CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
Q&R: A Six-Year-Old Wrestles with the Problem of Pain – Brad Jersak
Question:
My 6-year-old fell down the stairs and hit his head, and got a concussion. Before bed tonight, he asked me, "If God is in control, and is powerful, and loves me, then why did he watch me fall and not help me?"
Response:
Your child certainly is a deep thinker! And deep thinkers have been asking that question for a very long time. At least since the philosopher Epicurus (about 300 years before Jesus). And those who try to answer the question always seem to stumble into rationalizations that end up calling good evil and evil good. So I've been ...
Advent: Awaiting Arrivals – by Laura Urista
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Advent is a time of expectation, anticipation and waiting. Ancient Israel awaited the arrival of a Savior – the Messiah to establish his kingdom of peace. The Magi awaited the arrival of a magnificent star to guide them to the newborn king. Mary awaited the arrival of her son, whom she named Jesus (Savior). Every year at Christmas-time, we await the ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
December 3, 2023 - Quote for the Day:
“That was God in that crib amidst the animal sounds and smells in Bethlehem, and that was God on that cross on the garbage dump just outside of Jerusalem. God in a crib – God in human flesh – God in diapers – defenseless, crying and fighting for breath. God on the cross, his flesh pierced and just as he was in his crib – defenseless and fighting for breath. The crib and the cross, carved from the same wood – only God can make a tree.”
Originally published in:
Letters to My Friends
------...
Is God Crazy, or What?
We don’t give him anything he needs. Yet God is madly in love with us… is he crazy, or what?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR460.mp3
The Beginning of the End – by Greg Albrecht
Friend and Partner Letter from December 2023:
Every year we celebrate Christmas in the last week of the last month of the year. Is December 25 the end or the beginning? Are we celebrating the end of a passing year or the beginning of a New Year… or are we celebrating the beginning of the end?
For the past three years we have battled deadly foes, unseen like COVID and visible like the tyrannical Putin of Russia and the unspeakable brutality of war, most particularly in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dare we hope that December 2023 is the end of some ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
November 30, 2023 - Quote for the Day:
“It is my contention – and you may choose to disagree – that legalistic religion has fabricated and invented eternal conscious torment as the way God will punish those who don’t measure up. But in the next breath, after condemning people to eternal conscious torment, Christ-less religion will assure them, ‘But don’t forget, God loves you.’ Think about it: Why is it so important for religion to believe that God loves its followers but wants those who are not members of their church to suffer?
...
How To Be a Successful Failure
The Apollo 13 mission was appropriately dubbed, "a successful failure." Many defining moments in life emerge when we are on the edge of fulfillment, yet denied the thing we most want. Greg shares a biblical example and its lessons for how to be a successful failure.
This Month at PTM – December 2023
Merry Christmas -
Our Family in Christ -
Watch a short video and the message on "Our Family in Christ" by Ed Dunn as he updates us on the latest from Christianity Without the Religion and Plain Truth Ministries.
https://vimeo.com/889617843
Our Image or God’s Substance?
Attempting to create a better impression of ourselves than we deserve is a powerful human temptation. Greg discusses the Biblical story of Ananias and Saphira who tried to create an image of themselves that didn't reflect reality.
Q&R: 2 Chronicles 7 – When is God the Cause?
Question:
It's that time again when everyone brandishes 2 Chronicles 7:12-14! In Bible Study, a questioner honestly admitted NOT quite seeing how God would prevent rain, command locusts to devour the land or send pestilence among the people:
"Why is God so mean and controlling, etc?"
I know you have shared this (maybe A More Christlike God?), but I would love to give her a succinct, Christological answer!
Response:
First, the text in question:
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
November 28, 2023 - Quote for the Day:
“The teaching that God’s love is given to us, without strings attached, free of charge, goes against every human instinct. All other religions – the Jewish old covenant, the Muslim code of law, the Buddhist eightfold path and the Hindu doctrine of karma all offer a way to earn God’s approval by human performance. Authentic, biblically based Christianity is unique in its teachings and beliefs that God’s love is given to us by faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone.”
Originally published in: ...
Pride and Prejudice
C.S. Lewis said that the essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Pride and prejudice go together like hand and glove -- both allow us to feel superior to others.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0079.mp3
Help Us Help Others – Giving Tuesday
Today, Tuesday November 28, is "Giving Tuesday". Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages people to give back in whatever way they can. It presents nonprofit organizations, like Plain Truth Ministries, an opportunity for us to raise money to continue proclaiming Christ-centered Christianity without the religion.
If you have been helped and benefited from what we offer at Plain Truth Ministries, please consider helping us help others.
Thank you for your support: Click here - Help Us Help Others -
PTM is a non-profit ministry. We rely on and deeply ...
Hanging By a Thread
Do you ever feel that you're just barely hanging on -- that you're hanging on for dear life? If so, you may be in a defining moment in your life when your decisions can either make or break you.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0078.mp3
Christ Alone – the Absolute Center of our Faith – by Greg Albrecht
Studies of sermon topics and titles reveal that the vast majority of messages given within the churches of Christendom, perhaps up to 80%, are centered on the needs and desires of human beings, rather than on Jesus Christ. 80%!
The task of preaching and teaching the real, authentic gospel of Jesus Christ boils down to preaching Christ. The purpose of Christ-centered, authentic Christian teaching, preaching, ministry or church is not to preach the Bible, but to preach Christ. Of course, properly interpreted and understood, the Bible is all ...
Plain Truth Ministries | Box 300 | Pasadena, CA 91129-0300
