Patheos Featured Writers

Kyle Roberts
Columnist

Kyle Roberts (Ph.D. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Lead Faculty of Christian Thought, Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN).  His dissertation was on Søren Kierkegaard's theology of Scripture in the context of his religious epistemology.

Roberts has published several essays and book chapters on Kierkegaard, the Bible and Modern/Contemporary Theology.  He is currently working on several writing projects, including a book that brings Kierkegaard's thought into dialogue with postmodern Christianity and emergent theology.  His favorite courses to teach include:  Perspectives on Evil and Suffering, Christological Studies Today, Eschatology and Hope, and Theology and Contemporary Culture. He presents regularly on issues related to the intersection of theology, philosophy and culture.

Works by Kyle Roberts
Recommendation: A Christmas Book for Progressive...
Kyle Roberts | December 20, 2020
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The Task of Theology in Our Time?
Kyle Roberts | December 05, 2020
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The Non-Essential Church
Kyle Roberts | May 23, 2020
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Eight Things We Gain When We Lose the Virgin Birth
Kyle Roberts | December 08, 2018
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Everything Changes. Now Back to Blogging
Kyle Roberts | July 14, 2018
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The Value of Seminary in a World Gone Mad
Kyle Roberts | February 17, 2018
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Announcing a New Commentary on Matthew
Kyle Roberts | January 26, 2018
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Virgin Birth or Incarnation? Why You Can't Have Both
Kyle Roberts | December 23, 2017
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Was Jesus Intersex or Was Mary?
Kyle Roberts | December 22, 2017
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Reading the Virgin Birth as Legend (or Creative...
Kyle Roberts | December 15, 2017
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Why We Don't Need an Immaculate Conception
Kyle Roberts | December 08, 2017
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The Problem With Liberal Christianity (From the...
Kyle Roberts | September 14, 2017
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Should We Pray For God's Protection From Hurricanes?
Kyle Roberts | September 08, 2017
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The Inconsistent Docetism of Evangelical Theology
Kyle Roberts | September 02, 2017
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The Mystical Luther That Time Forgot
Kyle Roberts | August 02, 2017
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Almost the Greatest Heresy of All
Kyle Roberts | July 21, 2017
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When Feminists Read the Bible (Dorothy Sölle)
Kyle Roberts | July 18, 2017
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When Prejudice is Holding a Gun
Kyle Roberts | June 22, 2017
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7 Theology Books for Your Summer Reading
Kyle Roberts | June 15, 2017
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It's Not About Paris, It's About Our Planet
Kyle Roberts | June 02, 2017
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Did Christ Die for Non-Human Animals?
Kyle Roberts | April 14, 2017
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"Pain-in-the-Arse" Nun Says Sex Isn't Dirty
Kyle Roberts | February 04, 2017
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The Inauguration of the Gold-Crowned Jesus
Kyle Roberts | January 20, 2017
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"True Truth" isn't the Answer to "Post-Truth"
Kyle Roberts | January 05, 2017
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Virgin Births aren't as Miraculous as You Think
Kyle Roberts | December 23, 2016
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Is Evangelicalism Now Just Right-Wing Politics in...
Kyle Roberts | December 22, 2016
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Into the Light of Christmas: From Ordinary to...
Kyle Roberts | December 02, 2016
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What do you Get When You Scratch a Neo-Evangelical?
Kyle Roberts | December 01, 2016
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The Surprising Evangelical Switch from Virtue to...
Kyle Roberts | November 22, 2016
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The Evangelical Relationship With God, from an...
Kyle Roberts | October 12, 2016
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How the Bible was Used to Justify Slavery and White...
Kyle Roberts | September 22, 2016
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How Political Ads Manipulate Your Anxiety About Death
Kyle Roberts | September 16, 2016
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A Brief, Liberal Definition of Public Theology (Via...
Kyle Roberts | September 06, 2016
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Why Democracy is Good Even Though it Still Sucks...
Kyle Roberts | September 04, 2016
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Is a Cure for Alzheimer's On its Way?
Kyle Roberts | September 01, 2016
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R.I.P. Pat Summitt
Kyle Roberts | June 28, 2016
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N.T. Wright on the (Non) Rapture
Kyle Roberts | June 27, 2016
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The "Daisy Girl" and the Politics of Fear
Kyle Roberts | June 22, 2016
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God, the Motherly Father
Kyle Roberts | June 17, 2016
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Is Free Will an Illusion? (Scientists Say...)
Kyle Roberts | June 06, 2016
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Life is Brief, so Find the Beauty
Kyle Roberts | June 03, 2016
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Ancient Sex: "A Call to Arms Against Death"
Kyle Roberts | May 25, 2016
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The Feminist Trinity
Kyle Roberts | May 22, 2016
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If God is Good, Why do Animals Suffer?
Kyle Roberts | May 20, 2016
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Are You a Theological Feminist?
Kyle Roberts | May 17, 2016
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"When Will Your Theology Stop Changing?"
Kyle Roberts | May 12, 2016
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Where Do We Look to Find the Origin of Evil?
Kyle Roberts | April 26, 2016
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The Pale Blue Dot (A Reflection on Earth Day)
Kyle Roberts | April 22, 2016
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Jesus Was a Refugee. Jesus Was a Migrant.
Kyle Roberts | April 21, 2016
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47% of Americans Are "Financially Fragile"
Kyle Roberts | April 19, 2016
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The Brave, New World of Seminary Education
Kyle Roberts | April 15, 2016
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Is Your God as Friendly as Joel Osteen's?
Kyle Roberts | April 12, 2016
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The Pros and Cons of Apocalyptic Terror
Kyle Roberts | April 06, 2016
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Will I Be Remembered? (Guest Post by Sam Chan)
Kyle Roberts | April 05, 2016
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For Immortality, is it Enough to be Remembered?
Kyle Roberts | April 04, 2016
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How Thinking About Death Could Impact Your Vote
Kyle Roberts | March 16, 2016
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Justice Bible Giveaway!
Kyle Roberts | March 09, 2016
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The Problem of Certainty and "Making a Murderer"
Kyle Roberts | February 12, 2016
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Ash Wednesday from a Mexican-American Perspective
Kyle Roberts | February 10, 2016
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On the Ambivalence of Believing in Life After Death
Kyle Roberts | February 08, 2016
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Is the Resurrection a "Broken Myth"?
Kyle Roberts | February 04, 2016
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Is the Resurrection Really Real?
Kyle Roberts | February 03, 2016
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Do We Invent God or Do We Discover God?
Kyle Roberts | January 26, 2016
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What One Theologian Says about the End of the World
Kyle Roberts | January 20, 2016
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Turn the Other Cheek? (Explained in Context)
Kyle Roberts | January 14, 2016
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A Better Way to Interpret the Sermon on the Mount?
Kyle Roberts | January 05, 2016
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Top Ten "Unsystematic Theology" Posts of 2015
Kyle Roberts | December 31, 2015
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Why do Protestants Undervalue Mary?
Kyle Roberts | December 07, 2015
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Ernest Becker on the Logic of Killing Others
Kyle Roberts | December 04, 2015
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Will Black Lives Matter in Minneapolis?
Kyle Roberts | November 25, 2015
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Kierkegaard, the Neighbor, and the Refugee Crisis
Kyle Roberts | November 23, 2015
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Mark Strauss' "Bad, Bad Jesus"
Kyle Roberts | November 22, 2015
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"Love Your Enemies." Seriously?
Kyle Roberts | November 16, 2015
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"Show Them No Mercy" God Says?
Kyle Roberts | November 08, 2015
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An Argument for the Bible as "Love Letter From God"
Kyle Roberts | November 02, 2015
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Haunted by Caputo (and the "Specter")
Kyle Roberts | October 30, 2015
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Where is the Love, Dr. Mohler?
Kyle Roberts | October 15, 2015
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Keith Ellison is Feeling "the Bern"
Kyle Roberts | October 12, 2015
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The Justice Department: Setting the Captives Free?
Kyle Roberts | October 07, 2015
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"We've Become Numb to this"
Kyle Roberts | October 02, 2015
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Is Our View of Justice Too Narrow?
Kyle Roberts | September 30, 2015
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The Lies We Need in Order to Live
Kyle Roberts | September 24, 2015
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Pope Francis as Public Theologian
Kyle Roberts | September 23, 2015
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Sad Day for the CCCU: EMU and Goshen Resign
Kyle Roberts | September 21, 2015
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Does John Piper Really Know Good from Evil?
Kyle Roberts | September 16, 2015
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The Problem with "Biblical Morality" (and a Better...
Kyle Roberts | September 15, 2015
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How Do We Counter Shame? Answer: Vulnerability
Kyle Roberts | September 14, 2015
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Combating Bigotry in the Wake of 9-11
Kyle Roberts | September 11, 2015
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On Morality: Did Christianity Introduce Anything New?
Kyle Roberts | September 10, 2015
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Shame, Suicide, Sadness: A Pastor Takes His Life
Kyle Roberts | September 09, 2015
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Kim Davis to be Released, but Now What?
Kyle Roberts | September 08, 2015
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Suffering and the Heavy-Handed God (On Avoiding the...
Kyle Roberts | September 08, 2015
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Why Being Rich Might Also Make You Sad
Kyle Roberts | September 03, 2015
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Kim Davis, Democracy, and the Pride of Christian...
Kyle Roberts | September 01, 2015
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Did Jesus Believe that Scripture is Inerrant?
Kyle Roberts | August 28, 2015
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A Progressive Christian View of the Trinity
Kyle Roberts | August 18, 2015
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Is "Our Father" Sexist or Subversive?
Kyle Roberts | August 14, 2015
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Union and Dis-Unity: On the Pullout from the CCCU
Kyle Roberts | August 13, 2015
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What's Up With Those Mennonites?
Kyle Roberts | August 12, 2015
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"But Where Are All the Transitional Fossils?"
Kyle Roberts | August 11, 2015
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Why Are People Attracted to Intelligent Design?
Kyle Roberts | August 10, 2015
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Why am I Still a Christian? Because of Hope
Kyle Roberts | August 05, 2015
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How to be a Responsible Religious Pluralist
Kyle Roberts | August 04, 2015
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Does Our Need for Religion Invalidate it?
Kyle Roberts | July 27, 2015
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Four Job Opportunities at Logos Bible Software
Kyle Roberts | July 24, 2015
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Gay Christian Employee Leaves Wheaton College
Kyle Roberts | July 14, 2015
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On the Creation of White Supremacy in America
Kyle Roberts | June 24, 2015
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8 Books on Death, Evil, and Alienation
Kyle Roberts | June 23, 2015
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The Day A Woman Stood Jesus Down
Kyle Roberts | June 16, 2015
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Did Paul Teach the "Rapture"?
Kyle Roberts | June 11, 2015
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The Catch-22 of Progressive Christianity
Kyle Roberts | June 02, 2015
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Happy Trinity Sunday!
Kyle Roberts | May 31, 2015
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Is Religion a Force for Good or Evil?
Kyle Roberts | May 20, 2015
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Does Jesus Approve of Boxing?
Kyle Roberts | May 03, 2015
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Changing Hearts is Not Your Business
Kyle Roberts | May 01, 2015
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ISIS and the Psychology of Terror
Kyle Roberts | April 30, 2015
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Beyond Certainty (Leaving Evangelicalism)
Kyle Roberts | April 30, 2015
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Where is God in the Nepal Earthquake?
Kyle Roberts | April 27, 2015
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Should Seminaries Train the Churches?
Kyle Roberts | April 25, 2015
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Creflo Dollar, the Devil, and the Kingdom of God
Kyle Roberts | April 24, 2015
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A Brief Theology of Creation for Earth Day
Kyle Roberts | April 23, 2015
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Join Cornel West and Robert George at Biola
Kyle Roberts | April 22, 2015
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Was Germanwings About Depression? Think Again
Kyle Roberts | April 09, 2015
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Could Jesus Have Been Overcome?
Kyle Roberts | April 03, 2015
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The Resurrection Means that God is Not Lonely
Kyle Roberts | March 31, 2015
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Suicide is Far More Common than Terrorism
Kyle Roberts | March 29, 2015
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How Not to Get Rid of Your Anger: Venting
Kyle Roberts | March 26, 2015
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A Little Bit from Terry Eagleton on Evil
Kyle Roberts | February 28, 2015
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Why Do We Fight, Again?
Kyle Roberts | February 25, 2015
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Apples are Flying at Wheaton College
Kyle Roberts | February 25, 2015
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The Existential Terror of "Birdman"
Kyle Roberts | February 23, 2015
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We Need a Theology of the Cross Now More than Ever
Kyle Roberts | February 17, 2015
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'Eccentric Identity' and the Slavery of Death
Kyle Roberts | February 03, 2015
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Will the Hidden God Ever Show Up?
Kyle Roberts | January 22, 2015
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Newbigin on the "Logic of Election"
Kyle Roberts | January 21, 2015
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Exclusivism Distorts God's Mission
Kyle Roberts | January 12, 2015
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It's Better to Mock God than to Defend Him
Kyle Roberts | January 09, 2015
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Can there be a Postcolonial, Missional Church?
Kyle Roberts | January 07, 2015
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Why Herod Trembled. A Brief Christmas Reflection.
Kyle Roberts | December 22, 2014
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Beyond the Binaries, Through Contemplation: Sarah...
Kyle Roberts | December 05, 2014
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A Prayer for Advent, by Kierkegaard
Kyle Roberts | December 04, 2014
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Young Evangelicals and the "Nones": Jumping Ship
Kyle Roberts | November 14, 2014
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Churching Alone
Kyle Roberts | November 03, 2014
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Don't Ask How to Grow Your Church
Kyle Roberts | September 19, 2014
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The Form of Christ: On "The Church for the World"
Kyle Roberts | August 19, 2014
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Announcement: I'm Going to United Seminary
Kyle Roberts | June 23, 2014
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A New Barth Book is On the Way
Kyle Roberts | April 25, 2014
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Masculine God, Feminine Spirit?
Kyle Roberts | February 08, 2012
John Piper has caused a stir with his emphasis on "masculine Christianity." But the......
A new book shows us once again how Christians can share a Bible and share a Savior and......
For Men Only? An Open Letter to Women in Seminary
Kyle Roberts | October 31, 2011
Sometimes women find a mix of support, apathy and downright hostility at seminaries.......
On Global Alzheimer's Day, Pat Robertson has given us reason to rethink our......
Postmodernism: Still Alive, Still Prophetic
Kyle Roberts | September 06, 2011
If we are really entering the twilight of postmodernism, there may still be time for......
John Stott's passing gives us pause to reflect on the future of evangelical theology.......
Membership Matters. Right?
Kyle Roberts | July 19, 2011
Church membership is a rarity today. Church leaders should create a culture of......
Evangelicalism may be losing social influence. But a loss of influence could bring a......
Jesus and Basketball: Does God Take Sides?
Kyle Roberts | June 14, 2011
During the recent NBA finals, players invoked God's providence to explain both victory......
Christians should certainly question those who "prophesy" a specific date. Yet they......
Is Osama bin Laden in heaven?
Kyle Roberts | May 09, 2011
Is Christ's death sufficient for a terrorist? An unlikely scenario challenges some of......
The Origin of the World and the New Creation
Kyle Roberts | April 25, 2011
Creation tells the story of a very good -- and yet incomplete -- world awaiting its......
We Believe in the Holy Spirit . . . Right?
Kyle Roberts | April 11, 2011
The Holy Spirit is not an amorphous abstraction. It is active and embodied in our......
Tsunamis: Or, Why I'm No Longer a Calvinist
Kyle Roberts | March 22, 2011
Are tsunamis ordained by God? Or is there a better way to think of natural suffering?......
Should Evangelicals Revive Confession?
Kyle Roberts | March 08, 2011
Confession is a lost art in many evangelical churches. The film "Get Low" points to the......
What do evangelical attitudes toward national budget cuts tell us about ourselves? The......
The New Apologetics
Kyle Roberts | February 08, 2011
A "new apologetics" for a post-modern, post-Christian society will focus less on winning......
Is the Bible Still "Relevant"?
Kyle Roberts | January 26, 2011
Evangelicals claim to be a "people of the book," but we aren't always good at showing......
Can the church lead the way in reflecting on what ails us? Suggestions from Dietrich......
The Meaning of Christmas Is the Coming of God
Kyle Roberts | December 21, 2010
In Christmas we celebrate that the ebb and flow of history has been altered by God's......
The Gospel Is Reconciliation
Kyle Roberts | December 01, 2010
Evangelicals, through the work of N. T. Wright, are developing a vision of the gospel......
A Church of "Many Colors"
Kyle Roberts | November 10, 2010
Soong-Chan Rah challenges the church to adapt and thrive in a multi-cultural,......
Camp Esperanza, Rescued Miners, and the Empty Grave
Kyle Roberts | October 18, 2010
The church has its own mission to save those in darkness in the belly of the earth....
Depression, Suicide, and Hope
Kyle Roberts | October 01, 2010
A recent rash of high-profile suicides poses fundamental questions: Is life worth......