This week LinC looks at the critically acclaimed movie Into the Wild, which tells the true story of Christopher McCandless, who gave away his money and headed for the Alaskan wilderness, where he eventually died of starvation. Wilderness plays an important role in our faith story. Many biblical heroes were tested and transformed in the wild; and most people find themselves in the wilderness (either literally or figuratively) at some point in their lives. How can we meet God in these experiences and return from the wilderness transformed? Key Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11; Acts 9:1-19. Next week LinC looks at the story of a church in Connecticut whose fierce opposition to the death penalty was tested recently when three members of the congregation were brutally murdered. Without debating how this congregation should respond to this sad and complex situation, we will explore ways to think theologically about the larger issue of capital punishment, taking into consideration Scripture and the teachings of the church.
