Real Bible Rob: Affirming Christianity Podcast Real Bible Rob - Inclusive Christianity Discussions Real Bible Rob | PCUSA Ministry Insights

Real Bible Rob: Affirming Christianity Podcast Real Bible Rob - Inclusive Christianity Discussions Real Bible Rob | PCUSA Ministry Insights

By Rob Christ | Inclusive ChristianityReligion & SpiritualityChristianitySpiritualityReligion
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Real Bible Rob: Affirming Christianity Podcast Real Bible Rob - Inclusive Christianity Discussions Real Bible Rob | PCUSA Ministry Insights episodes

  • Celtic Christianity and Indigenous Faiths

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    Celtic Christianity offers a different perspective of the church and the triune God. It is a look into one of the most significant pre-Roman Christian communities. We have all heard of St. Patrick in Ireland, but many other saints spread Christianity in the British Isles before the Catholic Church took over at the Synod of Whitby in 664 CE. I am a Voyager in the Community of Aidan and Hilda, a dispersed Celtic Christianity group. It was founded by Rev. Ray Simpson in the UK and now has chapters in several countries including the US. I briefly explore some of the unique aspects of Celtic Christian history that set it apart. I explain why this perspective matters and why it makes exploring it so fascinating. Then I talk about how Celtic Christianity can help white majority Christians understand the relationship of indigenous faiths and people with Christianity. Finally, I speak about the hope Celtic Christianity can bring to people who are turned off by Christianity. I recommend several books on the topics to help you get started on learning more.

    References:
    Ray Simpson, "Celtic Christianity: Deep Roots for a Modern Faith"
    Esther De Waal, "Celtic Way of Prayer: Recovery of the Religious Imagination"
    Kenneth McIntosh, "Water from an Ancient Well: Celtic Spirituality for Modern Life"
    Randy Woodley, "Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision"
    Diarmaid MacCulloch, "Christianity: The First 3000 Years"
    Robin Wall Kimmerer, "Braiding Sweetgrass"
    www.anamcharabooks.com
    www.aidanandhilda.wordpress.com

    #celticchristianity #indigenousfaith #imperialism #anamchara #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    44 min
  • The Blind Man and Inherited Sin: Bible Interpretation from John 9 in Affirming Christianity

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    In this episode, we dive deep into John 9, exploring the story of the blind man and its implications on inherited sin and biblical interpretation. As an affirming Christian and PCUSA minister, I provide insights into this passage’s cultural and spiritual context, highlighting the challenges of exclusion and shallow faith within historical religious leadership. We examine how modern Christian faith grapples with traditional doctrines like Original Sin, questioning cause-and-effect language in popular Bible translations. Join us as we unpack this scripture through the lens of inclusive Christianity and affirming spirituality, offering fresh perspectives that challenge old narratives and invite deeper understanding.

    35 min
  • Mercy and Justice in Matthew 5:1-11 & Romans 3:5-8

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    Mercy is in the news. Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde spoke about mercy directly to the president. This caused a huge reaction, positively and negatively toward her message. When looked at in totality, her sermon was a very mainstream message about unity and mercy. Given to an ordinary congregation, even with her admonition to a new president, would have been praised and quickly forgotten. But to this president and this political context, it has been seen as a direct challenge. Why the difference? I will explore the meaning of mercy and justice in scripture. Predictably, the "empathy is sin" crowd has ramped up their attacks to justify the worst of unmerciful and unjust behavior. Romans 3 is used to gaslight people into thinking that empathy is unjust. There is a long history behind what we are seeing. This reactionary response to Jesus's words is consistent with every authoritarian response to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. 

    #beatitudes #bishopbudde #sermononthemount #empathy #mercy #justice #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    30 min
  • The Abused Woman in John 8:1-11

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    The abuse of women is chronically under-reported. Violence against women is everywhere in scripture. Just like in society, it is sometimes condemned but it’s often not. John 8:1-11 is a disgusting display of religious leaders bullying a woman as a pawn to entrap Jesus. But this passage especially verse 11 is still used as theological violence. “Sin no more” is routinely plucked out of context by religious bullies to shame women and to distort the gospel message. I discuss the tortured history of John 8:1-11 and how a story of compassion is used for misogyny and theological bullying. 

     

    #sinnomore #adultery #john8 #castthefirststone #jesus #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    29 min
  • The Devil and the Details from Luke 4:9-12, 20-29

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    It's fascinating how people can read the same passage and get different meanings. Sometimes they just get it plain wrong and then it is used to prop up a whole theology. Luke 4 contains one of those interpretations. Many Christians think Jesus was thrown out of the Nazareth synagogue because he claimed to be the Messiah. In fact there is an episode of The Chosen showing disapproving rabbis gasping when Jesus said “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” in verse 21, but that is completely wrong because verse 22 says they were all pleased. How can we get this so wrong? This little detail is a distortion that is intentional and it has a lot to do with theology. The devil asked Jesus to throw himself off the cliff and he refused. And then it was the enraged townsfolk who tried to throw him off the cliff, doing what Jesus himself wouldn't do. In this podcast, I explain how this is all about power and who has it. Jesus didn't take advantage of his divinity, but his people often do. This has major implications for Christians today. 

    #devil #jesus #nazareth #divinity #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    21 min
  • Calvinism vs Reality: Determinism and Probability

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    Calvinists often pit themselves against reality and science. They cling to divine determinism and resist theological change. Why? As a young Presbyterian, I thought I knew what it meant to be a reformed Christian. I learned a bit about Calvin, but when I encountered hardcore TULIP Calvinists later in life, I was confused. How could this possibly be the same faith as mine? Was I going to reject Calvinism or change my mind? I discovered that being reformed and Calvinist aren't the same thing and that the church has always had a troubled history with his theology. In this podcast, I will take you on my journey to discover what Calvin really said, what parts of his theology stand, and what parts were hijacked and then given the "Calvinist" label. Pastors and teachers like RC Sproul, John Piper, and Tim Keller have worked hard to yank us back into hard Calvinism without the Reform. I found three books very helpful in this journey, listed below. I will also discuss what the terms meticulous sovereignty and divine determinism mean, alongside the usual suspects of predestination, elect, and reprobate.

    References: 
    Roger E. Olsen, "Against Calvinism"
    Michael Scott Horton, "For Calvinism"
    Gabriel Gordon, "The Fundamentals of a Recovering Fundamentalist" 

    #Calvinist #Reformedtheology #predestination #rcsproul #johnpiper #timkeller #theology #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    Calvinism is controlling. And the stupendous arrogance of RC Sproul in the statement: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”

    43 min
  • To Hell with Hell from Luke 16:19-26

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    The dogma of Hell has caused more anxiety than any other. What is largely unknown is that Hell as a place of eternal conscious torment in the Bible is flimsy at best. Nearly all of our visions of Hell come from the last few chapters of Revelation and other literature. It is sometimes said that Jesus talked more about Hell than Heaven. This is untrue for a variety of reasons. Where does this obsession with Satan and Hell come from? It is mostly an invention of the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages and then taken whole-cloth by Protestants. Hell  anxiety is a major stumbling block for spiritual growth. We must understand where it comes from and how it has been used to manipulate people through the centuries. 

    #hell #heaven #sheol #gehenna #hades #eternalconscioustorment #universalsalvation #universalreconcilation #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    Reference: David Bentley Hart, "That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell & Universal Salvation"

    36 min
  • Are you really saved? from Hebrews 10:9-10, 10:26 and 6:4-6

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    How do you know if you are really saved? Can you lose your salvation once you are saved? Nothing has produced more anxiety and spawned more debate in Christian history. We see it in many forms Catholic sacraments, “won and done” conversion, and “turn or burn” theology. It’s a huge part of evangelical fervor. But it’s a lot more about Christian exclusion and control than genuine concern for other people. I explore a couple of famous passages from Hebrews and the different ideas about security of salvation from Arminian, Calvinist, and Catholic points of view.

    #salvation #hell #sacraments #calvinism #arminian #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    34 min
  • Jesus Not In Control with John 2:1-5 & Philippians 2:5-8

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    One of the greatest challenges I face in ministry today is working with people obsessed with control. You really see this in Christian circles. Which is hugely ironic, because Christianity is all about giving up control. It’s a very American thing and it originates in the American myth of conquering and being self-made. This obsession manifests in several ways: Demanding proof for belief and apologetics, aggressive evangelism, and using religion for wealth and power, are the obvious ways. But more subtly humbly in saying Jesus is in control, God is in control, and demanding that Jesus was a superman with no fear and complete foreknowledge. In this podcast, I explore two very different passages, the Wedding in Cana and the Christ Hymn, that show how a controlling Jesus is not the redeeming Jesus. I say that certitude is the enemy of faith. And that only the Christ of complete humility and non-controlling can be the Jesus of our salvation. 

    29 min
  • Meaning of Grace with Ephesians 2:8 & Genesis 6:8

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    A common Christian definition of Grace is kindness that isn't deserved, a favor or boon despite who you are. This grace is far too limiting & exhibits a desire for control & authority. Grace is the antidote to shame. To say that grace is only undeserved kindness increases shame and perpetuates the illusion of a distant and angry God. it upholds the transactional nature of evangelical faith. In Hebrew, Khain means favor and grace. It is much more warm and inviting. Like the common non-religious use of the word, it should be about acceptance, invitation & hospitality. Khain is closely associated with Khesed God’s loyal & steadfast love. in that is bring someone into His fold of favor with loyal love. It doesn’t mean humiliation. It means invitation. 

    #grace #chesed #lovingkindness #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa

    23 min

About Real Bible Rob: Affirming Christianity Podcast Real Bible Rob - Inclusive Christianity Discussions Real Bible Rob | PCUSA Ministry Insights

From the publisher's feed

Exploring Bible interpretation and modern Christian faith, I am a Presbyterian USA minister who interprets the Bible in all of its messy and varied voices. I teach and preach spiritual growth to…