Praying for enemies and governments

I have the honor to hear from many of you each week. Thank you for sending me your stories, reflections, wisdom, laments, and (on rare occasion) confessions. I do not take them for granted.

What I know is true for many of you is that you are some combination of angry, disillusioned, heartbroken, and fearful about the current US government. It can be difficult sometimes to channel those emotions into healthy or productive outcomes. Many people turn to prayer—and if that includes you, don’t miss Jeff Jay’s fascinating essay about how Dietrich Bonhoeffer prayed the imprecatory psalms. For those who want some help reframing their views of politics and government, we have a new book review from Jamie Smith about CC columnist Phil Christman’s book Why Christians Should be Leftists.

There’s plenty more varied new content below. Our video of the week features Melissa Kuipers, who looks back on her year as a Teen Mania intern with critique—but also with generosity. You’ll also find a reflection from Isaac Villegas about how Jesus’ dialogues resemble interviews with a young Bob Dylan, Michael Woolf’s essay on the role of René Girard’s mimetic theory in a world of fictional Vikings vs. dragons, and more.

Jon Mathieu
Email me: Do you pray for “enemies”? What are those prayers like?
(Lunchtime chats temporarily disabled during travel season!)

Praying the imprecatory psalms with Bonhoeffer

“Bonhoeffer’s interpretive moves empower one to pray the imprecatory psalms. These prayers foster wide-eyed protest against evil speech and action. They assert and publicize the God of love and justice.”

by Jeff Jay

A Christian case against capitalism

“Christman’s pitch to his audience is basically this: It’s not enough to be anti-Republican or to loathe Trump; it’s not enough to vote Democrat; it’s not enough to be proud liberals or edgy progressives bent on inclusion, anti-racism, and an expanded social safety net.”

review by James K. A. Smith

VIDEO: The confrontation-happy life of a former Teen Mania intern

Melissa Kuipers chats with Jon about her year in Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. She critiques the group’s theology but looks back with generosity.

In the Lectionary for September 28 (Ordinary 26C)

Preachers often bury the lede—especially with this parable.

Confounding words

“Bob Dylan plays with the questions, refusing to abide by the conventions of an interview. With every response, he redirects the conversation. … The Jesus we encounter in the gospels also doesn’t give the crowds exactly what they want.”

by Isaac Villegas

Breaking cycles of violence with How to Train Your Dragon

“I did not expect the film to speak directly to our world’s deep brokenness amid seemingly endless cycles of violence. I did not expect it to lead me back to René Girard’s moving work on mimetic theory and atonement.”

by Michael Woolf