This is an audio version of Mike Murphy‘s Friday rumblings. This is a regular post on Facebook that I’ve turned into a podcast. I decided Mike’s words needed a wider audience. You may agree or disagree with what he says, but there is certainly much food for thought contained here. You can friend Mike on Facebook for the printed version or read it below.

Rumblings. 1.10.25

1. The American flag is at half staff this month in honor of Jimmy Carter. 

The president-elect is having a bit of a hissy fit, claiming the flag should be flying high for his inauguration. He believes that a flag at half staff will somehow, some way, diminish his moment.

Sigh. He really is a child. 

If he was smart and savvy he’d see this as a gift. 

He’d figure out a way to weave the symbolism of the flag at half staff into his inaugural address. He’d say something about Carter’s life and character and loyalty to his country and then talk about how badly our country needs men and women like him to step up.  

Sadly, he’s neither smart nor savvy, just selfish and mean spirited. Will someone please help me figure out how a man such as this, a convicted  felon, who majors on the minors, will make America great again? 

2.. “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it’s the parts I do understand.” ~ Mark Twain

3. “When I was a teenager, the idea of religion making you different was not a new idea to me. Unfortunately, in my experience, religion made you different in an odd, outdated, and maybe even harsh and judgmental way. To be a Christian was to hold yourself above and apart from secular people and people of other faiths…. 

But one of my spiritual mentors said something very different. He said: “Make it your ambition to be a warm and loving presence in the world as Jesus was … to be joyfully in the world in deep solidarity with our neighbors, loving them as equals rather than considering ourselves holier than thou and therefore better than them. . .”~ Brian McLaren 

A “warm and loving presence”. That’s a powerful vision of how a person of faith should ‘be’ in this world. 

4. ”… This view that the Almighty considers women to be inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or tradition. Its influence does not stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue, or temple. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths, creating an environment in which violations against women are justified.

The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.

Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world…” ~ Jimmy Carter, World Council of Religions, 2009

Carter was right. For far too long, the  place and role of women has been hijacked by influential men who carefully curated sacred texts that supported their point of view and conveniently dismissed any text and context that didn’t. It has, indeed, caused and is still causing great harm to women. 

5. “The Old Testament story of Babel is not a story about tribalism; it’s a story about the fragmentation of everything. It’s about the shattering of all that had seemed solid, the scattering of people who had been a community. 

It’s a metaphor for what is happening not only between red and blue, but within the left and within the right, as well as within universities, companies, professional associations, museums, and even families …” ~ Jonathan Haidt.

As fragmentation becomes normative, the best of us have to be determined to lean into a difficult calling. It’s what MLK, Jr. called “making a way out of no way.” It is not for the faint hearted.

6. Shane Claiborne hits the nail on the head when he suggests that “Christian nationalism is a confusing perversion of the gospel.”

So what do we say to the churches nurturing Christian Nationalism and its subsidiaries? The main character in Michael O’Brien’s apocalyptic novel  “Father Elijah” gives us a very good answer.  

“I would 1000 times rather have a persecuted Church than a compromised Church.” 

We should tell them that. 

I’m sure that sounds offensive to many of you. Truth does that I’ve discovered. Work it through, pray it through and if possible talk it through with someone who loves Jesus but isn’t part of your tribe. I’m willing to help you find that person. 

7. “Christians are often known for what we are against rather than what we are for. A simple test will confirm this to be true. Bring up any divisive issue in our world- politics, sexuality, race, immigration, and so on-and what you’ll find are Christians clearly asserting what they are against. 

But any conversation regarding the nature of God must begin with him being for all.” ~ Rich Villodas, The Narrow Path

The nature of God is to be a cheerleader for the whole of his creation. You might be against immigration but God is for the immigrant. You might be against the transgendered but God knows their names. You might believe climate change is a hoax but God weeps over the damage done to Creation.

8. “Here’s the big reveal about university indoctrination. 

It’s not the professors…not a secret classroom cabal. 

What’s actually happening? Your teens and young adults are stepping out of their bubble, meeting  people from all walks of life, and discovering that the stereotypes they’ve been spoon-fed don’t hold up. 

Turns out, closed minded garbage doesn’t survive when you finally encounter the humans it’s been targeting.” ~ Pastor Brandon 

I know this to be true. 

9.  “Jesus did not establish an institution, though institutions can serve his cause. 

He did not organize a political party, though his teachings have a profound impact on politics. 

Jesus did not even found a religion. 

No, Jesus began a movement, fueled by his Spirit, a movement whose purpose was and is to change the face of the earth from the nightmare it often is into the dream that God intends … “ ~ Retired Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry 

And all God’s people say:  Amen, Amen, Amen. 

10. ”I know now that folks had lots of chances to turn back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to what’s good …and it’s worth fighting for… it’s only a passing thing, this shadow…even darkness must pass, a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out all the clearer.” ~ Samwise, the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings . 

Be a hobbit. Repeat after me: “Though frightened, I will hold on to what’s good, stand up for what’s right, and oppose evil.”