3 Questions for Annihilationists

Last updated on: March 21, 2018 at 8:45 am By Matthew Distefano

As filmmaker Kevin Miller so poignantly points out in his documentary “Hellbound?” there are basically 3 positions Christians can take when it comes to eschatological matters: Infernalism, Annihilationism/Conditional Immortality, and Universalism. The reason for this is that the Bible, on the surface at least, includes passages that argue for all 3. In other words, there are passages that seem to suggest some humans will be tortured for time-everlasting (Infernalism), that some will perish entirely (Conditional Immortality), and that all will... Read more

The Myth of a Violent Jesus: Part 3, The Return

Last updated on: March 17, 2018 at 2:56 pm By Matthew Distefano

This will be the final installment of “The Myth of a Violent Jesus” series. Parts 1 and 2 can be found by clicking these links: Part 1: The Temple Incident Part 2: Swords In this final entry, we are going to discuss the mother of them all: The Return of Christ. We’ll conclude with a discussion about Jesus’ return because, well, a large number of Christians believe that if Jesus is violent at all, it will be on its fullest... Read more

The Myth of a Violent Jesus: Part 2, Swords

Last updated on: March 12, 2018 at 12:12 pm By Matthew Distefano

In Part 1, we briefly covered the so-called “cleansing of the Temple,” arguing for an interpretation that removes violence from Jesus. We’ll do something similar in this piece. Only we’ll be discussing those passages that, on the surface at least, seem to imply that Jesus not only condones violence, but commands it. The first passage comes from Matthew 10:34–36, and reads: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring... Read more

The Myth of a Violent Jesus: Part 1, The Temple Incident

Last updated on: March 8, 2018 at 6:42 pm By Matthew Distefano

It’s fascinating how many Christians argue for a violent Jesus. In spite of the fact that all throughout his ministry, Jesus told his listeners to do things like love their enemies, bless those who persecute them, turn the other cheek, and so on, some Jesus-followers still insist that Jesus was, in so many ways, okay with violence. One place they generally turn to as proof is the so-called “cleansing of the Temple” (cf. Mark 11:15–19, 27–33; Matt 21:12–17, 23–27; Luke... Read more

Holy Scriptures and Faith-Based Violence: A Quiz

Last updated on: March 2, 2018 at 5:23 pm By Matthew Distefano

I’ve noticed an odd phenomenon among some Christians when it comes to violence and the Scriptures. On the one hand, they will vehemently denounce both the violence that some Muslims do in the name of Allah, as well as the violence espoused in the Qur’an, but on the other, they will refuse to acknowledge that Christians have a storied history of engaging in just as much violence—all justified by Scripture. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but I have,... Read more

In the World, Not of the World: Some Initial Reflections After Yet Another Shooting

Last updated on: February 21, 2018 at 10:01 pm By Matthew Distefano

I apologize for it taking me so long to comment on the most recent school shooting. Frankly, I didn’t even know what the hell to say. But, after some reflection, what became clear to me was, instead of just talking about the shooting directly, I needed to first say something about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, what it means to be “in the world, not of the world.” Hopefully by the end of this piece, it... Read more

Theological Wrestling: Addressing Definitions and Presuppositions

Last updated on: February 12, 2018 at 6:59 pm By Matthew Distefano

I’m a Universalist and I affirm hell. I’m a Universalist and I affirm justice. I’m a Universalist and I affirm the wrath of God. I’m a Universalist and I affirm . . . well, you get the picture. If what I just said makes perfect sense to you, then the following will be nothing new. If, however, it doesn’t make any sense to you—how can one believe both clauses in each sentence?—then the following is for you. Hopefully by the... Read more

Biblical Inerrantists, What Do You Do About the Following?

Last updated on: February 6, 2018 at 7:17 pm By Matthew Distefano

I used to believe that the Bible was the inerrant Word of God. I believed this because I was told to believe it, and to question such things was to question God. And if I questioned God too much, or too often, then perhaps he was going to someday get tired of me and throw me into a lake of fire. The Bible was clear. Well, that may have been what I was told, but that doesn’t mean it’s true.... Read more

Christianity and Cannabis: One User’s Opinion

Last updated on: February 2, 2018 at 8:24 pm By Matthew Distefano

The topic of cannabis can be a contentious one for Christians. Unlike alcohol, caffeine, and other mind-altering substances, cannabis indeed carries with it a special kind of stigma, both morally and socially. For folks such as myself, this is especially unfortunate, given how much of a positive impact this herb has had on my life. Allow me to explain. A number of years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare form of Celiac disease called Refractory Celiac Sprue. What happens... Read more

Saved From God? Alternatives to Penal Substitution Atonement Theory

Last updated on: February 2, 2018 at 1:55 pm By Matthew Distefano

*Note, this is part II of my series on atonement. Part I can be found here. Please take a few minutes to read that first. Also, some of the content will be included in my forthcoming book entitled Heretic! An LGBTQ-Affirming, Divine-Violence Denying Christian Universalist’s Replies to Some of Evangelical Christianity’s Most Pressing Concerns. If atonement theology is not best understood in penal substitutionary ways—as I contend it’s not—then what are some healthier, more orthodox ways of understanding the... Read more