These words "Christianity has, at best, failed miserably..." echo back to one of the several videos of Richard Twiss I've found and have on file. One in particular, noted that the success rate of the evangelization of Native Americans was 3%. I've also accepted Richard's description of himself as a recovering republican and a recovering evangelical as my own. I often describe my faith journey as "going upstream". My journey is aged, but not over. I see your post today as being at the headwaters. Thank you for your wisdom today!
Hi there Randy thank you for your many challenges. I so appreciate your truth telling . Currently I am serving as a transitional pastor at a Lutheran church in Woodburn. I am helping them claim a focus on the historical Jesus as a way of gathering and being in relationship with community. They are a feeding community that feeds almost 900 every Wednesday and cares for over 200 elders. I am still involved in the UCC, serving on the Committee on Ministry authorization team. I have been wondering for sometime if you and/or Edith would like to be on this team ? Again thank you for your substack! Look forward to hearing back from you ? Shalom Dianne Rodriguez
Thank you, I will have Adam Hange who will the led facilitator send you and Edith the info yo requested. Adam is the pastor at Hillsboro UCC. Thanks for considering this.
There’s a lot of really strong stuff in here. Thanks for writing!
One question I have that complicates things a little, is about the multiple occasions of Roman centurions who convert and believe in Jesus (and don’t seem to immediately leave their profession as far as we know, unlike some of the tax collectors). Of course, centurions were typically brutal commanders and enforcers of the empire, even more so than average foot soldiers.
If Jesus fits the model of an indigenous revolutionary, what are the implications of the fact that many of his own people rejected him, while some high ranking oppressors accepted him? Jesus even gives his highest praise to a centurion, saying he has better faith than anyone else in Israel. If we assume the framework of Jesus as an indigenous revolutionary, how do these centurions fit in?
That's a great question. Your question actually strengthens the Indigenous Jesus framework rather than complicating it. Those centurion conversions show just how powerful an authentic liberation message can be—so radical it can crack open the hearts of empire's own enforcers. When that centurion recognizes Jesus's authority or declares him "God's Son" at the cross, why assume he's staying imperial? He's a professional killer for Rome, encountering truth so authentic that it transforms his whole worldview. We have all seen this pattern throughout history: White folks joining the Underground Railroad or marching for civil rights, police officers transformed by Black Lives Matter, European settlers choosing Indigenous resistance over colonial comfort. These type converts don't water down the anti-imperial message—rather they prove its power to penetrate even the empire's core.
And why did many of Jesus's own people reject him? Because that's what colonization does—it makes liberation look impossible, dangerous, naive. Some Jewish leaders had carved out survival niches under Roman occupation that Jesus threatened. Others feared his movement would bring deadly retaliation, which it did in 70 CE. I've watched some tribal members dismiss sovereignty movements as unrealistic, some choose collaboration for survival, some have internalized imperial messaging so deeply they can't see liberation possibilities. Colonial trauma runs deep. But when the empire's own centurions start recognizing divine authority in a colonized revolutionary, that tells you something powerful about whose side God is really on. Thanks for your question!
These words "Christianity has, at best, failed miserably..." echo back to one of the several videos of Richard Twiss I've found and have on file. One in particular, noted that the success rate of the evangelization of Native Americans was 3%. I've also accepted Richard's description of himself as a recovering republican and a recovering evangelical as my own. I often describe my faith journey as "going upstream". My journey is aged, but not over. I see your post today as being at the headwaters. Thank you for your wisdom today!
Thanks Steve. Richard had a great way of speaking truth. I miss my friend so much...We're all in recovery-which is healing-which is salvation...
Appreciate this - learning from you!
Thanks for hearing me out!
Thanks for putting this out, Randy! I will be sharing it :)
Please do Fran, thanks!
Hi there Randy thank you for your many challenges. I so appreciate your truth telling . Currently I am serving as a transitional pastor at a Lutheran church in Woodburn. I am helping them claim a focus on the historical Jesus as a way of gathering and being in relationship with community. They are a feeding community that feeds almost 900 every Wednesday and cares for over 200 elders. I am still involved in the UCC, serving on the Committee on Ministry authorization team. I have been wondering for sometime if you and/or Edith would like to be on this team ? Again thank you for your substack! Look forward to hearing back from you ? Shalom Dianne Rodriguez
Hi Dianne, Thanks for the good work you all are doing. What does it mean to be on the team? You can email me at eloheh@gmail.com
Thank you, I will have Adam Hange who will the led facilitator send you and Edith the info yo requested. Adam is the pastor at Hillsboro UCC. Thanks for considering this.
There’s a lot of really strong stuff in here. Thanks for writing!
One question I have that complicates things a little, is about the multiple occasions of Roman centurions who convert and believe in Jesus (and don’t seem to immediately leave their profession as far as we know, unlike some of the tax collectors). Of course, centurions were typically brutal commanders and enforcers of the empire, even more so than average foot soldiers.
If Jesus fits the model of an indigenous revolutionary, what are the implications of the fact that many of his own people rejected him, while some high ranking oppressors accepted him? Jesus even gives his highest praise to a centurion, saying he has better faith than anyone else in Israel. If we assume the framework of Jesus as an indigenous revolutionary, how do these centurions fit in?
That's a great question. Your question actually strengthens the Indigenous Jesus framework rather than complicating it. Those centurion conversions show just how powerful an authentic liberation message can be—so radical it can crack open the hearts of empire's own enforcers. When that centurion recognizes Jesus's authority or declares him "God's Son" at the cross, why assume he's staying imperial? He's a professional killer for Rome, encountering truth so authentic that it transforms his whole worldview. We have all seen this pattern throughout history: White folks joining the Underground Railroad or marching for civil rights, police officers transformed by Black Lives Matter, European settlers choosing Indigenous resistance over colonial comfort. These type converts don't water down the anti-imperial message—rather they prove its power to penetrate even the empire's core.
And why did many of Jesus's own people reject him? Because that's what colonization does—it makes liberation look impossible, dangerous, naive. Some Jewish leaders had carved out survival niches under Roman occupation that Jesus threatened. Others feared his movement would bring deadly retaliation, which it did in 70 CE. I've watched some tribal members dismiss sovereignty movements as unrealistic, some choose collaboration for survival, some have internalized imperial messaging so deeply they can't see liberation possibilities. Colonial trauma runs deep. But when the empire's own centurions start recognizing divine authority in a colonized revolutionary, that tells you something powerful about whose side God is really on. Thanks for your question!
That's helpful-thanks!