Yesterday, I got confronted with my secret–it had finally gotten out. I was talking with one of my clients, whom I have known for a year and a half. In the middle of the conversation, he said, “I heard that you used to be a pastor!” I told him that yes, that’s true. (I consider myself to still be a pastor, ordination intact and everything, but that’s not the point.) I asked him where he’d learned the secret, and he... Read more
As boys, my brother and I loved to wrestle. Many of our friends grew up watching Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, and other professional wrestlers. But we were never believers. Our parents told us that while they were great athletes, the wrestling itself was fake. Instead, my brother and I learned Greco-Roman wrestling and developed a style closer to submission wrestling. Which usually meant he pressed my face to the ground until I cried, “uncle!” While we loved... Read more
“If you see the Buddha, kill him,” say the Buddhists. What a strange thing from people talking about their beloved teacher! Of course, they’re not referring to Gautama himself, since that enlightened one died thousands of years ago. So, what does this saying mean? Religions, Philosophies, and Ultimate Reality The famous Buddhist aphorism means that ultimate reality is ultimately ungraspable. Suppose you were walking down the street one day and you met the Buddha. From the Buddhist perspective, this... Read more
In church, “I pledge allegiance” sounds an awful lot like “Hail Caesar!” The American church has forgotten its anti-nationalist roots and exchanged the cross for the flag. In nearly every congregation I served over 26 years of ministry, I’ve fought the false gospel of Americianity, and lost the war every time. They say you’ve got to pick your battles–but this IS a hill to die on. Americianity has become a cult, and its followers don’t even know they’re in it.... Read more
The Easter story gets better every time you tell it. I love my pastor friend Jim—He is so full of funny stories! I used to see him every Wednesday morning at clergy breakfasts. Not a week went by where he wouldn’t lift our spirits with a funny story of some unusual thing that happened to him. If you listen to Jim’s stories long enough, you might think that he has more weird experiences than anyone in the world. But I... Read more
For pastors deconstructing your faith, the events of Holy Week become a showcase for how your faith shift can get you crucified. In my last article, I talked about the first half of Holy Week. Palm Sunday was all about Jesus confronting empire. Like Jesus separating himself from the theology of his day, your changing theology can also alter your politics. This can give your parishioners reason to turn against you. Monday marked the day that Jesus cleared the temple.... Read more
Pastors just want to be like Jesus. And just like him, deconstructing your faith can get you crucified. During Holy Week, you might be thinking about your own religious deconstruction. Doctrines and practices you once accepted as inspired no longer bear the fingerprint of God. You’ve been rethinking and praying through what you really believe, and how different that might be from what your congregants expect you to teach. You’re not alone. Without his own deconstruction experience, Jesus would... Read more
My personal journey of faith deconstruction began with the events of Palm Sunday. My Deconstruction Began on Palm Sunday Palm Sunday sermons focus on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Believers in penal substitutionary atonement often say that on this same day, lambs were selected for sacrifice, and Jesus was selected by the crowd that hailed him. Progressives like me often discuss how Jesus refused participate in societal power structures, as evidenced by his riding a donkey rather than a stallion.... Read more
Grace comes before repentance, not after. When you finally get this truth, it changes everything. But be warned–it’s a dangerous truth. Uncomdemning Savior In John 8, Jesus’ detractors try to back him into a corner by entrapping a woman they have caught in adultery. “Should we stone her, as Moses’ law commands?” they ask. Jesus replies that the one who has never sinned should throw the first stone. In verse 11 (NIV) Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn... Read more
If your church has been around a while, it probably has hoarding disorder. We all know that individuals can have this diagnosable condition–but did you know that churches can be hoarders, too? The Horror of Hoarding The DSM-5 defines hoarding disorder as, “Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.” It continues, “This difficulty is due to a perceived need to save the items and to the distress associated with... Read more
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