Why I Need Church
Of course I could be a smartass and say “because I’m the pastor,” but I want to give a real answer. Why do I go to church? Why do I need church? Continue reading Why I Need Church
Category: christianity
God Is A Concept.
When I was in journalism class in high school, I remember seeing a poster in the teacher’s classroom that caught my attention. It was one of those posters that shows something like a big sky or the stars at night. At the bottom of the poster were these words: “God Is A Concept.” I really didn’t know what it meant. I originally thought it was nice to talk about God. I remember talking to the teacher about it and while I can’t remember the words she said, the point was made that we didn’t have the same view of God. … Continue reading God Is A Concept.
Repost: I Miss the Old Mel White
The positive Mel White of old the “SpongeBob Squarepants of the gay community” is long gone. What’s left is a man that’s pretty pissed off at the church and when I say church, I mean the whole church. Continue reading Repost: I Miss the Old Mel White
Why I Like Lillian Daniel.
I really like Lillian Daniel. Really. Why, you ask? Because in 2011 she said something that many mainline Christians have been thinking, but were too afraid to say outloud. In 2011 Daniel wrote an article with the very provocative title: “Spiritual, But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me.” If you think this was a rant, well, you’re right. Daniel basically tore into those folks that have been called “Spiritual But Not Religious” or SBNR. The article went viral and it’s easy to see why. Here’s what she said reflecting on a visit with a gentleman on an airplane: On airplanes, … Continue reading Why I Like Lillian Daniel.
Paul Ryan and Christian Discernment
Now that Paul Ryan has been selected as the GOP Vice Presidential candidate, I’ve noticed an awful lot of talk about the Wisconsin Congressman from liberal Protestants, most of it not positive. I’ve already stated that I think Ryan’s budget was a good start in thinking about balancing the federal budget, but I tend to disagree with others on the center-right that Ryan’s budget is the end all and be all. But I also disagree with the center-left that is making Ryan out to be the devil himself. I wish we could have a reasoned debate about the role of … Continue reading Paul Ryan and Christian Discernment
Jesus is a Cat Person
One of the more common understandings of Christianity that I’ve found in Mainline churches is that God is all about love. I struggle with that belief. I know that God is a loving God, and as expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, we get to see a God that really did love those that one might think were unloveable. As a gay man, I understand how faith has been used to kick people out of church and how important it is to see a God that cares for us no matter who we are. It’s become fixed … Continue reading Jesus is a Cat Person
Autism and Grace
Rod Dreher, who has a son who is also autistic, wrote a post called the “Gift of Autism,” and he said he wrote that title with some trepidation. As someone who is autistic, I can understand that. I know the common thing among those of us who are autistic is to talk about how wonderful being autistic can be and how we are just different and all. I get that and understand it to a point. That said, autism can also be a pain in the ass. It’s not easy being around someone who is autistic. It’s not easy for … Continue reading Autism and Grace
The Problems With Following Jesus
I finally finished reading Andrew Sullivan’s Holy Week essay on Christianity in Crisis. There’s a lot of think about in this article, so I have a list of what questions came to mind as a read this. We really can’t know Jesus without the church. Sullivan seems to think there is the pure Jesus out there that is not corrupted by politics. But as Joel Miller notes, Jesus never wrote anything, unlike say, Mohammed did. The whole life of Jesus has been mediated others. There can’t be a pure Jesus not diluted by the church because everything we know about … Continue reading The Problems With Following Jesus
Planned Parenthod vs. Susan G. Komen: Same S*%!, Different Day
I’m not going to get into the specifics of the whole Komen controversy because its been done ad nausem. But I do have one question: where should the Church be in all this? The whole mess concerning the two groups was one more annoying incident in the culture wars. Each side, including many a Christian, took their usual sides in this forever battle. We slunged mud at the other side with equal ferocity, all in the name of being on the side of right, of course. But how should followers of Jesus respond? How do we handle issues in ways … Continue reading Planned Parenthod vs. Susan G. Komen: Same S*%!, Different Day
The Clockwork Pastor 