God looks like Jesus. And that changes everything.
Is the problem with the world that people don’t fear God enough? The fear of God has become a hot topic in some quarters recently, stoked by claims of prominent preachers that a shortage of such fear is at the root of societal breakdown. The...
I recently read a quote from a respected biblical scholar reflecting on why it’s a uniquely difficult time to be a human. We carry burdens of awareness our ancestors simply never possessed. We have discovered the perspectival nature of...
It’s been a tumultuous week for those of us living in the United States. Some are convinced that the world was just saved. Others believe it might well have just ended. One person told me, “Depending on the election results, I may have to change my...
I thought I’d met a true saint once. For the record, I’m not someone easily seduced by Christian celebrity. I’ve met too many well-known preachers, scholars, and activists to ever confuse talent with character. That said, this man felt like the real...
Note: This is a second of a two-part series of reflections on the relationship between science and religion. I recommend starting with Part 1. Last week I mentioned that I had recently watched a meme go around comparing science and religion...
I recently watched a meme go around comparing science and religion. Science, it claimed, is in a continual process of progressing, taking in new information and revising its positions. Religion, by contrast, seeks to freeze time in place. It was...
The fourth and final in a series exploring the idol-toppling question, “What don’t you like about your faith?” Read the first installment in the series here. I never imagined arguing with Jesus about his own temptations (Matthew 4:1-10). In a one-on...
The third in a series exploring the idol-toppling question, “What don’t you like about your faith?” Read the first installment in the series here. When Jesus starts speaking of judgment, I get really uncomfortable. (Yes, I’m aware this is an ironic...
The second in a series exploring the idol-toppling question, “What don’t you like about your faith?” Read the first installment of the series here. The first thing I can recall seriously disagreeing with Jesus about was his patience. The fire of the...
I once sat on an international flight next to a young Hindu man. During small talk, it came up that I was studying at a Christian seminary. He was delighted, explaining that he’d never had a chance to speak with a Christian before. We began...
God looks like Jesus. And that changes everything.