What do you say to people experiencing homelessness when they speak to you on the street? You might say, “Sorry, I don’t carry cash.” Or “Get away from my door!” Jesus brought his disciples to a region called the Gerasenes. There, they encountered someone without a home, and abandoned by society. What Jesus said to the homeless man changed his life. In this article, I’ll talk about how we can respond more like Jesus. I am a behavioral health specialist... Read more
Many people call the gift of tongues their Prayer Language. This assumes that it is an actual language. Is there anything linguistic about the gift of tongues? Sermons at Pentecost often identify the Acts 2 event as God’s miraculous reversal of the incident in Genesis 11. They claim that thousands of years after God confused human speech at Babel, God unified people’s language through the gift of tongues at Pentecost. The problem with this interpretation is twofold: First, the Genesis... Read more
Is See You at the Pole an annual event of spiritual dedication, or a perfect example of Christian nationalism? If you’re thinking of attending this before-school rally, please read on. As a pastor, I used to get annual emails and flyers in the church mailbox promoting See You at the Pole (SYATP). This annual event at the end of September ostensibly is designed for Christians to pray for their schools and school systems at the beginning of each school year.... Read more
You may have heard it said that the gift of tongues is a lesser gift. That’s because it can be a blessing or a distraction in church. In private prayer life, it can be a benefit or an obsession. My experience of the gift of tongues has been a mixed bag. On the one hand, I’ve witnessed first-hand cases of Christians showboating in church. Tongues-speaking in worship services calls attention to the individual and removes the focus from Jesus himself.... Read more
“Receive the Holy Spirit,” whispered my Pentecostal friend. One hand was on my chest and the other on my forehead as he prayed that I might receive the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the gift of tongues. Others in the group babbled their incoherent prayers around me, having already received the gift. These Pentecostals believed in what they called the Second Blessing. They believe that salvation is the first blessing to come to people who receive Jesus as their Savior.... Read more
Is the Holy Spirit only for Christians? While Jesus’ followers disagree with each other on when the Holy Spirit comes into the life of a believer, most agree that the Holy Spirit is a special blessing only for Christians. But is this true? Do Christians have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit? As I deconstructed my religious beliefs, I came to realize that non-Christians experience all the same things we say the Holy Spirit does for Christians. All people... Read more
In my last articles, I must have come across as if I believe that Jesus wasn’t sinless. In my first article, “A Flawless Hero,” I was bold enough to suggest that a hero without imperfections is boring—and Jesus is no boring hero. Next, in “Holy Outlaw,” I said that Jesus certainly wasn’t sinless, if we define sin as a violation of biblical law. Then, in “One of Us,” I subverted the idea of original sin, and the need for virgin... Read more
When the church claims that Jesus was sinless, what does that mean? In this series’ first article, “A Flawless Hero,” I discuss the two possibilities that might arise by that question. The second article in this series, “Holy Outlaw” asks whether Jesus ever broke biblical law. Today, I’ll discuss the doctrine of original sin, and how some Christians believe Jesus escaped from it. Please read my first article for a recap of that doctrine. Original sin Those who support... Read more
Was Jesus sinless? Christian teaching claims that he was—but what does that mean? In my last article, I discussed the opposing viewpoints that sin is either a quality inherited from our sinful ancestors or an individual decision. In this article, I will ask whether Jesus was sinless if we understand sin as a decision to break divine law. In my next article, I will ask if Jesus bore the stain of original sin. And my final article in this series... Read more
When we read great literature, we expect the best heroes to have flaws. Whenever you read a story or watch a movie with a protagonist who seems to have no defects, it leaves you unsatisfied. You want your heroes to be human, so you can identify with them. Even superheroes that are too “good” can get kind of boring. So, what’s with this doctrine of the sinless Christ? If Jesus was sinless, can we completely identify with him, and he... Read more
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