Sin. Sinner. Sinful. These words do not have modern secular equivalents. Even among those who are well-versed in religious language, sin is widely debated and little understood word. We could do some Hebrew/Greek word studies, but my purpose is for you to continue to come back to my blog. Nothing lowers the view count like … Continue reading My Second Conversion: What is Sin? (Part 1)
Tag: Jesus
My Second Conversion: A Meditation on Knowledge (Part II)
In the last post, I talked about what I consider to be the five pathways of knowledge. Here they are again: 1. Revelation 2. Reason 3. Empiricism 4. Experience 5. Relationship Okay, great philosophical discussion. So, what does it have to do with how I live, and how I see the truth? How useful is … Continue reading My Second Conversion: A Meditation on Knowledge (Part II)
My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part IV)
In my last post, I talked about how spirituality or lack thereof should derive from the priority established by Jesus: love God and love others as ourselves. This means there are three dimensions of love involved: Love God Love Your Neighbor Love Yourself Hmmm...is this a coincidence that three parts are involved? God exists in … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part IV)
Hitting the Books: Velvet Elvis
Hitting the Books is a series where I meditate on books that I have recently re-read, books that have impacted me over the longer portion of my life. The first entry is a re-read of Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell. When I first heard about Rob "no Hell" Bell I was at the … Continue reading Hitting the Books: Velvet Elvis
The Courage to Come Out
I am not a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I do not pretend to understand the struggles and challenges of people who are in this small but growing tribe of people. Someone I know does, and they are the reason for writing this blog. Last week (this was written on August 19th, 2019) a person … Continue reading The Courage to Come Out
My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part III)
If we agree, and I hope we do, that the previous checklist is not a true measure of Christian spirituality, then how do we get it right? Is there a right? Jesus summed up both the Old Testament and any other inspired writings to come with one statement: “You shall love the Lord your God … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part III)
My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part II)
In the last post, I started a checklist of tongue-in-cheek things I used to follow to determine whether or not I was a follower of Jesus Christ. I continue it today because I am a) not done and b) having to much fun. You can see the previous list here. Do you agree with biblical … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus (Part II)
My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus
In my last two posts, I gave reasons that I still believe in the gospel of Christ despite no longer believing the Bible as divine. If you want to go back and read those you can find them here. Today I want to talk about something I hinted about in my first post, a new … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Facing Jesus
My Second Conversion: Faith Beyond Certainty (Part II)
To recap my last post: If I don't take the Bible at face value because of the belief it is the third member of the Trinity, then how do I justify following and worshiping Jesus? This is an excellent question, and for now, at least I have a few answers I find satisfying. Jesus is … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Faith Beyond Certainty (Part II)
My Second Conversion: Faith Beyond Certainty
So, the altar to the golden pages have been thrown down...now what? I am warm toward the theology of Karl Barth, though I admit that it was nearly impossible to read his Epistle to the Romans the first time I picked it up. I like his idea that Christ is the "Elected One" and that all … Continue reading My Second Conversion: Faith Beyond Certainty
