Over my evangelical lifetime, I’ve experienced a number of occasions where we chased after some manifestation we thought was of God, but probably was not. It’s too easy to get busy worshiping this kind of experience, instead of God.
Fool’s Gold for Jesus Read More »
For the first time in my life, after almost 40 years voting 100% Republican, I voted as a Christian for a Democrat this year. Is that even possible? After four intensive years of rethinking my doctrines and politics, I have concluded that my former right-wing positions on abortion, LGBTQ, racism, 2A, welfare, climate, immigration, and Christian Nationalism were WRONG. I take some time to explain exactly why I reached these conclusions.
Can A Christian Vote For A Democratic Presidential Candidate? Read More »
Are we humans about to be bailed out of this mess of a world, or is our responsibility to fix it? I used to think Jesus would fix it instantly. But lately, I’ve concluded God gave us the authority and the power to redeem the earth ourselves, and we’re in it for the long haul.
Saying Goodbye to a Thanos Theology Read More »
Here’s a conversation with my friend Diego Mera. We talk a bit about our relationship and how we became friends, but one the reason I thought this would be an interesting conversation is that I consider myself a follower of Jesus and therefore a Christian, while Diego considers himself an atheist. And despite that significant difference, we’ve found a great value in our mutual relationship. I’d never actually spent much time talking with Diego about his religious history, and this seemed like a perfect topic. By the time we’re done, I think you’ll see that we agree on a lot more than we disagree on, and even our points of disagreement are not points of dispute, but instead points of mutual growth.
Finding Common Ground With My Atheist Friend: New Podcast Episode Read More »
Like it or not, America is pluralistic. What will it take to get along with people who are very much unlike us, while staying true to our sense of righteousness and holiness? I suggest that the answer is remembering that Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world – or of our nation.
Living in a Pluralistic World Read More »
Fear traps members of a tribe from ever exploring outside that tribe. It’s a very effective system, but it’s also often smothering and prevents us from growing.
How Fear Traps People in Tribes Read More »
How on earth did I, a conservative evangelical straight man, ever become affirming? There were many reasons and steps in my journey and process; although it felt like an avalanche or landslide at times, it was worth it. So I wanted to share my story to give you hope that it’s really okay to tell God that yes, you’re willing to change and repent if God asks you to.
How a Very Straight White Conservative Evangelical Christian Man Became Affirming Read More »
I recently realized that “born again” was the perfect description of my deconstruction and reconstruction. My faith doesn’t look much like it used to; it’s been such a dramatic change that it really feels like being reborn. But being born again is an ongoing process – “be being born again,” continually.
Be Being Born Again Read More »
The idea of finding safety in the long history of doctrine from the time of the Gospels until today is a false hope. The history of Christianity is much more messy and shaped by secular forces than I would like. I have to be comfortable with what the Holy Spirit is doing in my own mind and heart, even if it requires me to step away from a place of perceived safety, and to set aside some doctrine that my tribe was taught was immutable and eternal.
Safety in Numbers? Read More »
What’s the difference between a powerful testimony, and a sad story that we perceive as condemning the one who experienced it? Often, it’s only our dogma. We listen and swing from “that’s amazing” to “that’s horrible” in moments, based on our preconceptions of how valid that story is. Maybe, though, we can learn quite a bit from people whose stories don’t fit our existing framework of understanding.
The Conditional Power of Testimony Read More »
