What happens when justice is achieved through the same means that created injustice in the first place? Reflecting on Machine Gun Preacher, the Sermon on the Mount, and the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, this post wrestles with the domination cycle, Babylon’s seductive power, and the Jesus-way of liberation that refuses to plant the seeds…

Read the original post here: https://jaminbradley.com/2026/01/05/machine-gun-preachers-and-baby-babylons-why-power-cant-bring-justice/

My tiny dog is a big softy, but he feels like he needs to be someone else to impress me. As soon as I walk into a room, he feels compelled to show off his Sheltie instincts and herd my cats around. He dashes at them full force and lets out a growl, even though he was peacefully coexisting with them before I made my presence known...

Continue reading the original post here: https://jaminbradley.com/2025/12/30/stop-herding-the-cats-when-we-try-to-impress-a-god-whos-already-pleased/

The provided text is an excerpt from a blog post by Jamin Bradley, a pastor, theologian, musician, and author, titled "Tom Bombadil and Christian Perfection: Lessons from Tolkien and Wesley." Bradley uses the character Tom Bombadil from J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, who is unaffected by the One Ring, as a metaphor to explore the Christian concept of sanctification and John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection. The author suggests that while Bombadil exemplifies the potential to be free from temptation and intentional sin, this "perfection" also carries a danger of detachment, making the perfected individual unhelpful or judgmental toward those still struggling with sin, as seen in examples like drug addiction ministry. Ultimately, Bradley argues that while Christians must seek to overcome sin, this pursuit must be holy—producing love and humility—and not result in separating oneself from the world's struggles.

Original post: https://jaminbradley.com/2025/09/27/tom-bombadil-and-christian-perfection-lessons-from-tolkien-and-wesley/