades studying and teaching, working in the church, leading retreats and mission trips, caring for the needs of people, and working to emulate the Jesus I found in the Gospels. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE March 11, 2021. March 11, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well LET MY PEOPLE VOTE: WHY VOTER SUPPRESSION IS UNBIBLICAL In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron demand Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites, they are reminding him that humanity was designed to be free; that every single human being was individually created with purpose and promise by God, to be masters of their own destiny and directors of their own path. God fiercely Continue Reading Let My People Vote: Why Voter Suppression is Unbiblical WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden IF GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE If God is really love, if that truly is the essence of the Divine, then God is for same-gender marriage, non-heteronormative marriages for the same reason God is for any loving, respectful union. If God is love, God is for a mutually-beneficial relationship between two adult people; where they each find connection, affection, and devotion in IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. This has always struck me as Continue Reading It’sJOHN PAVLOVITZ
I used to think I was a Christian.I’ve been a pastor in the local church for twenty-five years and a believer for most of my life. I’ve spent decades studying and teaching, working in the church, leading retreats and mission trips, caring for the needs of people, and working to emulate the Jesus I found in the Gospels. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE Yesterday, someone said to me, “Will you please say something about the violence happening right now between Israel and Palestine?” “At least tell people what side you’re on” she added. I hesitated for a moment. I knew she was asking me to speak into something so sprawling and complicated and layered with time and history, Continue Reading Here’s What I Know About Israel EVANGELICALS DON'T HATE CANCEL CULTURE, THEY INVENTED IT Evangelicals Don’t Hate Cancel Culture, They Invented it. Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture;” claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct, or for the policies or politicians they support—that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical proportions. IF GOD IS LOVE, DON’T BE A JERK If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk calls us to create a more just and equitable world, one that affirms the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands.”. “John Pavlovitz is an artisan of words. He’s a poet and a provocateur. THE COFFEE YOU WON'T GET TO DRINK (A REFLECTION ON DYING) Seven years ago my parents went on a cruise to celebrate my father’s 70th birthday. My family and I happened to call them just as they were sailing away. We could hear the ship’s booming horn blasting out as we quickly wished dad a happy birthday and them a wonderful trip and told them to Continue Reading The Coffee You Won’t Get to Drink (A Reflection On Dying) THE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD NOT HELP PEOPLE March 11, 2021. March 11, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. They would not help people. Not one of them. They all voted no on giving aid to Americans during the single greatest health crisis of our lifetimes: one that has taken the lives of over a half a million Americans and left millions more at the precipice of poverty and homelessness—or well LET MY PEOPLE VOTE: WHY VOTER SUPPRESSION IS UNBIBLICAL In the book of Exodus, when Moses and Aaron demand Pharaoh’s release of the Israelites, they are reminding him that humanity was designed to be free; that every single human being was individually created with purpose and promise by God, to be masters of their own destiny and directors of their own path. God fiercely Continue Reading Let My People Vote: Why Voter Suppression is Unbiblical WHY I'M NEVER PUTTING A JOE BIDEN FLAG ON MY TRUCK I was talking to a coworker today. (OK, well, technically I was arguing with an anonymous Twitter troll—but hey, work is work, right?) As Patriot45FreedomGuy launched a fierce barrage of 280-character word salad salvos at me about how disgraceful the Democrats are and what a hero Donald Trump is, he declared himself a proud member Continue Reading Why I’m Never Putting a Joe Biden IF GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE If God is really love, if that truly is the essence of the Divine, then God is for same-gender marriage, non-heteronormative marriages for the same reason God is for any loving, respectful union. If God is love, God is for a mutually-beneficial relationship between two adult people; where they each find connection, affection, and devotion in IT'S TRUMP'S PRIVILEGE, NOT HIS MENTAL ILLNESS THAT Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Reuters For years, people have been talking about Donald Trump’s “mental state,” throwing around the term mental illness as a lazy catch-all for his erratic behavior, inexhaustible cruelty, and inexplicable recklessness. In the wake of the election, a growing choir has assembled singing the same refrain. This has always struck me as Continue Reading It’s I'M A CHRISTIAN PASTOR. EVANGELICALS HAVE TO BE DEFEATED I’ve been a pastor in the church for over two decades, much of that in predominantly white churches the American South. I’ve spent countless hours in church staff meetings and men’s Bible studies and youth pastor conferences. I’ve stayed connected on social media with thousands of people still there in those churches. I read what Continue Reading I’m a Christian Pastor I DON'T CARE ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP, I CARE ABOUT HUMANITY For months I’ve been hearing about pursuing a bipartisan America; about this nation needing to forge a new spirit of political collaboration if we ever hope to bridge the massive divides here. I’m tired of hearing that. We all know how we got here. We’ve all lived through the past five years. We saw the Continue Reading I Don’t Care About Bipartisanship, I Care About Humanity IT'S COURAGEOUS TO BE IN THE CLOSET, TOO As an affirming student pastor, I have been given a profound gift. For decades, hundreds of people (many of them in their teens and early twenties) have entrusted me with a truth they often felt they could not reveal anywhere else: the revelation of their identity and the orientation of their hearts. It has been Continue Reading It’s Courageous to Be in the Closet, Too REPUBLICANS CALL DECENCY "WOKE" BECAUSE THEY'RE INDECENT The politics of fear is nothing new. We’ve seen it throughout history. It’s a well-worn playbook. When you lack actual ideas, you need an enemy. When you have nothing redemptive to offer, you have to create a monster to push back against. When you are devoid of decency, you need to vilify it and somehow Continue Reading Republicans Call Decency “Woke” Because They’re Indecent A REVOLUTION OF NOTHING History will record and quantify the events of January 6th, but it will tell a very different story than the one playing in the heads of the perpetrators and of their disgraced, emotionally bankrupt white messiah. This was an empty insurrection. It was a hollow treason. It was a meaningless rebellion. It was a deadly, costly nothingrevolution.
REPUBLICAN CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY Republican Crimes Against Humanity. December 17, 2020. February 2, 2021. / John Pavlovitz. It’s easy to feel like we lost this entire year but that’s not exactly true. We aren’t merely a victim of this insidious virus, either. That perspective makes the collective tragedy we have experienced inevitable, but it was not.RELIGION ARCHIVES
‘Tis the season to claim persecution Our yearly Christian obsession with the supposed “War on Christmas” began early this season, with the viral video of the Starbucks red cup rant by self-proclaimed car seat prophet Joshua Feuerstein and the ensuing social media sideshowthat followed.
WHY GOD MAY WANT YOU TO LEAVE YOUR MARRIAGE One of the true blessings of the work I do, is getting to help people carry the burdens of life with them for a little while; to hear their real, unvarnished stories even when those stories are heartbreaking to share. A few months ago a woman named Sarah emailed me asking if I might have time to speak with Continue Reading Why God May Want You toLeave Your Marriage
JOHN PAVLOVITZ
Stuff That Needs To Be Said. Thou shalt not steal. – God. Millions of people have lost their religion but they haven’t all given it upwillingly.
JOHN PAVLOVITZ
Let’s be honest here: our President is not a well man. To most objective observers this isn’t really up for debate anymore. His frenetic impulsiveness, his propensity toward violent outbursts, his elementary school vocabulary, his nonsensical Twitter rants, his allergic reaction to the truth, his public bullying of judges and FBIstaff.
Cookie Policy
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on ourwebsite. Learn More
DeclineAllow cookiesJOHN PAVLOVITZ
STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE SAIDMENU
Skip to content
* Home
* Books
* Low: An Honest Advent Devotional * Hope and Other Super Powers* A Bigger Table
* Speaking
* Shop
* Email Sign Up
* Give
* About
* Contact
Search
Search for:
WE CAN BE OUR BEST RIGHT NOW, AMERICA March 13, 2020March 13, 2020/ John Pavlovitz
Growing up Christian, I remember reading about Jesus saying to his students and to those who would follow him in the ways of compassion and mercy and love and justice,“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”I thought about that yesterday as I watched a middle-aged woman with a shopping cart piled to overflowing with toilet paper, unwilling to give a single roll to another mom who was literally pleading with her for it. I won’t assume the woman with the massive, teetering bathroom tissue stockpile was a professed follower of Jesus, but I imagine many supposed people of faith in America are similarly losing their religion right now. Millions of human beings, who a couple of weeks ago were rolling their eyes and crying “hoax,” are presently body-checking strangers for wet wipes and searching for Purell on the dark web. Lots of self-identified Jesus followers are finding their faith stretched to its limits, as they have to put their money where their behinds are.It’s one thing to stand in a building on a Sunday when all feels well with your soul, and say you believe in loving your neighbor as yourself—and another completely when you’re in the middle of a crowded, panic-stricken big box store aisle and your neighbor doesn’t want to their kids to have to wipe themselves with leaves and cocktail napkins. That’s when the real you shows up. That’s when Jesus takes the wheel or leaves the building.Fear is helpful. It’s clarifying. It’s illuminating. Whether we claim a religious worldview at all—fear burns up what we say we believe and reveals what we actually believe: about protection and sustenance and security and generosity and abundance and community. Fear shouts our convictions with bullhorn force, and people see us as we really are; all the pretense falls and the veneers crumble and the costumes dissolve.Fear, the unprecedented, scalding, paralyzing kind that we’ve all been immersed in the past few days is also a beautiful invitation: to step into the swirling chaos and be the best kind of human we’re capable of being, the people we aspire to be, the nation the songs declare we are, the America we imagine in our heads.We need to be these people, this nation, that America now more than ever.When scarcity makes selfishness rise up, we can rise above it with generosity. When separation feels safer, we can lean harder into community. When conspiracy and untruth come to stoke the fires of panic, we can bring the cool water of fact and truth. When our knee-jerk response is to hoard for our own, we can remember that we are in this together; that we are our brother’s keeper, that we all belong to one another. When people around us are battered by the turbulence of uncertainty, we can steady them with our quiet, sober presence. If we pay attention, terrifying crises can remind us of our commonalities; of the fears and worries that assail all of us, regardless of the buffers we have or try to put in place; fears of not having enough or losing everything or dying alone.Days like these can remind us of our oneness—that we are a single, interdependent community that transcends national border, political affiliation, religious tradition, sexual orientation, nation of origin, or any delineation we see or create between people.I hope the woman with the overflowing shopping cart found enough compassion to give two rolls of her ninety-six to her neighbor in need—because the act will have helped both of them. It will have lessened the burden for the stranger, and it will have allowed her to remember that better self she has access to—that we all have access to.These are untenable, terrifying, fearful times, and though they likely won’t destroy us, they will surely define us: in grocery store aisles and our neighborhoods and online and in our living rooms.Who do you want to be in these moments?See, give, help, share, love, and live the answer.Let’s make humanity go viral. Share this:FacebookTwitterPinterest4RedditPrintEmailLike this:LikeLoading...">
GROWING UP CHRISTIAN, I REMEMBER READING ABOUT JESUS SAYING TO HIS STUDENTS AND TO THOSE WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM IN THE WAYS OF COMPASSION AND MERCY AND LOVE AND JUSTICE, “ANYONE WHO HAS TWO SHIRTS SHOULD SHARE WITH THE ONE WHO HAS NONE, AND ANYONE WHO HAS FOOD SHOULD DO THE SAME.” I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY AS I WATCHED A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN WITH A SHOPPING CART PILED TO OVERFLOWING WITH TOILET PAPER, UNWILLING TO GIVE A SINGLE ROLL TO ANOTHER MOM WHO WAS LITERALLY PLEADING WITH HER FOR IT. I WON’T ASSUME THE WOMAN WITH THE MASSIVE, TEETERING BATHROOM TISSUE STOCKPILE WAS A PROFESSED FOLLOWER OF JESUS, BUT I IMAGINE MANY SUPPOSED PEOPLE OF FAITH IN AMERICA ARE SIMILARLY LOSING THEIR RELIGION RIGHT NOW. MILLIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS, WHO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WERE ROLLING THEIR EYES AND CRYING “HOAX,” ARE PRESENTLY BODY-CHECKING STRANGERS FOR WET WIPES AND SEARCHING FOR PURELL ON THE DARK WEB. LOTS OF SELF-IDENTIFIED JESUS FOLLOWERS ARE FINDING THEIR FAITH STRETCHED TO ITS LIMITS, AS THEY HAVE TO PUT THEIR MONEY WHERETHEIR BEHINDS ARE.
IT’S ONE THING TO STAND IN A BUILDING ON A SUNDAY WHEN ALL FEELS WELL WITH YOUR SOUL, AND SAY YOU BELIEVE IN LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF—AND ANOTHER COMPLETELY WHEN YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROWDED, PANIC-STRICKEN BIG BOX STORE AISLE AND YOUR NEIGHBOR DOESN’T WANT TO THEIR KIDS TO HAVE TO WIPE THEMSELVES WITH LEAVES AND COCKTAIL NAPKINS. THAT’S WHEN THE REAL YOU SHOWS UP. THAT’S WHEN JESUS TAKES THE WHEEL OR LEAVES THE BUILDING.FEAR IS HELPFUL.
IT’S CLARIFYING.
IT’S ILLUMINATING. WHETHER WE CLAIM A RELIGIOUS WORLDVIEW AT ALL—FEAR BURNS UP WHAT WE _SAY_ WE BELIEVE AND REVEALS WHAT WE _ACTUALLY_ BELIEVE: ABOUT PROTECTION AND SUSTENANCE AND SECURITY AND GENEROSITY AND ABUNDANCEAND COMMUNITY.
FEAR SHOUTS OUR CONVICTIONS WITH BULLHORN FORCE, AND PEOPLE SEE US AS WE REALLY ARE; ALL THE PRETENSE FALLS AND THE VENEERS CRUMBLE AND THECOSTUMES DISSOLVE.
FEAR, THE UNPRECEDENTED, SCALDING, PARALYZING KIND THAT WE’VE ALL BEEN IMMERSED IN THE PAST FEW DAYS IS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL INVITATION: TO STEP INTO THE SWIRLING CHAOS AND BE THE BEST KIND OF HUMAN WE’RE CAPABLE OF BEING, THE PEOPLE WE ASPIRE TO BE, THE NATION THE SONGS DECLARE WE ARE, THE AMERICA WE IMAGINE IN OUR HEADS. WE NEED TO BE THESE PEOPLE, THIS NATION, THAT AMERICA NOW MORE THANEVER.
WHEN SCARCITY MAKES SELFISHNESS RISE UP, WE CAN RISE ABOVE IT WITHGENEROSITY.
WHEN SEPARATION FEELS SAFER, WE CAN LEAN HARDER INTO COMMUNITY. WHEN CONSPIRACY AND UNTRUTH COME TO STOKE THE FIRES OF PANIC, WE CAN BRING THE COOL WATER OF FACT AND TRUTH. WHEN OUR KNEE-JERK RESPONSE IS TO HOARD FOR _OUR OWN_, WE CAN REMEMBER THAT WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER; THAT WE ARE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER, THAT WE ALL BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER. WHEN PEOPLE AROUND US ARE BATTERED BY THE TURBULENCE OF UNCERTAINTY, WE CAN STEADY THEM WITH OUR QUIET, SOBER PRESENCE. IF WE PAY ATTENTION, TERRIFYING CRISES CAN REMIND US OF OUR COMMONALITIES; OF THE FEARS AND WORRIES THAT ASSAIL ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF THE BUFFERS WE HAVE OR TRY TO PUT IN PLACE; FEARS OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH OR LOSING EVERYTHING OR DYING ALONE. DAYS LIKE THESE CAN REMIND US OF OUR ONENESS—THAT WE ARE A SINGLE, INTERDEPENDENT COMMUNITY THAT TRANSCENDS NATIONAL BORDER, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, RELIGIOUS TRADITION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, NATION OF ORIGIN, OR ANY DELINEATION WE SEE OR CREATE BETWEEN PEOPLE. I HOPE THE WOMAN WITH THE OVERFLOWING SHOPPING CART FOUND ENOUGH COMPASSION TO GIVE TWO ROLLS OF HER NINETY-SIX TO HER NEIGHBOR IN NEED—BECAUSE THE ACT WILL HAVE HELPED BOTH OF THEM. IT WILL HAVE LESSENED THE BURDEN FOR THE STRANGER, AND IT WILL HAVE ALLOWED HER TO REMEMBER THAT BETTER SELF SHE HAS ACCESS TO—THAT WE ALL HAVE ACCESSTO.
THESE ARE UNTENABLE, TERRIFYING, FEARFUL TIMES, AND THOUGH THEY LIKELY WON’T DESTROY US, THEY WILL SURELY DEFINE US: IN GROCERY STORE AISLES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ONLINE AND IN OUR LIVING ROOMS. WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THESE MOMENTS? SEE, GIVE, HELP, SHARE, LOVE, AND LIVE THE ANSWER. LET’S MAKE HUMANITY GO VIRAL.SHARE THIS:
* Pinterest4
*
LIKE THIS:
Like Loading...
THE BILL FOR MAGA IS DUE March 12, 2020March 13, 2020/
John Pavlovitz
The bill for MAGA has come due, Trump supporters.It’s time to pay up.The deferred invoice for you selling your souls is here.It’s time to pay for every incendiary campaign boast you cheered, every factless diatribe you vigorously applauded, every nonsensical middle-of-the-night tweet you boosted, every dehumanizing stereotype and slur you shared, every callous and cruel rally insult you passionately amen-ed. Its time to pay for every denial of Scientific evidence, every terminated qualified conscientious objector, every attack on factual, responsible journalism, every vicious assault on objective reality, every star-spangled dog-and-pony show distraction, every lazy xenophobic caricature, every tired racist tirade.This is how your beloved capitalism works isn’t it: someone was always going to pay for services rendered? Nothing is free, isn’t that what you’ve been saying—no handouts? Well, dig deep friend because you are on the hook for this.Many people have been footing the bill for a long time: migrants and Muslims and transgender people, young black men, refugees, the sick and the poor, already vulnerable communities pushed all the way to the brink—and now past it.You were paying too of course, you were just too willfully ignorant or intellectually negligent to realize it. Over and over we tried to tell you about the cost: the civil rights you were sacrificing too, the environmental protections you were losing as well as we were, the safety and security you were relinquishing alongside us. We tried to tell you that this hardship was not a partisan expense, that his moral bankruptcy would eventually hit you hard too.But your Fox News bubble and your white Evangelical echo chamber and your America First, Don’t Tread on Me, middle-finger affinity clubs left you certain you were insulated from it all; that the only tears that would fall would be liberal ones, that the only people suffering voted for Hillary, that all of the pain would be isolated to people who vote Blue. You felt immune from the spreading sickness. You felt invincible, because your messiah told you that you were winning and that was enough for you. He was lying to you as he always does, but you preferred to believe the lie because it felt warm running through your veins even as it was poisoning you—the intoxicating, cheap high of making America great while owning the Libs. That was a costly drug, that arrogance—and you were slowly going broke in your addiction.Now, in the middle of a burgeoning pandemic and a precipitous market crash and a hopelessly fractured nation, the bill is coming due. You can’t avoid paying anymore. You’re here with us. I think even you realize that now. This President didn’t create this virus, but he ignored it, denied it, minimized it, joked about it, weaponized it, politicized it, exacerbated it.He systematically removed qualified people and replaced them with genuflecting, sycophantic traitors—or with no one at all.He generated a steady stream of partisan attacks and conspiracy theories and abject lies created in the moment, and the kind of “I am smarter than anyone in the room” sermonizing that cult leaders bellow all the way to the terrible and tragic end.He is culpable for the chaos and the unnecessary illness, and yes the preventable deaths because of it—and you are too.This is the human cost of the MAGA cult delusion, and we’re all paying for it now equally, however we voted.Pandemics don’t choose sides or spare voting blocks or respect affiliations.He will pay for it in November and in the unflattering, incorruptible light of History.I hope whatever you received was worth it.I hope you still feel like you’re winning. Share this:FacebookTwitterPinterest11RedditPrintEmailLike this:Like Loading..."> THE BILL FOR MAGA HAS COME DUE, TRUMP SUPPORTERS. IT’S TIME TO PAY UP. THE DEFERRED INVOICE FOR YOU SELLING YOUR SOULS IS HERE. IT’S TIME TO PAY FOR EVERY INCENDIARY CAMPAIGN BOAST YOU CHEERED, EVERY FACTLESS DIATRIBE YOU VIGOROUSLY APPLAUDED, EVERY NONSENSICAL MIDDLE-OF-THE-NIGHT TWEET YOU BOOSTED, EVERY DEHUMANIZING STEREOTYPE AND SLUR YOU SHARED, EVERY CALLOUS AND CRUEL RALLY INSULT YOU PASSIONATELY AMEN-ED. ITS TIME TO PAY FOR EVERY DENIAL OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, EVERY TERMINATED QUALIFIED CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR, EVERY ATTACK ON FACTUAL, RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM, EVERY VICIOUS ASSAULT ON OBJECTIVE REALITY, EVERY STAR-SPANGLED DOG-AND-PONY SHOW DISTRACTION, EVERY LAZY XENOPHOBIC CARICATURE, EVERY TIRED RACIST TIRADE. THIS IS HOW YOUR BELOVED CAPITALISM WORKS ISN’T IT: SOMEONE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO PAY FOR SERVICES RENDERED? NOTHING IS FREE, ISN’T THAT WHAT YOU’VE BEEN SAYING—NO HANDOUTS? WELL, DIG DEEP FRIEND BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE HOOK FOR THIS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOOTING THE BILL FOR A LONG TIME: MIGRANTS AND MUSLIMS AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, YOUNG BLACK MEN, REFUGEES, THE SICK AND THE POOR, ALREADY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE BRINK—AND NOW PAST IT. YOU WERE PAYING TOO OF COURSE, YOU WERE JUST TOO WILLFULLY IGNORANT OR INTELLECTUALLY NEGLIGENT TO REALIZE IT. OVER AND OVER WE TRIED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE COST: THE CIVIL RIGHTS YOU WERE SACRIFICING TOO, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS YOU WERE LOSING AS WELL AS WE WERE, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY YOU WERE RELINQUISHING ALONGSIDE US. WE TRIED TO TELL YOU THAT THIS HARDSHIP WAS NOT A PARTISAN EXPENSE, THAT HIS MORAL BANKRUPTCY WOULD EVENTUALLY HIT YOU HARD TOO. BUT YOUR FOX NEWS BUBBLE AND YOUR WHITE EVANGELICAL ECHO CHAMBER AND YOUR AMERICA FIRST, DON’T TREAD ON ME, MIDDLE-FINGER AFFINITY CLUBS LEFT YOU CERTAIN YOU WERE INSULATED FROM IT ALL; THAT THE ONLY TEARS THAT WOULD FALL WOULD BE LIBERAL ONES, THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE SUFFERING VOTED FOR HILLARY, THAT ALL OF THE PAIN WOULD BE ISOLATED TO PEOPLEWHO VOTE BLUE.
YOU FELT IMMUNE FROM THE SPREADING SICKNESS. YOU FELT INVINCIBLE, BECAUSE YOUR MESSIAH TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE WINNING AND THAT WASENOUGH FOR YOU.
HE WAS LYING TO YOU AS HE ALWAYS DOES, BUT YOU PREFERRED TO BELIEVE THE LIE BECAUSE IT FELT WARM RUNNING THROUGH YOUR VEINS EVEN AS IT WAS POISONING YOU—THE INTOXICATING, CHEAP HIGH OF MAKING AMERICA GREAT WHILE OWNING THE LIBS. THAT WAS A COSTLY DRUG, THAT ARROGANCE—AND YOU WERE SLOWLY GOING BROKE IN YOUR ADDICTION. NOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF A BURGEONING PANDEMIC AND A PRECIPITOUS MARKET CRASH AND A HOPELESSLY FRACTURED NATION, THE BILL IS COMING DUE. YOU CAN’T AVOID PAYING ANYMORE. YOU’RE HERE WITH US. I THINK EVEN YOU REALIZE THAT NOW. THIS PRESIDENT DIDN’T CREATE THIS VIRUS,BUT HE IGNORED IT,
DENIED IT,
MINIMIZED IT,
JOKED ABOUT IT,
WEAPONIZED IT,
POLITICIZED IT,
EXACERBATED IT.
HE SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVED QUALIFIED PEOPLE AND REPLACED THEM WITH GENUFLECTING, SYCOPHANTIC TRAITORS—OR WITH NO ONE AT ALL. HE GENERATED A STEADY STREAM OF PARTISAN ATTACKS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND ABJECT LIES CREATED IN THE MOMENT, AND THE KIND OF “I AM SMARTER THAN ANYONE IN THE ROOM” SERMONIZING THAT CULT LEADERS BELLOW ALL THE WAY TO THE TERRIBLE AND TRAGIC END. HE IS CULPABLE FOR THE CHAOS AND THE UNNECESSARY ILLNESS, AND YES THE PREVENTABLE DEATHS BECAUSE OF IT—AND YOU ARE TOO. THIS IS THE HUMAN COST OF THE MAGA CULT DELUSION, AND WE’RE ALL PAYING FOR IT NOW EQUALLY, HOWEVER WE VOTED. PANDEMICS DON’T CHOOSE SIDES OR SPARE VOTING BLOCKS OR RESPECTAFFILIATIONS.
HE WILL PAY FOR IT IN NOVEMBER AND IN THE UNFLATTERING, INCORRUPTIBLELIGHT OF HISTORY.
I HOPE WHATEVER YOU RECEIVED WAS WORTH IT. I HOPE YOU STILL FEEL LIKE YOU’RE WINNING.SHARE THIS:
* Pinterest11
*
LIKE THIS:
Like Loading...
I’M GIVING UP FEAR FOR LENT March 9, 2020March 11, 2020/
John Pavlovitz
In the Christian calendar, Lent is a 40-day season of preparation beginning on Ash Wednesday and leading into Easter; a time meant to echo Jesus’ 40-day period of solitude in the wilderness prior to beginning his public ministry.It is also traditionally a season of deprivation, the letting go or giving up of a comfort or habit or food or practice that hinders a person’s reliance on god—the sacrifice meant to create space and to invite a deeper level of faith, by replacing that which has become a cushion or a crutch or an unhealthy fixation.That being the case, I’m trying to give up fear for Lent. I am trying to remove it from my daily diet.I am trying desperately to say “no” to fear:No, to engaging so many of the manufactured, inconsequential wars of words that distract me from the greater work of loving people, of encouraging them, of seeing them—the work of compassion to which I am called. The world already has enough followers of Jesus who have declared war on so much of it.No, to the politics of terror that imagine a thousand threats lurking in neighborhoods and around corners and pouring over borders, all to perpetuate the necessary narrative of a sky that is always falling. We are terribly overpopulated with people who are perpetually in a battle posture of intolerance toward difference.No, to cheap theology that needs an ever-encroaching enemy in order to give itself life and to stimulate zeal and to make itself feel valid. I see how destructive a Christianity built purely on being afraid of someone is—both to the one who practices it and the one they make monsters out of.No, to the religion of least resistance that must pass every purity litmus test, that must have full agreement and consensus, that eschews the difficult and the complex conversations—one that subsists solely on stark black-and-white caricatures of the righteous and the wicked, of the inside and outside, of the saved and the damned. I think the world is exhausted from such self-righteous, judgmental accusers, who have grown so used to shouting that they have forgotten how to listen.No, to the myth that we are at war with one another: that humanity is made of two massive armies of affinity, positioned on either side of a deeply-carved and insurmountable trench. I look around and see the way a theology of caricature and oversimplification removes proximity and keeps people at a distance, where all they can do is lob uninformed insults and shout dehumanizing slurs at one another.No, to an impotent spirituality that is so easy threatened by people and by circumstance that it always requires violent defense; to an angry, posturing Christianity that has so very little regard or need for the humble, merciful ways of Jesus anymore.And if I can say “no” to these things even in small and momentary ways, they make room for me to say “yes” to something else; the practices my faith is supposed to be a yes to:A yes to loving people as I desire to be loved.A yes to healing more wounds than I inflict. A yes to yielding to the needs of others before my own.A yes to making the world more decent because of my presence.A yes to honoring the inherent worth of every person I share this space with.A yes to reminding people of our interdependence and oneness.A yes to moving to the margins to meet people there who are unheard and unseen and unloved.A yes to sharing the overflow of whatever I have been blessed with in abundance; whether ease or comfort or opportunity or privilege.A yes to defaulting to humility instead of arrogance with those who oppose me.A yes to building bridges and not walls between people who disagree.A yes to laying down being right if it makes me more loving. A yes to remembering how assailed all people are with the grief of something or someone they have lost.A yes to remembering the deep humanity of people, even when they act inhumanely.A yes to being as loud about the beauty I see outside my window as I am about the ugliness. A yes to finding the goodness in the world and giving it a signal boost wherever I can.A yes to recognizing that a faith without love is a lifeless and worthless corpse and a waste of time to haul around.The most prevalent command in the Scriptures is, “Do not fear,” yet is is the command I am often the most defiant toward and disobedient to.I am doing my best in these days to give up all that is unloving and bitter and divisive.I am seeking a holy abstinence: trying to discard fear so that I can pick up love.That is what my faith requires of me.That’s the greatest stand worth taking,the fiercest fight I can engage in,the gutsiest choice I can make,the boldest declaration there is,the most subversive movement to join, the most powerful activism I have,the greatest evangelism possible—and it’s far stronger than fear.I’m told that this kind of love casts that fear out:of my heart,of my enemies,of the Church,of the world.For forty days, or at least for what I can of this one, I’m going to try and believe that.Whether you claim Christianity or any organized religious worldview for that matter—fear is a really lousy religion.Maybe you should give it up. Thank you to my dear friend Rabbi Brian Mayer, who asked me if giving up fear for Lent was possible and whose question moved me to a response. Share this:FacebookTwitterPinterest4RedditPrintEmailLike this:Like Loading..."> IN THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, LENT IS A 40-DAY SEASON OF PREPARATION BEGINNING ON ASH WEDNESDAY AND LEADING INTO EASTER; A TIME MEANT TO ECHO JESUS’ 40-DAY PERIOD OF SOLITUDE IN THE WILDERNESS PRIOR TO BEGINNING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY. IT IS ALSO TRADITIONALLY A SEASON OF DEPRIVATION, THE LETTING GO OR GIVING UP OF A COMFORT OR HABIT OR FOOD OR PRACTICE THAT HINDERS A PERSON’S RELIANCE ON GOD—THE SACRIFICE MEANT TO CREATE SPACE AND TO INVITE A DEEPER LEVEL OF FAITH, BY REPLACING THAT WHICH HAS BECOME A CUSHION OR A CRUTCH OR AN UNHEALTHY FIXATION. THAT BEING THE CASE, I’M TRYING TO GIVE UP FEAR FOR LENT. I AM TRYING TO REMOVE IT FROM MY DAILY DIET. I AM TRYING DESPERATELY TO SAY “NO” TO FEAR: NO, TO ENGAGING SO MANY OF THE MANUFACTURED, INCONSEQUENTIAL WARS OF WORDS THAT DISTRACT ME FROM THE GREATER WORK OF LOVING PEOPLE, OF ENCOURAGING THEM, OF SEEING THEM—THE WORK OF COMPASSION TO WHICH I AM CALLED. THE WORLD ALREADY HAS ENOUGH FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WHO HAVE DECLARED WAR ON SO MUCH OF IT. NO, TO THE POLITICS OF TERROR THAT IMAGINE A THOUSAND THREATS LURKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND AROUND CORNERS AND POURING OVER BORDERS, ALL TO PERPETUATE THE NECESSARY NARRATIVE OF A SKY THAT IS ALWAYS FALLING. WE ARE TERRIBLY OVERPOPULATED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PERPETUALLY IN A BATTLE POSTURE OF INTOLERANCE TOWARD DIFFERENCE. NO, TO CHEAP THEOLOGY THAT NEEDS AN EVER-ENCROACHING ENEMY IN ORDER TO GIVE ITSELF LIFE AND TO STIMULATE ZEAL AND TO MAKE ITSELF FEEL VALID. I SEE HOW DESTRUCTIVE A CHRISTIANITY BUILT PURELY ON BEING AFRAID OF SOMEONE IS—BOTH TO THE ONE WHO PRACTICES IT AND THE ONE THEY MAKEMONSTERS OUT OF.
NO, TO THE RELIGION OF LEAST RESISTANCE THAT MUST PASS EVERY PURITY LITMUS TEST, THAT MUST HAVE FULL AGREEMENT AND CONSENSUS, THAT ESCHEWS THE DIFFICULT AND THE COMPLEX CONVERSATIONS—ONE THAT SUBSISTS SOLELY ON STARK BLACK-AND-WHITE CARICATURES OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED, OF THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, OF THE SAVED AND THE DAMNED. I THINK THE WORLD IS EXHAUSTED FROM SUCH SELF-RIGHTEOUS, JUDGMENTAL ACCUSERS, WHO HAVE GROWN SO USED TO SHOUTING THAT THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO LISTEN. NO, TO THE MYTH THAT WE ARE AT WAR WITH ONE ANOTHER: THAT HUMANITY IS MADE OF TWO MASSIVE ARMIES OF AFFINITY, POSITIONED ON EITHER SIDE OF A DEEPLY-CARVED AND INSURMOUNTABLE TRENCH. I LOOK AROUND AND SEE THE WAY A THEOLOGY OF CARICATURE AND OVERSIMPLIFICATION REMOVES PROXIMITY AND KEEPS PEOPLE AT A DISTANCE, WHERE ALL THEY CAN DO IS LOB UNINFORMED INSULTS AND SHOUT DEHUMANIZING SLURS AT ONE ANOTHER. NO, TO AN IMPOTENT SPIRITUALITY THAT IS SO EASY THREATENED BY PEOPLE AND BY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IT ALWAYS REQUIRES VIOLENT DEFENSE; TO AN ANGRY, POSTURING CHRISTIANITY THAT HAS SO VERY LITTLE REGARD OR NEED FOR THE HUMBLE, MERCIFUL WAYS OF JESUS ANYMORE. AND IF I _CAN_ SAY “NO” TO THESE THINGS EVEN IN SMALL AND MOMENTARY WAYS, THEY MAKE ROOM FOR ME TO SAY “YES” TO SOMETHING ELSE; THE PRACTICES MY FAITH IS _SUPPOSED_ TO BE A YES TO: A YES TO LOVING PEOPLE AS I DESIRE TO BE LOVED. A YES TO HEALING MORE WOUNDS THAN I INFLICT. A YES TO YIELDING TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS BEFORE MY OWN. A YES TO MAKING THE WORLD MORE DECENT BECAUSE OF MY PRESENCE. A YES TO HONORING THE INHERENT WORTH OF EVERY PERSON I SHARE THISSPACE WITH.
A YES TO REMINDING PEOPLE OF OUR INTERDEPENDENCE AND ONENESS. A YES TO MOVING TO THE MARGINS TO MEET PEOPLE THERE WHO ARE UNHEARD AND UNSEEN AND UNLOVED. A YES TO SHARING THE OVERFLOW OF WHATEVER I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH IN ABUNDANCE; WHETHER EASE OR COMFORT OR OPPORTUNITY OR PRIVILEGE. A YES TO DEFAULTING TO HUMILITY INSTEAD OF ARROGANCE WITH THOSE WHOOPPOSE ME.
A YES TO BUILDING BRIDGES AND NOT WALLS BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE. A YES TO LAYING DOWN _BEING RIGHT_ IF IT MAKES ME MORE LOVING. A YES TO REMEMBERING HOW ASSAILED ALL PEOPLE ARE WITH THE GRIEF OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THEY HAVE LOST. A YES TO REMEMBERING THE DEEP HUMANITY OF PEOPLE, EVEN WHEN THEY ACTINHUMANELY.
A YES TO BEING AS LOUD ABOUT THE BEAUTY I SEE OUTSIDE MY WINDOW AS I AM ABOUT THE UGLINESS. A YES TO FINDING THE GOODNESS IN THE WORLD AND GIVING IT A SIGNAL BOOST WHEREVER I CAN. A YES TO RECOGNIZING THAT A FAITH WITHOUT LOVE IS A LIFELESS AND WORTHLESS CORPSE AND A WASTE OF TIME TO HAUL AROUND. THE MOST PREVALENT COMMAND IN THE SCRIPTURES IS, “DO NOT FEAR,” YET IS IS THE COMMAND I AM OFTEN THE MOST DEFIANT TOWARD ANDDISOBEDIENT TO.
I AM DOING MY BEST IN THESE DAYS TO GIVE UP ALL THAT IS UNLOVING AND BITTER AND DIVISIVE. I AM SEEKING A HOLY ABSTINENCE: TRYING TO DISCARD FEAR SO THAT I CANPICK UP LOVE.
THAT IS WHAT MY FAITH REQUIRES OF ME. THAT’S THE GREATEST STAND WORTH TAKING, THE FIERCEST FIGHT I CAN ENGAGE IN, THE GUTSIEST CHOICE I CAN MAKE, THE BOLDEST DECLARATION THERE IS, THE MOST SUBVERSIVE MOVEMENT TO JOIN, THE MOST POWERFUL ACTIVISM I HAVE, THE GREATEST EVANGELISM POSSIBLE—AND IT’S FAR STRONGER THAN FEAR. I’M TOLD THAT THIS KIND OF LOVE CASTS THAT FEAR OUT:OF MY HEART,
OF MY ENEMIES,
OF THE CHURCH,
OF THE WORLD.
FOR FORTY DAYS, OR AT LEAST FOR WHAT I CAN OF THIS ONE, I’M GOING TO TRY AND BELIEVE THAT. WHETHER YOU CLAIM CHRISTIANITY OR ANY ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS WORLDVIEW FOR THAT MATTER—FEAR IS A REALLY LOUSY RELIGION. MAYBE YOU SHOULD GIVE IT UP. THANK YOU TO MY DEAR FRIEND RABBI BRIAN MAYER, WHO ASKED ME IF GIVING UP FEAR FOR LENT WAS POSSIBLE AND WHOSE QUESTION MOVED ME TO A RESPONSE.SHARE THIS:
* Pinterest4
*
LIKE THIS:
Like Loading...
THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A “_______ OR BUST” BLUE VOTER March 6, 2020March 10, 2020/ John Pavlovitz
Progressives don’t need Donald Trump to defeat us.We’re doing fine on our own.The enmity and ugliness of the Democratic primary season has been off the charts, and particularly shortsighted given the fierce adversary we’re facing, how much damage the infrastructure of our nation has sustained—and how fully complicit the Republican Party has been in enabling the degradation of our planet, the perverting of our courts, and the dismantling of our systems over the past three-plus years.It’s been sickening by any measure decent people use.And yet somehow, despite the historic atrocities they’ve witnessed and despite how much pain so many people are in and despite the brazen, unchecked criminality in the White House—apparently there are progressives who are fine allowing it to continue for another four years. They’re perfectly willing to subject humanity to another season of abject brutality if their guy doesn’t get the nomination.If you ever want to see privilege personified, there it is.Having a Democratic candidate who is a deal breaker, or threatening to opt out if your chosen candidate isn’t on the ballot in November is a clear and vociferous declaration that the current Administration has not that adversely affected you yet. It is confirmation that you are insulated enough from harm that you can be that cavalier with your vote or your lack of it, that you’re prepared to endure 1,460 more days of this.This is the very heart of privilege: to look at the state of this nation, at the unprecedented lawlessness of this administration, the stratospheric malevolence of this president—and still decide you’ll be fine with it continuing so that you can make a point.Declaring “Bernie or Bust” or “Biden or Bust” (or “Anyone or Bust” to this point), is a sure sign that you don’t fully comprehend or appreciate what bust looks like for truly vulnerable people right now—and what it would become the further down the road we go if this despot is not removed.Bust, is children taken from their parents and placed in cages and being refused medical care and affection and decency.Bust, is terminally ill people having to choose between staying alive and keeping their homes.Bust, is decades of protections for the air and the water and wildlife and habitat tossed into the garbage.Bust, is Muslims and atheists and Jewish people, and every other non-Christian human, being subjugated to a nationalist, white supremacist Evangelicalism.Bust, is women losing autonomy over their own bodies and healthcare decisions.Bust, is a Judiciary that is being rapidly polluted, looted, and repopulated with bigots, sycophants, and Republican shills who have no interest in justice.Bust, is a CDC woefully unprepared for public health crises.Bust, is an Administration slowly closing off access to the Free Press and manufacturing and broadcasting fictional propaganda.Bust, is LGBTQ people daily losing hard-fought rights and protections in their workplaces, in the military, in their communities.Bust, is Native American burial sites bulldozed for pipelines and border walls.Bust, is an unchecked President and Republican-controlled Congress having no limits on their unabated cruelty for another four years.This is what bust looks like.If you can view this as acceptable collateral damage of you making a point about how much you love your guy—you don’t have that much skin in the game or you haven’t studied history or you aren’t paying attention yet.Some people don’t have that option.Fathers living in churches under sanctuary right now aren’t able to let this President have his way for another term to make a point. Transgender teenagers don’t have the luxury of letting their vote be a middle finger to the Democratic candidate they have an issue with. Families with children with preexisting conditions aren’t able to play chicken with their purity politics. The marginalized and vulnerable people continually assailed by this Administration likely aren’t arguing over whether one guy is establishment or another guy is a socialist: they know that the guy across from both of them is a tyrant, and the only thing that matters is his removal.I’m not saying the “_______ or busters” don’t have struggles or ideals or valid criticisms of the system, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t passionately advocate for their candidate of choice during the Primary. I’m saying that at the end of the day, if they refuse to strategically consolidate their voices with other like hearted people, they’re ultimately willing to gamble using other people’s lives—and that’s not something anyone should be proud enough of to punctuate social media posts with.Yes, the two-party system is restrictive and it’s antiquated and perpetuating systemic inequities, but the only way that system will be changed is through Democratic control of the system, right now, period. The Dems aren’t the sole answer, but they are the mechanism to us buying time to find it.A revolution of policy or a renaissance of humanity cannot happen without participation in and access to the process—and we all will lose that access if we do not move in concert right now. Of course, some people are opting out because they feel no party offers them hope, but our responsibility is to energize them and to secure the opportunity to fix what is broken together. We need to stop using false equivalencies—because there is nothing comparable to the malevolence of this presidency.I believe progressives, liberals, and moderates can and will figure out how to navigate our differences and to build an America that everyone can feel ownership of—but we need the space to do that.This is a historic spot in our national history and we don’t have the luxury of using it as leverage to have everything we want right now. So no, I won’t be okay with protest votes or abstaining from voting or privileged purity stances while America is burning.In this moment, we cannot allow a man so bereft of decency and a party so complicit in inhumane acts on his behalf, to possess it for another four years, because we will have lost the method of speaking at all.Donald Trump is a threat to public safety. He is a bigot and a predator and he will not relent in destroying this nation for profit, and the Republican Party has proven they will ride his coattails into fascism.We need to stop using him as threat or an ultimatum. America deserves better than that. Share this:FacebookTwitterPinterest13RedditPrintEmailLike this:Like Loading..."> PROGRESSIVES DON’T NEED DONALD TRUMP TO DEFEAT US. WE’RE DOING FINE ON OUR OWN. THE ENMITY AND UGLINESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SEASON HAS BEEN OFF THE CHARTS, AND PARTICULARLY SHORTSIGHTED GIVEN THE FIERCE ADVERSARY WE’RE FACING, HOW MUCH DAMAGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR NATION HAS SUSTAINED—AND HOW FULLY COMPLICIT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN IN ENABLING THE DEGRADATION OF OUR PLANET, THE PERVERTING OF OUR COURTS, AND THE DISMANTLING OF OUR SYSTEMS OVER THE PAST THREE-PLUS YEARS. IT’S BEEN SICKENING BY ANY MEASURE DECENT PEOPLE USE. AND YET SOMEHOW, DESPITE THE HISTORIC ATROCITIES THEY’VE WITNESSED AND DESPITE HOW MUCH PAIN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE IN AND DESPITE THE BRAZEN, UNCHECKED CRIMINALITY IN THE WHITE HOUSE—APPARENTLY THERE ARE PROGRESSIVES WHO ARE FINE ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. THEY’RE PERFECTLY WILLING TO SUBJECT HUMANITY TO ANOTHER SEASON OF ABJECT BRUTALITY IF THEIR GUY DOESN’T GET THE NOMINATION. IF YOU EVER WANT TO SEE PRIVILEGE PERSONIFIED, THERE IT IS. HAVING A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WHO IS A DEAL BREAKER, OR THREATENING TO OPT OUT IF YOUR CHOSEN CANDIDATE ISN’T ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER IS A CLEAR AND VOCIFEROUS DECLARATION THAT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTED YOU YET. IT IS CONFIRMATION THAT YOU ARE INSULATED ENOUGH FROM HARM THAT YOU CAN BE THAT CAVALIER WITH YOUR VOTE OR YOUR LACK OF IT, THAT YOU’RE PREPARED TO ENDURE 1,460 MOREDAYS OF THIS.
THIS IS THE VERY HEART OF PRIVILEGE: TO LOOK AT THE STATE OF THIS NATION, AT THE UNPRECEDENTED LAWLESSNESS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE STRATOSPHERIC MALEVOLENCE OF THIS PRESIDENT—AND STILL DECIDE YOU’LL BE FINE WITH IT CONTINUING SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A POINT. DECLARING “BERNIE OR BUST” OR “BIDEN OR BUST” (OR “_ANYONE_ OR BUST” TO THIS POINT), IS A SURE SIGN THAT YOU DON’T FULLY COMPREHEND OR APPRECIATE WHAT _BUST_ LOOKS LIKE FOR TRULY VULNERABLE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW—AND WHAT IT WOULD BECOME THE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD WE GO IF THIS DESPOT IS NOT REMOVED. BUST, IS CHILDREN TAKEN FROM THEIR PARENTS AND PLACED IN CAGES AND BEING REFUSED MEDICAL CARE AND AFFECTION AND DECENCY. BUST, IS TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN STAYING ALIVE AND KEEPING THEIR HOMES. BUST, IS DECADES OF PROTECTIONS FOR THE AIR AND THE WATER AND WILDLIFE AND HABITAT TOSSED INTO THE GARBAGE. BUST, IS MUSLIMS AND ATHEISTS AND JEWISH PEOPLE, AND EVERY OTHER NON-CHRISTIAN HUMAN, BEING SUBJUGATED TO A NATIONALIST, WHITE SUPREMACIST EVANGELICALISM. BUST, IS WOMEN LOSING AUTONOMY OVER THEIR OWN BODIES AND HEALTHCAREDECISIONS.
BUST, IS A JUDICIARY THAT IS BEING RAPIDLY POLLUTED, LOOTED, AND REPOPULATED WITH BIGOTS, SYCOPHANTS, AND REPUBLICAN SHILLS WHO HAVE NO INTEREST IN JUSTICE. BUST, IS A CDC WOEFULLY UNPREPARED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES. BUST, IS AN ADMINISTRATION SLOWLY CLOSING OFF ACCESS TO THE FREE PRESS AND MANUFACTURING AND BROADCASTING FICTIONAL PROPAGANDA. BUST, IS LGBTQ PEOPLE DAILY LOSING HARD-FOUGHT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS IN THEIR WORKPLACES, IN THE MILITARY, IN THEIRCOMMUNITIES.
BUST, IS NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITES BULLDOZED FOR PIPELINES ANDBORDER WALLS.
BUST, IS AN UNCHECKED PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS HAVING NO LIMITS ON THEIR UNABATED CRUELTY FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. THIS IS WHAT_ BUST_ LOOKS LIKE. IF YOU CAN VIEW THIS AS ACCEPTABLE COLLATERAL DAMAGE OF YOU MAKING A POINT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR GUY—YOU DON’T HAVE THAT MUCH SKIN IN THE GAME OR YOU HAVEN’T STUDIED HISTORY OR YOU AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION YET. SOME PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THAT OPTION. FATHERS LIVING IN CHURCHES UNDER SANCTUARY RIGHT NOW AREN’T ABLE TO LET THIS PRESIDENT HAVE HIS WAY FOR ANOTHER TERM TO MAKE A POINT. TRANSGENDER TEENAGERS DON’T HAVE THE LUXURY OF LETTING THEIR VOTE BE A MIDDLE FINGER TO THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AREN’T ABLE TO PLAY CHICKEN WITH THEIR PURITY POLITICS. THE MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE CONTINUALLY ASSAILED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION LIKELY AREN’T ARGUING OVER WHETHER ONE GUY IS ESTABLISHMENT OR ANOTHER GUY IS A SOCIALIST: THEY KNOW THAT _THE GUY ACROSS FROM BOTH OF THEM_ IS A TYRANT, AND THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERSIS HIS REMOVAL.
I’M NOT SAYING THE “_______ OR BUSTERS” DON’T HAVE STRUGGLES OR IDEALS OR VALID CRITICISMS OF THE SYSTEM, AND I’M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN’T PASSIONATELY ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CANDIDATE OF CHOICE DURING THE PRIMARY. I’M SAYING THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THEY REFUSE TO STRATEGICALLY CONSOLIDATE THEIR VOICES WITH OTHER LIKE HEARTED PEOPLE, THEY’RE ULTIMATELY WILLING TO GAMBLE USING OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES—AND THAT’S NOT SOMETHING ANYONE SHOULD BE PROUD ENOUGH OF TO PUNCTUATE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS WITH. YES, THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IS RESTRICTIVE AND IT’S ANTIQUATED AND PERPETUATING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, BUT THE _ONLY_ WAY THAT SYSTEM WILL BE CHANGED IS THROUGH DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM, RIGHT NOW, PERIOD. THE DEMS AREN’T THE SOLE ANSWER, BUT THEY ARE THE MECHANISM TO US BUYING TIME TO FIND IT. A REVOLUTION OF POLICY OR A RENAISSANCE OF HUMANITY CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT PARTICIPATION IN AND ACCESS TO THE PROCESS—AND WE ALL WILL LOSE THAT ACCESS IF WE DO NOT MOVE IN CONCERT RIGHT NOW. OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE ARE OPTING OUT BECAUSE THEY FEEL NO PARTY OFFERS THEM HOPE, BUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENERGIZE THEM AND TO SECURE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX WHAT IS BROKEN TOGETHER. WE NEED TO STOP USING FALSE EQUIVALENCIES—BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING COMPARABLE TO THE MALEVOLENCE OF THIS PRESIDENCY. I BELIEVE PROGRESSIVES, LIBERALS, AND MODERATES CAN AND WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE OUR DIFFERENCES AND TO BUILD AN AMERICA THAT EVERYONE CAN FEEL OWNERSHIP OF—BUT WE NEED THE SPACE TO DO THAT. THIS IS A HISTORIC SPOT IN OUR NATIONAL HISTORY AND WE DON’T HAVE THE LUXURY OF USING IT AS LEVERAGE TO HAVE EVERYTHING WE WANT RIGHT NOW. SO NO, I WON’T BE OKAY WITH PROTEST VOTES OR ABSTAINING FROM VOTING OR PRIVILEGED PURITY STANCES WHILE AMERICA IS BURNING. IN THIS MOMENT, WE CANNOT ALLOW A MAN SO BEREFT OF DECENCY AND A PARTY SO COMPLICIT IN INHUMANE ACTS ON HIS BEHALF, TO POSSESS IT FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS, BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE LOST THE METHOD OF SPEAKING AT ALL. DONALD TRUMP IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. HE IS A BIGOT AND A PREDATOR AND HE WILL NOT RELENT IN DESTROYING THIS NATION FOR PROFIT, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS PROVEN THEY WILL RIDE HIS COATTAILS INTOFASCISM.
WE NEED TO STOP USING HIM AS THREAT OR AN ULTIMATUM. AMERICA DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT.SHARE THIS:
* Pinterest13
*
LIKE THIS:
Like Loading...
POSTS NAVIGATION
← Older posts
BUY NOW AT:
SIGN UP FOR JOHN’S EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVE A FREE GIFT Get updates with speaking dates, media links, book launches, and regular content regarding _stuff that needs to be said_. You will also receive a free gift: a digital collection of John’s writings on grief.Search for:
ARCHIVES
Archives Select Month March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012CATEGORIES
CategoriesSelect CategoryAngerBullyingChildhoodChristian CultureChristianityCompassionCultureDeathDepressionDoubtFaithFamilyFearForgivenessGender IssuesGODGratitudeGriefGunsIdentityJesusJoyLeadershipLGBTLGBTQLifeLoveMarriageMinistryMourningParentingPastoringPoliticsPop CulturePrayerRaceRacial IssuesRelationshipsReligionSexSexualitySocial mediaSpiritual LifeSpiritualityTeenagersThe BibleThe ChurchTheologyUncategorizedViolenceWritingYouth Ministry SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL Receive notifications of new posts by email. Join 15,669 other subscribersEmail Address
Subscribe to Blog
JOHN’S TOP POSTS
* The Bill for MAGA is Due* The Cult of Trump
* We Can Be Our Best Right Now, America * You Can't Gaslight a Pandemic, Donald * Why Do You Stand Behind Cruelty? SIGN UP FOR JOHN’S EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND RECEIVE A FREE GIFT Get updates with speaking dates, media links, book launches, and regular content regarding _stuff that needs to be said_. You will also receive a free gift: a digital collection of John’s writings on grief.CLOSE
2020 john pavlovitz %d bloggers like this: Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email AddressCancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.Details
Copyright © 2024 ArchiveBay.com. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | DMCA | 2021 | Feedback | Advertising | RSS 2.0