Life Under the Word

Life Under the Word

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Leaving Substack for "Life Under the Word"

Leaving Substack for "Life Under the Word"

Substack’s moderation posture and business model have created recurring controversies about the normalization of far-right content. I am leaving for Ghost, and this post lays out my reasoning.

Begin with Mercy

Begin with Mercy

Psalm 51 and the Grace That Makes Confession Possible

The Light That Judges Our Lamps

The Light That Judges Our Lamps

Wednesday after the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year A)

Postliberal Theology and the “Sectarian Temptation”

Postliberal Theology and the “Sectarian Temptation”

Introducing the Congdon–Fitch debate

Honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Short Liturgical Form for Worship

Against the Dignity of Negation

Against the Dignity of Negation

Karl Barth, Das Nichtige, and Anselm Kiefer’s "Sulamith"

The Right Place, the Opened Heavens

The Right Place, the Opened Heavens

A Homily for the Baptism of the Lord, 2026 (Year A)

The Lille Declaration of Faith (2017)

The Lille Declaration of Faith (2017)

An English Translation of the EPUdF's Déclaration de foi

An Advent Devotional: Romans 15:4-13

An Advent Devotional: Romans 15:4-13

First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor was gracious to publish my Advent devotional on Romans 15:4–13. Scripture 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the

Decently and In Order

Decently and In Order

1 Cor. 14:40 as a Spiritual Discipline

Sharing the Burden

Sharing the Burden

Presbyterian Polity as a Gift of the Spirit

The Gift That Creates Gratitude

The Gift That Creates Gratitude

A Homily for Thanksgiving Day, 2025 (Year C)

“Today, If You Hear His Voice”

“Today, If You Hear His Voice”

The Devotional Work of Psalm 95

A Service for Justice and Peace in Sudan

A Service for Justice and Peace in Sudan

A liturgy of lament and hope, written for congregations praying for justice and peace amid the ongoing genocide in Sudan

Born There, Sent Today

Born There, Sent Today

A Homily on Matthew 21:28–32 & Psalm 87:1–7

Confessing Faith in an Age of Empire

Confessing Faith in an Age of Empire

The Theology and Witness of the Accra Confession (2004)

Confessing the Event

Confessing the Event

A Catechism of Divine Actuality

Karl Barth, ‘Happening,’ and an Actualist Ontology of God

Karl Barth, ‘Happening,’ and an Actualist Ontology of God

“Es ist geschehen — und es geschieht”

Witness to the Decision Already Made

Paid-members only

Witness to the Decision Already Made

Barth in America: On the Strange Career of Karl Barth in the PC(USA)

Paid-members only

Barth in America: On the Strange Career of Karl Barth in the PC(USA)

The Gift of Limits

Paid-members only

The Gift of Limits

The Strange Freedom of Christian Love

Paid-members only

The Strange Freedom of Christian Love

Apocalypse, Covenant, and the Emergence of a New Theological Atmosphere

Paid-members only

Apocalypse, Covenant, and the Emergence of a New Theological Atmosphere

A Lenten Devotional: 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:5

Paid-members only

A Lenten Devotional: 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:5

Women’s Ordination and the Bible

Paid-members only

Women’s Ordination and the Bible