A good father doesn’t want his children to beg. Ever. A good mother doesn’t require her kids to plead before she delivers basic necessities… like her presence. If we train people to believe that they lack something, especially a basic need, and that you have the remedy, but that it requires them to perpetually apply to get it, like a lottery, then you’ve got a life-time customer. Right? So I drew this cheesy little cartoon to illustrate the fact that... Read more
Why do so many encourage magical thinking? Because then you need a magician. Authority and power tends to prefer the people be spellbound than rational. It is better for the masses to be mystified than discerning. I’ve seen it so many times. It’s dangerous, but it works! All a person has to do is say, “I hear from God, and he has something he wants me to say to you!” and the person is hooked! Most anyway. I’ve seen it.... Read more
I was talking with a man the other day who heads up an international ministry. He goes around the world encouraging pastors and congregations. He said that he is amazed at the level of political correctness that exists in the church. It is rampant. You not only have to believe a certain way, but speak and behave a certain way, in order to belong. Some aren’t happy until every aspect of your life is controlled. Including how you read and... Read more
I find the story of Lazarus amazing. The one detail I like most about the story is that Lazarus was raised from the dead in chapter 11. Then in 12: 10 it says that the Pharisees were trying to figure out a way to kill him. He was too great a testimony to Jesus. I mean, come on! Lazarus died once already, and there are people who want to kill him all over again. Once wasn’t enough? Which reminds me... Read more
I had an interesting experience last night. Lisa was showing me a youtube video that her group is going to use today in a presentation they are doing. As soon as the video started I knew it was Christian. Not just Christian, but evangelical Christian. Sure thing! About a minute in and they revealed their stripes. I knew it because I was a part of that culture for so long and am still in relationship with it. No big deal.... Read more
Purchase a print of this cartoon. So you’re a fig tree, and one day you’re just minding your own business being a fig tree in the off season, when Jesus comes along and curses you for not bearing figs, even though it is not the season. And so you whither up and die. I’m not here to explain away why this could have actually happened. I know there are evangelical biblical scholars who assert that it was the season for... Read more
Purchase a print of this cartoon. The danger of feeling a special sense of privilege when you’re in a position of influence is real and constant. When one has been raised on the bible and “hearing from God” and does this full time and has been preaching for years, the temptation to consider yourself the expert is sometimes subtle but surely strong. I’ve sat under preaching that is overtly condescending. There’s no discernment necessary. You are being verbally slapped around.... Read more
This has been me. I distinctly remember going through periods of severe spiritual testing where I wasn’t sure if I knew anything. I still had to get up there every week and open my mouth. I have come to learn since that admitting I don’t know is a great place to start. The thing is… many people in the church feel this way. They are terrified. They don’t know. They live with uncertainty. They dwell with doubt. Questions torment them... Read more
I’m a visual person. I see things. I picture things in my head and I have to say, write, draw, paint or sculpt them. My imagination must become an image. So when I see in picture form what many Christians believe about others then it graphically exposes the arrogance of that position. It certainly visualizes the myopia. Doesn’t it throw it into question for you? Of course, the word “Christian” can be replaced with pretty much any of the other... Read more
I came across an old blog post, The Sum of All My Fears”. I realized, upon reading the list of 10 fears, that all of them were related to me being a pastor within the church. Take a look: angering my superiors; upsetting people in my church who can do damage; being excommunicated; losing these friends; my family being hurt because of me; our church closing down; being unemployed; being attacked and ridiculed by those within and outside of the... Read more
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