The panic that I incite in pastors reflects a fundamental gap between their profit model and the necessities of redemption. Successful pastors, in modern terms, offer a transaction. The flock pays their tithes and the pastor promises them individual salvation. In contradiction of Jesus' command to “Love God…and your neighbor…,” the compact stops and ends … Continue reading Context
Category: The Bible
Why do we have four gospels? Well, who would have been able to write an authoritative account of Jesus' ministry? Only Jesus, of course. So, if Scripture is authoritative, why didn't Jesus write a gospel? We must assume that he had his reasons. Perhaps: "Written records are parsed, redacted, and twisted to justify the practices … Continue reading Gospel Truth?
Much chatter on social media about a $7 million Super Bowl ad that asserts "Jesus gets us." Putting aside whether the money could have been used to better purpose, what about the theology? Is being understood the foundation of the sacred relationship? Or does it go deeper than that? Jesus permeates creation, so He "contains … Continue reading Getting Jesus
In the era, Jesus mourned the relegation of women to service. Related parables are obscure: "Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed 33 pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough." [Matt. 13:33] What should we make of this? First, with water, the mixture becomes dough. Jesus offered the "waters … Continue reading Daughters to the Bride
Why do bad things happen to good people? The lesson of Noah: God tries to warn them. If they listen, He will grant refuge. The lesson of Joseph and the Captivity: They trade God for worldly authority. The lesson of Saul: They accept the burden of sin for other people. The lesson of Jesus: They … Continue reading It’s Not All Bad
Love Returns 