Month: September 2025

on Bible reading and main character syndrome

“Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.”

—Gen 12:1-9

When we read Bible stories, we like to read them as if the human characters are the main characters. I had a little kids’ Bible growing up with a bright red cover and cutesy pictures. It taught me that it’s good to listen to God, like Noah did when he built that boat; it’s good to be really brave like David when he killed the giant Goliath; it’s good to be patient like Abraham, and wait for God. Also I think this kids’ Bible almost kind of implied that Jesus didn’t die on the cross, which is, you know… heresy, but that’s a story for another time.

But anyway it’s easy to go from I should be like this character to I should be like this character because God blessed him or her, and I want God to bless me. So when we just focus on what these Bible characters did right and and what they did wrong, we might start thinking things like: 

If only I could be really obedient like Noah, life will be good.

If only I could be really brave like David, life will be good.

If only I could be really patient like Abraham, life will be good.

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on why context matters

“The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts. 

In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils. Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.”

—Isaiah 3:16-24

Did you know that there’s a Bible quote saying “Jesus be cursed”? 

That got your attention.

But you probably know where I’m going with this — when we read the Bible, just like when we read any text, we shouldn’t just look at a few words or phrases and ignore everything else. If you do, you might misunderstand what’s going on.

Continue reading “on why context matters” →
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Dear Little Feather,

You’ll be getting busy very soon. At some points you’ll feel that it’s far too much for you to handle. Maybe you won’t just feel tired, you’ll start to think ahead and try to see a way for the pressure to stop, and maybe you won’t be able to picture it.

When that moment comes, you might feel angry, or bitter. You might wonder why the older you get, the less you’re treated like someone who is loved, and more like someone that has to perform and work hard – or else. Like a resource to be harvested, or like fuel for some awful machine that runs on everyone’s misery.

Continue reading “Dear Little Feather,” →
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