The ETHIOPIAN CHURCH Journal

"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, ...

Evangelical? What Do You Mean? By Mitiku Adisu    Evangelicals these days come in so many stripes that it is getting harder to tell which of the many stripes one is referring to. What is obvious is that not every strand fits in the coat of many colors. There are for example those who call themselves “evangelical atheists.” These are the anti-evangelicals, so to speak, who not only claim God does not exist but aggressively seek to convert the world into believing thus. Now, theirs takes a lot more faith than simply believing a God that supposedly exists. And then there are “evangelical” Lutherans [of America] who are debating whether or not to endorse same-sex marriage as long as [hear this] the relationship is “monogamous” and a “long term commitment.” No wonder European and North American Anglican and Episcopalian communions are undergoing a severe theological and moral crisis [or as some would have us believe, undergoing a “spiritual renewal.”] Not to leave them out, there a...

  "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your...

PM Meles’ speech this week on “religious tension” and “the need to be vigilant by people and government to guard our proud asset of religious tolerance” is a sure sign the situation in the country has turned a corner. The PM did not name names but did not mince words either as to where the blame should lie. The fact that the PM went on television to castigate “recalcitrant” religious leaders is itself a testament to the gravity of the matter. In an earlier post we stated that with the issuance of a new draft proclamation the church may need to prepare for all eventualities, especially, concerning her relationship with the state and other religious groups. The church should expect betrayals by disgruntled individuals and by those who would not hesitate to sell their soul for a piece of morsel. After all, the spirit of Judas lives on. Church leaders should tread carefully so as to not provide any excuses for authorities to turn “vigilance” into “vigilantism.” They should also make clea...

A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be fill...