Phil Steiger
When the book of Exodus opens, we are told that the children of Israel “were fruitful and increased greatly” (Exodus 1:7). This is on the heels of the text telling us there were only about 70 family members who came to Egypt to live under Joseph’s care. Even after Israel was enslaved, it happened that,... Continue Reading →
Some Sundays after the service, I feel grateful and energized. Some days I feel like I need to retreat to my office and take a nap. Some days I feel like I need a punching bag. Recently I have taken up the habit of reading either a prayer (currently out of Piercing Heaven) or soaking... Continue Reading →
A friend recently reminded me of this letter I wrote to our congregation in the wake of the protests and death at Charlottesville, VA, 2017. It struck me as something still relevant and important. Letter to LHC After Charlottesville, VA Heather and I have been on vacation trying to “unplug” a bit, but, unfortunately, it... Continue Reading →
It’s complicated. It really is. Trying to navigate our culture and the LGBTQ+ issue is not always as easy or as simple as we want it to be. There are people we know and love who see things differently than we do. Many of us are trying to be faithful to the biblical witness on... Continue Reading →
Is the call of God opposed to a Christian or a pastor being a public intellectual? One man on my Facebook page says that calling a pastor a public intellectual is an insult to the call of God. God does not need educated people to speak through them. This is the kind of anti-intellectualism I... Continue Reading →
On the Primacy of Embodiment, Against the Online Instructors is a wonderful essay at The Public Discourse. It deals head-on with the clear shortcomings of online education from the point of view of human nature. We have known for a long time that long term disembodied education is not only a disservice to both teacher... Continue Reading →
When the Old Testament nation of Judah split into two kingdoms, the fallout included more than just a split of kings and courts. It involved a split of priests and worship as well. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, was far from a righteous king, but he did keep the Temple in Jerusalem and worship to... Continue Reading →
I think faithful pastors are heroes right now. I have nothing to take away from the hard work and suffering of those we consider to be first responders during the COVID pandemic. Nurses, doctors, police and fire, grocery workers, delivery drivers, a lot of teachers, and so many more, have all extended themselves in 2020... Continue Reading →
Pastors face pressure all the time from people both within and from without their congregation. Christians have varying sets of expectations of pastors, and people with no particular religious affiliation also believe they know what pastors should be doing. In a twist of very-like-a-human irony, people who hate the idea of God also think they... Continue Reading →
Every Christian needs to be informed of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. A theologian and pastor, he also enters the historical record as a spy, a cultural prophet, and eventually a martyr. He pastored and led during the rise of Nazi Germany, through World War II, and lost his life in a concentration camp hours... Continue Reading →
Every Thought Captive 