262 results for tag: Q & R

Q & R with Greg Albrecht – “Those mean, nasty, hateful Christians . . .”

QUESTION: It seems that our society is becoming tolerant of most everything except Christianity. Why is this? Could it be that the love Christians are to show is offset by fire-and-brimstone preaching condemning to hell those who do not comply? RESPONSE: Has Christianity been so marred by inaccurate representations of God that many have determined that Christians at large are bigots, fear-mongers, hateful and nasty people?  I heard of one survey that determined that the least desired potential next-door neighbor in the United States is a fundamentalist Christian. Some might say that's because many people don't want Christians next door making ...

Q&R: “What is the Second Death?” – Brad Jersak

Question: How do you understand the second death mentioned in John's Apocalypse? Response: Whatever it is, it sounds like serious business and something to avoid! The phrase only appears in the symbols of the Book of Revelation. Here are the relevant texts: Revelation 2:11: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy are those who have a part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand ...

Q&R: Are we seeing God’s vengeance now? Brad Jersak

Question: In response to our blog post, "The Day of Vengeance," by Brad Jersak, a reader asks, "Aren't we seeing God taking vengeance right now? It seems that way." Response: Thanks for your question. I think the key term in your question is SEEMS. Where do we actually see God taking vengeance today?  I can't think of any examples where I see God literally and directly taking vengeance, if we mean by that actively intervening to cause harm through violent retaliation (which is the definition of vengeance). In fact, if God IS doing that, God SEEMS quite incompetent at directing that vengeance with any accuracy or equity. ...

Q&R: “The Day of Vengeance” – Bradley Jersak

Question: I have a question concerning Jesus' statement in the synagogue in Luke 4:19, where he stops short of finishing the verse cited from Isaiah 61:2, which ends "and the day of vengeance of God." Many use this to proclaim a ‘Dispensationalist’ form of eschatology in which Jesus came the first time in love but will return with blood and destruction on his mind. How do you see this? Response: A very good question indeed! Let's review in some detail: Jesus launched his Galilean ministry with a prophetic mission statement from Luke 4:18-19: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,     because he has ...

Q & R with Greg Albrecht – “Is becoming a better person the goal of Christianity?”

QUESTION: I am confused.Someone told me that the main thing Christians should do is to become better people and in turn make the world a better place. I want to be a better person and I want to help change the world but isn’t Christianity more than that? RESPONSE: Exactly! Christianity is more than a checklist of rules that help to make us and others better. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not primarily about morality. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a self-help program. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a formula. It is not a careful regimen of popping religious pills to make us better, nor does it consist of religious programs that will give ...

Q&R: Is Jesus the Son of God – Brad Jersak

Question: Thank you so much for your honesty and generosity in sharing your walk with Jesus. I have a question: I thought I was done with deconstructing and had started to move forward again, but I now wonder why I have accepted for so long that Jesus is the Son of God. I think he is, but is this just a belief bubble that I have inherited? How did the early church come to this conclusion? Are there any good books that help on this journey?  Response: The early church came to the conclusion that Jesus is the Son of God because of the authority Jesus revealed in making that claim, particularly through his resurrection and in the first ...

Q&R: What does “the blood of Jesus” mean? Brad Jersak

Question: What does "the blood of Jesus" mean? Response: "Jesus Blood Never Failed My Yet" was recorded by Gavin Bryars in 1971 for a documentary. One day Gavin left the studio for a cup of coffee while the song played back in a loop, and when he was back, he noticed that people around were moving slowly, some sitting alone, weeping. He realized the emotional power of this music and added orchestral accompaniment to it.  "Tramp" died before he could hear Gavins' work. Gavin said: "... the piece remains as an eloquent, but understated testimony to his (Tramp's) spirit and optimism." In 1993, he added Tom Waits' voice for the ...

Q&R: “If God isn’t controlling, what about prayer, healing & miracles?” Brad Jersak

Question: I have just finished reading A More Christlike God. I found your book challenging and spiritually uplifting. I have a few queries. First, if God doesn’t "do control," are miracles off the table? Are the miracles in the Gospels and Acts to be viewed as exceptions in ushering in his kingdom and not something we should expect? Second, following your advice, I try to avoid seeing prayer as either (1) a way to get our wishes or (2) taking the opposite line of being a fatalist. But I am having trouble understanding how to structure prayer when God doesn’t "do control." Take healing as an example. Let’s say a friend had cancer. I ...

Q&R: What is “the World” in John’s Gospel & Letters – Brad Jersak

Question: In John's Gospel, we read that God loves the world (3:16) but in his first epistle, John says we should not love the world (1 John 2:15). Is he using the same Greek word (cosmos) in both passages? Response: Yes, indeed, it's the same word! Go figure!   The thing to know about translation is that any given word has what we call a 'semantic range,' which is about how one word can be used differently in different contexts. In my article, "Reading from the End," I played with the different ways that an English word such as "plant" can be used. I noted that we define the word by how it is used in various contexts. ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak- “How do we trust God when prayers for healing are denied?”

Question: How do you remain in a state of trust and faith when your prayers for healing are continuously denied? Not to mention those of your friends and family.   When I read about Jesus in the scriptures, I see a character who values restoring those to healing and wellness. I don't recall Jesus ever turning anyone away, or saying He wanted to teach someone "a lesson" with their suffering. I also think of the following verse: James 5:14-15 – "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick ...

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 praying and pondering about this for days... how to respond to a sincere child who ...

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 plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – “Bring them here & kill them in front of me” (Luke 19:27)

Question: I was thinking of WWJD? (What would Jesus do?) the other day in the context of world events, especially the wars that are raging right now. I've run into some strange reactions. Some said, "Jesus would side with ______," and others said, "No, Jesus would join ______." As a militant? Not Jesus, surely! But then a friend posted Luke 19:27: "But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me." I'm stumped. It's in the New Testament. How do you read this?  Response: Let's start with the question of God taking "sides." While I can find all kinds of biblical ...

Did God the Father Kill God the Son? – Greg Albrecht

I love whodunit mysteries, potboiler detective novels, television shows and movies. OK, I’m taking a risk – you may not respect me anymore and your trust in Plain Truth Ministries may be wavering – but you are my/our friend, you should really forgive me, so stay with me …  Employing DNA to identify the perpetrator(s) of a crime has been a fundamental tool of forensic science dating back to 1986. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is self-replicating and carries genetic instructions and information so that distinctive characteristics and qualities of living organisms can be determined. DNA, present in almost every cell of the human body, ...

Q & R: Baptism and the fate of the ‘unprepared’ – Brad Jersak

Question: If I found myself numb with pain, injured and bleeding in the cold on a cloudy day, having never been baptized for whatever reason(s), and therefore not "OFFICIALLY" in the Body of Christ as I died. Being lifelong mostly homeless, reality itself seemed to communicate to me "authoritatively" that my death and eternal punishment were now imminent? Would I have reason to quiver convulsively in deep and dreadful fear?  To add a little humor, if I were dying in those circumstances, could I say a few words then spit on myself and confidently count it baptism? Thus, I'm in! But what if I were unconscious? I know these "unprepared ...

Q&R: Longing, Striving, Struggling & Surrender? Brad Jersak

QUESTION: I see folks around me working really hard to "press into" doing good works for God, having more time with God, etc, etc. "If I only did A, B or C more, it would all be better." Their longing drifted towards striving. My question as a faith leader is how to address this. I love people who long for more. But how best might I shepherd and steward that longing? In other traditions, I see people asking for "mercy gifts." Instead of striving, they actively do something with their longing. They pray for a gift of faith, or boldness, or whatever. Or they even pray to receive a certain longing they are lacking. RESPONSE: This is such an ...

Q&R with Greg Albrecht – “Is Christianity a Religion?”

QUESTION:  I’ve heard you use the word religion in a negative way.  How do you define religion?  What is the difference between Christian and Christian religion?  Some application forms ask, “what is your religion?”  What’s a good answer? ANSWER:  I make a critical distinction in the definition of the word religion.  I define religion as any belief system or methodology that promises God’s love and blessings in return for human effort and performance.This definition is a sub-definition of the commonly used definitions for religion, i.e. 1) serving and worshiping God; 2) commitment to or devotion to faith, as in attending church ...

Q & R: Are God’s hands tied until we “return” to God?

Question: Have you done any writing, or know of someone that has...around the biblical theme of "returning" to God?  In contemplative prayer, "returning" has been a beautiful invitation, but many biblical references describe the "return" as being the precursor or condition to God's favor, compassion and/or forgiveness. Undoubtedly this has contributed to the toxic idea that when we turn away, God is also turned away, and until WE do the work of returning, God can't do anything. Obviously, I know you've written and talked a lot about this in the context of the "Gospel in Chairs" ...but I'm just wondering about broader writing on the ...

Q & R – Greg Albrecht – “How do you define sin?”

Question: I am seeking to join a church that promotes Christianity w/o the religion, but they define sin as "missing the mark".  Isn't that a religious definition of sin? I am moved to not join this church because of that, however, no brick and mortar church is perfect. What do you think, briefly? Response: I would say that defining sin as “missing the mark” is narrow and legalistic. Sin is bigger than failing to measure up to a standard - it includes that, of course, but sin is our nature - for humans, sin is part of our spiritual environment, just as air is to our physical environment.  Perhaps sin is a bit like gravity - a spiritual law (see ...

Q & R – Greg Albrecht – Why does Jesus mention the Sabbath?

Question Hello Greg, I worshipped with you and many others on CWRa – your message was "SO THAT ... OR BECAUSE?" As a side note, I am wondering why Jesus referred to "the Sabbath" in Matthew 24:20? Hebrews 4 seems to indicate no specific day for "Sabbath-rest" now. Praying for and supporting PTM/CWR. Response Great to hear you joined us for the message. The question to which you refer, in Matthew 24:20: “Pray that your flight will not place in the winter or on the Sabbath.” Matthew 24 is the Olivet Prophecy – some believe many of Jesus’ warnings/predictions are yet to take place.  I believe, based in large part on vs. 34, “this ...