Welcome to Crucible of Thought! I'm Brandon, and I was a member of conservative evangelical congregations for 45 years. This blog is about things that I've learned since 2020, as I've been undergoing a process of "deprogramming," "deconstruction," "reconstruction"... pick whatever term you want, but basically a process carefully examining many different aspects of my social, political, and religious beliefs to see what really actually aligns with the Bible and specifically the teachings of Jesus, more than what aligns with the host of dogmatic statements I inherited in years of church training. I'm not trying to persuade anyone: I'm sharing my process, in the hopes that it inspires and enlightens others. I welcome you to join me as we move forward in our faith together.
The first “National Coming Out Day” was observed in 1988, to support people finally expressing their true identity to those in their circle of relationships. Today, I am coming out myself – not as LGBTQ, but as an ally, one who affirms such identities and relationships as wholesome and acceptable to me, and I fully […]
Coming Out on National Coming Out Day Read More »
The 4th commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” uses the Hebrew words nasah, shem, and shav, and might equally be translated “Your life shall not demonstrate an inaccurate representation of the reputation and renown and fame of the Lord your God.”
Hanging On For Dear Life Read More »
37 books and counting… if it’s not obvious, I’m on a determined hunt for broader, richer understanding of things I thought I knew, but about which I found that I was surprisingly uneducated. I’ve been compiling a list of the books, along with my own reviews and the Amazon blurb about the book. At any
Book reviews for September 2022 Read More »
Let me tell you a short story about a long eternity. I’m not so convinced any more about the doctrine of hell and eternal punishment which I grew up understanding it as an absolute certainty, and something that I was told orthodox Christians had believed since Jesus apparently taught the doctrine in the Gospels.
For Two Billion years… Read More »
Peter’s dream of unclean food challenged his world view about who was acceptable to God. I find that God is repeating that in my life, challenging me to reconsider who the Lord accepts today.
Peter’s Vision: An Inclusive Gospel Read More »
Top Secret classified documents are held under incredibly strict control. Every page of every copy is logged. It’s laughable to assert that the FBI didn’t know exactly what they were looking for.
The Best-Kept Secrets in the World Read More »
On this occasion of my 30th anniversary, I am finding that the most famous pair of Bible verses about marriage means far more to me than I ever thought possible, and it’s not just about marriage. I am called to leave many things, not just my father and mother, as I pursue the Lord and His calling on my life.
A Man Shall Leave His Father and Mother Read More »
Political power… at what cost? A dark and dying world needs to see a tangible representation of a holy and righteous and just God. That’s the role given to the Body of Christ. But it seems as if the goal of too many Christians these days is grabbing political power by any means necessary. Is it worth it?
I’ve been thinking about the challenges of accepting the so-called “affirming” position on LGBTQ issues, and it seemed like time to address my thoughts on the topic at some length.
Taking The Easy Way Out – Thoughts on Becoming LGBTQ Affirming Read More »
I wonder, would it change us if we truly believed that God’s provision for us wasn’t dependent upon our righteousness? And how would it change us if we truly believed that God intended us to be the conduit of that exact provision for others of every station in life?
A Matter of Righteousness and Justice Read More »
