A lot of Christians have a skewed view of sin. If I had to guess at a percentage, it would be about fifty. In all honesty, it may be higher, but perhaps I only say that because I grew up in a predominantly white, entirely conservative, Evangelical church. And these folks are obsessed with sin. Sin this. Sin that. Sin. Sin. Sin. Why is this so? The cynic in me says it’s all about controlling the masses, but it’s likely... Read more
Last night, after chillin’ around the firepit with my best friend Michael, I made the 20 minute drive to my new home in Chico, California. Because I drive a janky-ass Jeep – replete with an antenna that hangs off the side, more car tape than is ever needed, and a door that fills up with water during rain storms – naturally I don’t have much of a selection of music for my drives. In fact, the 6 CD changer is... Read more
It’s no surprise that Keith Giles and I go way back. We’ve been with the same publisher for years. We’re working on our fourth year of the Heretic Happy Hour podcast. And even though we now live in different states, we’ve had the pleasure of becoming real-life friends. But none of that means I won’t also give an open and honest review of the work he does. In the latest installment in his “Jesus-Un” series, Giles tackles the ever-debated over... Read more
I bet y’all didn’t know I could rap. But I can. To prove it, my mixtape, entitled “Burn It Down,” is available now on iTunes. Click the album cover to pick it up today. Note: Strong Language. Not suitable for everyone. Read more
Recently, I was invited to contribute a chapter for a book project that will address deconstruction. I’m not saying it’s a response to The Gospel Coalition’s Before You Lose Your Faith, but that’s exactly what it is. I’m not sure what the book will cover, exactly, but it’ll probably touch on all the basics: LGBTQ+ issues, prayer after deconstruction, theodicy, hell, etc. For my piece, I’m going to talk about how Jesus interpreted his Scriptures. We’ve probably all heard this... Read more
Everyone is talking about deconstruction. Conservative Christians are talking about it. Progressive Christians are talking about it. Hell, even agnostics and atheists are talking about it. But what is it, exactly? And why are so many groups coming at it from such different angles? What is Deconstruction? The term “deconstruction” is nothing new, though the modern, colloquial meaning of the word may be. Although it was around before French philosopher Jacques Derrida, he is basically considered the “founder of deconstruction.”... Read more
I’m just gonna leave this here…y’all can figure out where I’m going with this. Exodus 32 (NRSV) The Golden Calf When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Aaron said to them,... Read more
“What Would Jesus Do?” WWJD. That’s a question Christians ask themselves many times over the course of their lives. Some even go so far as to wear WWJD bracelets so they can glance down at their wrist as a constant reminder. Perhaps even some have the letters tattooed on their knuckles. Either way, I’m sure we are all aware of the phrase and the sentiment behind it. We want to live like Jesus and want to do exactly what he... Read more
We are in the season of Lent, that period of time where some Christians give up something for 40 days. Most choose vices like coffee, fast food, or alcohol. I saw one list that included gossip (which of course caused me to think “why not give that up for good?”). In this piece, I’d like to suggest a different approach: A theological Lent. Yes, that’s right, I propose Christians give up the following theologies/beliefs for at least 40 days (and... Read more
Two years ago, Donald J. Trump was impeached and acquitted. Last month, Donald J. Trump was again impeached and again acquitted. During the first trial, I didn’t agree with the outcome but I understood it. The second trial is much different. While I’m not surprised that the former president was acquitted, I am still quite stunned. Republicans often consider themselves the “party of values.” I know this, not only because they always talk about it, but because I was raised... Read more
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