General Topics – Carol S. Wimmer

Is Church A Trigger Word?

The word, church, has become a 6-letter word that some people have chosen to hate. For many the word, church, is now associated with a fair measure of emotional, spiritual, and psychological trauma or abuse. They are no longer willing to remain quiet about the trauma they’ve experienced. This is as it should be. All forms of abuse must be brought into the light, as we consider the future of the Christian faith, and the purpose of the church.

February 23, 2019

1823

Christianity Tomorrow, General Topics

2019 New Year Thoughts

Every year I think to myself, “Will this be the year when hearts and minds awaken to a new image of the church universal?” I hope so, but reality suggests that this year will go by just like the ones before it. A lot of talk about the need for change, but no concrete steps taken, and no apparent interest in discussing the organizational vision Jesus first demonstrated, namely, The Way of human net making.

January 3, 2019

7761

Faith and Spirituality, General Topics

An Open Letter

To Christian citizens in the United States of America:

Can we talk? I’m concerned about where we are headed in our nation, if we don’t. Our nation is deeply divided. It seems that the motto, “E Pluribus Unum” no longer applies to life on Main Street. “Out of many – One!” has turned into “Out of many – Two!” and never the two shall meet.

February 5, 2017

3330

Christianity Tomorrow, General Topics

The Church is Not a Building

I am excited. Something huge is happening within the church and I am part of it! Unfortunately, for many people the wounds, caused by the present model of the church, are oozing. The mere mention of the word, church, is like pouring salt on open sores. It’s often said, “Words have power!” Yet in truth, words are powerless. If certain words hurt us, it is due to the associations we glue to them. Sadly, for many, the word, church, is glued to the deepest injuries ever encountered.

January 4, 2016

3400

Faith and Spirituality, General Topics

Is Anyone Celebrating God?

Over the past 2,000 years, Christians have been celebrating a Trinitarian perspective of God, Jesus, and the Spirit of God. In the beginning of the Christian tradition, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, along with the coming of God’s Spirit, was enough to celebrate. However, as time passed people formed differing opinions about God, Jesus, and Spirit. They argued over whose interpretations of the Bible were right, and judged certain interpretations to be wrong-headed—heretical!

March 24, 2015

1928

Christianity Tomorrow, General Topics

Transfiguring the Bride!

Most people would agree that the church needs a transfiguration. She must become a more effective presence in the world. She must become more relevant in her mission to meet human hunger, in all its forms. But, before we can appreciate the scope of such a transfiguration, a veil must be lifted from our spiritual eyes. From 1996 to 2000, I experienced such a lifting. I freely admit that I was unaware of my blindness until the lifting process started.

February 28, 2015

2548

Faith and Spirituality, General Topics

My Religion is better than Your Religion!

Have you heard? People are leaving institutionalized religion by the droves in order to seek spiritual autonomy. Why? Because the general public is sick—to the point of nausea—of the idea of religious superiority. Like kindergarten kids, fighting over toys in a sandbox, too many adults actually believe their religion is better than their neighbor’s religion. God is on their side in every argument, and God’s enemies are strangely the same enemies they have encountered.

November 23, 2014

2320

General Topics, Organizing Efforts

Law Versus Love . . . Why?

Christians, we have a problem! We are confused by something fundamental to our faith—Law and Love. When we talk about God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, the Law of Moses, the covenant of law, a new commandment, and the covenant of love—we often lump each of these separate entities, into one big law versus love debate! We don’t take the time to define the differences between these very unique subjects! Then, we wonder why we disagree, or why we don’t understand each other’s perspectives. The result? We live with a plate full of scrambled eggs!

October 22, 2014

3456

Faith and Spirituality, General Topics

Intellect and Insight: A Recipe for Wisdom

I recently attended an interfaith discussion on the book of Genesis. As we know, the biblical characters in Genesis claimed to hear God’s voice—all the time! Genesis is filled with phrases such as, “Then God said,” or “God told so and so.” The same is true for the prophets! What are we to make of these biblical claims? Do we believe them? Do we trust them? Should we question and test these biblical claims? Yes, we should!

August 20, 2014

1792