The beautiful paradox of the Incarnation – which Christians the world over celebrate every December 25th – is that when Christ took on flesh, it also meant that all flesh took on Christ. This miracle convergence of humanity and Deity is embodied in Christ, and because of this, everyone alive is now also infused with the living spirit of Christ. This is why the Apostle Paul could say things like this: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection… Read more
December 22, 2020
Why Some Christians Deny The Incarnation
December 22, 2020 By Keith Giles
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December 10, 2020
Deification: The Lost Doctrine Of The Early Church
December 10, 2020 By Keith Giles
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Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with Father Kenneth Tanner. During our talk, he referenced a quote from Athanasius that got my wheels turning. What he mentioned was that the early Church Father had taught something about the Incarnation of Christ being a journey, not an event in time, where Jesus became fully human only when he died on the cross. That really got me thinking and so I started to dig into this quote, and into what the early… Read more
December 9, 2020
Misunderstanding The Rich Man and Lazarus Parable
December 9, 2020 By Keith Giles
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People constantly point to the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in the Gospel of Luke as “proof” that Jesus taught the doctrine of Hell. But, that’s only because someone told them that this was what the parable was about. Anyone who actually reads the parable itself will notice that it’s not teaching about endless torment, and the point of the story isn’t about where anyone goes after they die at all. It’s actually about something much more practical…. Read more
December 8, 2020
Her Name Was Luna
December 8, 2020 By Keith Giles
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The first thing I did when I got back from the war was to bury my gun in the back yard. I planted the 9mm pistol in the ground just next to the Oleander, beneath the shadow of the dying Mesquite tree my Father had planted over a decade ago. Not that I expected it to grow. Quite the opposite. I hoped to lay all my memories of blood and death to rest once and for all. It didn’t work…. Read more
December 4, 2020
Love, Sin, And Forgiveness
December 4, 2020 By Keith Giles
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In our sin-obsessed version of Modern Christianity, there’s almost nothing more important than answering this question: “What is sin?” Because we’ve made the Gospel an atonement theory that specifically says the “Good News” is how Jesus suffered the wrath of God as our substitute, and that wrath and punishment was centered on one thing – the fact that we are utterly, hopelessly sinful creatures. Sin, therefore, is a very important thing. Perhaps, in this brand of Christianity, even more… Read more
December 3, 2020
God Is An Addict by Amy Chumbley
December 3, 2020 By Keith Giles
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[GUEST POST] God speaks in mysterious ways. Who knew a television show about cars could teach me so much about God’s love! My husband and I discovered “Rust Valley Restorers” on Netflix and were instantly hooked. I am NOT a car enthusiast. I am a girly girl, voted “Most Feminine” in high school. I only recently learned how to put air in my tires! And what is the difference in a fender and a bumper? I’m not sure. Then there’s… Read more
December 2, 2020
Uncovering Gospel Truth Outside Our Faith
December 2, 2020 By Keith Giles
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The Kingdom of Heaven is within you: and whosever shall know himself shall find it.” – Ancient Egyptian Proverb This quote above sounds awfully close to something Jesus said in Luke 17:21 – “The Kingdom of God is within you.” So, what’s up? Did Jesus even say this? Did the Gospel writers attribute something to Jesus that they stole from another source? I don’t think so. See, Jesus also quotes a pre-existing parable when he re-tells the story of the… Read more
December 1, 2020
FOR PASTORS ONLY: Surviving Deconstruction
December 1, 2020 By Keith Giles
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This might come as a shock to you, but over the last year or so I have been talking with dozens of pastors who say that they would lose their jobs if their congregations knew about their deconstruction. It’s true. In fact, most of these pastors are ending up in my Square 1 and Ground Zero courses online where they find a safe place to question their faith, share their doubts and work through the painful process of deconstructing their… Read more
November 25, 2020
How Jesus Redefines Exile
November 25, 2020 By Keith Giles
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As author and theologian N.T. Wright points out, the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis is a parable of Israel’s continual rise and fall: They start off in the seat of God’s favor, they rebel and fall away, the result is to become exiled in a foreign land, and the process repeats over and over again throughout their history. To be told “Your sins are forgiven,” therefore is to say “Your exile is over. It’s time to return home.”… Read more
November 11, 2020
Death To The Status Quo!
November 11, 2020 By Keith Giles
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As I’ve been reading on the early church, I’ve come across a great saying used by the church fathers – Conversatio Morem – and I’d like to make it my own. The phrase can be translated in two different ways, depending on the context. The first way is, “Death To The Status Quo!” I must say, I love this. It embodies the counter-cultural aspect of Christian discipleship that I long to embody and to inspire in others. If I ever… Read more
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