Pastors: Jesus told you to go the extra mile, not run the extra marathon. Sure, Paul uses the analogy of running the race set before us. But he never expected us to be like an athlete who dies in the prime of their life because they pushed themselves too hard. When Above and Beyond Means Over-the-Top Good pastors know how to take care of the members of their congregations. But they also know how to take care of themselves. They... Read more
By recognizing and respecting unknown gods, Abraham and Paul give Christians examples of how to honor other religious traditions. Two Perspectives on World Religions Conservative Christianity generally regards itself as the only legitimate faith. Where does this limited perspective come from? In this article, we’ll examine conservative, exclusive views. In honor of World Religions Day (January 15), we’ll also look at a more accepting perspective. Conservative vs. Inclusive Approaches in the Hebrew Scriptures In the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses represents... Read more
“Deconstruction is a slippery slope,” warned the Sunday school teacher. Her student replied, “Sure is. You need one of those for a wild ride.” The Slippery Slope Argument You’ve heard the slippery slope argument before. We mustn’t question God about anything, because soon we’ll question God about everything. It starts out innocent enough, like Adam and Eve naked in the garden. All it takes is one serpentine question, “Did God really say…?” One bite of an apple. Then the devil... Read more
The New Year requires walking by faith, not by sight. It involves taking account of your life and adjusting your vision when necessary. Toddlers with glasses are adorable and heartbreaking at the same time. That was me. I got my first pair of glasses when I was two years old, before I can even remember. I was that cute tow-headed kid with Coke bottles on his face. Over the years, my prescription didn’t change that much–until I hit my forties.... Read more
Life is full of doorways and thresholds. New Year’s Day is one of the most well-known of these doorways. God of Doorways January is named for the Roman god Janus, who ruled over doorways, gates, thresholds, and beginnings. With one face Janus looked backward to the past. With another face, he looked to the future. Rather than the negative sense of being two-faced, Janus’ double gaze represented wisdom. What he learned from the past, he could use to make good... Read more
Around the world, the New Year brings special traditions. Many of our holiday customs come from the ancient Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. In these lands, people celebrated the first few moments of the New Year with family and friends. It was thought that making loud noises would frighten away evil spirits. Thus, we inherit the custom of sounding bells, using noisemakers at boisterous parties, and shouting loudly to ring in the New Year. Southern Traditions I’m gradually importing some Virginia... Read more
‘Tis the season for Christmas songs that declare universal salvation for everyone. Flipping through popular music of the season, I’m astonished to find how many old carols and new Christmas songs espouse universalism. Here are some excerpts from a few favorites. (Bold print indicates my emphasis on certain words.) These indicate that Christ came to fling salvation upon all the earth. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – Edmund Sears For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen... Read more
Housing for people experiencing addiction and homelessness is a matter of life and limb. When temperatures plummet, freezing to death is a very real possibility. For various reasons, not all unhoused people can get into cold-weather shelters. As a behavioral health specialist who works with the homeless population, I have had clients who lost limbs due to frostbite. Winter is an unforgiving enemy that leaves wounds and takes lives. A Matter of Life and Death According to the National Care... Read more
“Wait—what?” Mary said when the angel told her about the upcoming virgin birth. The story of the annunciation proves that Christmas is all about deconstructing your religion. Deconstruction involves dismantling your religion brick by brick and then rebuilding it (or not) based on your new truth. Believe it or not, Christmas is all about that! It was as if the angel said to her, “Mary, did you know that everything you believed is changing?” As a fourteen-year-old girl, Mary had... Read more
Evangelicals often use the phrase, “Touch not the Lord’s anointed” to mean that it’s wrong to ever correct, critique, or criticize pastors. This is nothing but spiritual manipulation and abuse. Speaking Against God’s Servants Recently, I posed a question to my social media friends, asking about manipulative phrases that pastors use from the pulpit. I was looking for the kinds of expressions where the pastor exercises control over the congregation. Some of the answers I received assisted me in writing... Read more
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