Many Messiahs
Advent is the season where the church calls to remembrance the coming of Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth, life, and even death would end up changing the landscape of the entire world.
Some would embrace the story of this child as it was meant to be— a story of hope about how much the God of the Ages is trying to unify all things with a message of love. Others would use it as a tool to separate people and build empires.
Regardless, the story of this child and the complicated ways it has been understood and spread throughout history has touched the lives of billions in a billion different ways.
Ryan Phipps is the Senior Minister at Church In Bethesda.
Raised in the church, becoming a pastor was the one thing Ryan vowed he would never do. After spending many years away from faith, he found that for all of its flaws, the church can still occupy a unique place of good in the world if it is willing to evolve with reason and empathy.
Ryan has a special place in his heart for those who have been damaged or disillusioned by the church, and longs to lead those within it toward a more just and generous expression of itself.