A weaponized Bible is a dangerous thing. The biblical canon is a weapon of mass carnage, lopping heads and cutting people off at the knees. The Church has ordained its biblical canon as ordnance throughout its history, leaving bloody corpses and lost souls in its wake. In the guise of “spiritual warfare,” Christians commit spiritual abuse when they use the Bible to beat people up. Presuming that God authored a book called The Holy Bible, they instruct people how they... Read more
How do you describe Ultimate Reality? Judaism called it YHWH. Jesus translated this as “Ego Eimi.” Lao Tzu called it the Tao, or “The Way.” Christians often view God incorrectly as an old grandfather in the sky. It’s no wonder—throughout Church history, artists depicted God in this way. When pressed, believers often admit that God is ultimately indescribable. But an indescribable God is hard to wrap your head around. Jews, Christians, and Taoists Jesus and the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu... Read more
Cow tipping at church can be fun. Here’s how to tip sacred cows while avoiding the messy repercussions of stepping in cow pies. “Sacred cow” is a fascinating term appropriated from Hindu custom. If you travel to India, you will find places where cattle roam freely in the streets. Because many Hindus consider cows to be holy, of course, they abstain from eating beef. But in some places, cows wander at will, obstruct traffic, and leave their excrement everywhere. The... Read more
How are Jesus and Lao Tzu like Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups? They are the two great faiths that faith great together! Do you remember the old TV commercials where two cowboys sit by the fire? As they accidentally bump into each other snacks collide. Each one looks to the other with furrowed brows. “You got your chocolate in my peanut butter,” the first one drawls. The second, just as offended, says, “You got your peanut butter on my chocolate!” The... Read more
What would Christianity look like on a different planet? How can we determine which truths are earthbound, and which are universal? Imagine you’re a Christian missionary on a planet closer to its sun, where a thin atmosphere does not block harmful solar radiation. People have adapted to the harsh environment by burrowing into the planet’s crust, where it is cool and dark. Like bats, they have developed keen ears and dull eyesight. Inhabitants take trips to the surface at night when... Read more
Religious killjoys, terrified of anything non-Christian, warn of Easter’s Pagan origins. Yet, we can reconcile and honor both traditions. Most Jesus followers know someone afraid of anything impure that might creep in from outside Christendom. These are the hyper-religious types who insist you can get a demon from playing Dungeons & Dragons. They’re certain that their kids will become witches if they read a Harry Potter book. And they love to debunk fun Christian holidays by telling you about their... Read more
What did Jesus mean by “living water?” A 2,500-year-old Chinese text may give a clue. Let’s compare the words of Jesus and Lao Tzu. In honor of World Water Day, March 22 this year, I want to look at the spiritual meaning of water from two great traditions—Christianity and Taoism. The following is adapted from a book I am writing. The book’s working title is The Tao of Love: The Way of Jesus. In this article, I will discuss the mystical... Read more
Every day I work with people who experience physical and emotional pain. While I can’t prescribe their medication, I do prescribe meditation. Bertha’s story: A few years ago, I paid a pastoral visit to Bertha (not her real name) in the hospital. She impressed me by the way she bore up under the pain of her medical treatments. Bertha told me, “I heard the Lord say in my mind, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So, I began... Read more
Are God and Satan equal and opposite? Does God get credit for good, while we blame the devil for evil? Is God the source of good and evil? Recently, a friend asked me the following question: “I’m still kinda on my spiritual journey in trying to be a better Christian but I still got questions in my head that hold me back sometimes. I was wondering if you could help me out with if you had time…I’ve seen and read... Read more
What happens when you pull the emergency brake on the freeway? A client decided to try it at 60mph. It was his way of crying for help. Sometimes a person’s bad behavior can speak louder than their words. Recently, I met a client upon his release from jail. I didn’t have all the details about his weekend incarceration. So, I asked questions to learn why he’d been arrested. As I drove him to an appointment, we turned onto the freeway,... Read more
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