In this third message in Pastor Eric's "What the Faith?!" sermon series, we read and reflect on what to make of the fact that scripture contains both passages that tell women to remain silent in church, to be subordinate to their husbands, and to have no authority over men with the fact that other parts of scripture describe a reality in early churches where women were encouraged to speak up, were prophetesses and teachers, and did have authority. What do we make of this inconsistency? How have these scriptures been used and abused throughout history to silence and marginalize women? If scripture contains them both, what does it mean to read scripture faithfully and have it inform and shape our lives today?

Were you taught that the Bible is perfect in every way and that, in order to be a "good Christian," you must obey everything in it? Well, in this second message of Pastor Eric's summer sermon series--"What the Faith?!"--he challenges this idea. After all, he asks, "how do we obey scripture when scripture doesn't even obey itself?!"

So... if "obedience" isn't the most faithful way of reading scripture, then what is? Listen in for a fuller exploration, and check out other videos in this series as Pastor Eric continues to explore questions like this.

In this message, the first in our summer sermon series, "What the F@!+H?!" (What the Faith), Pastor Eric reflects on the different ways that God is imagined and depicted throughout scripture: As a father, shepherd, and a mighty warrior, but also as a mother, a midwife, and a baker woman; God is our rock and light, a cloud, fire, bread, wine, and water and much more. God is each of these, all of these, and yet none of these. In exploring this vast diversity of images in scripture, Pastor Eric challenges us to think beyond "God the Father," to ask ourselves: what does it mean that God is comfortable presenting as both male and female, and yet refuses to be reduced to either one of these? If we worship a God who presents in these ways, what does that mean for how we treat others who are "made in the image of God," especially our transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming family, friends, and neighbors? What images of God speak most powerfully to you? Have you reduced God to a single image or metaphor? If so, how might you begin finding God in other images, places, and faces?