The past weeks have been disruptive, in ways both difficult and sad, true and good. As our nation has grappled with its embedded, systemic racism, as we have mourned and listened and protested, we want to do more than sign petitions, hold signs, march or post anti-racist messages on social media. But what?

Facing down racism in America will take all of our creativity in all our many fields of expertise and spheres of influence, including within Christian theology and practice - and so over the next two weeks we begin a short series in Revelation (which, it turns out, is a wonderful text for those seeking to overturn oppressive systems). This Sunday, we'll begin by exploring how Christian history created the conditions for white supremacy and racism in America, by drifting from the subversive teaching of Jesus toward the seductive pull of Empire (or, as Revelation calls it, "Babylon"). Then next week we'll begin to build a new imagination for how Christianity can again become a signpost toward the good, peaceable city God is building in the midst of the human family.