CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
The Long Run
Satisfaction When Others Get Their Comeuppance – by Greg Albrecht
Greg Albrecht
Eternal conscious torment in hell is an unbiblical, fabricated teaching of Christ-less religion designed to effectively keep its followers in line. “Believers” in such teaching perceive hell as having positive results because 1) the fear of being consigned to the fiery coals of hell keeps the followers of Christ-less religion in tow, as they “toe-the-line,” and 2) it gives those who are religiously devout “hope” that God will see to it those who do not seem to faithfully “toe-the-line” as they do will get what they deserve.
This ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 15, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“The word revelation is translated from the Greek word apokalupsis, which means ‘unveiling’ or ‘revealing.’ In English, apocalypse has come to mean disaster or appalling destruction. Yet the word originally referred to an unfolding or revealing of things that were not generally known. The purpose of the Book of Revelation is not to present a maze of puzzling passages for some clever interpreter to unveil – specific details about future world events that can be unraveled if some human prognosticator provides the key ...
God Gave Them Over…
The first chapter of Romans says that God “gives us over” to the consequences of wrath which we choose by virtue of our decisions, rather than the wrath he rains down because he is offended and enraged.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR500.mp3
CWR Video: If You Have a Bible – by Greg Albrecht
In this CWR Video, Greg explains the importance of spending time with Scripture and how different translations can lead to better understanding.
https://vimeo.com/1196077494
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Out-of-Control Grace
If anyone ever had the right to be a control freak with others, it was Jesus — but he turned down that job description.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR499.mp3
Tenets or Tenants – A Fortunate Slip – by Brad Jersak
Definitions:
TENET: a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true.
TENANT: one who rents or leases a dwelling (such as a house) from a landlord.
TENNANT: David Tennant - the actor who played the tenth Doctor in TV’s Dr. Who.
I feel a little embarrassed for people who accidentally swap words, knowing it is a projection of my personal slips of the tongue. One that I hear frequently is the use of tenant (renter) when someone actually means tenet (principle). As a low-level editor, I know how easily these mistakes occur, so I don’t ...
Faith or Denial?
Greg proposes 1) while denial and deception lie at the heart of Christ-less religion, faith in Jesus is not blind, and 2) Christ-centered faith always makes room for doubt, while the dogmas of Christ-less religion allow no place for questions.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR498.mp3
There is a Jael Inside Me – Ken Williams
Ken Williams
The Canaanite warlord, Sisera, panicked after Israel crushed the Canaanite army. Sisera raced to get to the border, barely ahead of the Israelite army. (Judges 4:14-16)
A Kenite woman named Jael invited Sisera to take refuge with her. He was fearful, bone-weary, and accepted because the Kenites were neutral in this war. Hospitality in this culture normally included the host’s commitment to protect guests. He gratefully accepted Jael’s drink and place to rest. Jael waited until he was sound asleep and then took a tent stake and hammered it through ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 12, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“The love of God wins and conquers on the cross of Christ. Jesus accepted all violence, hatred and recrimination and absorbed it all – he sucked it all up and forgave it. Like a fire that burns itself out, Jesus consumed all human hatred – all religious fanaticism, all pride and lust – and all devotion to gods other than the one true God and all allegiance to any teaching or beliefs other than Jesus. The act of accepting all violence, hatred and recrimination killed Jesus, humanly, but he rose triumphantly, winning ...
Our Passionate Lover
Pain is inevitable in our lives, but, as we see it modeled in the life of Jesus, the suffering of sacrificial love is optional.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR497.mp3
Friendship Under Pressure – Stuart Segall
We talk about friendship easily. We use the word often. We say someone is a friend because we enjoy their company, share a few laughs, or feel a sense of familiarity. But true friendship is not revealed in comfort. It is revealed in endurance. It shows itself when life becomes unbearable, when the air grows heavy, when the ground beneath someone’s feet turns to ashes. Most of us imagine we would stand by those we love in their darkest hour, yet very few have ever been tested in a way that proves it.
There is a kind of suffering that strips a person down to ...
The Apocalyptic Language of the Apocalypse – Greg Albrecht
Question:
Why does it seem the Bible says Satan the devil is set free after 1,000 years — it seems he is restrained for that period of time and then he is freed from his "prison" — why do that? And then the Bible seems to say that Satan is destroyed in the lake of fire. Is that possible?
Response:
Of course both of these questions arise from what we read in the book of Revelation. Suffice it to say, this book is the most misunderstood and most difficult of all biblical books for many students of the Bible to understand, as I explain in my book ...
What Doesn’t Kill You …
When viewed through a Christ-centered focus, the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" - is not about revenge, but rather all about how God enables us not to simply become stronger, but to receive life of the age to come.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR496.mp3
Grace Versus Toxic Religion – Steve Orr
Matters of the Heart
Religion: The Latin root means, “A return to bondage.” In religare. “re” means again and “ligare” means to bind. (From “The Extortionist” introduction to “God Without Religion” by Andrew Farley.)
In the New Testament, religion is typically translated from the Greek word “threskeia,” which means “to show an external demonstration of worship”. It is only found four times in the New Testament: James 1:26:27, Colossians 2:18 & Acts 26:5. Regarding the translation of James 1, the word religion is more properly transl...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 10, 2026- Quote for the Day:
“I will always remember having lunch with the late D. James Kennedy near his offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (I am writing the original draft of these words on the day he died, September 5, 2007). Dr. Kennedy was the founding pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and the voice of Coral Ridge Ministries.
Jim related – over lunch… an old joke I had heard before but never tire of, nor it seems, did he. As we discussed legalisms that thrive within Christendom, he could hardly contain his delight ...
Explaining “Sin” to Children – Brad Jersak
Question:
The word “sin” seems so loaded today, yet it’s hard to avoid using the word when talking to children or people new to Christian faith because it’s there in our Bibles. It’s even become a trigger word for many who might otherwise be open to Jesus. How would you address it?
Response:
You’re right—the English word "sin" has become a problem for several reasons. First, “sin” has been narrowed down and shallowed out to behaviors (though it does include that). And “sin” has accumulated an accusing-condemning tone in modern English ...
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"Where Are You Going?"
Join us for our Sunday Sermon:
If you don’t know where you are going, in all probability you will wind up somewhere else – where are YOU going and HOW will you arrive at your destination?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/CWR651.mp3
Link to Christianity Without the Religion - Sunday
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Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 8, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“The Bible is a collection of 66 books, composed by many different authors and editors over many centuries. Many Christ-followers agree that the authors of the Bible were inspired – some in unique and miraculous ways – but the human authors also expressed their own worldviews, personalities and even prejudices and wrote in the culture and milieu in which they lived.”
Christianity Without the Religion magazine, August 2017
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Grace a Lot or Grace Alone?
Almost everyone loves to hear about God’s grace — they love to hear grace a lot, but when the message is grace alone, then almost everyone gets a little worried about the absence of law and regulation.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR495.mp3
Footprints After the Storm – by Ruth A. Tucker
Bless the Lord who crowns you with tender mercies (Psalm 103, NKJV).
Tornados acknowledge no holidays—no holy days. Nor does weather of any kind. Many years ago, on an early September Monday, a young man stood up during a testimony time in chapel at a school where I was teaching. He praised God for the wonderful weekend weather. Not a cloud in the sky. He had taken a youth group for an outing on Lake Michigan. Having prayed, God blessed him with sunshine. Trouble was, local farmers were countering his prayers. Their crops were parched and needed more rain before ...
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