In church this past Sunday, as he does each year, our rector handed out a card with an icon of St. Nicholas, similar to the one to the left. On the back of the card we read the following: Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in Asia Minor. He used his entire inheritance to help the poor, […]
Christian Faith & Life
What You Risk Theologically When You Say “God Is Love”
Ironic, isn’t it, that two cherished pieces of evangelical theology—God’s love and God’s unchangeableness—sit so uncomfortably together, at least once you dig down a bit.
A Blog Post in Which I Get Belligerent About Theological Belligerence
One cannot use Jesus and Paul as a justification for pathology–and excuse to see a gospel-survival conflict at every point of disagreement.
“Maybe You’re Just Not Listening” (My Mom . . . or God.)
In The Sin of Certainty, I tell a brief story about the time I was in middle school and made myself a sandwich. After I was done, I tied up the bag and tossed it onto the counter a few feet away. My mom, who had grown up in Europe during World War II (the Big One, […]
“How Can I Trust the Bible?” (You Might Be Asking)
“You’re sort of presenting a new paradigm for thinking about the Bible a new way a new path forward. And I sort of get it. And it explains some things. But here’s the problem that I have. How can I trust the Bible?” And I think that’s a great question to ask, as it actually […]
A Thought on Young People Dropping Out of Faith
They have lost interest in what amounts to a shallow, quasi-biblical expression of Christian faith, one that focuses far too much on the not yet. Ironically, in their critique they are putting their finger on something central to the Good News.
The Power of Stories: How Jen Hatmaker is Changing Minds About the Bible
We tell our story to connect to anyone who feels they are no longer welcome in their church community, a house they helped build through tears, laughter, prayer, confession, breaking of bread, and week after week of showing up to serve. We want to tell a broader story that says “You belong.”
Remember to Hold Your Beliefs Lightly: The Bible Says So
The Old Testament models an intentionally innovative, adaptive, and contemporizing theological dynamic—a recasting of the past to speak to the changing present and for a vision for the future.
Yeah, But Where Are the Boundaries?
If you are someone who has the same question about where the boundaries are now that the landscape looks different, perhaps answering that question should not be priority one.
4 Things about Western Christianity that Screwed Me Up (But It’s Never too late to Work on It)
The thing is, I’m getting bored. But I’m not blaming anyone. It’s more about gaining insight, seeing more clearly the lay of the land, and proceeding forward with that understanding and owning it rather than being oblivious to it.
