Did the Resurrection really happen? I don’t know. Comforting, huh? I know, I’m supposed to believe it happened. I’m supposed to have that kind of faith. But, am I supposed to believe in a bodily Resurrection or a spiritual Resurrection? Which Gospel account do I believe? Because they are different. Amazingly brilliant believers have argued those questions for a very long time and come to no agreement. So, Resurrection? I don’t know. As my theology professor, Dr. Tupper, was given... Read more
“Sandlin’s Jesus isn’t much different from a Gandhi or a Nelson Mandela, great leaders who inspired people to suffer and die for the sake of others, but he cannot take your sins away.” – Michael Bird It would seem that I owe my sparring partner, Michael Bird, in this “Head to Head” series a “thank you” note or something. I mean, I realize that quote was meant as a jab, but I am honestly flattered. I believe we are all... Read more
This article is part of the new Head to Head debate feature at Patheos. This week, in concert with our Engaging Easter coverage, I’m debating Evangelical Channel’s Mike Bird of “Euangelion”. The question… Read more
Good Friday. What a horrible name for Friday of Easter week – “good.” Hardly. Dark? Yes. Sad? Yes. Violent? Absolutely! Good? Hardly. I think I prefer the German name for it: Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” Easter approaches in the shadow of the devastation of “Good” Friday and the stupefying silence of Holy Saturday. It has struck me year after year as I tried to write an uplifting message for Easter that we need to understand the journey of Friday, Saturday,... Read more
Photo: RYGER / Shutterstock.com This article is part of our new Head to Head debate feature. This week, in concert with our Engaging Easter coverage, I will be debating the Evangelical Channel’s Mike Bird of “Euangelion”. The question: What did Jesus’ death on the cross actually DO? “Why did Jesus die on a cross?” I suspect that question has been asked since the day Jesus actually died on a cross. The most common answer for many Christians, “he died on... Read more
Why did Jesus die on a cross? To save us from our sins? Regardless of your personal belief, you have to recognize that within theological circles, the idea that Jesus had to die to atone for our sins is debatable. What isn’t debatable is why he was crucified. Jesus was crucified because the Roman authorities of the day saw him as a real threat to the state, a threat to political order and (most importantly), a threat to those in... Read more
“I just feel like something is missing.” While that is an exact quote from a young adult I was once counseling early in my ministerial career, it’s a theme that would be repeated in many counseling sessions by a rather large variety of people. Even the most well-adjusted people seem to have at least a tiny sense that there should be something more to life – and, if not to life itself, at least to their lives. This feeling of... Read more
I love that, as a PC(USA) minister, our constitution will soon reflect my ability to perform marriages for any two folks who want to get married, regardless of their sexual orientation. The thought actually makes me ever-so slightly teary eyed. So, hear me say clearly that PC(USA) ministers’ ability to perform same-sex marriages is something I deeply celebrate. For that matter, I’ve been one of the denomination’s loudest same-sex marriage advocates for quite some time. But, also, hear me say... Read more
It seems like we are seeing more and more Fundamentalist Christians losing their minds because of homosexuality. A few of the “sky-is-falling” statements flying through cyberspace lately include: homosexuality is worse than genocide!; all gays must be put to death!; and, wait for it . . . if the Supreme Court strikes down state bans on same-sex marriage, we will all be facing the WRATH OF THE ANTI-CHRIST by the end of the year!!! Good times. No, really. I love... Read more
Pope Francis is easily my favorite Pope in modern times. A recent Pew Research Center survey says that his popularity in the U.S. is continuing to grow and that he is as popular as John Paul II was among Catholics. The list of things I love about him seems nearly endless: from auctioning off his Harley Davidson and donating the money to a hostel and soup kitchen in Rome (yes, he owned a Harley!) to saying that God is not... Read more
The God Article with Mark Sandlin
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