As a follow up to a previous post let me give one example of how a “good” reading of a text might be better than a “right” reading of one. In order to keep this post short, I’m going to omit some details and paint in broad strokes.
Let’s take a look at Matthew 25:31-46. […]

Let’s take the following statements out for a walk and see if they bark:
Any interpretation of scripture that equips us for Christlikeness is a valid one. I don’t care what your professor told you, there is a difference between a “right” reading of scripture and a “good” reading. Any reading of Scripture that shapes us […]

So what is the difference between guilt and shame?
Guilt says “You’ve done something wrong.”
Shame says “There is something wrong with you.”
In his book, Atonement for a “Sinless” Society, Alan Mann suggests that before churches address the problem of guilt they must address the epidemic of shame that exists in a post-Christian culture.
Do you agree?

I’m doing some reading about atonement theory.
I’ve got A Community Called Atonement, Recovering the Scandal of the Cross, and Atonement for a ‘Sinless’ Society.
Any other ideas?
It’s interesting to me that while all Christians agree that we are saved by Jesus’ death on the cross, we can’t agree upon a unified theory for explaining […]

Just after his baptism, Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tested. At stake in these tests is what kind of Messiah will Jesus be?
He faces three temptations:
1. Use his power to turn stones into bread.2. Throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple and force God to save him, while claiming a promise […]

At this time last year, I did several posts on a theology of food. If you missed it the first time around, check them out here.
Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4

In the last post, I asked if churches work best when they are centralized or decentralized.
Let’s back up a step and ask whether Christianity is more of a centralized or decentralized religion.
First, you could say that pre-exilic Judaism was a centralized temple-based religion.
During the exile, Judaism was forced to decentralize with multiple synagogue’s serving as […]

Here is an interesting verse to meditate upon as we reflect on the connection between the gospel and our work.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders […]

Here is a fictional conversation between two guys who go to church together.
Norm: George, you and I have been attending church together for a couple of years, and I’ve never found out what you do.
George: Well, Norm, I guess you’d say that my work in life is to be an evangelist. I want to tell […]

I’m doing a teaching series on work. I’m challenging us to think theologically about the work we do.
From what I can tell, most Christians have a hard time connecting what they do during the day to what gets talked about on Sunday morning in most churches.
I think every follower of Jesus should have […]