Author Archives: Benjamin White

How do Christians work? Is that even a thing anymore?

This blog post was co-written by Ben White and Jonny Rashid after our church hosted a meeting for theological thinkers and seminarians on developing a theology of work. The problem of work in the 21st Century United States France has a law that prohibits an employer from Emailing her employees after hours. They are enforcingContinueContinue reading “How do Christians work? Is that even a thing anymore?”

“West Pennsauken South” is the best

I’m a transplant to South Jersey so I look at maps often. (Or maybe I just like maps) This means I might know the contours and boundary lines of all our municipalities more than many native South jersey folks. All the towns seem to blend together as you drive up or down Rt. 130 orContinueContinue reading ““West Pennsauken South” is the best”

Nobody Wants to Deny the Flesh: Audre Lorde and Jesus on the Erotic

Learning new things at Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books I went to a book reading at Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books in Germantown, Philadelphia last month. Adrienne Maree Brown was reading from her new book Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good.  It was a fascinating time with a very diverse crowd of people. IContinueContinue reading “Nobody Wants to Deny the Flesh: Audre Lorde and Jesus on the Erotic”

I Guess It Was the Spirit

“Why did you talk to me?” Ty asked my friend Tre over text later that afternoon. Tre answered, “We prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide us and that’s what happened.” Well, Tre, that’s not exactly what it felt like.  But why wouldn’t it be true? What does my feeling have to do with theContinueContinue reading “I Guess It Was the Spirit”

Hope for the Darkness in Story Form

Here’s a short story I wrote. John the Baptist Died in Hope a story by Ben White imagined from Luke 7:18-25 and  Mark 6:14-29 Tonight there was a torch in the hall. So, as had become his custom, he lay his cheek against the cold stone floor of the cell to watch under the door.ContinueContinue reading “Hope for the Darkness in Story Form”

Bible Verse for When I’m Feeling Down?

Many people turn to the Bible when they don’t know where else to turn. Even my friends who haven’t been to a church meeting in years, or maybe ever, often revere the power of this holy book. That’s one benefit of living in a culturally Christian country. The Bible is everywhere, and that’s not suchContinueContinue reading “Bible Verse for When I’m Feeling Down?”

Jesus Was Really a Stand Up Comedian

I’m not the first to articulate that stand up comedians are some of the most influential people in our culture. They perform the important function of saying what is deemed inappropriate to say. Like the court jester who might be able to speak truth to the king (I’m thinking of the fool in King Lear),ContinueContinue reading “Jesus Was Really a Stand Up Comedian”

Epiphany in Not New Words

Washed by Jan L. Richardson paintedprayerbook.com There’s this amazing moment in the gospels when Jesus comes up out of the water after John baptizes him and heaven is torn open. The veil between this world and another world is lifted. Such a glimpse beyond the ordinary is an epiphany — a strike of lightning pulsingContinueContinue reading “Epiphany in Not New Words”

Epiphany Means Christmas Ain’t Over Yet

My Parents Invented an Alternative Ritual When I was in first grade my parents dropped a major bomb: No gifts on Christmas! I don’t remember it being too devastating because they made the alternative so fun. Instead of getting gifts form Mom and Dad on December 25th, stacked under the Christmas Tree in a perfectContinueContinue reading “Epiphany Means Christmas Ain’t Over Yet”

Top 5 Christmas Songs Ever (Objectively Subjectively)

I love Christmas Music! I say bring it on Thanksgiving Day, and keep the best ones in your playlist all year long. Jesus is with us! We need the soundtrack of our lives and hearts to celebrate this as much as possible. In honor of Christmas Music that Doesn’t Suck Part II (this Sunday, DecemberContinueContinue reading “Top 5 Christmas Songs Ever (Objectively Subjectively)”

Why Bother Being One Church in Four Locations?

One of the most ambitious things Circle of Hope does is stick together across our wide region. We are one church in four locations. From Suburban New Jersey, all over Philadelphia, and into the Pennsylvania suburbs. We are not multi-site in the way that many churches have been trending. No pastors get beamed from oneContinueContinue reading “Why Bother Being One Church in Four Locations?”

Why Showing Up is Even More Important in Advent

Ordinary Pilgrims One of the simplest and best reasons to have a Sunday meeting is that we need to show up. We need to do something with our bodies to give substance to the faith we profess or it will shrink. Getting up, dressing the children and piling them into the car on Sunday morning,ContinueContinue reading “Why Showing Up is Even More Important in Advent”

People are better than ideas

People change people, much more than ideas do. The best way to bridge divides is bringing people who are different from one another together in love. An idea is a powerful tool; but it is limited, I think, to political power. Jesus was most interested in people’s allegiance to him as a person not toContinueContinue reading “People are better than ideas”

Giving Thanks for Friends We Don’t See As Much As We Used To

Recently I got a group of people together who had been planting the church together for ten years. Our congregation in South Jersey is ten years old (What a wonder!), and we marked the occasion with a time to remember where we have been and consider where we are going.  The time reminded me ofContinueContinue reading “Giving Thanks for Friends We Don’t See As Much As We Used To”

The Dangers of Teeth-Brushing Christianity

Among many other odd and troubling things about the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings last week was a comparison between church attendance and brushing your teeth. On one hand, I admire the regularity of his devotion, but on the other hand the comparison is dangerously close to just going through the motions. I don’tContinueContinue reading “The Dangers of Teeth-Brushing Christianity”

Saving our Imaginations from Fortnite

I am reading A Wrinkle in Time to my son, Oliver, who is 7 years old. One of my goals is to teach him to use and develop his imagination. I actually stop as we’re reading to encourage him to be still and actively imagine what he’s hearing. It’s hard for him to not fidget with somethingContinueContinue reading “Saving our Imaginations from Fortnite”

Camden County College Hates Me

I’m sorry, I don’t follow the rules. The Public Safety Office at Camden County College clearly told me that I was not welcome on campus unless I was a student or an authorized guest. I went anyway. Again, I’m sorry, but it’s a place to meet 10,000+ young people from all the local area highContinueContinue reading “Camden County College Hates Me”

I won’t agree to disagree with you

I won’t agree to disagree with you. I will not codify our division. I am not my thoughts and opinions and neither are you. So though we are currently disagreeing about any number of things, I will not agree to it. I will not content myself with that separation, especially if you are a partContinueContinue reading “I won’t agree to disagree with you”

A Paean to “A.D. Kingdom and Empire” on Netflix

They Cancelled This Show in 2015 …but I Just Found Out When NBC cancelled A.D. The Bible Continues, I had no idea it was a thing, but now, three years later, I’m heartbroken. Now I have watched all 12 episodes of A.D. Kingdom and Empire (it got renamed for it’s Netflix Release) and I amContinueContinue reading “A Paean to “A.D. Kingdom and Empire” on Netflix”