Every once in a while I'll come across an article or a video, or maybe a conversation, where someone is complaining about Jesus doing something in the Bible that's "not very Jesus-like", times when Jesus seems to be acting out of character. They struggle to explain how those episodes fit with our picture of Jesus. How should we respond to those complaints?
The media has decided to make a star of a Texas politician, and that politician says a lot of questionable things about Christian beliefs. One that received some attention was "God is non-binary." If you were like me, you were caught between two reactions: "Well, yeah" and "Wait, what?" Does it feel like something else is going on here? There is.
"Who is the liar?" Many are not what they claim to be, so we struggle to identify who the true followers of Christ are. Our society offers a few easy options. Let's take a look at them, why they don't work, and what does.
This week, I'd like to share a selection of interesting pieces from across the interwebs.
When physics showed the universe is not eternal, that was a game changer. If the universe began, then there was room for a creator, after all ex nihilo nihil fit or "out of nothing, nothing comes." Until internet atheists argue, "Uh huh! It happens all the time." OK, let's talk about this, because there's nothing and then there's nothing.
If we start in Genesis and read through the Old Testament, we come across many different names for God. When we get to 1Samuel, we meet a new one. It's clear who it refers to, but it's telling us more than we realize. We'll get more out of these passages when we understand what it means.
You may have heard someone say this: "Christians are good so they'll be rewarded. Atheists are good for goodness' sake, and that's more moral." The first time I encountered that claim, it felt very wrong, but it took me a bit to work out exactly why. I want to get you to think about it, so you're ready if you run into this. Let's examine what drives Christian morality.
Humans love stories. We need the drama, the conflict resolution, the excitement. We want to lose ourselves in adventure. But we also need heroes. We want to root for them as they overcomes adversity or evil. There is a particular type of hero we love more than all others, and that tells us something about ourselves.
This week, I'd like to share a selection of interesting pieces from across the interwebs.
Every group has its own insider language. Specialized vocabulary makes communication easier, and it lets us identify those in our group. But it also shuts out other people. The thing is, we don't always realize we're speaking a special vocabulary. When we try to communicate with outsiders using it, we don't get our message across effectively, if at all.
Christians, we have our own dialect. When we use it with unbelievers, they may not understand what we're saying. Or worse, they may misunderstand.
As you get older, it's important to acknowledge that you're getting older and make some changes. You can no longer eat what you used to eat or do all the things you used to do. I recently discovered there's a whole corner of the internet devoted to helping guys over 50 get and/or stay in shape. One important message they emphasize is you have to work now to prepare the body you want to have when you're 70. That applies to more than just your body, too.
Every pastor recommends you get a good study Bible. But which one? If you can find a Christian bookstore, there are so many to choose from. If you look online, the choices are staggering. But it's hard to know which you need. So let's look at five different types of study Bibles you can find on the market.
This week, I've got a selection of interesting pieces from across the interwebs.
I feel bad when I don't pay attention to the sermon, but sometimes I get distracted. One verse — one phrase, really — from the day's passage set my mind to racing on one of the most important topics in Scripture.
CS Lewis is my favorite Christian author; that doesn't mean I always agree with him. His take on the atonement is absolutely wrong. And totally right.
Today is our 26th anniversary. In these 26 years I've learned many things, among them: you cannot trust my wife with money. If she leaves the house with cash in her pocket, there's a good chance she will end up giving it to someone. And I wouldn't change that for anything.
People have joked, "If St. Paul were still around, we'd be getting a letter." And I wondered what Paul would say in a letter to the church in the US. Then, in my most recent re-read, it occurred to me that one of his canonical letters seems like it was almost written to us.
This week, I've got a selection of interesting articles from across the interwebs.
That title sounds kind of click-baity. It also sounds like a gross exaggeration. It's really not. Once we grasp one important concept, so much of the Old Testament will make more sense.
The writers of the Hebrew scriptures seemed to have a favorite verse, because they quoted it a lot. It's a great passage, packed with meaning, and it's something we really need to keep in mind today because it answers so many questions and misunderstandings.
