Pulse Issue 3

A COLLABORATION OF ADVENTIST ACTIVISTS

JUNE 2024 ISSUE 3

THE STRONGMAN FALLACY A CALLING BEYOND CULTURE MY MONEY IS ABOUT MORE THAN ME JUSTLOVE LETTERS LET’S TALK RENEWABLE WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Action Creates Hope

CONTENTS 1-3

THE PULSE

4

INTERACT

5-6

7

16

REVIEW

18

JUSTLOVE LETTERS

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

20

GRATITUDE

INSPIRE

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STAY IN THE KNOW

strongman fallacy /\ calling beyond culture

let’s talk renewable /\ only the best

making them “safe” /\ reformation project

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9-11

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14-15

WHO WE ARE correspondents and collaborators

BLACK SABBATH AND T-PAIN join mlk’s march on militarism

INSPIRATION COLLECTIVE just liberty /\ adventist pilgrimage

MY MONEY IS ABOUT MORE THAN ME

faithful reflection shapes public action

more about the summit

Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

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THE STRONGMAN FALLACY

Excerpted from “The Strongman Fallacy and Dictatorship in Real Life” in “Thinking about . . .” by Timothy Snyder, March 17, 2024.

Strongman rule is a fantasy.

Essential to it is the idea that a strongman will be your strongman. He won't. In a democracy, elected representatives listen to constituents. We take this for granted, and imagine that a dictator would owe us something. But the vote you cast for him affirms your irrelevance. The whole point is that the strongman owes us nothing. We get abused and we get used to it.

Another pleasant illusion is that the strongman will unite the nation. But an aspiring dictator will always claim that

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some belong and others don't.

He will define one group after another as the enemy. This might feel good, so long as you feel that you are on the right side of the line. But now fear is the essence of life. The politics of us-and-them, once begun, never ends.

We imagine that a dictator would owe us something.

We dream that a strongman will let us focus on America. But dictatorship opens our country

to the worst the world has to offer. An American strongman will measure himself by the wealth and power of other dictators. He will befriend them and compete with them. From them he will learn new ways to oppress and to exploit his own people.

At least, the fantasy goes, the strongman will get things done. But dictatorial power today is not about achieving anything positive. It is about preventing anyone else from achieving anything. The strongman is really the weak man: his secret is that he makes everyone else weaker.

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The Bible has much to say on issues of

The Bible makes it clear that those of us

poverty and justice—but it is not just a list of

who see the afflicted and needy should fight

ideas or wise sayings. Proverbs 31:8, 9 says,

for their cause. In practice and in many

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for

places, there are numerous national and

themselves; ensure justice for those being

international laws that protect the rights of

crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,

each human being. But unless these laws are

and see that they get.” We are not expected to

implemented and monitored, their mere

be silent about the injustices going on around

existence will not change the situation. The

us. There is a definite call to action.

oppressed need people who will stand for

The specific type of action cannot be prescribed, because each situation is unique.

them and with them.

As human beings and perhaps even more

But, when someone is a victim of injustice,

so as people of faith, we have a moral duty to

violence and abuse, they are not able to stand

protect other people from injustices “when

up for their rights. For example, among the

it’s in your power to help them” (Proverbs

common effects of child abuse is total

3:27). Often, we decide not to act because

withdrawal. Children who have been victims of

we want to take the easy route. In every

sexual abuse do not know how to trust. The

situation where there is abuse and violence,

nature of the evil done to them impairs their

or any other injustice, the question we need

ability to resist or escape it.

to ask ourselves is, “What is within my power

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Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

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to do?” If it is a famine in a faraway land, sending

This is what God prom­ises to bless. Micah 6:8

my money might be the best and most practical

concludes the matter beautifully by saying,

action. There are cases in which reaching out to

“O people, the Lord has told you what is

the victim could be the appropriate action. The

good, and this is what he requires of you: to

critical thing for us to do as Christians is to

do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk

refuse inaction. That one life saved is worth it.

humbly with your God.” We are being called

When we read the book of Amos, we will notice that the prophet went to great lengths to

to do what is right—to do justice.

Throughout the Bible, we receive

condemn leaders who were failing to practice

instructions on what we should do in many

social justice. God expressed His displeasure at

different situations and, having received the

these leaders and warned that He would

instruction, we are asked to act accordingly.

withdraw His blessings from them (see Amos

We cannot be indifferent. We cannot use the

5:7–15). To not act in response to injustice is sin.

excuses of ignorance or culture. We cannot ignore. Whatever are circumstances or our culture, as we do this, we are ful­filling one of

Often, we decide not to act because we want to take the easy route.

God expects a deeper level of Christianity from us, a type of spirituality that will move our

the greatest commandments, loving others as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:39).

—Zivayi Nengomasha. Excerpted from Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living (Signs Publishing, 2014).

hearts to act against injustices and work to bring comfort to those suffering (see, for example, Isaiah 58:6–8).

–Zivayi Nengomasha

The Pulse

InterAct

Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

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Let’s Talk Renewable

Only the Best

Which country had the highest percentage of growth in renewable energy over the past five years? Extra credit if you can name the source of that “clean energy.”

Fossil fuels have been used for centuries to power private and public industries, but at a cost. They produce the most carbon dioxide, which contributes most to climate change. Of the following renewable resources, which is most likely to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels?

A. Denmark B. Lithuania C. Namibia

D. Netherlands E. Uruguay

Uruguay tops the list with a 7 percent annual increase over the past five years. It’s primary source of renewable energy comes from wind. It is followed by Denmark, 6 percent (wind); Lithuania, 6 percent (wind); Namibia, 5 percent (solar); and Netherlands 4 percent (both wind and solar). https://www.wri.org/insights/countries-scalingrenewable-energy-fastest

A. B. C.

Biofuels D. Geothermal E. Hydroelectricity

Solar Power Wind power

Trick question! The correct answer depends entirely on geography. Solar power and wind power need sustained periods of sunlight and wind to generate electricity. No sunshine, no wind, no power. Some places have geothermal resources that are unavailable in other parts of the world. Hydroelectricity is only available where water sources can be used without harming other parts of the environment.

Let’s Get Personal Follow the Leader Which country leads the world in its use of renewable energy?

A. B. C.

Brazil Iceland New Zealand

D. E.

Norway Sweden

Thanks to its being located on the Mid-Atlantic Range, which includes volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers, Iceland gets most of its fuel from renewable geothermal sources. Its energy portfolio is augmented by wind and hydroelectric resources, making its use of renewable energy 86.87 percent.

Rounding out the list is Norway, 71.56 percent; Sweden 50.92 percent; Brazil, 46.22 percent; New Zealand 40.22 percent. They each use a diverse portfolio of renewable energy resources to help reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. https://energydigital.com/top10/top-10-countriesusing-renewable-energy

Minimizing the effects of climate change requires widespread and multilevel change, yes. But small, seemingly insignificant adjustments to our personal behavior can—over the long-term—make changes that are highly significant. In what practical ways do you see yourself making the following lifestyle changes to realize the dream of a more sustainable planet?

A. B. C. D. E.

Consume a plant-based diet.

Swap, borrow, or buy secondhand clothes.

Use more public transportation.

Practice recycling.

Don’t store unnecessary data in the cloud.

We often think that we’re powerless to have a lasting and significant impact on climate change. But when enough of us live simply, modestly, and sustainably, change is possible.

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like. . . ?” asked Jesus. “It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:30-32). Behold the benefit of small things. https://youth.europa.eu/getinvolved/sustainable-development/how-reduce-mycarbon-footprint_en —Stephen Chavez

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In our justice work today, love must be the foundation of justice. When I say “love,” I don’t mean sentimental feelings or emotional availability. Take enemy love, for example.

Enemy love doesn’t mean you actually feel something positive or warm for your enemies. You may genuinely and justifiably not like them. It does mean you refuse to remove them from the human race.

It means you still recognize their humanity. We may be obstructing their intention to do harm, or standing up to them and telling them “no,” or calling for them to be held accountable for the choices

they have made, but we still acknowledge that we are connected to them through our shared humanity. We hold space for them to choose to make better decisions. And, until they get there, we still hold out the option that they can experience change.

Pay close attention to which vulnerable groups are being scapegoated.

As we work toward making our world a safe and just home

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for everyone, love of neighbor calls us to love those neighbors who may be different from us, too. This is a central theme Jesus taught when he defined “neighbor” in his own social and political context as a Samaritan.

As a Christian, you can’t love your neighbor and not care about the things they suffer from because of the way our society is shaped. You can’t love them and vote for policies or politicians who seek to do them harm.

During this election season here in the US, pay close attention to which vulnerable groups are being scapegoated or who we are being encouraged to feel fear toward as one political party

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seeks to one-up or out-do the other. I’m thinking of my dear trans friends and my children’s trans school friends, who are all much more at risk of hurting themselves than hurting anyone else around them. I’m thinking of political commercial after commercial on my local television stations where each politician is trying prove they are more anti-trans than the other guy.

realize how precious these kids are that they are throwing under the bus to achieve their political goals?

Years ago, I was involved in our town expanding our nondiscrimination laws to include housing, employment and public services for our LGBTQ neighbors. I remember speaking with a city council woman after

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she said this to me, but as, tears filled my eyes, every fiber of my being said “Amen.” She is now our mayor.

This the central command of Jesus’ teachings, that we love each other as Jesus loved us.

And in the end, by this everyone will know that we are Jesus’ disciples, “if you love one another” (John 13:35).

one of the public hearings and will never forget her words: “Do you want your child to have a

Every fiber in my being said “Amen.”

place to live? Do you want your child to have employment? Do you want your child excluded from eating at a local restaurant? Well, every LGBTQ

As they reach toward being elected to office, do they

person you meet is somebody’s child.” I was already an ally when

–Herb Montgomery

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InSpire TOO MANY IRONIES IN THE FIRE

It is ironic that in a culture so committed to saving time we feel increasingly deprived of the very thing we value.

—Jeremy Rifkin

SIN BEGINS The story starts with a sneer.

—Timothy Keller

SO FAR . . .

MAKING THEM “SAFE” It’s what always happens to the saints and prophets who are dangerous: we bronze them, we drain them of their passion and life and trap them in stainedglass windows and icons, confining them safely in memories of the past. St. Francis becomes a birdbath, Malcolm X is put on a stamp, and Martin Luther King gets a holiday. And Jesus gets commercialized, whether it’s plastic night-lights or golden crucifixes.

—Shane Claiborne

ROUNDING UP

During 2022, charities in the U.S. raised $749 million through point-of-sale donations, in part from “round up” donations at registers. The Taco Bell Foundation alone received $42 million from more than 7,500 restaurants. The average donation was 44 cents.

—National Public Radio, “Engage for Good,” accessed through Christian Century, May 2024

REFORMATION PROJECT It is not the prisoners who need reformation, it is the prisons.

—Oscar Wilde

If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

—Romans 12:17

GOD THOUGHTS MAJORITY RULE

The one thing that doesn’t abide majority rule is a person’s conscience.

—Harper Lee

I’ve already shared my God thoughts as there are only a few: Not me. Look up. Be kind.

—Anne Lamott

—Compiled by Chris Blake

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WHO WE ARE Pulse is the monthly digital magazine of JustLove Collective This month’s editor is Chris Blake Design is by Jeffers Media

PULSE CORRESPONDENTS

Unless indicated otherwise, all Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version.

CHRIS BLAKE

CLINTON JACKSON

Former editor of Insight, professor emeritus, author of many books and hundreds of articles.

Clinton Jackson is a highschool science teacher in Brisbane, Australia.

NATHAN BROWN

CARL MCROY

Former editor of Record and Signs of the Times (Australian edition), now book editor at Signs Publishing Company, just outside Melbourne.

Has written or been editing author of 20 books.

Carl McRoy is an ordained minister, armchair historian, connoisseur of curry, shooter of pool, and writer of articles.

HERB MONTGOMERY STEPHEN CHAVEZ Retired after 26 years as an editor for Adventist Review, served a twoyear term as president of Associated Church Press, North America’s oldest religious press association, is now Director of Church Relations at SDA Kinship International.

Herb Montgomery is director of Renewed Ministries. Discover more: renewedheartministries.com

ZIVAYI NENGOMASHA

Zivayi Nengomasha is Director of Programs and Planning for ADRA Africa.

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Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

Black Sabbath and T-Pain Join MLK’s March on Militarism As King was silenced, a whole new band was tuning up.

While preparing for what’s now known as the “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King,

A dream devolved?

Why would anyone kill a Christian minister

Jr. said he wanted it to be as moving and

for describing such a dreamy dream in such a

memorable as Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg

sing-songy way? Was MLK’s demise due to the

Address.” Why else would he begin with the line,

nightmare he shared in a May 8, 1967 NBC

“Five score years ago”?

interview?

Not only did “I Have a Dream” define the

“I must confess that dream I had that day

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, it

has in many points turned into a nightmare. . .

continues to serve as a teaching model for

Some of the old optimism was a little superficial

public speaking classes. However, is it possible

and now it must be tempered with a solid

this speech became too memorable?

realism.”

Is there a potential problem when so many

What realities were tempering his optimism?

people’s knowledge of Dr King is 30 seconds

How did the dream devolve into a nightmare in

worth of quotes from a 16-minute speech? Does

3½ years? And what led 72% of White Americans

remembering the line about “content of their

and 55% of Black Americans to view Dr King

character” lead us to forget the crowd had

unfavorably by the end of his life?

“come to our nation’s capital to cash a check”?

It seems MLK’s ministry has been reduced to

On April 4, 1967, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, delivered a speech called “Beyond Vietnam: A

a one-page comic strip of him at the Lincoln

Time to Break Silence.” He argued that the war in

Memorial with a few speech balloons coming

Vietnam undermined the War on Poverty and

from his mouth. Blurbs that omit lines like, "The

subverted nonviolence as a means of problem

whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the

solving. Dr King also diagnosed America with

foundations of our nation until the bright day of

three interrelated diseases: racism,

justice emerges.”

extreme materialism, and militarism.

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These comorbidities were displayed in living

Only God knows if they are practicing Satanists,

rooms everywhere:

or merely perceptive marketers using

“We have been repeatedly faced with the

controversy to sell music. Either way, one of

cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on

their most well-known songs is an 8-minute,

TV screens as they kill and die together for a

eschatological critique of the military industrial

nation that has been unable to seat them

complex.

together in the same schools. And so, we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would hardly live on the same block in Chicago.”

Dr King further explained the “Three Evils of

They kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in schools.

Society,” a few months later in August, 1967. He spoke from “a common concern for the moral health of our nation.” He and others had “seen through the superficial glory and glitter of our

Ironic ministry?

Black Sabbath’s 1970 song, “War Pigs,”

society and observed the coming of judgment.”

attacked two of the evil triplets identified by Dr

They had “read the handwriting on the wall” and

King, militarism and economic exploitation:

“seen our nation weighed in the balance of history and found wanting.”

Politicians hide themselves away

This prophetic rhetoric wasn’t from a sense

They only started the war

of celebration or vindication, but that of

Why should they go out to fight?

lamentation. King’s dissident patriotism sought

They leave that role to the poor…

to redirect a nation he believed was on the highway to hell.

Drum Major dies, but the beat goes on

Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait til their judgment day comes Isn’t it ironic that this band would prophesy

The nation whose soul King sought to save

a judgment hour warning on warmongers while

reacted to the diagnosis with denial and anger.

many American clergy remixed “praise the Lord

Many civil rights advocates abandoned him;

and pass the ammunition”? There will be war

President Lyndon Johnson called him that “g-

protest songs as long as there are wars, but few

dd--n ni**er preacher;” and over 150

have ever preached fire and brimstone lyrics

newspapers published scathing rebukes of their

like these:

formerly preferred civil rights spokesperson.

Dr King was assassinated on the one-year

No more war pigs have the power

anniversary of “Beyond Vietnam.” However, as

Hand of God has struck the hour

the “drum major for righteousness” was

Day of Judgment, God is calling

silenced, a whole new band was tuning up.

On their knees, the war pigs crawling

Early in 1968, they called themselves The Polka Tulk Blues Band. Then renamed

Light from the darkness?

themselves Earth. In September, they

Does God sometimes speak through the darker

permanently branded themselves after the

corners of society to enlighten those who claim

horror movie “Black Sabbath.” These heavy

to see? Is it too scandalous to think God could

metal pioneers seemed to thrive on being called

use such profane means to make a point?

satanists. They kept the tension alive by

What’s more sacrilegious, a metal band calling

rejecting it verbally and feeding it through

for an end to industrialized invasions and

album art, song titles, and other stunts.

commercialized killing, or followers of the Prince

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of Peace conjuring up reasons for war?

God always preserves a witness in the world, often in unconventional ways. God spoke through a bush to Moses. God spoke to Balaam

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imagine Dr King thrashing his head to “War Pigs.” However, these diverse messengers had a similar message.

through a donkey. Jesus declared rocks would cry out when people don’t have the courage.

Why not an irreverent rock band originally named after the brand of talcum powder the

God always preserves an unconventional witness in the world.

lead singer’s mother used on his bum as a baby? Is God allowed to have a sense of humor?

Since war persists, this “joke” isn’t going away. Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” videos have over 250 million views on YouTube and over 100 million streams on Spotify. In 2023, T-Pain proved he could sing without autotune by covering “War Pigs”. The original lead singer, Ozzy Ozborne, called T-Pain’s cover the best ever. Black Sabbath’s song was suddenly known to audiences of different generations and musical preferences than their original fans.

From pulpits in the late 1960s, to rock concerts since the ‘70s, to a rapper in the 2020s, to the online replays and reactions, all shared the same sheet of music. Crucifying one Messenger, shooting another, and discrediting others, won’t make the judgment’s fierce urgency go away. To everyone capitalizing off of wars and rumors of war, the searing question of the last 20 centuries is reprised: What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose your soul?

Same sheet, different singers I haven’t asked Ozzy or T-Pain what they think about the song’s overlap with “Beyond Vietnam” (since they don’t know me from Adam). Nor do I

—Carl McRoy. A version of this article was previously published at https://threefifths.online/2024/04/08/blacksabbath-t-pain-join-mlks-march-on-militarism/

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INSPIRATIONCOLLECTIVE

A House on Fire: This Adventist Peace Fellowship podcast series is based on the excellent book on race and racism

Red Letter Christian Podcast: Christian commentary on the way of Jesus in the world today

Adventist Voices: Weekly podcast and companion to Spectrum designed to foster community through conversation

Adventist Pilgrimage: A lively monthly podcast focusing on the academic side of Adventist history

Renewed Heart Ministries talks about the intersection of Jesus, faith, and social justice today

Just Liberty: A fresh, balanced take on religious liberty—where justice and liberty meet

Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

You just found out your child is gay.

Where do you go for support?

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International sdakinship.org

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Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

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MY MONEY IS ABOUT MORE THAN ME Do you have a favourite Nestlé product? It might be hard to choose as the company owns more than 2000 different brands. For me it is a nice, comforting, warm bowl of Maggi twominute noodles. Despite the ubiquity of its products, Nestlé has a string of controversies to its name: added sugar in baby food (but only in developing countries), 1 pumping water from rivers in drought-prone areas, plastic pollution from discarded products (17% on one beach in 2 Philippines), lead contamination in Maggi noodles, 1 concerns over slave and child labor, and so many more that there is a Wikipedia 3 article devoted to Nestlé controversies. As someone who tries to be a responsible consumer, it seems that I might be best to avoid products made or owned by Nestlé. But what if I was making money from these practices? If I am trying to be careful with how my money is being spent, perhaps I also need to be careful with how my money is invested.

As part of living out my Christian faith, I consider that I need to have a greater view than

just profit when investing my money. As part of this greater view, I want to: - honour the image of God in my fellow humankind. Believing that all humans are created in the image of God means that all humans deserve respect, dignity, and safety.

How I treat others reflects how I treat the image of God. By extension, if my money is being used in ways that endanger people and the places they live and work, then I am not honouring the image of God in those people.

- treat the natural world with the respect and care that it needs. I believe that God takes the material world seriously, so seriously in fact that He sent His Son, in physical form to die a material death and to have a physical resurrection. If God takes the material/ physical world that seriously, then so should I. As such, I have a Christian duty to be concerned about the physical world, inclusive of the health of my fellow humans and the health of the plants, animals and systems that make up the physical world.

Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

Applying these Christian principles means that I don't want my money invested in companies that make or sell tobacco or alcohol, or in companies that misuse animals in the development of their products, or who pollute the environment, or who extract so much from the environment that nothing is left behind, or who create products that are difficult to dispose of, or create weapons that harm and maim, or who treat their workers as disposable, or make them work in unsafe conditions, or who are not committed to treating all of their employees with dignity.

A number of years ago I decided to move my —in Australia, compulsory—retirement fund into exclusively ethical options. Apart from wanting my funds invested in a way that reflected my values, my logic was that by the time the fund manager assessed if a company was ethical they would also have a pretty clear idea if it was a profitable investment. To date, I am satisfied that my saved money is growing at least as well as comparable funds and that my chosen fund is actively working to improve the ways companies operate and to build a better world. I am fortunate that I have been able to find a B-Corp Certified retirement fund manager that not only actively screens against certain investments but also, in carefully considered situations, remains invested in companies in order to agitate for change via shareholder meetings.

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But there is another biblical principle that serves as a warning for companies and investors only seeking profit: “A man reaps what he sows.

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:7, 8, NIV).

In the short term, companies can make a lot of money by not making responsible and ethical decisions, but eventually government regulations and fines, and consumer sentiment, can make a seemingly financial attractive investment turn into a financial liability. The way we use our “treasure” here on Earth affects other people and, as people who consider our ultimate treasure to beyond this Earth, we should be intentional in our financial actions and choices.

1. https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/ne stl-controversies-from-sugar-in-baby-foodto-maggi-ban-we-look-at-top-8-concernsin-india-and-abroad-11713417236611.html 2. https://measurepnw.com/blog/what-isgreenwashing-a-nestl%C3%A9-case-study 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_of _Nestl%C3%A9 –Clinton Jackson

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ReView

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Faithful Reflection to Shape our Public Action Michael Wear shared many of his experiences

The Spirit of Our Politics Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life Michael Wear (Zondervan Books, 2023, 231 pages)

the way in which we engage and the kind of

and insights as a young White House and

people we are becoming, even amid the

campaign staffer for President Obama in his first

challenges of our times. His insights into the

book, Reclaiming Hope. Some six years later, his

story of six-year-old schoolgirl Ruby Bridges and

new book The Spirit of Our Politics is less about

her place in the history of school integration in

the “war stories” of political engagement and

1960 in the final chapter of the book are perhaps

more a reflection on the kind of spiritual focus

worth the read in themselves with their reminder

that can support a faith-based activist—and all of

of the call of Jesus to child-like faith, even in the

us as citizens and voters—to engage in public

most challenging circumstances.

issues in ways that matter, but that are also sustainable and faithful.

Public engagement in politics and the issues of justice is difficult and holds many distractions and temptations even for those who seek to do it faithfully. As someone who has been there as a

Spiritual formation in politics is about the kind of people we are becoming.

younger person and continues to engage and work in this space as a more mature thinker, believer and founder of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, Wear challenges us

As the language of his subtitle suggests,

to be shaped by our faith and to grow in our faith

Wear’s book and his own faithful politics are

in working for the good of our society,

influenced pre-eminently by the spiritual

particularly for the poor and disinherited. As

disciplines and kingdom theology championed

such, The Spirit of Our Politics is worth some of

by Dallas Willard. Indeed, one of the criticisms

the reflection that shapes our actions in the

that could be levelled at The Spirit of Our Politics

world around us.

is that it spends quite some pages rehearsing material from Willard, albeit adapted to the political contexts it addresses.

However, for those who have not committed the requisite time and reading effort to The Divine Conspiracy, Wear’s summaries might act as a useful primer to the thinking of this contemporary philosopher of discipleship, which is a worthwhile role in itself. For those who are familiar with Willard’s work, Wear does some thoughtful application of this to the seemingly unlikely realm of politics and the public work of justice.

Wear is adamant that the role of spiritual formation in our public engagement is not about a particular political outcome. Instead, it is about

—Nathan Brown

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What have you watched, read, listened to or otherwise engaged with that changed your mind, gave new insights, told a good story or again inspired you for the work of justice? Write a review of 300 to 399 words and send it to Pulse to share with our JLC community.

Send your submissions to admin@justlovecollective.org

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JUSTLOVE LETTERS MORE SUMMIT FEEDBACK I have always wanted a church where we can

I appreciated the topics, the speakers

discuss big issues rather than ignore them. Let’s

and not only increasing my level of

talk about racism without the need to rush and

awareness but making new friends!

exclaim “I’m not racist.” Let’s discuss how to

I was inspired!

care for LGBTQ+ people. Let’s acknowledge the

—Datha, Riverside, CA

harms done to Indigenous peoples, and the inherent wisdom they bring to the table. God’s kingdom should be known for who it welcomes in, not who it keeps out.

So I enjoyed JustLove—worth waking up at 5 am Australian time to hear Garrison Hayes speak (among others). I don’t want our church to wither because it is irrelevant, and too invested in not offending people to confront what really matters. Thank you for this community of people who care and realize that Justice and Love are the call of Christ. Thanks for hard conversations where we do not have to agree.

Watching from this side of the world made me smile, seeing various names pop up on the screen—recognising some that I know, also seeing new names that came from Australia and

The JLC is an urgent genesis to a necessary network of agents within Seventh-day Adventism attempting to engage with their local/global needs. While it is truly a raw experience, its call to act now and the demand for vulnerability sheds the small talk of do-nothing politics and goes straight to the question. What is your privileged risk and what can you do from that? It's a gutpunch of a question that if leaned more into, will find the collective with a wildfire of a movement.

—Pono Lopez, HI

noting that I want to seek them out.

–Rebecca Dunn, Brisbane, Australia

The Summit renewed my courage and strengthened my faith in the Jesus who calls us to love our neighbor.

—Marlene

Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

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Pulse / JustLove Collective / June 2024 / Issue 3

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Gratitude As we launch, we are particularly grateful for every contribution to JustLove Collective. Donations are tax-deductible. Though we are a global movement of volunteers, we do need to pay for expenses related to this magazine and to the Summit. For more information, please see our website at justlovecollective.org

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Norma and Richard Osborn

Anonymous

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Something Else Sabbath

Yolanda and Chris Blake

Eileen and Dave Gemmel

School

Jill and Greg Hoenes

Heart, Soul & Mind

Julie and Ty McSorley

Discipleship Class

Elizabeth Rodacker and Ed Borgens SDA Kinship International Adela and Arpad Soo

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