We are the Children of Abundance
Shirin McArthur • October 29, 2025
The Legacy of Walter Brueggemann, and Finding Abundance Amidst a Culture of Scarcity
Back in June, we lost the prophetic voice of Hebrew Scripture scholar and Presbyterian theologian Walter Brueggemann. He was an incredibly prolific writer who, in the words of activist theologian Ched Myers, “dared to breach the gulf between seminary, sanctuary, and streets.”
I grew up Presbyterian, and I honestly can’t remember the first time I heard Brueggemann’s name. It seems like he’s always been part of my Christian landscape. (I’ve mentioned him in some of my own blog posts, here and here.)
Earlier this summer, I watched a video conversation produced by Homebrewed Christianity in which creator and theologian Tripp Fuller, along with two other colleagues, paid homage to Walter Brueggemann. Tripp tells about when he asked Walter Brueggemann which Bible story he would make sure to tell his children and grandchildren. Brueggemann responded that it was the feeding of the five thousand because the story is in all four Gospels and tells us clearly, "You are not children of scarcity, you're children of abundance. Don't forget it."
We are children of abundance, but we can indeed forget it. Our spiritual ancestors endured the abuse of slavery in Egypt, yet they longed to return there when their bellies were empty in the wilderness (see Numbers 16). God’s response was to provide an abundance of manna and quail to satiate their hunger. That helped, yet they still struggled to accept life in the wilderness.
While most of us are not facing literal hunger, we struggle to accept life in the wilderness of America today. We long to find evidence of compassion and justice around us. We can fill our tables with food at Thanksgiving, but we struggle to find the kindness and empathy to feed our souls.
It was in a similarly paradoxical setting—one of material abundance and spiritual hunger—that God came to us in Jesus. Hope was scarce in occupied Galilee, and compassion even more so. Yet Jesus fed the five thousand and helped them learn to trust in God’s ongoing care and providence.
As we look toward “the holidays” this year, we might have conflicting feelings about how we celebrate while we still live in the wilderness. I invite you to join me for our upcoming virtual retreat day on November 15 at 11am CT. Together, we'll recall how Jesus fed his followers and gave them hope. Let us receive the spiritual nourishment we need, through scripture and community, to live faithfully into Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas.
