Apostle's Mailbox

Everything is oversold these days. Hyperbole is the new normal. So when a friend lent me a book claiming my worship would be change in just 7 words, I was not very expectant.

I did eventually read the book. Find out in today's episode if it lived up the the dust jacket's claims.

It's dirt cheap on Amazon Kindle, and not much more costly in print, and if you use this link to make a purchase, Amazon will even throw a few cents back my way (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/4bVknHr

Once again we return to Jesus' teaching about himself in John chapter 5, and what we discover about his exalted position might not match what you've always been taught (or what you've assumed to be true). Join us as we talk about the idea of Agency, and how this makes sense of the way Jesus talks about his own work, teaching, and authority as the one God sent.

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There are a number of fairly common errors we make when we read Scripture, especially when we are new to the practice. However, every once in a while even the experts get it wrong. Today we find one such case as we discuss John 5.

#christology #God #translation #interpretation

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When Jesus went back to his hometown, he didn't exactly get a very expectant welcome. However, that doesn't mean that nobody believed! And for those who did, he showed his great mercy and power.

Today we look at the account of a desperate dad, and how his willingness to travel and beg led to the recovery of his dying son. There's a challenge here for our own faith, and also a subtle nod to the coming death of Jesus.

#faith #miracles #Jesus

Why do people believe in Jesus? The exact blend of reasons varies from person to person, but as with most things, we can make some generalizations. In today's return to the book of John, we see a few evident reasons why the Samaritans accepted Jesus as their Messiah, which also apply to us today.

Come and hear why it's so important for us to bear witness to Jesus, and get a little bonus along the way: find out why when Jesus says "I am" in John 4, it is not a claim to deity.

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We wrap up our "Anatomy of a Conversion" with a final few tips about the importance of remembering that what seems 'natural' and 'normal' to us might be more a factor of our cultural presuppositions rather than the Bible's "plain meaning." We'll talk about interpretation and also discuss a little bit the inherent weaknesses of translations as well.

I suggest a few resources in the movie, which are available many places. If you use the affiliate links below to purchase one or more of them, I will receive a small commission.

Links

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How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Gordon Fee): https://amzn.to/3Ujhfyy

Zondervan Counterpoints Series (Various): https://amzn.to/4aZvGgH

Apostles Mailbox: https://apostlesmailbox.com

If you've grown up believing that all your beliefs are "Biblical" (because why would your church teach un-Biblical things?!), it can be pretty disorienting to consider that one of your beliefs might be wrong. In today's episode, we consider the need to let go of the dogmatic insistence that we only have Biblical beliefs. Those who regard Scripture as the ultimate and true source for our knowledge about God, faith, life, and eternity should not fear the Bible, but ought to be eager to re-evaluate beliefs in the light of the Bible.

What could go wrong? If it turns out that Scripture teaches contrary to what we've believed, we can take new comfort at finally having arrived at a more faithful representation of the Biblical witness. If we discover that the Bible does indeed teach what we've believed to be true, we will hold that belief with even greater confidence.

True Christian belief doesn't fear the Bible! In particular, today we are discussing the danger of reading snippets of the Bible out of context.

Every year most Christians celebrate Holy Week by commemorating a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday empty tomb. Is this correct? Since childhood I was irked by the idea that a Friday crucifixion wouldn't fulfill the "sign of Jonah" given in Matthew 12:40, "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." The internet didn't exist in those days though, and I didn't even know what a commentary was, so I eventually just tucked it away in my unsolved mysteries file.

A few years ago I finally rolled up my sleeves and did some study. What I found convinced me that Jesus was crucified on a Thursday. Since it's Holy Week this week, and in keeping with my current theme of reviewing and revising my beliefs according to the witness of the Bible, I decided to share what I found in today's episode!

Disclaimer: there are those who think a Wednesday crucifixion works better than Thursday to account for all the gospels' details. They also could be right, and frankly technically the Friday crucifixion is also a possibility by some accounting. Stick around till the end for reasons why the exact date of the week is less important than the implications of this study!

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Your beliefs are being rocked, you're not sure where to even start dealing with this new dilemma you're facing, and you're afraid of where this all might lead. Now what?

As we continue exploring the anatomy of a conversion, we'll discuss what to expect and some tips on how you can proceed with wisdom.

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https://apostlesmailbox.com/

Central to the Christian faith is the idea that Jesus Christ opened the door for people of every tribe, tongue, and nation to enter into his kingdom, the family of God, by repenting of their sin and confessing him as Lord. Christianity also teaches that by nature we are rebels alienated from God. Thus, conversion is the starting point for every Christian life. Believers in agreement with those ideas therefore celebrate conversion in that sense.

Less well-received among Christians is the idea that one might abandon a doctrinal conviction *within* the confines of Christianity for another conviction that is also held by other Christians. For instance, a Baptist who considers becoming Anglican likely faces significant headwinds from her peers, as might an Anglican joining a Baptist church. Nevertheless, such movement within the faith is quite common.

Unfortunately, it is not altogether common for believers to teach young people how to navigate the difficult waters of sorting through questions and doubts when their long-held convictions are challenged.

Today's episode is the first of a short series designed to tackle just such a task. By considering the example of a minor "conversion" of sorts I walked through last year, I will be offering advice and encouragement on how to proceed with wisdom in your pursuit of truth if/when your beliefs--or the beliefs of a loved one--are challenged.

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