Advent of justice

Throughout the biblical story those who will be welcomed into the city are those who can make that city a place of healing and refuge, rather than a place where injustice and falsehood prevail. The implications provide a challenge to all of us who live in the modern city. If we are not working to walk righteously in our cities, to provide homes for the homeless, food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, and justice for those who are oppressed -- in short, if we are not making our cities places of safety and fertile plenty -- are we truly preparing for the coming of a savior who will welcome us into the city by the gates?

Sylvia KeesmaatThe Advent of Justice

Inevitability

The language of inevitability is the language of empire.  Whenever we hear "We have no choice," our ears should perk up.  It is precisely the strategy of the empire to take our imagination captive so that we think we have no choice.  When a certain lifestyle seems inescapable, you need to realize that you are imprisoned.

Brian Walsh & Sylvia KeesmaatColossians Remixed

Advent

We can miss Advent by not being ready, or by simply not waiting because we feel that we have nothing to wait for in our state of arrived self-sufficiency.  Even if we know that we have not arrived and we are not self-sufficient; even when we realize that we still live in an empire that scoffs at justice and continues to neglect the poor, abuse the environment, and trust the technologies of war, we still feel incredibly burdened.  We feel weighted down, exhausted, powerless and comfortless.  To the exiles, Yahweh proclaimed comfort and political redemption.  To us Yahweh's Servant says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  And as we come to him we say, "Amen, come soon Lord Jesus."

Sylvia Keesmaat
The Advent of Justice

Images

When a religion aggressively proselytizes and seeks to transform the world, its most important resource is its images. It is image that transforms the imagination, and it is imagination that engenders a lifestyle. And what globalization does better than anything else is transform the imagination. That is why the entertainment and advertising industries are the first wave of the emerging global consciousness.

Brian Walsh & Sylvia Keesmaat
Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire

Sexual Sin

Sexual sin is sin not because it is sexual but because it is invariably covetous. It replaces the pleasure and sexual enjoyment of two people in a loving relationship with a self-centered gratification of sexual longings that can never be fulfilled apart from commitment. Such sin breaks the back of trust that is at the heart of community...

Brian Walsh & Sylvia Keesmaat
Colossians Remixed