Posted on February 4, 2021 by PLT Staff

Lecture given by prophetic leader and civil rights pioneer Dr. John M. Perkins in the University of Virginia’s Dome Room in Charlottesville, Virginia (February 22, 2020). The lecture begins at 21:20. How do we make justice and love a reality in our lives and in our communities? With wisdom born of 60 years in activism and Christian ministry, Perkins guides the way. He starts by asking how we can bring to life Jefferson’s vision that “all men are created equal.” Perkins then describes the importance to ministry of intentionality, an integrated theology, and a focus on the pain and brokenness of people. He concludes that loving others is the ultimate form of discipleship and that we must find a way to be good stewards of God’s world without disenfranchising others. Dr. Nathan Walton, Executive Director of Charlottesville’s Abundant Life Ministries, moderates the discussion. A Q&A session starts at 1:11:45. Perkins’ lecture was sponsored by the Project on Lived Theology, the Department of Religious Studies, and Theological Horizons. To browse all the lectures given as part of the Capps Lecture series, click here. For a listing of all our Occasional Lectures, click here.

Excerpt: “What is passion? Passion is to enter into the brokenness of others, and so, you see pain. When Jesus got here, he saw pain. He fed a lot of people because a lot of people were hungry. We healed a lot of people because a lot of people had disease. He met them around their felt needs. He wrapped them around with inherent dignity. He didn’t profile them and color-code them. So, the big question of religion is not just motivation to be good; it’s ‘What is the pain of others?’”

• Video Information
• Date Recorded:February 22, 2020
• Location Recorded:Charlottesville, VA