Prolific author, teacher, podcaster, Keith Giles joins us today to talk about reading scripture correctly, atonement theory, and his new book, Jesus Unforsaken.

The book challenges many assumptions was it asks the essential question, "what if Jesus didn't die to save us from God?"

Jesus Unforsaken is an essential read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, devouring it over two days. In the book, Giles takes a deep dive into the doctrine of atonement, grabbing the bull by its penal substitutionary horns. Keith has a way of writing that is detailed and methodical, yet very accessible and easy to follow. For too long has Christianity been force-feeding us the image of an angry God whose wrath can only be quenched with a blood sacrifice. It's a pagan idea at its core and thankfully Giles returns us to scripture to show us that atonement theories are not the Gospel. Jesus saves us from our sins, not from God. This book is a terrific read that reminds us of the hopeful and loving God seen through the image of Jesus that becomes incarnated into the world through those that walk out his ways.

Join us today for a fun, fascinating, and far-reaching conversation with Keith Giles.

He's a terrific voice that needs to be heard and it's always a blast to have him on the show. Enjoy

Buy Keith's new book, Jesus Unforsaken on Amazon here! 

You can find all of Keith's books on Amazon.

Here's Keith's blog on Patheos and you can always find him on the Heretic Happy Hour podcast.

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

"The very sight of God causes delight. At the sight of God the mind can do nothing but delight."  ~ Thomas Aquinas

Most days, I'm mired in the push and pull of life and I don't think I know what the sight of God looks like. It's easy to get busy. It's easy to get tired. It's easy to get distracted. Then, before you know it, you're miles down the road but felt like you were asleep at the wheel. When life gets on cruise control, you're headed for something insidious; normalcy.

In processing and walking out faith, forward progress is the goal, but the deeper you dive into the ontological nature of being, growing awareness is key. When we fall into routines, it's easy to end up living someone else's life or someone else's faith.

For those of us that were raised in the capitalistic church where faith was processed in a cookie-cutter assembly line, it's easy to learn the motions and go through them. That may feel good for a while, but over time, we become spiritually blind and can easily lose the plot of our faith. The routine gets mastered and we think we know all the answers, but for some reason, no one's asking the questions. Then life moves on.

Much like freshwater, we must remain in motion to avoid stagnation and complacency. Today, we'll discuss spiritual blindness which usually manifests itself when people double down on missing the point.

Following the ways of Christ shouldn't be so hard. They should lead towards freedom, healing, restoration, and new life. If you're not in a process of renewal, growth, or change, you're missing out. Many of us avoid change because we fear it, but that's not what we fear. We fear loss.

Just remember that the first step to something new begins with not wanting to stay where you're at. There's more to delight in if we can embrace awareness and acceptance.

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

 

 

While conservatives are having a cancel-culture-fever-dream over Dr. Seuss, Mr. Potato Head, and whatever else they're faking outrage over, insidious things are happening on the state level of government. This is why we need to talk about H.R. 1. and why it's important for all Americans - especially ones that claim to the Christian faith.

With all this talk of canceling, there are many GOP-controlled states quickly working to make it harder to vote. Winning elections by getting the most votes is problematic to conservatives who see their power and influence waning. This is where voter-suppression and gerrymandering slip in and people are disenfranchised. You'd think the right for everyone to vote in representative democracy would be something that matters both sides.

Now, what does this have to do with the ways of Jesus and why would we be discussing this on a show about faith?

Great question. We'll be unpacking that today on the show because love and equality are near and dear to the heart of Christ.

Removing someone's right to vote is in effect silencing their voice and removing their ability to be heard and represented. The kingdom of God doesn't see you through the lens of a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, paycheck or even your belief system. Jesus merely engages us as children of God. All deserve dignity, respect, a voice, and a seat at the table.

If we're called to love both our neighbors and our enemies, we should also make sure they have the right to vote.

H.R. 1 which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives seeks to "expand voting rights, change campaign finance laws to reduce the influence of money in politics, limit partisan gerrymandering, and create new ethics rules for federal officeholders."

If our neighbors matter to us, then we should make sure all have the right and access to voting. To strip that right is to dehumanize citizens. This isn't simply about politics, it's about the America we want to see moving forward.

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

Preacher's Kid by Semler, whose artist name is Grace Baldridge, hit No. 1 on Tuesday (Feb. 9) in Apple's iTunes store. It marked the first time an LGBTQ+ artist has topped the album sales in Christian music. 

Preacher's Kid isn't your typical worship album. It carries a parental advisory for explicit lyrics and speaks openly and rawly about Baldridge's evolving faith since her youth. For me, it was like fresh air in an industry that has come to be defined by blandness and homogeny. Semler was the first Christian artist, I've appreciated in years. Her honesty is reminiscent of David' messy, beautiful truth captured in Psalms. 

For so long has Christian art been whitewashed and tamed. It's been far too long since we've heard something so truthful and it feels even feels dangerous in its truth-telling. The album is, as Baldriged puts it, “a project about coming out as a queer person of faith.”

The album was also a personal project produced without a label and industry marketing dollars but became a grassroots movement. This album is a hopeful sign that Christianity is slowly changing, but it's also a reminder that we have far to go before we can be a faith that's affirming and loving of all people. 

Join me today as I unpack this album with Semler and delve deeper into her work and advocacy. It's a great conversation with someone whose story needs to be heard.

For more: 

Stream Preacher's Kid on Spotify

Buy Preacher's Kid on iTunes:

Follow Grace's on social media here:

https://linktr.ee/gracesemlerbaldridge

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

Another week, another public sex scandal for the Christian church.

With the posthumous news of Ravi Zacharias being a predatory creep and rapist, we see another pastor with a platform fall. For a group that claims to have the truth, they don't know how to deal with sex.

It's easy to blame celebrity culture on the powerful failing publicly, but I believe that's cheating to distract from the real problem. Blaming pastoral celebrities merely sweeps the public symptoms of a deeper cause under the rug. It's just an easy way to get the church back to business as usual and changes nothing.

This isn't an issue of having bad apples, it's one of bad theology.

From purity culture to repression, misogyny, and guilt, Christianity doesn't have the best historical track record for healthily talking about sex. I think that should change.

For too long has sex been used as a tool and a weapon within Evangelicalism used to control and shame. Through this warped lens, women are seen as pure objects of desire and men are the aggressors fueled by lust. Sex is framed in utilitarian terms to serve the head of the household (ie men) and grow the family.

Rarely is sex spoken of being as life-giving, deeply intimate, and profoundly spiritual. Through the banner of purity and theology, we have boxed sex into a corner and sought to control and tame it. Though it's not really for the sake of purity or theology, it's driven by fear.

Out of fear, we limit how we approach sex and in turn, we limit how we view God. Christianity needs a more healthy and God-affirming way to speak about sex. When you wrap sex in fear and religion, you get systems that create and sustain predatory abuse. This was never what God intended.

Here are my questions for you: If humans are created by God and in God's image, what does sex say about God? What do sex and its transcendence nature speak of an Almighty? The answers to these questions won't fit easily into a dogmatic system, but they will lead you on a journey into something much more interesting. 

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com

Join me today as I talk with the director, Rocky Roggio, about her upcoming film 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted a Culture. 1946 is a new documentary that investigates how the word “homosexual” was incorrectly entered into the Bible, and the grave consequences it had on religion, culture, politics, and the LGBTQIA+ community over the last century.

The documentary explores exactly what ignited the anti-gay movement within American conservative Christians. The first time the word “homosexual” ever appeared in any Bible was in 1946, in 1 Corinthians 6:9, Revised Standard Version (RSV). This version used the word “homosexual” in lieu of the greek words “malakoi” and “arsenokoitai.” Researchers agree today these words translate loosely to “effeminacy,” and “pervert,” or “sexual pervert.” The decision to use the word “homosexual” instead of the accurate translations was voted on by the committee. So that begs the question, what if the word “homosexual” was never meant to be in the Bible? 

In 2020, more than 45,000 churches still preach that the homosexual lifestyle is a sin. But, what would happen to these churches if they knew the truth?  

 

For more information about the film: https://www.1946themovie.com/

To join the GoFundMe campaign aimed at finishing the film: https://www.gofundme.com/f/1946themovie

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

“Some of us believe that God is All-Power and can do all, and that God is All-Wisdom and knows how to do all. But that God is All-Love and wants to love all, here we restrain ourselves. And this ignorance hinders most of God's lovers, and I see it...”

- Julian of Norwich

Too often do we play fast and loose when we talk of love. I love baseball. I love pizza. Or we think about love in an unrealistic manner that feels more like escapist fantasy than reality.

The church is guilty of this too. American Christianity speaks of love and wields the word with such frequency that you'd assume they know what it means. Tragically, they don't. They've made love transactional. I've heard statements like, "God loves me if..." and "God loves me when..." If God is love, then there are no qualifiers needed. If the substance of God is love, then how does that love manifest itself? It does so through action. It is only through action that love can be seen and to believe it we have to see it.

Digging deeper into scripture we see that love is something more. So what is love?

It is showing up.

It is caring for another.

It is friendship.

It is grace and compassion.

It is responding to someone's needs.

It is fueled by respect.

It is hot and heavy and also gentle and kind.

It is deepened by time and grows with vulnerability.

It is selfless and often looks like sacrifice.

Love is active. Love is moving.

Join me today as I look into how the substance of love is deeper than words and requires more of you than you know. Are you bold enough to love and see where it takes you?

“Dare to love and to be a real friend. The love you give and receive is a reality that will lead you closer and closer to God as well as those whom God has given you to love.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

“What’s translated as ‘charity’ in the Bible is ‘agape,’ which literally means love... We do have a responsibility to help the poor and those in need. That means taking care of them yourself—giving money yourself, giving your time, your efforts, not someone else’s.”

- Michael Tanner

Welcome to our 300th episode of Snarky Faith! Thanks so much for being a part of this ride!

In today's show, I'll respond to a listener's request for an episode on giving to Christian charities and ministries. How does anyone evaluate which ones are worthy of your donations and tithes? With so much grabbing at our attention, money, and time, it is hard to know which investments are worth it. For too long have Christian charities gotten by on just being 'Christian' and a 'charity.' Let dig deeper into some clear-cut and quick metrics to evaluate how well an organization is run financially. We'll also talk about other areas of focus and mission in the effectiveness of a ministry as well.

In the end, we're called to love others. That love requires an investment of not just money, but time. Christian charity shouldn't be solely about money, it' should also be about personal responsibility. You'd invest well for your 401K, you should do as much homework for that as you do with your tithes and donations. Just because a ministry seems good, doesn't mean it's run well, effectively, or even morally.

So before you drop that cash into an offering plate or send your monthly donations, check out tips on how to be a wholistic investor of yourself and not just an ATM for Christian charities and churches.

 

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

“A cult is a religion with no political power."

- Tom Wolfe

In a post-Christian, post-Trump world, how does one talk about Jesus?

Living in a society in which a large swath of the population believes in an alternative reality is challenging. It feels like the cults had exited the shadows and entered into the mainstream. With the drumbeats of QAnon muted in the backdrop, America needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and do some soul searching. How do we become less susceptible to coercion and develop a keen sense to sniff out bullshit?

Join me today as we look into the warning signs and symptoms of cults. While many churches in America don't fit all the criteria for being a cult, they definitely have cult-like behavior and inclinations in their structures and practices. Ever experienced situations where questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished? Ever had a pastor who was above accountability or church leadership that uses shame and/or guilt to influence members? Ever been in a group that was preoccupied with bringing in new members? 

Don't be duped by greasy gurus or fall prey to slick-talking pastors. It's best to stay away from any group or organization that even smells like a cult.

With cults, it's all fun and games until the Kool-aid comes out.

I bet you didn't know that "saying no to cults" was on your list of New Year's resolutions. If it wasn't there, it should be.

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.

www.SnarkyFaith.com

“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

- Not Saint Francis of Assisi, but still a great quote

 

In a post-Christian post-Trump world, how does one talk about Jesus?

It seems impossible, especially when Christianity has become synonymous with nationalism, hate, bigotry, and misogyny.

So, I am here to call an audible and declare that Christian witness in America is dead, or maybe it just needs to hibernate for a few decades. Either way, the traditional ideas and ways of evangelism must change dramatically to meet the reality of 2021.

I worked for years in Christian ministry, pushing the gospel like it was the latest hot MLM scheme. Those days are gone. Those days are ancient.

American Christianity needs to take a time-out to reflect on what it has become and what it has forgotten. The Gospel does not need to be preached. Its message has been used and abused by so-called holy men and women for so long that it is now merely words; hollow words. Christianity has prioritized orthodoxy (right belief) over orthopraxy (right practice). In this season and the next, actions are needed.

Join us today as we look to the mighty strength of the Christian witness through action and deed. We'll delve into several saints from the past to see that actions always speak louder than words. Those actions are our witness.

In regards to evangelism, actions need to speak again. The church must learn to live out the ways of Jesus. If we don't, we risk making his words meaningless and our faith impotent. To follow Jesus means to emulate his ways, not just spread his words. It's far time we put action and meaning behind his words.

Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com