September 13th, 2025

My Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,
Last week I spoke about our growing polarization. Sadly, this week brought more of the same with the news cycle surrounding Charlie Kirk. I’ll be honest: I know little about him, and those who know me know I’m largely apolitical. Too many people root their identity in politics; I find mine in Christ.
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Dante warned about the dangers of politics—he even places members of his own faction in hell. Christians should engage the public square, but never confuse any government with the Kingdom of God. We’re called to pray for our leaders whether we like them or not. The earliest Christians prayed and worked for the good of a state that persecuted them.

Hatred and violence are never the answer. As a Christian, I must love and forgive—especially when it is hardest.

I recently mentioned a video that was coming out on the First Vatican Council.  Two videos released last weekend offer helpful context for understanding two major theological movements. The first, from Gospel Simplicity, explores the First Vatican Council. Austin examines the assumptions and historical forces behind the council. While balanced, the video can clarify why the Old Catholic movement arose: we saw a papal overreach that treated the pope as the Church and tradition itself, rather than as a shepherd who strengthens his brethren (Luke 22:32). I would add two points not covered: (1) modern devotion to the papacy grew under specific political pressures, including Napoleon’s imprisonment of Popes Pius VI and Pius VII; and (2) beyond papal infallibility, many Old Catholics today find claims of universal jurisdiction even more problematic. Watch Vatican I: An In-Depth Guide here:  https://youtu.be/O8EbLoopUwg?si=WUnu-...

The second video, from a Cold War–focused channel, examines Liberation Theology across Latin America in the 1970s–80s. Liberation Theology emphasized justice and freedom in the present, bringing it into conflict with authoritarian regimes backed by the United States and with the Vatican. Priests and nuns were targeted for feeding the poor, teaching literacy, and giving voice to the marginalized. While some adopted class struggle and uprising, many sought peace and justice—and were silenced under the banner of anti-communism. Watch Liberation Theology — The Cold War .https://youtu.be/Dfu2I_LTKt4?si=WVMa9... May it help us recognize how easily we can participate in “structures of sin” even while believing we are resisting ungodly ideologies.

This weekend, we released the final video on Sacramentalized but not Evangelized which I am linking below. 
May God bless and keep you.
Peace,
Rev. Ben