Freedom to do whatever you want

I’ve been doing my best lately to take off my modern church culture glasses when reading the Bible, and to read larger sections at a sitting, or at least remind myself of the context of the book or passage I’m reading so I can better understand what the author was trying to say. It’s way […]

Keep the fake news

I am deeply saddened by the fractures in our society that seem to have widened exponentially in the past few years. There have always been those that shout their views, as if saying it louder will somehow convince those that disagree, but it sure seems more pervasive now. What would normally be polite conversation turns […]

Why church people don’t really change

I love the way Doctors Henry Cloud and John Townsend describe most 3 point sermons: “God is good. You’re bad. Stop it.” Pastors often have the right idea, but they present it with very little understanding of the issue or practical help to effect a change. I’ve heard it in my church when a pastor […]

Question Everything

Church History was one of my favorite classes in college. I loved reading about the evolution of theology and how different movements, ideas and heresies came about. One of the most interesting patterns I saw is one that continues today in both microscopic (individual churches) and macroscopic (denominational and world-wide) forms: There seems to be […]

Common Sense (Gun) Laws

Gun laws, gun control, gun violence—they’re all over the news every time there’s a tragic incident involving a firearm. Along with the sensational headlines from mass shootings come the push for gun control and “common sense” gun laws. I’m all for common sense gun laws. I think we should pass legislation that follows common sense, […]

Let’s do away with “Sin”

Why do we use the word ‘sin’? Sure, the obvious answer is that it’s in the Bible—at least we translate the Greek archery term that literally means, “to miss the mark,” as the word ‘sin’ in English—but what does it really mean? After hearing a fire and brimstone sermon on the wages of sin, or […]

The scariest verse in the Bible

There’s one verse in the Bible that is particularly scary to me. It doesn’t have anything to do with demons, plagues, prophecies, Revelation, or God’s wrath. It’s worse. It’s found in Matthew 7, verses 21-23. Jesus says that not everyone that calls Him Lord is really in the Kingdom, even if they perform signs and […]

Is the Bible black and white?

I used to read the Old Testament and be dumbfounded at the Israelites and their ability to really muck up the sweet deal they had with God. One minute, they’d be in tight, receiving some huge, miraculous blessing, and then the next minute they’d be making idols and God would have to inflict disease on […]