Mankind has never changed. The pharisees tried to make Jesus fit their agenda. The zealots tried to make Jesus fit their agenda. The Jews tried the same thing. And so on, and so on, and so on. So it is no surprise that socialists are trying to form-fit Jesus to their image. To do so … Continue reading Jesus Was No Socialist
Biblical literacy
Jesus Was Neither White nor European
Rioters are wanting to tear down statues of Jesus because he is “white and European." Now, I understand some of the reasoning: some churches have made Jesus white, republican and American. This, sadly, is true. But, it's the rare exception and certainly not the norm. Rioters, of course, themselves serving as judge and jury, have … Continue reading Jesus Was Neither White nor European
KJV vs. NIV: Don’t be Deceived by This Nonsense
The picture immediately below has been making the rounds on social media. Its message is fallacious, religious propaganda created to plant seeds of doubt regarding the reliability of modern English translations by those who woodenly - and ignorantly - believe the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is the only reliable English translation of … Continue reading KJV vs. NIV: Don’t be Deceived by This Nonsense
The Alarming Level of Biblical Illiteracy: Who Jesus Was, and Was Not
I teach and speak on this topic often. Sure, non-believers don't know a lot about the Bible. But, truth be told, neither do the majority of believers. It's heart-breaking. While the cursory reader of scripture envisions Jesus merely as a meek guy with great hair tenderly holding a lamb and visiting with children, the gospels … Continue reading The Alarming Level of Biblical Illiteracy: Who Jesus Was, and Was Not
The Decline of the Bible in North America
As a guy who spent 25 years in full-time Youth Ministry, I have a burning question that, with each passing year, weighs heavily on my heart and mind. But first, a disclaimer: There’s always debate between which is better: a digital copy of the Bible? Or one with real pages? One may be better for … Continue reading The Decline of the Bible in North America
Every Christian is a Theologian
“Theology” simply means “the study of God.” That means all believers are theologians – or, at least, should be. To be clear - and fair - this does not mean that everyone is an academic or scholar i.e. someone who has made a career out of studying the Bible. But, nonetheless, we’re all biblically commanded … Continue reading Every Christian is a Theologian
Teaching Christians to be Thinkers, and Thinkers to be Christians
The title of this blog has been championed by HBU professor, Dr. Jeremiah Johnston. It's something I believe in deeply. The biblical illiteracy of North American church culture is at an alarming and embarrassing level. However,... It's never too late to read, learn how to understand, and apply your Bible. The Bible is a … Continue reading Teaching Christians to be Thinkers, and Thinkers to be Christians
The Discipleship of the Mind
When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment he purposefully made it clear that God was to be loved with the mind as well as the rest of our human faculties. (cf. Matthew 22:37) In his book, "The Passionate Intellect," former atheist, Alister McGrath (Oxford; Ph.D., Molecular Biophysics), calls the intellectual pursuit of God … Continue reading The Discipleship of the Mind