Author Archives: James Ernest

When Jesus went on his way, where did he go? (Luke 4:31–37)

Jesus will never be our homey who assures us that we are OK until we first hear him as the stranger who tells us that we are not OK, until we accept his exotic words as authoritative, as so authoritative and powerful that they cast out the demons that indwell us (verses 33–37), until we have been unmade and remade by his word.

All and every, for ever and ever (Psalm 145)

Have you ever noticed how many times Psalm 145 uses the words ALL and EVERY? (They translate the same Hebrew word, KOL.) I am lowercasing LORD below to let all the KOLs stand out. We could also note three occurrences of L’OLAM VA-ED, FOR EVER AND EVER; these I have italicized. I will extol thee,Continue reading “All and every, for ever and ever (Psalm 145)”

By the waters of New Zion (Psalm 137, nationalized)

By the waters of New Zion, here we dance and sing! We have long since retuned our lyres to the tonal system of this blessed land. Our leaders smile on us and swear that we are chosen of the Lord and precious in his sight so we say they are too. Our tongues flap freelyContinue reading “By the waters of New Zion (Psalm 137, nationalized)”

Allen C. Myers (1945–2020), longtime Eerdmans editor

Longtime Eerdmans biblical studies editor Allen C. Myers died early on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2020, following numerous months of declining health. A private (because of COVID-19 restrictions) memorial service was held Friday, December 4, at Trinity United Methodist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. A native of Ohio, Allen earned degrees at Otterbein University and United Theological Seminary beforeContinue reading “Allen C. Myers (1945–2020), longtime Eerdmans editor”

Psalm 125: On earth as it is in heaven?

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,which cannot be moved, but abides forever.As the mountains surround Jerusalem,so the LORD surrounds his people,from this time on and forevermore.For the scepter of wickedness shall not reston the land allotted to the righteous,so that the righteous might not stretch outtheir hands to do wrong.Do good,Continue reading “Psalm 125: On earth as it is in heaven?”

The self-mutilating apostasy of White American Evangelicalism

The “evangelical leaders” who became the apostles of Christotrumpism were not previously the leading lights of the evangelical movement. They were on its fringes. For the most part they were always its uncouth underbelly, as they still are. Those who have followed them have rejected the real intellectual and spiritual leaders of the evangelical movement.Continue reading “The self-mutilating apostasy of White American Evangelicalism”

ReMEMbering Psalm 119:97–104

Oh, how I love your law!It is my meditation all day long.Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,for it is always with me.I have more understanding than all my teachers,for your decrees are my meditation.I understand more than the aged,for I keep your precepts.I hold back my feet from every evil way,in order toContinue reading “ReMEMbering Psalm 119:97–104”

Trump as mirror and shadow

After the election results began to come in, observers began to say things like this: As of this moment on Friday morning, we do not yet know for sure that Joe Biden will win. But we know for sure that Donald Trump is a mirror. Others have been saying so: Andre Parry of Brookings, EddieContinue reading “Trump as mirror and shadow”

Are you calling Trump a fascist?

Jason Stanley, a Yale University philosophy professor, published How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them in 2018. The paperback was released this May with a new preface summing up developments since 2018. In short: the fascist talk in the US and elsewhere is being concretized in fascist policies, and democratic institutions are beingContinue reading “Are you calling Trump a fascist?”