07 Apr 2024 | Safety from Harm

·28 min·2 clips

Ken Wilson argues Christian theology has a woefully underdeveloped appreciation for scripture's emphasis on harm alleviation.

The episode features Ken Wilson, pastor emeritus of Blue Ocean Church Ann Arbor, delivering a sermon titled 'Safety from Harm.' Wilson begins by sharing his transition from pastor to congregant, expressing relief from pastoral responsibilities. He mentions drafting 14 chapters of a 27-chapter book called 'Safety from Harm,' which explores affirming theology. His central thesis is that Christian theology has an underdeveloped appreciation for scripture's emphasis on harm alleviation. Wilson consulted David Gushy, a Christian ethicist, who agreed on this lack of development. He then details his year of retirement study, including handwriting the book of Leviticus to listen closely. The sermon focuses on three biblical books: Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus. For Genesis, Wilson argues its primary concern is domestic violence, not sex, citing stories like Cain and Abel, Abraham and Sarah's treatment of Hagar, and Joseph's brothers. He notes Genesis teaches all humans are made in God's image, so harming them inflicts harm on the divine image. For Exodus, he describes it as a field guide to state-sponsored oppression, comparing it to historical events like the internment of Japanese Americans. Wilson connects Exodus to liberation theology and its importance in African-American churches. For Leviticus, he addresses common Protestant biases against rituals, explaining that ancient Near Eastern cultures all had similar practices. He reinterprets ritual purity rules as teaching respect for personal boundaries, not sin. Wilson discusses temple sacrifice, noting most sacrifices expressed gratitude or peace, with only two categories addressing sin, primarily inadvertent offenses. He links this to Jesus' words on the cross. The food laws and sacrifice system in Leviticus, he argues, aimed to limit meat eating and harm to animals, allowing only cattle, sheep, and goats without blemishes. Wilson concludes by discussing Christianity's 'original sin' when Gentiles took over the Jewish Jesus movement, leading to anti-Semitism and loss of connection to Jewish roots. He emphasizes that a harm alleviation ethic urges questioning teachings that cause harm, with holiness requiring empathy. The episode ends with Emily Swan leading a guided meditation.

As heard by us

A Leviticus sermon that treats ritual as public meaning and closes in prayerful quiet.

Emily Swan introduces Ken Wilson, Blue Ocean's pastor emeritus, and he returns to Blue Ocean by turning to Leviticus, ritual purity, and food laws as a theological question.

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Why you'd press play

If Leviticus makes you squint, this one starts with baseball and ends in silence.

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