Being skeptical can be a good thing. It can protect us from believing things that aren’t true. But being skeptical is very different than being cynical. Cynicism is an attitude that distrusts the motives of others. It’s a negative outlook on life and relationships that makes it difficult to believe in anything. While curious skepticism […]

Church hurt can come in many different shapes and sizes. Systemic problems and unethical leaders cause some church hurts. These hurts run deep and are highly damaging. But some church hurts are caused by people who unintentionally say or do things that cause pain without even realizing it. And while a sexual abuse scandal is […]

Church hurt isn’t only caused by the actions of other people. Sometimes it’s caused by religious structures. Sometimes the systems and rules of religion enable attitudes and behaviors that hurt people. Church hurt can come in many forms, but what do we do when the causes are built into our religious institutions? JOHN 8:1-11

There is a reality Christians need to face: People have been deeply hurt by the church. The stories of people who have been hurt by the church and its leaders have been bubbling to the surface for years into what now seems like an unstoppable flood. There are those who have been damaged by abusive […]

The Bible is an ancient document that followers of Jesus use as a guide for living and knowing God. But as time has progressed modern advancements in science and culture have challenged how it is interpreted. This has created tension between what Christians believe and how we understand new information about the world. The Bible […]

Judgment Day. It’s a term that conjures images of hell and punishment. It’s the day God judges everyone for how they lived their lives on earth. Being judged by God isn’t something we like talking about much, but it’s something Jesus talked about a lot. What did he mean when he said, “Judgment Day”? And […]

In 2020, the killing of George Floyd brought intense national attention to the disproportionate killings of unarmed black people at the hands of police. With the worldwide protest came a demand for change and racial justice. In spite of that, the deaths of unarmed black people actually increased over the following two years. The response […]

Human beings have always been obsessed with hidden treasure. We are fascinated by the idea that there may be priceless items hiding in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered. Jesus described the Kingdom of God as a hidden treasure; something of great value that people have trouble seeing. But if the Kingdom is so […]

Jesus said the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed planted in the ground – small and imperceptible. While that may be true, it doesn’t speak very highly of the Kingdom. Great kingdoms should be strong, powerful, and insurmountable. Not tiny and unnoticeable. So what makes the Kingdom of God different? How can a […]

How do you feel when someone hurts a child? Or enslaves and trafficks another human being? What about when someone kills another person in cold blood? We don’t just look past those things. We are moved to address them because our sense of justice demands it. Because whatever our culture, religion, or ideology, deep down […]