CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
Prodigal Son
The Devil and the Problem of Evil – Greg Albrecht
Question:
Some time ago you gave a sermon and talked about Satan, and asked how “real” is he and how “symbolic” is he. I think he is real, and I have many Scriptures that support my conclusion. Of course, I know that there are many references in the Bible which are true but not literally so. Can you elaborate?
Response:
Some brief thoughts, perhaps if I enumerate them they might be a bit more logical!
The question of the devil, and how “literal” biblical references to his existence are, and how symbolic, is an ...
CWR Video – Incredibly Good News
Short video by Plain Truth Ministries.
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
June 13, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“So, for the first readers of the book of Revelation as for us today, this book encourages us to trust God with our lives as we await 1) the end of all earthly powers that destroy humanity and 2) entrance into the everlasting joy of the kingdom of God. Revelation is written to Christians who live in an often brutal world. Whether that world is the first century or the twenty-first century, whether we as Christians find ourselves facing persecution or insurmountable obstacles, Revelation offers hope by reminding us that ...
Beatitudes #5
In this fifth and last sermon in our series on the beatitudes, we ponder why we would ever be persecuted for "righteousness sake" and why a Christ follower experiences inner peace and joy while being persecuted.
Longfellow – Stuart Segall
The riders move through the mist and golden light as if on a pilgrimage, not of conquest, but of reckoning. Their cloaked silhouettes, half-claimed by shadow and half-revealed by dawn, become a quiet emblem of the human journey. Each one bears a flag, a story, a wound.
The forest around them, warm with illumination yet heavy with fog, mirrors the paradox of understanding. Clarity and obscurity coexist in every attempt we make to truly see another person. Longfellow’s words slip through the scene like a whispered truth: "If we could read the secret history of our ...
Beatitudes #4
Keeping in mind that these eight fruits of God's favor are descriptive of what he does rather than prescriptions for what we must produce via our own hard work, we'll take a closer look at how God empowers us to be pure in heart and to become peacemakers.
The Sovereign Love of God In a Messy World – Brad Jersak
Question:
In the past, you’ve addressed the problem of evil with what you referred to as a “theology of consent.” The idea was that God does not force goodness on us but invites us to participate in good. Essentially, this answers the classic question of the problem of evil in saying that God is love, but God is not all-powerful in some unrestricted sense of “might makes right.”
Where I am looking for further development is how we are to understand God’s sovereignty … or to put it differently, how we can completely trust in God/love. Looking at ...
The Kingdom of Service – by Greg Albrecht
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I ...
Beatitudes #3
As we ponder what it means to be blessed by hungering and thirsting for righteousness and being merciful, we remember that these be-attitudes are God's gift, his handiwork, lived in our lives by and through Jesus.
Finding God in the Storm – By Bermie Dizon
Several months ago, I went on an exciting trip with my brother, Ferdie, to the beautiful paradise of El Nido, Palawan. This place is famous for its breathtaking beauty and amazing island-hopping adventures. We were thrilled to explore every part of it. We had two days of island-hopping fun planned, each promising new and exciting experiences.
On the second day, we started our journey early, heading to the farthest island on a motorized boat with twenty other eager tourists. The trip began smoothly, with the sun shining brightly and the sea sparkling like diamonds. ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
June 10, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“It’s true that there are people who are spiritually blind – doing time in religious prisons – and for some reason unknown to you or me or anyone else for that matter, God has not made a way for them to come to know him as he has for others. Why hasn’t he? We don’t know.
We do know that God is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t play favorites. That doesn’t mean everyone will accept his invitation. It may be that he gives different kinds of invitations to different people.
We don’t know all the details. We ...
Beatitudes #2
We continue our series on the beatitudes by considering what it means to be blessed and by studying the beatitudes/blessings of mourning and of being meek.
The ‘WORD’ of God and the word of God
Many Christians speak of the Bible as the word of God. Some even capitalize word (Word) as a term that is synonymous with the Scripture – the Bible. In this context Bible students are motivated by pastors and teachers to “be in the Word.”
I believe the Bible is inspired by God. However, I also believe there is, by design, a substantial human component it the writing, editing, translating, preservation and publishing of the Bible. You have heard the boast made by processed food manufacturers – “untouched by human hands.” The ...
Tender Mercies: “Til Death do us Part.” by Ruth Tucker
Bless the Lord who crowns you with tender mercies (Psalm 103, NKJV).
Til death do us part. Despite changes in language down through the centuries, this phrase from the sixteenth-century Anglican Book of Common Prayer has stayed the same. But while the wording of the promise endures, too often the promise itself does not. I was reminded of this again today as we laid our beloved father Albert Kraker to rest in a little rural cemetery surrounded by the farmland where he lived his entire life. It was a gloomy day, rain off and on, ...
Beatitudes #1
Join us for this first sermon in our five-part series about the beatitudes. This message will discuss the blessing of being "poor in spirit" and provide an overview of all eight blessings that form the introduction to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
June 8, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“In the name of Christ, religious counterfeits require that we give a bribe or tip to the headwaiter to get into the dining area. Performance-based religion gives preferences to who and what you know, how much you have and what you have accomplished. But Jesus offers everyone a seat in the most exclusive dining room in the universe, in the heavenly realms, based upon God’s grace. Our seat at the Lord’s Table is not based upon money, fame, or deeds. We are seated at the Lord’s Table because of who he is, not because ...
CWR Video – In Christ
In this CWR Video, Brad discusses what it means to be "In Christ."
https://vimeo.com/1182720745
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Q & R with Brad Jersak – “What does ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” mean?
Question:
You talk about the importance of not collapsing the whole gospel narrative nor our entire soteriology (doctrine of salvation) into Good Friday. We mustn't forget the life and ministry and resurrection of Christ as part of his saving work. I agree with you wholeheartedly. The sending of God's son into the world is what makes our salvation possible--that is true indeed. You say, "the atonement precedes the cross," so we look not only to Good Friday but to the whole mission of Christ from his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
My question ...
Join Us For Our Sunday Sermon
"By What Power or What Name?"
Join us for our Sunday Sermon:
Who or what is your ultimate authority – who pipes the tunes to which you dance and who plays the music to which you march?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/CWR643.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 that, please subscribe freely, share freely, and, if you’re able, please consider donating freely toward paying it forward by clicking the ...
Experiencing His Peace – by Greg Albrecht
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace ...
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