My wife and I just finished watching the documentary Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed on Discovery Plus. While disgusted by much of what I watched, I was surprised by none of it. From the coverups to the abuses of power to the assaults and corporate greed, it all seems par for the course for a megachurch like Hillsong. As I’ve reflected on this 3-part docuseries, I have thought about my own interactions with Hillsong. No, I’ve never stepped foot in one... Read more
A charge often leveled against universalists is that there is no room for justice. The so-called bad guys die and then waltz right into heaven. No need for repentance. No need to reconcile with those they’ve harmed. Nothing. Even Hitler, humanity’s persona non grata, gets a pass. Well, not so fast. This is the perpetual strawman infernalists and annihilationists both use to dismiss the universalist position. Now, it may be true that in some corner of the globe there exists... Read more
As a prolific author and podcaster, I am asked a lot of questions. Some are well thought out, others not so much. The ones that pique my curiosity generally receive some sort of answer from me. The ones that are boring and ridiculous are generally ignored (and sometimes met with mockery; forgive me). Today, I am going to reverse roles a little bit. I will be the one asking the questions, and I want you, the Christian, to think about... Read more
I’ve got a new book out now. It’s called Don’t Be A D*ck…And Other Sound Advice: 69 Practical Ways of Making the World a Kinder, More Loving Place. This is not like the other books I’ve written, which are more theological. This one is more practical. It’s self-help, but done in the only way I know how: sarcastic, cheeky, and a bit self-deprecating. Here’s what some colleagues and friends have said about it: “Besides being a delightful and funny read,... Read more
I’ve long since cared what the Bible says. I mean, I enjoy it as much as I enjoy any ancient text; it just doesn’t have any authority over my life. For those who do view it as authoritative, let me just say this: that premise is a logical fallacy. Now, before you get your modest-is-hottest underwear in a bunch, allow me to explain. According to Texas State’s Philosophy Department, begging the question is defined as follows: The fallacy of begging... Read more
The Reformed/Protestant tradition tends to be a dumpster fire, mired down by its own insistence on always having the “correct doctrines.” But it need not be that way. In fact, as I understand things, the reformers believed the church should always be reforming. Oh, how far we’ve come… Not! Now, if they were listening, here’s 10 things I’d tell them to reform right way (as if they care what I think). (Note: This isn’t just a list of reforms for... Read more
Edoras, Rohan – Last week, the forces of Mordor invaded the borders of Rohan, and while they haven’t yet reached the capital of Edoras, Rohirric casualties have been reported throughout the land. Sources from The Riddermark Gazette also report over 500 Orcs from Sauron’s army have been slain. In Gondor, while many are opposed to the invasion, some Conservative Gondorians have been praising Sauron for his “smarts.” In a recent speech, former Steward of Gondar, Denethor II, had this to... Read more
When Christians do horrible things, it’s easy to let their faith off the hook. We say things like, “They aren’t really Christians,” or “They are only Christians on paper.” Although I understand why people resort to this, I don’t agree with it. Right now, Vladimir Putin is invading Ukraine. As of yesterday, he’s authorized the bombing of various cities across the nation. And people have already started dying. Putin is also a Russian Orthodox Christian, and while his sincerity has... Read more
Sacramento, CA – California will soon be voting on new legislation, banning the sale and distribution of mass-casualty weapons like mortars, grenade launchers, bazookas, as well as ammunition that contains depleted uranium. And while most residents support these measures, some Californians aren’t too pleased. “Government overreach is at an all-time high,” says Sacramento resident Brian Butcher. “First they take our grenade launchers, then they’ll come for my .50-caliber machine gun. At that point, we’ve slipped into Marxist communism. How the... Read more
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Addressing A Favorite Troll Of Mine
There’s a troll who always tries to comment on my articles. I’ve tried to permanently ban him, but because Disqus can be a bit buggy, he’s only got a shadow ban (meaning: to him, it looks like he can post, but others can’t see his comments). Good enough, I guess. Anyway, the other day, he tried to post the following, and instead of simply deleting it, I decided to write a response. Here’s his comment: All lgbtq sexual relationships will... Read more