CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
“No” to Wrath and “Yes” to Love – Part 2 – by Greg Albrecht
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
September 10, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“For some, ‘studying the Bible’ is merely a subjective exercise of picking and choosing until they are able to prove what they already believe to be true. As we faithfully study the Bible, we must beware of the many ways our beliefs and our biases may influence our quest to hear and know God.
Eisegesis = Reading something into (eis) the passage that isn’t there. An exercise in subjectivism.
Exegesis = Discovering and understanding meaning out of (ex) the passage, attempting to establish an unbiased ...
Poverty and the Homeless
A caller to a talk-radio show suggested that the poor and homeless should be taken out and shot. Greg contrasts that attitude toward the needy with the early Christian church's example.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0221.mp3
Running From God
We humans tend to run from God -- exactly in the opposite direction from where we think he is and what he wants us to do -- and in a way similar to the way Jonah ran from God.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0220.mp3
Walking on the Moon and Dreaming – Ken Williams
Sunday morning July 21st I looked out my office window to see the day was starting cloudless, a little unusual for upstate NY, and stared at the beauty of a full moon. The giant ball swinging in earth’s gravity 240,000 miles away appeared orange as it was setting. It dawned on me (pun intended) that according to an article I read a couple days before, July 21st was the date that the first man walked on the moon. I enjoyed the memory of being one of the hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide glued to a T.V. watching this incredible feat.
That Sunday morning, I ...
CWR Video – Shame and Guilt
In this CWR Video, Greg and Brad discuss the topics of Shame and Guilt in the lives of Christ-followers.
https://vimeo.com/999181238
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Gift After Gift After Gift – Brad Jersak
We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift (John 1:16, MSG, The Message Bible).
Out of his full store we have all received grace upon grace (John 1:16, NEB,The New English Bible).
The first chapter of the Gospel of John presents an unequalled, beautiful and profound exploration of what, to the human mind, is “the genesis of God the Word,” made flesh in Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, God has no actual beginning, but the eternal One concedes to speak to the limitations of our human perspective and language.
John draws a parallel in his ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
September 7, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“The record of failed predictions should be a red flag for Christians, a caution against using Revelation as a predictive handbook. The fact that our religious landscape is littered with predictions and speculations about eschatology it itself a reason why you need to carefully consider this issue. Why have so many been so wrong so often? The view that you accept of the ordering of events before Christ comes need not affect your salvation, for eschatology is not a core doctrine of Christianity. But your eschat...
Sample One of Our Daily Audio Messages
"Looking for God in All the Wrong Places"
When you are looking for God where do you look? Better said, when God is looking for you, where will he find you? And is meeting God according to our drumbeat or His?
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https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0218.mp3
...
Looking For God in All the Wrong Places
When you are looking for God where do you look? Better said, when God is looking for you, where will he find you? And is meeting God according to our drumbeat or His?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0218.mp3
Q&R: Romans 8:9 – Who doesn’t belong to Christ? Brad Jersak
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Romans 8:9
Question:
First, I want to say how much your work has helped me grow in the faith and seeing the beautiful reality of the gospel. My question is about a verse I'm trying to understand. Romans 8:9 says in the second part of this verse that "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to him." I just read your article, "Is Christ in All people or only in ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
September 5, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“So one day, Moses was shepherding his sheep. He was far from the glitz and glamour of Egyptian society – he was just another nomadic shepherd. There was a time when he had been a young and handsome prince, now he was an old and forgotten shepherd. He was moving his sheep, trying to find a better pasture – when this strange encounter with God changed his life. We call it the burning bush – the bush that just burned and burned and burned without ever being consumed.
Examine the story carefully. Moses was not ...
Our Gracious Heavenly Father
Today an increasing number of parents are running away from their children. Thankfully our heavenly Father is not like us. He does not do that. In today's program Greg takes a look at God, as our heavenly Father, and the pattern God gives us for parenting.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0217.mp3
No More Tears
Can we as Christians do anything about the pain and heartache in this world? Should we even try? After all, Jesus said his kingdom is not part of this world and promises to wipe away every tear -- but can we just sit in the grandstands watching all the suffering now?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0216.mp3
“No” to Wrath and “Yes” to Love – Part 1 – by Greg Albrecht
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the power of God…—1 Corinthians 1:18
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.—1 Corinthians 2:2
Many, if not most, Christians when they are asked, "Why did Jesus die on the cross?" will give an answer something like this:To die for our sins. This of course, as far as it goes, is a biblical answer.
But the answer doesn't end there. Most Christians will continue to explain why Jesus died on the cross by ...
Q&R: The “Free Will Defense” & the “Freed Will Response” – Brad Jersak
Question:
I have been reviewing PTM's summary of the dozens of Scriptures that dare us to hope. Among these, I see Jesus' stated intention to draw ALL people to himself, along with Paul's prophecy that "EVERY knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord," not to mention Peter's expectation in the "restoration of ALL things," or John's testimony of Jesus saying, "I am making ALL things new." On the other hand, I'm also aware of Jesus' deep commitment to our freedom, including the freedom to turn from him and say no to God's grace. In fact, he laid his life ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
September 3, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“There are eight Greek words translated as ‘joy’ in the New Testament – with the predominant definition being inner peace, assurance and delight. One of the root words in Greek for ‘joy’ is similar to the word translated as ‘grace’ – suggesting a close connection to God’s grace and the joy one realizes because of that grace. Joy in the Bible ultimately comes from God. Contrasted with happiness, particularly as the word is commonly used in our contemporary world, joy is not based on ...
Do You Want to be Healed?
Jesus asked a man crippled for 38 years if he wanted to be healed. That healing changed everything about his life. Similarly, spiritual healing will change everything about our lives. Jesus asks you and me if we want to be healed. It's up to us.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0214.mp3
It’s Not My Fault!
Will Rogers once said that history will record the passing of the American Indian, the passing of the buffalo and the passing of the buck. "Who me, I'm not responsible," is a popular human response for bad behavior. What is the biblical perspective about this?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0213.mp3
The Divine Treasure Hunt—Part 1- Steve Orr
The Search for Treasure:
Everyone loves a good treasure hunt story; it's the spellbinding theme of many great books and movies.
Here is a small sampling of familiar titles:
· Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson;
· King Solomon's Mines, two movies based on the book by H. Rider Haggard. Originally released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor in 1950 and re-released by Cannon Films in 1985;
· Raiders of the Lost Ark, a film by Steven Spielberg, based on a story by George Lucas.
· The Deep, a movie based on Peter Benchley's novel;
· The Gold Bug by ...
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