When Civility Fails: A Pastor’s Response to Violence, Rage, and the Hard Work of Truth

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  by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D. Introduction — Why I must speak I have been reflecting on recent events in our nation and wrestling with how best to speak into them. As a follower of Jesus Christ and as a pastor, I believe my calling is to shed more light than heat in times of turmoil, and to offer the seasoning of grace in a culture that often tastes bitter. This will not be an exercise in soft-peddling. It will be frank, pastoral, and, where necessary, unflinching. Somewhere, this post will fail to address a consideration that it might have spoken to. I own it, saying in my defense only that space prevents my discussing everything that might be said on a subject and my views on it. Yet undoubtedly, this will cover more ground than most newspaper op-ed articles. Some readers may focus on one thing I say in the post without taking the entirety of what I said here in context. I pray you won't. But I resign myself to the likelihood some will. What I saw this past week I saw a young...
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Faith, Hope, and Redemption in the Book of Ruth

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by Bart Denny

When life leaves us bitter, where do we turn for hope? That’s the question the Book of Ruth gently answers—not with booming declarations, but with quiet acts of kindness, faith, and God’s hidden hand at work.

At first glance, God seems to play only a minor role in Ruth’s story. But by the final chapter, we see that this isn’t just a quaint tale of loyalty—it’s a redemptive thread woven into the tapestry of Israel’s greatest king, David. And ultimately, it’s a foreshadowing of the Redeemer of all humanity: Jesus Christ.

Hesed: A Kindness That Goes Beyond

If you had to sum up the entire book of Ruth in one word, that word might be hesed—a Hebrew term often translated as “kindness,” though no single English word captures its depth. Hesed is love in action, covenant faithfulness, and mercy. It’s sacrificial and often unexpected.

We see hesed in Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, Boaz’s generosity to Ruth, and God’s love through both. Ruth’s story is a living reminder that God often works His kindness through ordinary people like you and me.

Faith and Hope When Life Falls Apart

Naomi’s journey is one of deep grief and loss. But Ruth clings to her—and more than that, to Naomi’s God. Ruth shows up, day after day, in faith. And God honors that faith by providing more than she could have imagined. Redemption begins with trust, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Redemption: From Brokenness to Restoration

Boaz isn’t just a rescuer—he’s a kinsman redeemer, a powerful Old Testament picture of Jesus. Through Boaz, Ruth is redeemed. Through Ruth and Boaz’s son, Obed, comes David. And through David’s line—Jesus, our eternal Redeemer.

God at Work Behind the Scenes

The Book of Ruth reminds us that even when we can’t see God’s hand, He is still at work. His hesed never fails. His redemption never stops reaching. And His story of hope includes you.

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All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

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