The Round Up
The imitation of Jesus. Death of Moltmann. Dictators needing international banking too.
What have I been up to? Grading papers, first-aid training, meetings, a trip to Sydney and suffering a cold.
New Video
This week’s video is about Paul and the imitation of Jesus. Due to the influence of one of my former doctoral students, Jason Hood, I’m convinced that 1 Corinthians 4:17 is without doubt the best summary of Paul’s ethics, pastoral theology, and pattern of the Christian life: “That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go” (NLT). Here’s a two-minute video on this crucial verse.
News this Week!
The death of German theologian Jurgen Moltmann. Moltmann was a theological giant and was the premier post-WWII theologian. Not without controversy, but he really did think hard about God, suffering, and the Trinity.
Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary. China doesn’t want anyone to remember this event. As far as they are concerned it never happened and they punish anyone who mentions it, including activists in Hong Kong.
The MK party in South Africa. The “MK” party is the uMkhonto weSizwe (Zulu for 'Spear of the Nation'), a left-wing populist South African political party, headed by former president Jacob Zuma. The MK believes in abolishing the constitution, private property, and replacing the courts with elected councils. In counter-point, Ayaan Hirsi writes about how communism ruined her native Somalia.
Modi won another election in India. Everyone is talking about Christian Nationalism in America and even Europe. But what about Hindu Nationalism in India and its Islamophobic and Christophobic policies?
BRICS to develop its own international payment system. BRICS = Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, plus friends. It is a political grouping, an autocratic alternative to the liberal democratic order. Russia was punished by being kicked out of the SWIFT international banking system. China is afraid the same thing will happen to it. So they are creating an alternative to SWIFT. Autocrats needs chequing accounts too!
Commentary below!