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.
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 »
Can we really tell the difference between spiritual milk and solid food? Maybe sometimes what seems like steak is actually milk.
How Would You Like Your Milk – Rare, Medium, or Well Done? Read More »
I just finished drafting a paper I’ve titled “A Personal Framework For The Morality Of Abortion.” It explores my own studied understanding of the topic.
A Personal Framework for the Morality of Abortion Read More »
For almost 250 years, our annual national birthday party has celebrated a splitting apart of people. And perhaps that legacy has unfortunate fruit.
On a Basis of Fear Read More »
I’ve added a couple more book reviews. I’ve just finished reading read a couple books on the problems of nationalism and (I think it’s related) the way that some segments of the American church are more interested in winning than being Christlike.
July Reading List Update Read More »
Boundaries are a good thing. I’m adjusting my boundaries on social media, so I have better chances to learn from others, and to minimize the emotional arguments that so often pop up.
What if the very time we’re supposed to mourn with those who mourn is when we’re rejoicing over the very thing they’re mourning? Or the very time we’re supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice is exactly when we’re mourning the very thing they’re rejoicing?
Come Let Us Mourn and Rejoice TOGETHER Read More »
