Herb Montgomery of Renewed Heart Ministries

Hope Despite Appearances, Part 2

This hope is strikingly focused on changing our world, not escaping it; a just and safe world sprouting from the unlikeliest beginnings.

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#182: The False White Gospel with Jim Wallis, Herb Montgomery, and Dillon Cruz | Heretic Happy Hour White Christian Nationalism threatens American Democracy and American Christianity, but how did we get here, what happens next, and why won't this election solve the problem?

Hope Despite Appearances, Part 1

This imagery describes a world where everyone has enough to thrive and feels safe. It was used to inspire hope.

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Last week at RHM

Last Week’s Posts, June’s Recommended Reading, Upcoming Events and more . . .

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“The Jesus story should move us to help, not oppose, the social justice work of those presently laboring to make our world safer and just for everyone.”

Labelling Social Justice as Dangerous

Mark 3:20-24

“The Beelzebul controversy makes me think of how certain Christians have feared the women’s liberation movement, opposed the abolition of slavery, or are still opposed to making our world a safer place for those who identify as le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer/questioning. I think of how certain Christians are opposed to political movements attempting to make our world safer for children by passing background checks for fi****ms. The number one cause of death of school age children in the U.S. is not library books or drag queens, but mass shootings. Certain Christian leaders seek to inspire fear among middle class people about programs to have the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to fund more programs for the poor and disenfranchised. This story serves as a warning and helps us consider whether we are genuinely using the wisdom of Jesus’ teachings as we assess the work and progress of those presently shaping our world into a safer, compassionate, just home for everyone.”

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New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast

A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.

This week:

Season 1 Episode 9: Labelling Social Justice as Dangerous

Mark 3:20-24

“The Beelzebul controversy makes me think of how certain Christians have feared the women’s liberation movement, opposed the abolition of slavery, or are still opposed to making our world a safer place for those who identify as le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer/questioning. I think of how certain Christians are opposed to political movements attempting to make our world safer for children by passing background checks for fi****ms. The number one cause of death of school age children in the U.S. is not library books or drag queens, but mass shootings. Certain Christian leaders seek to inspire fear among middle class people about programs to have the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to fund more programs for the poor and disenfranchised. This story serves as a warning and helps us consider whether we are genuinely using the wisdom of Jesus’ teachings as we assess the work and progress of those presently shaping our world into a safer, compassionate, just home for everyone.”

Available on all major podcast carriers,

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New Episode of “Just Talking” Now Online!

Season 2, Episode 16: Mark 3.20-35. Lectionary B, Proper 5

Labelling Social Justice as Dangerous

Each week, we’ll be talking about the gospel lectionary reading for the upcoming weekend in the context of love, inclusion, and social justice. Our hope is that our talking will be “just” talking (as in justice) and that during our brief conversations each week we’ll be inspired to do more than just talking.

If you teach from the lectionary each week, or if you're just looking for some thoughts on the Jesus story from a more progressive perspective within the context of social justice, check it out.

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Labelling Social Justice as Dangerous, Part 3

These stories should move us to help, not oppose, the social justice work of those presently laboring to make our world safer and just.

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Labelling Social Justice as Dangerous, Part 2

Their tactic is nothing new: Inspire the masses with fear of the very social justice that could be the means of life-giving change for them.

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Labelling Social Justice as Dangerous, Part 1

As complicated as this language is for us today, inspiring fear of social justice efforts is something we are familiar with.

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Happy Pride, Last Week’s Posts, June’s Recommended Reading, Upcoming Events and more . . .

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RHM’s Recommended Reading for June

Newly revised and updated!

Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate

by Justin Lee

Newly revised and updated! An evangelical Christian examines the impact of sexuality, the LGBTQ+ movement, and the future of the church in this thoughtful, deeply researched guide to navigating and mending the social and political division in our families and churches. Nicknamed “God Boy” by his peers, Lee knew that he was called to a life in evangelical Christian ministry. But questions about his own sexuality forced him to rethink his “love the sinner, hate the sin” approach, sending him on a journey to better understand the Bible, the science, and the history of the church’s gay debate—eventually leading him to become one of the most respected voices on the subject on both sides of the divide. Filled with personal stories and careful research, Torn provides insightful, practical guidance for all committed Christians who wonder how to relate to gay friends or family members—or who struggle with their own sexuality. Torn has been a trusted resource for over a decade, and this updated edition features new material to address the impact and aftermath of the “ex-gay” movement, gender identity and the broader LGBTQ+ movement, and an updated and expanded look at where the overall affirming Christian movement is going. It also features new practical recommendations for combating the increased polarization that threatens to tear us apart. Convinced that God’s grace is the key to loving one another without compromise, Lee charts a path for people on both sides of the debate to help mend Christianity’s shattered reputation and bring peace to our families and churches.

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From all of us here at Renewed Heart Ministries to all of our LGBTQ family, friends, and followers

Happy Pride!

We are so glad you’re part of this community.

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Is our practice of Christianity socially life-giving or are we obstacles to those around us working toward a more just, safer, compassionate society? Are we in the way or are we helping those working to make our world a safer place for everyone?

The Sabbath and Social Justice

Mark 2:23-3:6

“Are there times when we have interpreted our own Jesus following in ways that have become death dealing for our society? Is our practice of Christianity socially life-giving? Are we obstacles to those around us working toward a more just, safer, compassionate society with room for everyone or are we, like Mark’s Jesus, standing up to those obstacles and being conduits of love, life, and healing? Where are we in the way? How can we get out of the way and come alongside, choosing to recognize those working to make our world a safer place for everyone, and adding our energy and effort to their work?”

Link in the comments:

New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast

A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.

This week:

Season 1 Episode 8: The Sabbath and Social Justice

Mark 2:23-3:6

“Are there times when we have interpreted our own Jesus following in ways that have become death dealing for our society? Is our practice of Christianity socially life-giving? Are we obstacles to those around us working toward a more just, safer, compassionate society with room for everyone or are we, like Mark’s Jesus, standing up to those obstacles and being conduits of love, life, and healing? Where are we in the way? How can we get out of the way and come alongside, choosing to recognize those working to make our world a safer place for everyone, and adding our energy and effort to their work?”

Available on all major podcast carriers.

Or at the link in the comments:

New Episode of “Just Talking” Now Online!

Season 2, Episode 15: Mark 2.23-3.6. Lectionary B, Proper 4

The Sabbath and Social Justice

Each week, we’ll be talking about the gospel lectionary reading for the upcoming weekend in the context of love, inclusion, and social justice. Our hope is that our talking will be “just” talking (as in justice) and that during our brief conversations each week we’ll be inspired to do more than just talking.

If you teach from the lectionary each week, or if you're just looking for some thoughts on the Jesus story from a more progressive perspective within the context of social justice, check it out.

Link in the comments:

The Sabbath and Social Justice, Part 3

These Sabbath stories in Mark call each us to reassess our best practices to make sure we are not sources of suffering but justice and life.

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The Sabbath and Social Justice, Part 2

Our economy depends on a never-ending, always-expanding growth. We cannot always be producing. There must be time for rest, too.

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The Sabbath and Social Justice, Part 1

These were labor justice lessons. Everyone was entitled to time to rest and be restored. No one was to be forced to labor unceasingly

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Last week at RHM

May 26, 2024

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Begin each day being inspired toward love, compassion, justice and action. Free.

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“The synoptic Gospels’ Jesus did not separate the spiritual from material. That Jewish Jesus did not separate the spiritual and material to offer a path of escape from the material world. Rather he taught his followers how to lean into their material world in life-giving ways.”

Reuniting the Material and the Spiritual

John 3:1-17

“This division between the flesh and the spirit, between the physical, material world and the spiritual has born seriously destructive fruit throughout Christianity. The Jesus in the synoptic gospels did not separate the spiritual from the fleshly or material. He taught his followers how to navigate their material world by righting injustice, ending oppression, and offering healing alternatives to violence. That Jewish Jesus did not separate the spiritual and material to offer a path of escape from the material world. Rather he taught his followers how to lean into their material world in life-giving ways.”

Link found in comments below.

New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast

A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.

This week:

Season 1 Episode 7: Reuniting the Material and the Spiritual

John 3:1-17

“This division between the flesh and the spirit, between the physical, material world and the spiritual has born seriously destructive fruit throughout Christianity. The Jesus in the synoptic gospels did not separate the spiritual from the fleshly or material. He taught his followers how to navigate their material world by righting injustice, ending oppression, and offering healing alternatives to violence. That Jewish Jesus did not separate the spiritual and material to offer a path of escape from the material world. Rather he taught his followers how to lean into their material world in life-giving ways.”

Available on all major podcast carriers.

Or at the link in the comments:

New Episode of “Just Talking” Now Online!

Season 2, Episode 14: John 3.1-17. Lectionary B, Proper 3 (Trinity Sunday)

Reuniting the Material and the Spiritual

Each week, we’ll be talking about the gospel lectionary reading for the upcoming weekend in the context of love, inclusion, and social justice. Our hope is that our talking will be “just” talking (as in justice) and that during our brief conversations each week we’ll be inspired to do more than just talking.

If you teach from the lectionary each week, or if you're just looking for some thoughts on the Jesus story from a more progressive perspective within the context of social justice, check it out.

Link in the comments: