Anti-colonial devotional challenges systems of exploitation and domination

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LOUISVILLE — In Unbound’s latest Advent devotional, Palestinian theological educator Dr. Grace Al-Zoughbi Arteen offers her perspective on Jesus as the “Subversive King.”

“The ‘good news’ of Jesus’ birth is a direct challenge to the status quo, declaring that the true King has come to bring peace on Earth, not through conquest or domination, but through humility, service, and sacrificial love,” writes Arteen, an assistant professor at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. “This story resonates deeply with those who continue to live under unjust systems. Jesus’ birth signals the beginning of a new world order — one where the last will be first, where the marginalized are lifted up, and where the kingdoms of this world are turned upside down by the kingdom of God.”

Arteen’s piece is the Christmas Eve entry in “Boundless: An Anti-Colonial Advent Devotional,” which was released Nov. 11 by Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice.

The free devotional, with a focus on liberation, features a diverse set of writers, including Sarah Augustine, the author of “The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery,” the Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam, director of the Center for the Repair of Historic Harms, the Rev. Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava, director of engagement for More Light Presbyterians, and Dr. William Yoo, author of “What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church.”

“The writers of the devotional come from spaces where dominating powers have stolen land, culture and people,” said the Rev. Lee Catoe, editor of Unbound. “The Advent and Christmas stories are surrounded by the colonizing entity of the Roman Empire that impacted the lives of all of the characters: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the shepherds, etc. The writers of Boundless take those stories and apply them to their context, whether that be in India, the U.S., Palestine, Latin America and beyond. … The powers of the colonizers are still very much present.”

While Advent is usually a time of reflection, the devotional is intended to motivate people to do more than just read. “This devotional calls us to dismantle those (aforementioned) powers and work toward anti-colonial models of liberation that our scriptures and traditions have always supported (and) in fact are central to our faith,” Catoe said.

Although regular readers of Unbound will find plenty to love about the devotional, it’s intended for a broad audience.

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“I think everyone should read it, no matter if you are deep in your deconstruction of colonization or you are just beginning,” Catoe said. “It is my hope this starts conversations in faith spaces about our role in both repenting of the church’s major part in colonizing the world and working to dismantle it. No matter where we sit on the ideological spectrum, this devotional will start conversations.”

The devotional, which can be read online or downloaded, includes many enthusiastic contributors with compelling reasons for taking part in the project.

Terry M. Wildman, Project Manager and Lead Translator for the “First Nations Version: Indigenous Translations of the New Testament” and a Psalms and Proverbs project, is a returning contributor.

“Last year, I wrote a Lenten devotional for Unbound titled ‘Weeping with Those Who Weep.’ It was an opportunity to connect the teachings of Jesus with the experiences of our Indigenous peoples in North America, while also raising awareness within the majority culture,” Wildman said. “When Unbound invited me to write a devotional for Advent, I saw it as another chance to continue this important work. I’m often struck by how the colonial experience of our Indigenous people casts a revealing light on how we interpret the scriptures.”

Fellow contributor Arteen said, “I was honored to contribute to Unbound’s Advent devotional because this season offers such a powerful opportunity for reflection and renewal. Advent is a time of waiting and hope — an invitation to reflect on our longing for God's presence in the world. Writing for this devotional allowed me to connect that timeless anticipation with the struggles and hopes we face today as Christians in the Middle East.”

Another contributor with personal perspective on the region is the Rev. Dr. Niveen Ibrahim Sarras of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Neenah, Wisconsin. She was born and raised in Bethlehem, Palestine.

“I wanted to publish this article in ‘Boundless: An Anti-Colonial Advent Devotional’ to share a theological perspective on John’s prologue that resonates deeply with my own experiences of Israeli settler colonialism,” she said. “Through this reflection, I connect the incarnation of Christ — born into a context of Roman imperial oppression — with the ongoing struggles of indigenous peoples, particularly Palestinians, who endure land dispossession, segregation, and marginalization.”

Sarras went on to say, “By exploring the Gospel of John through an anti-colonial lens, I aimed to highlight how the Word’s incarnation calls for liberation, justice and divine solidarity with the oppressed. Publishing this article allowed me to affirm the inherent dignity of all people and challenge systems of exploitation and domination. My hope is that this contribution inspires readers to embrace a faith rooted in love, justice and resistance to injustice, especially during the Advent season.”

Unbound’s social media channels, including its Facebook page, will be posting content from “Boundless,” starting Dec. 1 and already contain previews, including background on the authors. Follow along, and remember, you can begin perusing the content and prayers today on Unbound’s website.

Unbound is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.