The Sickness
"The Sickness" (Luke 18:9-14)
Many of us have adopted the belief that Jesus was nice to everyone, but this is simply not true. He was stern, even angry when people used religion as a tool of divineness or elitism.
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.