First, let’s just be clear: I’m not saying it is impossible to do these things if you’re following Jesus. But, I am saying that if you are doing these things you aren’t following Jesus while you do them – because they aren’t what Jesus would do. Not all churches are doing these things, but there’s enough who are that it’s more than worth talking about. Also, this is also not meant to be a complete list or even a “Top... Read more
This is the second post in a series called: “This Collar Is Too Tight: Heresies From a Southern Minister.” You can read the first post here. The short explanation of this series is this: the institutionalized Church spends a lot of time defining who’s in and who’s out. Biblically, I find that a lot of the “measures” used, don’t hold up. I’m making the argument for a larger acceptance of theological diversity in the Christian Church. As a... Read more
Dear Loved Ones, I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. As you might imagine, I’ve had a few things on my plate. Thanks for understanding. I’m also sorry that this letter is going to have to be so direct, but I’m afraid recent events have pushed us far past pleasantries. Please, throughout the things I have to say in this letter, remember I love you. I do. I just wish you loved me back. Oh, I know. I... Read more
This is the first post in a series called: “This Collar Is Too Tight: Heresies From a Southern Minister.” Most institutionalized Churches define who is and who isn’t a Christian far too narrowly. There is an increasingly long list of tenets to which a person must dogmatically adhere in order to be in the club. The thing is… I don’t believe a whole lot of them. I even find many of them to be biblically inaccurate. I’ve decided to address... Read more
Sure, some people may think it’s a little odd to turn to fiction to gain life lessons about reality. But, keep in mind; the people writing the fiction are drawing on their own lives for material. On top of that, it’s usually easier to learn important lessons when they’re a few times removed from our own lives – that way the tough ones sting a little less. Before continuing, I should note, this is a spoiler alert warning. There are... Read more
Sunday Prayer – Based on Job (A Prayer of Confession) Good and gracious God, We all love you. Only, it would seem, that we don’t love the same you. The you we love, is the you we have created. We love discovering that you are much like us – after all we are created in your image, right? We love those moments when when a piece of scripture confirms the things we long suspected and gives us divine permission... Read more
I can’t think of a Pope who has made a bigger impact, brought more hope and sounded more like Jesus than Pope Francis. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan. I even Facebook-lifted a hashtag I saw on Diana Butler Bass’ page that I use all the time now: #popecrush. And now he’s coming to the United States! The first Pope from the Americas is coming to the U.S. This is very exciting. So exciting, in fact, that a... Read more
I’m an ordained minster and haven’t conducted a wedding in more than three years. It’s kind of weird. It’s not that I haven’t been asked. It’s just that about three years ago, I took a vow to sign no more marriage certificates “until all can wed.” Let me explain. My denomination, Presbyterian Church (USA), in 2011, had just voted to make it possible for someone who is gay to be ordained as a minister. As you might imagine, for those... Read more
Question Mark — Week of July 27 From time to time, I ask for questions on my personal Facebook page (feel free to friend request me). Based on nothing in particular, I’ll pick five of them to answer. Admittedly, most of the questions deserve much more consideration than I can give them in a few paragraphs, but I think this could be a good place to start conversation and possibly to challenge some long-held opinions of what a Christian... Read more
I don’t like telling people I’m a Christian. It’s not that I’m ashamed of being a Christian; I’m not – at all. It is just that the word “Christian” comes with so much ugly baggage. Telling someone I’m a Christian means I must immediately follow it up with, “but not that kind of Christian.” It’s like saying, “Yeah, sure, these are some mind bogglingly ugly suitcases, but I’ve got the coolest stuff on the inside of them. No, really, I... Read more
The God Article with Mark Sandlin
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