Category Archives: thoughts

Avoiding Slander: What the New Testament Teaches About Speaking of Spiritual Beings

As Christians, we are called to love and respect all people, regardless of their beliefs. While we may have different convictions and worldviews, it is essential to show kindness and compassion towards others. This raises the question: Do Christians have a license to slander the gods of others? Let’s consider some biblical passages that addressContinue reading “Avoiding Slander: What the New Testament Teaches About Speaking of Spiritual Beings”

Merkavah and Apocalyptic Literature: Exploring the Relationship Between Two Jewish Mystical Genres

Merkavah and apocalyptic literature are both genres of Jewish mystical and visionary texts that emerged in the Second Temple period, but they differ in their focus and content. Merkavah literature, also known as Hekhalot-Merkavah literature, is a type of Jewish mystical text that dates back to the Second Temple period (c. 515 BCE to 70Continue reading “Merkavah and Apocalyptic Literature: Exploring the Relationship Between Two Jewish Mystical Genres”

Fear Not: Embracing Christ’s Message of Love and Redemption

I am going to be blunt. Fear mongering goes against the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ. Christ teaches us to love one another, to have faith in God, and to live with compassion and empathy towards all people. Fear mongering, on the other hand, seeks to exploit people’s fears and anxieties for personal gain, oftenContinue reading “Fear Not: Embracing Christ’s Message of Love and Redemption”

Is patriarchy essential to Christianity?

No, patriarchy is not essential to Christianity. While some interpretations of Christianity have traditionally emphasized male leadership and dominance over women, there is nothing inherent in Christian doctrine that requires or condones patriarchy. In fact, there are many examples of women playing important roles in the Bible and in Christian history. For instance, Mary, theContinue reading “Is patriarchy essential to Christianity?”

The Doctrine of Sin: How we make it unnecessarily offensive

Have you ever noticed how the doctrine of sin can sometimes be unnecessarily offensive? Like many of you, I’ve seen firsthand how this doctrine can be abused, causing harm and creating division. In this blog post, I want to explore some of the ways we make the doctrine of sin unnecessarily offensive and offer someContinue reading “The Doctrine of Sin: How we make it unnecessarily offensive”

Grace and Karma: How Christianity Views Cause and Effect

I have always been fascinated by the concept of karma. It’s one of those ideas that transcends religious boundaries and speaks to something universal in the human experience. But, as I’ve delved deeper into the topic, I’ve come to a somewhat different perspective on what karma is and what it means for our lives. FirstContinue reading “Grace and Karma: How Christianity Views Cause and Effect”

What is Anabaptism?

Anabaptism is a Christian tradition that emerged in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation. While Anabaptism has its roots in historic Christianity, it has some distinct beliefs and practices that set it apart from other Christian traditions. In this post, I will briefly be exploring the history and key beliefs and practices of Anabaptism,Continue reading “What is Anabaptism?”

What is Paul’s primary concern in Romans 1?

I get the impression that many preachers consider the primary sin being highlighted in Romans 1 is homosexual sex. However, when I look at the way Paul structures his argument it would seem things are otherwise, that the primary sin being highlighted is actually idolatry. This is why the “therefore” is immediately proceeded by: “ForContinue reading “What is Paul’s primary concern in Romans 1?”

Falling short in how we explain how we fall short.

I think we often make the doctrine of sin unnecessarily offensive by failing to make clear that any imagined dualism between “good people” and “bad people” is thoroughly rejected by Jesus and the apostles. Jesus insisted that all have sinned, that all have fallen short, so none of us is in position to stand onContinue reading “Falling short in how we explain how we fall short.”