The Hell You Know Isn’t the Hell the Bible Describes Fiery pits. Demons with pitchforks. Sinners screaming in endless agony.It’s the stuff of horror movies, comic strips – and, for many, Sunday sermons. But is this disturbing picture of hell really what the Bible teaches? Surprisingly, the modern concept of hell owes more to Greek philosophy, medieval literature, and church tradition than to Scripture. The idea of eternal conscious torment, souls burning forever in fire, was imported into … [Read more...] about How Hell Got Hijacked
Truth
Reasoning with God: The Forgotten Discipline
In a world where people are told to "trust the experts," it’s easy to forget that reasoning is a biblical command, not just a philosophical tool. Whether in medicine, politics, or theology, there’s a growing divide between those who accept claims based on institutional authority and those who feel compelled to ask, "Does this actually make sense?" The Bible encourages that question. It doesn’t shy away from scrutiny—it demands it. Yet in many theological circles, reasoned discussion is treated … [Read more...] about Reasoning with God: The Forgotten Discipline
Misrepresenting God Distances Us from Him
For centuries, mainstream Christianity has taught the doctrine of the Trinity as an unquestionable truth. It has been described as a mystery, something beyond human comprehension, and many have been taught that to deny it is to reject God Himself. But what if this doctrine is not only inaccurate but also functions as an Idol of the Mind—a humanly crafted concept that distorts God’s true nature? Idolatry is often associated with physical statues and images, but Scripture defines it much more … [Read more...] about Misrepresenting God Distances Us from Him
The Son Makes Us Free
The publication called The Hedgehog Review is an intellectual publication written by intellectuals for intellectuals. One article that particularly stood out began with this sentence: “How do we foster the conditions conducive to a truly enduring moral and ethical order?" There are highly intellectual people writing, trying to find this moral and ethical order for themselves. There are a couple of comments in the book section, one mentioning a graduate student in the Germanic Studies … [Read more...] about The Son Makes Us Free
The Truth Will Set You Free?
The truth will set you free! This is a much-used phrase. You find it in Martin Luther King’s speeches, inscribed on the headquarters wall of the CIA, and it was used in one of the most recent Marvel movie franchises. I would suggest that this scripture should not be read as superficially. We often hear it used in the sense that knowledge is power, or we can set somebody loose from their bondage if we can enlighten them of their false notions and correct them. … [Read more...] about The Truth Will Set You Free?
The Bible is One Book
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, substance and attribute, fact and value. And sadly today’s theology is based on metaphysics. That is man using his mind minus the Holy Spirit in trying to figure out who and what God is. Trying to figure out the supernatural by using human reason. It is the human mind without God’s Spirit trying to figure out God. So, for followers of Jesus Christ, it is … [Read more...] about The Bible is One Book
Christmas Trees: Authentic Worship?
I would like you to think through the question in the title of this message because I think it will lead us to a place of agreement. My first question is really, Are you authentic? Do you value authenticity in other people? Honesty, integrity, consistency? I think we’d all agree that we value those characteristics in others, and I think we probably generally think of ourselves as that sort of person. Truth matters even in popular culture such as the phrase “keep it real”. The idea … [Read more...] about Christmas Trees: Authentic Worship?