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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 8h

Blue Jays!

Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 15h

Maybe this is an extreme. But it nicely illustrates a reality I've been noting for over a decade: Christianity is polarizing into two broad camps, each with a different Jesus, a different Spirit, a different gospel (2Cor11:4). Both claim biblical support, but they read their Bibles very differently.

Screenshot of a social media post and response.

The post: "Jesus is my king, and that's why I protested [at the No Kings Day protests]."

The response: "You don't serve the same Jesus I do. Jesus has always been against, homosexuality, abortion, stealing from the wealthy to pay for the poor. Jesus hates all sin, but you all justify sin and say Jesus is okay with it. That's why you don't serve the same Jesus, I do. You all cry about immigration, but doesn't Heaven have a border? Does anyone get into Heaven without a relationship with Jesus? They sure don't. But I thought Jesus was for borders... Again, you do not serve the same Jesus I do."

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 19h

"Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you'" (John 20:19).

The resurrected Jesus' first words to his gathered disciples: "Peace be with you." Words so important he repeats them (John 20:21).

May God's peace be with you—peace within you, peace among you, peace around you.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 1d

I had a terrific time this morning worshiping with Whitewater Mennonite Church in Boissevain! A wonderful Jesus-centred community in a great town.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 2d

"When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself" (John 6:15).

Jesus still does this, every time we try to make a "Christian nation." #NoKings

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 2d

"They are defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus" (Acts 17:7).

For Anabaptists, there are #NoKings but Jesus. And he's a king unlike any other. He gives himself for the world, and he gives his kingdom to the poor and the poor in spirit.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 4d

With anti-DEI rhetoric once again making its way from Trumpland to Canada, and especially the lie that "DEI" means "hiring unqualified people," it's time to tap the sign. ⬇️

Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · Apr 24

DEI hiring practices have nothing to do with simply hiring women, Black people, LGBTQ+ people, and so on, regardless of their qualifications. DEI hiring practices are about helping *qualified* people overcome social barriers to equal employment. Who doesn't want that?

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 4d

"When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him" (Luke 24:30-31).

This is one way Jesus still reveals himself to us: in the breaking of bread, gathered together around the table.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 5d

"Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing'" (Luke 23:34).

Of all the hard sayings of Jesus, this might be the hardest.

Forgiving one's crucifiers. While hanging on the very cross they just crucified you on.

Lord, have mercy.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 6d

You know, even if the Flames finish 1-81, it's still mission accomplished: beating the Oilers in Edmonton in the opening game of the season. #LifeAsAFlamesFan

Screenshot of the standings of the Western Pacific division of the NHL, as of October 14, 2025. The Calgary Flames are last in the division with a 1-2-0 record.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 7d

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful for many things, and one of them is living in Canada. Despite its flaws, which are real and at times seem overwhelming, Canada consistently ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of safety, political and economic stability, overall wellbeing, and more.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 8d

Many people—especially white evangelical Christians—are getting what they want, and they're willing to turn a blind eye to how we get there.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 8d

The answer? There are more people than we think who, while not necessarily liking fascist leaders or fascist methods, do like its results.

Fewer immigrants. Fewer (visible) queer people. More "traditional values" (meaning societal/family/gender/sexual norms rooted in white patriarchy). ➡️

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 8d

Growing up, I always wondered how people in Germany in the 1930s could allow fascism to take hold. In particular, as a Christian, I couldn't understand how *Christians* could allow that to happen.

Now, watching the rise of fascism next door, I have at least a partial answer. ➡️

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 8d

Jesus: "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over" (John 18:36).

The kingdoms of this world are founded on violence—political violence, state violence, economic violence.

God's kingdom is not.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 9d

"Lord, should we strike with the sword?" we ask.

Jesus rebukes us: "No more of this!" (Luke 22:49-51).

"The Lord, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier" (Tertullian, 160-220 CE).

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 9d

I've been sick the last three days, mostly oblivious to the world.

Coming out of the fog, I'm more determined than ever to present a vision of Jesus that is faithful to Christian scripture and thus runs counter to prevailing Christian nationalism.

We white Christians in North America need Jesus.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 10d

I'm grateful for a ceasefire in Gaza, and praying that it moves toward a lasting peace. More than that, that it moves toward a just peace for Palestine.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 11d

I'm fine with these signs. As long as what they mean by sin and evil are the kinds of things the Bible most often calls sin and evil. Like not caring for the poor. Like oppressing the foreigner. Like accumulating wealth. Somehow, though, I doubt those are the sins they're thinking of.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 13d

Poor Aaron is getting schooled on Canadian humour...

Post from Aaron Rupar showing a picture of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, with the statement: "'You are a transformative president' -- I regret to inform you that Mark Carney is kissing Trump's ass"

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 13d

And people wonder why Canadians don't want to come to the US anymore...

Picture of an ICE agent in a van, pointing a gun out the window at the person taking the picture.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 13d

Finally, while I think what you're suggesting would be helpful, it would be somewhat limited. As followers of Jesus we're called not only to learn and obey his teachings, but also to imitate his way of life. I think the best way to get at all this is simply sustained engagement with the Gospels.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 13d

None of those is exactly what you're asking for, though. This is also not what you're asking for, but I'll offer it anyway—a bit ago I posted various sayings of Jesus on social media, and then collected them here: michaelpahl.com/2025/03/03/t.... Not exhaustive, nor really fully representative.

This Is Jesus

The early Christians had written collections of Jesus’ teachings, sometimes called Logia Iēsou by scholars, that is, “Sayings of Jesus.” These sayings collections were for teachin…

michaelpahl.com

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 13d

As a NT guy my mind immediately went to the various tools that have been produced over the years, like the Synopsis of the Four Gospels edited by Aland, or even (a very different creature) The Five Gospels put out by the Jesus Seminar. Crossan also has a book in this vein called Sayings Parallels.

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Michael Pahl @mwpahl.bsky.social · 13d

October 7.

Two years ago, Hamas militants killed nearly 1200 people in Israel, kidnapping 250.

Since then, in response, Israel has killed 65,000 people in Gaza, nearly half women and children, displacing almost the entire population of 2.2 million.

Remembering. Grieving. Praying. Trying to hope.

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