CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
The Kingdom of Service
Jesus came to this earth to serve, not to be served - and he invites us as Christians to live a life of service. How do you really feel about being a servant of the Lord?
Q&R – Were only WE ‘saints’ chosen from eternity? Ephesians 1:4 – Brad Jersak
Question
Brad, how do we counter the claim that Ephesians 1:4 was addressed to the “saints” in accordance with verse 1b and not everyone from before the foundation of the world?
Response
My first instinct is not to counter the claim at all.
Here's how I might approach it:
I would point out, first, that MAYBE we should say that while the letter is addressed to the saints in Ephesus (1b), the WE of verse 4 could EITHER refer to WE SAINTS, OR it could refer to the universal outcome anticipated in verse 10: "...as a plan for the fullness of time, ...
I Make All Things New
Come together with us as we pray for those in religious bondage. Worship God with us, worship our Savior who transforms all things, especially human hearts.
CWR Video – Reading the Bible Right – by Brian Zahnd
Brian Zahnd - Reading the Bible Right
Attend Church or Else! – by Greg Albrecht
by Greg AlbrechtEditor's Note: Just what it means to "be" and "do" and "go to" church is a controversial topic within Christendom. Of course there are vested interests, so that the discussion is rarely objective. One of our readers/listeners introduced this conversation, as he reported his response to an article by a pastor (in italics) he felt to be manipulative and self-serving (our reader's response in bold type). We invite you to be the judge of that! My wife recently brought home a pastoral newsletter from the church she occasionally attends. I read the lead ...
What Are We Really Singing? – by Laura Urista
We praise Thee O God our Redeemer, Creator, in grateful devotion our tribute we bring. We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee, we bless Thy holy name, glad praises we sing. (Netherlands folk song text by Julia Cady Cory).
Those are the opening words to my very first “favorite hymn.” I can remember singing those words at age four, surrounded by my family and hundreds of worshippers at a large church gathering. I still get goosebumps thinking of the shared joy of singing hymns of praise and worship with my parents, brothers and sisters as well as my ...
What Is God Looking For?
David was not among the final contestants for the prophet Samuel’s American Idol-like judging for the new king of Israel. What God is actually looking for surprised everyone then — and it still does.
Faith, Fiction, Fantasy & Truth – Brad Jersak
"Sometimes fairy stories may say best what’s to be said.” —C.S. Lewis
“C.S. Lewis taught me that in fiction, stepping into magical realms means encountering earthly concerns in transfigured form.” —Lev Grossman
CAN FICTION BE TRUE?
I frequently encounter surprise and even disdain when I recommend works of fiction as an essential element in one’s spiritual or theological diet. Indeed, as a professor of theology, I’ve contended with students who were intent on exemptions from the classics I assign as coursework!
“What’s the point? Novels ...
What Will it Be – Raisin Cakes or God?
Greg preaches from the book of Hosea about the greatest love story of all. Come prepared to know and experience the profound dimensions of God's amazing love. It's a story about real people. It's a story about you and me.
What Really Matters?
Greg asks, “Have you ever tried to get sin out of your life? How did that work out for you?” We focus on “What Really Matters”.
Guest Post – Richard Murray – “Better over Letter” – Beyond Dead-Letter Literalism
Richard Murray
Whenever I cite a New Testament verse which says without qualification that God is ONLY light, love, and goodness - "dead letter" literalists THEN accuse me of improperly cherry-picking Scriptures. They quickly cite Old Testament verses which, when read by the surface letter, appear to say God IS dark, IS wrathful, and IS the ordainer of all evil.
For instance, if I say, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5), then they will respond I am cherry-picking Scripture because God DOES indeed have darkness and evil in Him because Isaiah ...
The Law Came Through Moses — Grace and Truth Came Through Jesus Christ
There are two ways to relate to God. When God sent us the law, he sent it through Moses. When he brought us grace, he delivered it himself, in the person of Jesus.
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