Edward Gibbon famously remarked: “The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord.”[1] I do not think the Roman Empire owned the copyright on this view of religion. It has triumphed in many eras. However, dissenting views have arisen throughout history. Take, for example, the... Read more

It’s easy with holidays to think that once a given holiday is past, we’re on to the next one. But it is entirely different for Christians who believe that days like Christmas do not end when the clock strikes midnight, since Jesus’ life did not end the day after he was born. In fact, the Christmas season or Christmastide, which began on Christmas Eve, runs until Mary’s purification and the baby Jesus’ presentation in the Temple forty days after his... Read more

Advent is about peace — experiencing tranquility of soul in turbulent times. The “Angel’s Candle” that many churches light the fourth week of Advent beckons us to find peace even in the midst of fear, as the shepherds encountered angelic visitors who announced God’s peace to his people at Jesus’ birth. Experiencing peace is easier said than done at Christmas. Christmas present bills, damp weather and shorter days in many cases, end-of-the-year anxieties, relational and political turmoil here and abroad,... Read more

If you and I are going to get tripped up and called onto the carpet, may it only be for bearing gracious and truthful witness to God in Jesus Christ (See John 1:14; 1 Peter 3:15). Easier said than done, no doubt. But this is the only thing at stake for missional Christianity: bearing faithful witness to Jesus. The Apostle Paul makes use of the terminology “stumbling block” in 1 Corinthians 1: “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to... Read more

Recently I read Saint Athanasius’ On the Incarnation along with Tenzin Chögyel’s The Life of the Buddha. They present Christian and Buddhist versions of renunciation, as Jesus and Buddha make their way from heavenly glory to bring an end to earthly suffering. A comparison of the two classic texts reveal very striking differences between Jesus’ and Shakyamuni Buddha’s identity and their approaches to ending suffering and strife. For example, Jesus does not renounce personhood as impermanent, but cherishes the eternal... Read more

You’ve probably all seen Coexist bumper stickers of various kinds. They are often taken to signify that adherents of various spiritual paths or no faith at all should move beyond their differences, foster understanding, and get along.* Certainly, there is a need for us all to coexist, to get along and understand one another better, as the world gets smaller due to high-speed technology and travel, population growth and turbulent migration patterns, and increasing partisan hostilities and tribalism. So, coexistence... Read more

Advent is about joy—the joyful gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, whom the shepherds beheld. How often do we reflect upon that joy as we give and receive gifts at Christmas time? Gift exchanges marks the Christmas season. It’s all too easy to turn such gift exchanges into giving and receiving stuff rather than sharing life. Such exchanges may be filled with happiness, but that initial feeling of happiness may soon wear off like the shimmer and... Read more

The book of Daniel encourages God’s people to be faithful witnesses to God’s missional kingdom in the face of huge obstacles and ordeals. Daniel 5 is no exception. Here we find a parallel passage to Daniel 4. In each passage, a Babylonian ruler failed to give God glory. Instead, they praised themselves and/or their own gods. Whereas Nebuchadnezzar repented of his foolish pride and God restored him (Daniel 4), Belshazzar’s vain actions led God to remove him from his throne... Read more

Advent is about faith — trusting that God will fulfill his purposes for us even when the way forward seems like a dead end. The “Bethlehem Candle” that many churches light the second week of Advent reflects a lifestyle of faith and highlights Mary and Joseph’s sojourn to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph were told by an angel that they would become the parents of the Messiah, who would bring down the mighty and deliver God’s people from bondage. No doubt, this... Read more

What does religious liberty mean in our increasingly pluralistic society? We explore this and more at New Wine, New Wineskins’ upcoming conference “Religious Liberty—for All.” The conference will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. The question of religious liberty is a contentious one in our current culture. Often discussions of religious liberty have the connotation of applying to one religious group, but not others. What would religious liberty “for all” look like in our... Read more