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.Interview: A Conversation about Tithing
Enjoy this interview with a close friend about deconstructing our understanding of tithing.
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A Perfectly Imperfect Bible
The Bible is full of apparent inconsistencies. What do we do with them, and is it possible that God actually is just fine with an imperfect collection of writings about the relationship between God and mankind? I think so, and here are some thoughts about why that is.
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On Babies, Baptism, and Universal Salvation
Some thoughts on infant baptism and universal salvation. It no longer seems quite as alien an idea as it did when I was steeped in evangelical theology.
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Duct Tape Worship
A short parable. I’m deeply struck by our Heavenly Father’s grace and love towards us in our immaturity. It gives me great hope and peace, secure in God’s love no matter what.
Partnering Despite Differing
I’ve been thinking about how I can safely and morally join with a church for missional work, even though I find myself fundamentally opposed to joining or building any institutional church. The word that came to me was “partnering,” and here are some thoughts.
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When You Look at A Nation You Should See Human Beings
When we think about foreign policy, it’s easy to forget that nations are made up of people, and how we treat individual people was incredibly important to Jesus, far more than national identities.
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About Those Maps of a Shrinking Palestine…
Those maps showing a shrinking Palestine are widely disputed by Zionism supporters, but there are some major problems with those counter claims. But there’s a better way than political or military solutions.
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A Different Kind of Testimony
Some kinds of testimony probably do more harm than good. Too often, a story about ourselves comes across as an accusation about the other, and actually harms our witness. We can do better.
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Peace Through Superior Love
Considering Israel and Gaza in light of Isaac and Ishmael, peace is not gained through superior firepower, but superior love.
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