Crucible of Thought

It's really hard when trusted people change dramatically. For the sake of our faith, often we don't really want to know why they changed. It might require us to change too. You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/its-best-not-to-ask/

I've seen a lot of conservative Christians recently argue that gays cannot be saved, or cannot be Christian, specifically because of 1 Cor 6:9-10. What does that verse say, and is it relevant? You can also listen to this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/can-homosexuals-be-christian/

A Jewish pastor read a sermon written by AI to his congregation, and they thought it was human-written. Can a robot or AI ever replace a human pastor? Perhaps that's the wrong question. Do most Christians today even understand what a pastor is supposed to be? Read the article about that sermon here: https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/business-and-innovation/article-729 You can also read this episode...

"Which takes precedence - the Bible or Jesus?" On Twitter, this question has blown up into a rather ugly argument in the last couple days.  I've watched the dispute, occasionally chipping in here and there myself, but mostly learning from the various viewpoints thrown into the fight. There's a lot to be learned from it. Here are some thoughts about the Bible, and how it relates to Jesus, and...

The point of the gospel is not to get the work done. The point is accurately represent the Father. Jesus' charge in Matt 28:19-20 wasn't colonial; it was to be ambassadors in the fullest sense of the word - to personally BE an extension of the Kingdom and to fully embody Jesus to those around us. That looks a lot different than many approaches to the gospel. You can also read this episode at https...

The origins of the Bible are fascinatingly complex, much more than I had understood as a younger believer. Why would God let it be so complex? You can also listen to this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/did-the-bible-evolve/

Jonah was so opposed to the people of Nineveh that he couldn't abide God's forgiveness of them. There are parallels with evangelical Christians' insistence that God punish people in a fiery hell for all eternity. Is that insistence righteous? You can also read this post at https://crucibleofthought.com/rejecting-a-jonah-spirit/

Treating fellow believers with contempt is a sure way to shut down any ability of the Holy Spirit to use each other to grow us up into one Body, one Bride of Christ. You can also listen to this post at https://crucibleofthought.com/deadly-contempt/

The younger generation of Christians are looking a lot more like Caleb and Joshua than like Moses. They're willing to go at risk with the Lord into a dangerous but bountiful new land. And it's stirring up a lot of anger among the elders. You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/a-caleb-generation/

It's fascinating to look at the topic of "doubt" in Christian publications and web posts. In article after article, there are calls to recognize the incalculable cost of doubting, and the need for unquestioning belief at all costs. But "doubt" and "unbelief" are most certainly not the same. So here's my question: How often do we cling to something not because we believe it, but because we can't ri...

If America is a Christian nation, and since “Christian” means “little Christs,” then it seems we Christians should be well-known for doing ALL the things that Jesus did and that He commanded His followers to do. And we should accept the corrections that come with being imperfect representatives of a holy and righteous and just God. You can also read this blog post at https://crucibleofthought.com/...

"This IS the revival that you were praying for. And you're calling it heresy." What if revival looks nothing like we think? The following links are referenced: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRHn2Pdx/ https://www.cgi.org/call-to-revival https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-revival-and-where-do-we-find-it https://harvest.org/resources/gregs-blog/post/what-is-revival/ says https://www.gotquesti...

“I’m  coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of conservative  Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably even worse than  “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is October 11th  2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the LGBTQ  community as “National Coming Out Day.” And I’m coming out. Not as gay or queer, myself, b...

“I’m coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of conservative Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably even worse than “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is October 11th 2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the LGBTQ community as “National Coming Out Day.” And I’m coming out. Not as gay or queer, myself, but as explicitly an ally, as o...

Self-appointed gatekeepers over our religious and moral systems are destroying the people's ability to connect with the Lord's Kingdom. What is our response supposed to be? You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/self-appointed-gatekeepers/

“I’m coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of  conservative Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably  even worse than “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is  October 11th 2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the  LGBTQ community as “National Coming Out Day.” And I’m coming out. Not as gay or queer, myself, but as...

“I’m coming out.” Few phrases strike dread into the heart of conservative Christian parents and pastors as that one. It’s probably even worse than “I’m not sure I believe in God anymore.” Well, today is October 11th 2022, and since 1998, this day has been celebrated by the LGBTQ community as “National Coming Out Day.” And I’m coming out. Not as gay or queer, myself, but as explicitly an ally, as o...

The 4th commandment, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." uses the Hebrew words nasah, shem, and shav, and might equally be translated "Your life shall not demonstrate an inaccurate representation of the reputation and renown and fame of the Lord your God." You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/hanging-on-for-dear-life/

As with so many of my long-held evangelical beliefs, I’ve been carefully thinking about the doctrine of hell and eternal punishment. I grew up understanding it as an absolute certainty, and something that orthodox Christians had believed since Jesus apparently taught the doctrine in the Gospels. But, I’m not so convinced any more. Come along for a story that helped me reframe my beliefs. Some usef...

Peter's dream of unclean food challenged his world view about who was acceptable to God. I find that God is repeating that in my life, challenging me to reconsider who the Lord accepts today. You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/peters-vision-an-inclusive-gospel/

Top Secret classified documents are held under incredibly strict control. Every page of every copy is logged. It's laughable to assert that the FBI didn't know exactly what they were looking for. You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/the-best-kept-secrets-in-the-world/

On this occasion of my 30th anniversary, I am finding that the most famous pair of Bible verses about marriage means far more to me than I ever thought possible, and it's not just about marriage. I am called to leave many things, not just my father and mother, as I pursue the Lord and His calling on my life. You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/a-man-shall-leave-his-fath...

Political power... at what cost? A dark and dying world needs to see a tangible representation of a holy and righteous and just God. That's the role given to the Body of Christ. But it seems as if the goal of too many Christians these days is grabbing political power by any means necessary. Is it worth it? You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/is-it-worth-it/

I've been thinking about the challenges of accepting the so-called "affirming" position on LGBTQ issues, and it seemed like time to address my thoughts on the topic at some length. You can also read this episode at https://www.crucibleofthought.com/taking-the-easy-way-out/

I wonder, would it change us if we truly believed that God's provision for us wasn't dependent upon our righteousness? And how would it change us if we truly believed that God intended us to be the conduit of that exact provision for others of every station in life? You can also read this episode at https://crucibleofthought.com/a-matter-of-righteousness-and-justice/