CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
critical thinking
Reforming Grace – by Greg Albrecht
For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."—Isaiah 57:15
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.—Matthew 23:12
Over 500 years ago, on the day now known as Halloween—October 31, 1517—a young Roman Catholic priest named Martin Luther posted 95 theses, or statements, on the door of Castle ...
Podcast: A “breath of fresh air” for those tired of carrying the “baggage of legalism”
The following article was published in Sight Magazine - Australia, November 4, 2025, author NILS VON KALM.
“CWR Unplugged regularly reminds listeners of the love of God that is unencumbered by the burden of empty religion. They seek to differentiate authentic Christian faith from religion by defining religion as ‘any system of practice and observance intended to make people more acceptable to God’. They go on to state that ‘authentic Christianity is not a religion – because authentic Christianity is not about human effort that enhances our standing ...
Join Us For Our Sunday Sermon
"Information is not Knowledge and Knowledge is Not Wisdom"
Join us for our Sunday Sermon:
In this 21st Century, the prevailing notion is that wisdom is derived from access to information and the subsequent knowledge that applies that information. But, just as information is not knowledge, knowledge and intelligence is not wisdom.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/CWR660.mp3
Link to Christianity Without the Religion - Sunday
We hope that our articles and resources bring comfort, hope, encouragement, and healing to our readers. If you’re experiencing ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
October 10, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“So, which comes first? Our forgiveness of others, which in turn convinces God to forgive us? Or is it God’s forgiveness, unmerited on our part, which then empowers us to forgive our own debtors?
We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Because forgiveness is the epitome and absolute power of God’s love, it is also true that we forgive because God first forgave us. According to the Lord’s Prayer, we persist in praying for God’s forgiveness only because we’ve already fully acknowledged our need ...
Thy Will Be Done
Abraham Lincoln said, “I’ve been driven to my knees because I know I have no place else to go.” Hear what other famous people have said about prayer. How much do you know about prayer?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0025.mp3
What We Take With Us by Grant Corriveau
Thoughts for the Journey - things we take with us:
Grant Corriveau
I’ve been thinking about this ‘mixed blessing’ of becoming an old man. I say mixed because there are many blessings, but also distinct challenges. For example, I keep discovering things I can’t do anymore and things that used to go but now have just gone. Things like:
Vitality - I need a lot more naps now;
Health. It seems every time I visit the doctor, I come home with a new disease I didn’t even realize I had! Maybe I should stop visiting the doctor? Right? No?
Quality Sleep. - ...
Struggle Between Faith and Feelings
Does God get mad at us when we become frustrated with him in difficult times? One of the most perplexing questions people have about God is “Where is God when it hurts?” Or, put another way, “How can God, who is good, let bad stuff happen?”
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0061.mp3
Papa’s Love & Frightening Warnings – Brad Jersak
“Bradley, don’t touch. You’ll burn your little hanny [hand] right off.”—Irene Jersak
The Lord God commanded the man,“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”—Genesis 2:16
“If you’re right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.”—Jesus Christ
“Hot!” – Mom’s Warning
I was perhaps 6-years-old. Maybe at Uncle Henry and Auntie Florence’s house. I remember fixating on Auntie’s red-hot stove element. I recall my ...
Finding a Hiding Place
What pressures and stresses would you like to hide from? What problem is tempting you to play hide and seek with the world?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0060.mp3
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
October 7, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“The real Jesus, and the authentic Christianity he gives, are buried, like barnacles on a boat, by layers of religious rituals, rules and regulations.”
Originally published in:
Bad News Religion
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Life Lived, Lessons Learned, Following Jesus #3 – Ken Williams
Ken Williams
Learning from my father-in-law, Sally, a Christ follower: 09/10/1920 – 06/07/1995
Sally inherited one of his ancestor’s core values of caring for community neighbors. Early 19th century, Torgrim Anderson Strommen, Sally’s great-grandfather, was christened in a 1,200-year-old Norwegian, Lutheran, stave church of Valdres, Norway. August 2011, Nancy Jo, our oldest son David, and I visited this building and examined the solid marble baptismal font that Torgrim was christened in. We had stepped into a wormhole and appeared in early 19th century Norway, ...
Five Kinds of Prayer
How many ways are there to talk with God? For Christians, prayer is a vital link with God. Knowing a bit more about prayer can help enhance your relationship with God.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0048.mp3
“The Fall” Bugs the Heck Out of Me – Greg Albrecht
Question/Dilemma:
I have wrestled with what so many Christians believe about “The Fall” for decades. They say that Adam and Eve “fell” and because of that every human being has been separated from God, and God it seems, was and is the one who enforces the separation because Adam and Eve did not follow his instructions. But how does this interpretation of the early part of Genesis hold water when compared with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
After observing and thinking about how we individual humans eventually grow up into fully-formed, healthy adults ...
Learning to Pray
How much do you know about prayer? Prayer is something that most Americans say they do, yet many do not fully understand what prayer is all about. In this two part series Greg offers seven guidelines to help you in your prayer life.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0047.mp3
Sample One of Our Daily Audio Messages
"Learning to Pray"
The Bible says that God is always available, that he loves to listen to our prayers.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0047.mp3
Links to Our Daily Radio
We hope that our articles and resources bring comfort, hope, encouragement, and healing to our readers. If you’re experiencing that, please subscribe freely, share freely, and, if you’re able, please consider donating freely toward paying it forward by clicking the blue giving at the top of your screen.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
October 5, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“The Beatitudes are counter-cultural to an entrenched Christian culture that since the days of Constantine has been hell bent on ‘evangelizing’ through enforced conformity and ultimately subjugation rather than proclaiming the grace of God and the transformation he freely gives, through Christ, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). In a world dominated then and now by the lethal, oppressive combination of warfare and violence on the one hand with the tyranny of fear-based religion on the other, the Beatitudes are the ...
Q&R with Brad Jersak: What if you’re wrong about hell?
Question:
Recently, in response to my rejection of the hell of eternal torment, one of my readers offered a fairly common objection: “I hope you’re right about that. BUT if you’re wrong about hell, then a lot of people will go there … and it will be your fault. Wouldn’t it be better to play it safe just to be sure?”
Response: The Wager
This high stakes objection is worthy of a careful response.
“Wrong about hell” in what way? The implication seems to imply that I don’t believe there’s a hell or that the hell I believe in is not ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
October 3, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“It is time for those on the right and those on the left to renounce fear-mongering voices that seek to improve their own advantage at the expense of continuing hatred and animosity. It is time for peace, not war – for love, not hatred – for misery, not revenge. It is time for us to beat weapons into productive tools for planting and building. It is time for us to fill our hearts with the grace, mercy and love of God, for politics and politicians will not save us. It is time for a vision of hope. It is time for new ...
God Listens
Prayer is frequently misunderstood. Some wonder what good it does. Just what is prayer? What is its real power? Are there different kinds of prayers?
Waiting Patiently – Stuart Segall
The people on the platform feel like travelers caught between two worlds. They’re standing in the rain, umbrellas lifted, waiting for something they can’t quite see yet. That’s the heart of this picture: the pause before movement, the breath before a decision, the quiet space where life asks you to gather yourself.
The lantern on the wall glows like a small promise or hope, not enough to light the whole path, but enough to remind you that you’re not walking blind. It’s the kind of light you’ve leaned on many times: faith that doesn’t shout, but ...
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