Inappropriate Conversations

"Imagine if every church became a place where everyone is safe, but no one is comfortable. ... We might just create sanctuary." Rachel Held Evans Mark 14:12-25 (we usually think a large gathering of friends or family should, by its nature, be harmonious; on the other hand, betrayals in situations like this are Biblical)    

“Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.” Corrie ten Boom John 13:1-35 (through foot washing as an example of serving one another, Jesus tells disciples that they, and we, should do the same)  

“I questioned the faithful of all communions; I particularly sought the society of clergymen, who are the depositaries of the various creeds and have a personal interest in their survival. As a practicing Catholic I was particularly close to the Catholic priests, with some of whom I soon established a certain intimacy. I expressed my astonishment and revealed my doubts to each of them; I found that they all agreed with each other except about details; all thought that the main reason for the quiet sway of religion over their country was the complete separation of church and state. I have no hesitation in stating that throughout my stay in America I met nobody, lay or cleric, who did not agree about that.” Alexis de Tocqueville Matthew 26:14-16 (to betray Jesus, the chief priests paid Judas 30 pieces of silver)  

"If you make it impossible for people to make you happy, then people will lose interest in whether you are happy or not." -Greg John 21:15-19 (after breakfast, Jesus tells Peter that the way to love him is to care for the flock he described in John 10, one that included sheep Peter may not have considered to be eligible to join into one flock)  

"Once I get them to tell me about the God they don't believe in, it turns out I don't believe in that God either." Susan Russell John 21:1-14 (after His death and resurrection, after appearing to Mary and others, Jesus surprises his fisherman followers when he stops for a seaside breakfast meeting)  

"The door is only as open as the mind inside the office." -Greg Luke 24:13-35 (Jesus met some of his followers, probably not inner circle but believers, as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus; they didn’t recognize him)  

“People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.” John Wesley John 20:19-31 (the demand of Thomas for proof and evidence gives us the name Doubting Thomas, along with the meme “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”!)  

"I remember the time that you told me, you said, 'Love is touching souls.' Well, surely you touched mine because part of you pours out of me in these lines from time to time." Joni Mitchell John 4:1-30 (despite what most evangelicals today would describe as “living in sin” when she met Jesus at a well, He sent this Samaritan woman off to share the Gospel, telling people in her town Whom she had just met … and He didn’t order her first to move out of her living arrangement or “sin no more”)  

"Old James Dean Monroe hands out flowers at the Shop-N-Go, hopes for money but all he gets is fear. And the wind blows up his coat, and this he scribbles on a perfume note: 'If I'm not here, then you're not here.'" Sheryl Crow Matthew 28:11-15 (the right amount of bribery can hide/ignore almost anything)  

"I rope-a-dope with righteous bobbin' and weavin', and let the good get even." Chuck D. (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) Mark 15:16-20 (abuses of power included assault, spitting, mocking, and more)  

"But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed, though I have seen my head [grown slightly bald] brought in upon a platter, I am no prophet -- and here's no great matter; I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, and I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, and in short, I was afraid." T.S. Eliot Matthew 14:1-14 (it’s shocking that the execution of a prophet as a prize for an impromptu dance at a birthday isn’t the most offensive thing about the fate of John the Baptist, whose head was “served” on a platter before party guests)  

"Sometimes shalom is disruptive. Sometimes peace making makes people uncomfortable. Sometimes these are conversations we'd rather not have or truth we would rather not acknowledge. Speaking truth to power is rarely comfortable for anyone." Sarah Bessey Matthew 12:1-14 (whether by healing people or picking grain, Jesus broke the law constantly in the eyes of his legalistic critics)  

"Far from saying in defeat that we should not worry about the poor, since they will always be among us, Jesus is pointing the church to her true identity—she is to live close to those who suffer." Shane Claiborne Matthew 26:6-13 (while arguing over the cost of perfume, the disciples seemed to miss Jesus predicting his imminent funeral)  

"Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His honour which is not His honour. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion of Him?" Oswald Chambers Matthew 14:22-33 (Peter couldn’t walk on water by himself, only through Jesus)  

"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." Paul of Tarsus Romans 13:8-10 (love is the fulfilling of the law, doing no wrong to a neighbor)  

"[Jason Varitek] … He caught it!"   Luke 18:15-17 (faith needs to include the awe and wonder of childhood)  

"When he spoke it would raise the roof. Peter Pumpkinhead told the truth, but he made too many enemies of the people who would keep us on our knees." Andy Partridge   Mark 2:1-12 (some religious people were unhappy at seeing miraculous healing)  

“We do know that no person can be saved except through Christ. We do not know that only those who know Him can be saved by Him.” C.S. Lewis John 14:1-14 (when Jesus says He is the Way, He is not identifying gatekeeping rules that even He must obey as our Lord; He is telling us that He picks the Way)  

"What do you think it's gonna do when I live by faith and now my work is through? It's gonna rain! … I'm so happy to say, it's gonna rain on the world today." Gordon Gano Genesis 6:9-7:24 (flood continued for 40 days, and waters swelled on the earth for 150 days)  

"Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Amos of Tekoa Amos 5:21-24 (it’s not about festivals, assemblies, songs or offerings; it’s about justice)