“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” 1 John 4:14 Some progressive Christians today appear to be becoming too evolved (or embarrassed) to declare Jesus as the their own savior, much less the savior of the world. Such a declaration of our need for utter reliance on Jesus’ salvation seems to them to smack of hollow and self-flagellating religiosity. But is this fair? More importantly, is it... Read more
Nothing seems to alternatively bore and divide Christians more than does “atonement theory.” How are we to understand Jesus’ cross, Jesus’ blood, Jesus’ descent (into death and hell), and, finally, Jesus’ ascent (into resurrection and glory)? I want to avoid using dense and polysyllabic theological terms to dissect and then stitch together a “Frankenstein monster” explanation of the atonement, an explanation which is often more frightful than insightful, more awkward than awesome, and more barbaric than heroic. Instead I want... Read more
Man-made religion stones you when you’re wrong and crucifies you when you’re right. Avoid it like the plague. It is one. If you are a Bible literalist, then you have to believe Jesus did a pretty poor job “fulfilling the law” when it comes to stonings. What happened to “the every jot and tittle of the law being fulfilled?” Jesus never endorsed stonings of any kind. In fact, He de-endorsed them. He prevented the woman caught in adultery from being... Read more
Here is an interesting fact. Ancient Hebrew makes no grammatical distinction between an entity actively “causing” and passively “allowing” evil (if that entity was in a position of power and availability to attempt to stop it). They are one in the same. To allow something which we have the power to stop makes us a party to causing it. Theological mindsets from such diverse camps Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Calvin agree. Their very different systems of thought were... Read more
“Now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.” ―Søren Kierkegaard Jesus, after we each allow Him to introduce Himself into our lives, next introduces us to the true image of His Father. These introductions are each made to us by and though His Holy Spirit. The last introduction Jesus makes is to the final personage whom we all need to meet anew and afresh—ourselves. Our real selves. Our best and brightest selves. Our divine selves, within whom the Father has imbedded... Read more
Too often people use the term “Gnosticism” in the same way elementary school children use the word “cooties” to describe the personality afflictions possessed by other groups of children with whom they don’t want to associate. Many today likewise use the term “Gnosticism” pejoratively to describe other forms of Christian spirituality with which they don’t want to associate. This is a day when many are calling others with whom they disagree a “Gnostic.” This term is being frequently bandied... Read more
I want to use the Bladerunner movies [WARNING: Spoilers ahead] to help explain the concept of Literary Theory. “Literary Theory” is a term which explains the particular way we each choose to interpret narratives, i.e. HOW we ourselves draw meaning from written or visual language. Some literary theories claim language serves us as WE choose. (Romantic Humanism). Slogan: “the human AUTHOR rules!” Other literary theories say WE serve language as IT chooses. (Structuralism). Slogan: “the LETTER (language) rules!” However, the... Read more
After reading several recent articles about “the wrath of God,” it has suddenly hit me why there is so much confusion about this controversial topic. We need a PLAYBILL, a theatre program, listing all the players which operate in any given event which is perceived as “the wrath of God.” In other words, in any supposed wrathful event, what is God’s role? Our role? Satan’s role (whether you consider him a dark cosmic dynamic or a dark angelic power)? Exactly... Read more
The real Armageddon is the final battle for the image of God which is taking place on the Megiddo plains of our minds and hearts. Don’t ever give in or give up. God is good– only good, always good, only light and in Him no darkness— at all. He gives only good gifts to His children and in Him is no shadow of turning. He is the Father of lights, love, and lightness of being. The purpose of this discussion... Read more
Jesus Christ is God’s emphatic disallowance of all evil. How that disallowance “unfurls” itself over time and space is the real issue. “Unfurling” is an underused word worthy of some serious metaphorical meditation. Obviously, that term brings to mind flags and banners being “unfurled” from a folded or rolled-up position so that they may be hoisted and fully displayed overhead. But the “unfurling” concept is also used in nature. The Koru is the Maori word that relates to the “unfurling”... Read more
Richard Murray
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