📚 I wrote a book! 📚 I’ve spent the last 15+ years walking alongside people with spiritual trauma. In almost every case, the primary weapon used against them was the Bible. Instead of leading to healing and wholeness, which has always been God’s intention for humanity, Scripture has been used to shame and scold, judge and condemn, marginalize and oppress. Far too many folks have experienced the Bible as a toxic text that causes more harm than good. This book is an attempt to take what I’ve learned from brilliant authors, activists, scholars and theologians, as well as from the incredible people I get to minister alongside every day, and synthesize it into a helpful resource for reading the Bible in better ways. To do that, we’ll dismantle four common lenses for reading Scripture that lead to harm—Literalism, Apocalypse, Moralism, and Hierarchy. And then we’ll explore four new lenses—Jesus, Context, Flourishing, and Fruitfulness—that promote healing and wholeness for all people. We’ll take these better lenses and apply them to frequently weaponized biblical passages, concepts, and statements, like “I do not permit a woman to teach,” the creation story in Genesis, the notorious “clobber verses” used  against LGBTQ+ people, the book of Revelation, eternal conscious torment in hell, and much more. I started this journey because I came to believe that if our way of interpreting the Bible hurts people, then it must be reconsidered. The way of Jesus always leads to healing, not harm. Better ways to read the Bible exist, ways that lead to restoration, wholeness, and flourishing for all people. If you feel similarly and are ready to take a fresh look at the Scriptures, welcome to the journey. Let’s discover better ways of reading the Bible together. Also, PLEASE PREORDER TODAY! The book comes out August 12th, but preorders are so important, especially for a first-time author like me. Thank y’all so much 💙

When this national nightmare is finally over, may we never forget who it was that nurtured the nightmare and that turned a blind eye to all its horrors, no matter how vile, venal, depraved, vindictive, lawless, or cruel: White Evangelicals.

I am a husband, father, and lifelong Texan. I’ve been a Christian since I was 5 and a pastor since I was 19. And I just proudly voted for James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa, Jon Rosenthal, and Vikki Goodwin. While it’s true that Ken Paxton is as corrupt and morally bankrupt as they come, Greg Abbott has decimated our public schools, Dan Patrick is bought and paid for by right-wing billionaires, and Bo French wears his racism on his sleeve, I didn’t just vote AGAINST candidates I know will do a bad job. I had the privilege of voting FOR candidates who will do a great job! I originally connected with Jimmy Talarico many years ago (long before he got famous) and we became friends shortly after. He’s the exact same guy in private as he is in public—kindhearted, whip smart, hardworking, and very serious about following Jesus’ call to care for all people, especially the most vulnerable. That’s who he’s been in ministry, in the Texas Legislature, and I have no doubt that’s who he’ll be as a United States Senator too. I’ve also gotten to speak with Gina Hinojosa, Jon Rosenthal, and Vikki Goodwin this year. I believe they will fight for two things that are very important to my family and so many people in our church community: 1. An economy where every Texan can afford to have their basic needs met. 2. Fully funded public schools where all children can thrive. I’m not telling you who to vote for; I’m just telling you who I chose to vote for and why. We are in a critical moment in both the United States and Texas, so I hope you vote. And if you are a follower of Jesus, I hope you see your vote as a way to prioritize the way of Jesus—sacrificial love of neighbor and justice for those who have been marginalized.

New: OutYouth, an LGBTQ+ youth program in Austin, says it's briefly closing for safety reasons because it was mentioned in the fake trans resource guide pamphlets that went out this week across Texas chron.com/culture/article/te…

Now that reporters have confirmed right-wing groups are behind the transgender mailers and texts here in Texas, I'm seeing so many people say things like: "It doesn't matter who sent them! They still tell the truth about how Democrats want to trans our children!" And I just don't know how to have a productive conversation with someone who uses this kind of reasoning.

Texas was built by hope. By people who had no business believing — but believed anyway. To every Texan who’s ever wondered if anyone in power is paying attention: We are taking our state back. Because a little bit of hope is a dangerous thing.

Since 2013… 1,208 children have been shot at school. 0 children have received gender reassignment surgery at school. We've turned imaginary issues into national emergencies while turning a blind eye to real threats.

Jesse knows it's time for change in Texas. Proud to have your support!

Keep using your voice. Advocacy work really does matter.

I got to guest lecture two classes (one undergrad and one graduate) at UT today all about justice and advocacy work in the digital age. It was a blast. The students were super engaged, asked great questions, and shared some of the justice work they are working on too. This generation is often accused of being lazy and entitled, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. These folks are going to change the world.

Right-wing Christians literally fantasize about stripping and torturing people they disagree with.

I’ve never even been to Ohio 😂

A live-streamed firing squad in the 21st century is not so different from public execution on a Roman cross in the 1st century. Those who cheer the firing squad today must come to grips with the fact that they would also have cheered the cross 2000 years ago.

One thousand percent. The amount of “Christians” siding with empire in this is disgraceful, frankly. They use Jesus death as fodder for wicked antichrist state sanctioned murder. How is that any better than the murderer?!

When you’ve even lost the evangelicals…

Everybody wants to quote the Bible. Don’t nobody wanna follow Jesus.

I can’t imagine a less Christian thing than live-streaming an execution. Doing so while claiming to be “pro-life” is the height of hypocrisy. As Dr. King said, “Violence only begets more violence. The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.”