Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice

Wickedness beyond comprehension -- by Sarah Armitage

I thought I had a good awareness of the wickedness and evil that man can carry out against man. I was wrong.

I thought I had seen the lowest form of immorality and filth that another human being could stoop to. I was wrong.

I thought I had an understanding of the schemes of the devil – I had hoped that maybe even he had a limit to the depravity he could influence. I was wrong.

Since I have been working on behalf of the people of Burma I have read countless reports of human rights violations and brutal attacks carried out by the Burma Army – all of which have broken my heart and stirred me into action – but when I recently read the story of Nhkum Hkawn Din I was shocked to my very core, I felt as though I had been punched hard in the stomach.

I want to share Nhkum Hkawn Din's story with you. It will be hard to read, but it needs to be read.*

A Kingdom Stance -- by Ward Draper

I have been thinking alot about the Cross lately and the excessive and immeasurable lessons it holds. That such a violent device could hold so much knowledge, wisdom, life, and more importantly love, it is astounding. 

As I have been thinking about this grotesque and beautiful gift five characteristics stand out in my mind. Five attributes which transfer well into a Kingdom life. In the Cross I see immovability, its drastic nature, its gruesomeness, its stark raw disposition, and its eternal embrace. It is these five keys, if you will, which may assist us to secure our life as disciples. To offer some assistance in our journey to the Heavenly Kingdom.

Train Silence Breakers -- by Jonathan Asher Gilbert

Recently I’ve been reading about modern Christian marketing techniques. I’ve been told they suck and aren’t good enough. A bad imitation at best, not enough effort at worst. Apparently people think the church’s communication efforts are a joke.

It made me realize how much Jesus-loving faith communities (and their critics) have missed the point. Have we invested too much worth in reaching the world with the world…? It got me wondering, were we ever supposed to ‘market’ God like the world markets gods?

Out Of The Corner Of My Eye -- by Blind Man At The Gate

 UBP - http://www.brianzahnd.com

I think I caught a glimpse of truth out of the corner of my eye
A ghost, a whisper, a suspicion, a subtle and subversive rumor
So dangerous that every army would be commanded to march against it
So beautiful that it would drive those who see it to madness
Or sanity
Does the whole of my kind suffer from mental and moral vertigo?
As Melville said of cabin boy Pip
He saw the foot of God upon the treadle of the loom
And dared to speak it
Henceforth his shipmates called him mad
As Vladimir said when they came to bury Fyodor
The spiritual leader must feel the falsehood prevailing in society
The prophet must struggle against it, never tolerate it, never submit to it
I think I caught a glimpse of truth out of the corner of my eye

Review of Urs Von Baltasar's "Dare We Hope: that all men be saved?" by Andre Harden

Is a somewhat misleading title for this book that examines the core nature of God's relationship to mankind. "Dare we" suggests that hope in God's intent and power to save his creation should be exercised tentatively, furtively and only at great risk, perhaps with the same manner that one might dash across a minefield, or urinate on an electric fence. "Uh ... go ahead, if you dare ... but to what purpose?"

Hans Urs Von Balthasar's purpose is extraordinary. His title reflects his awareness that dominant theology aggressively defends a lack of hope in God's desire and power to save all. His suggestion, that God wills to save all (which is not so much his suggestion as it is God's own expression of his will for Man) is an attack against an idolatry of pride and self-separation which leads one to declare himself blessed over others.