Somewhere along the way, Christians started singing, preaching, and declaring a mantra that sounds pious on the surface but is actually deeply destructive: “We don’t deserve God’s love.” I hear it regularly in worship services. But let’s pause and ask the obvious question:
Why don't we deserve God’...
One of my favorite theologians, David Bentley Hart, recently made a fascinating admission. Hart is an Eastern Orthodox theologian and writer known for his brilliant prose, biting wit, and provocative takes on faith and culture. Here's what he wrote:
The best designation I seem able to come up wit
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If you’ve ever wanted to sit across the table from Brian Zahnd, pour a glass of wine, and talk about Jesus, you’re in luck—because that’s exactly what we did in the latest episode of Cabernet and Pray. And yes, it was as good as it sounds.
Brian is one of those voices in the modern church that m...
I received a text on Easter that said, “He is risen (probably),” and I haven’t stopped laughing about it. That tongue-in-cheek phrase captured something I think a lot of us feel—especially those of us who care deeply about faith and yet have our doubts. In the latest episode of Cabernet and Pray,...
I had the opportunity to contribute a chapter to a two-part theology book that was recently published. The volumes explore Dr. Thomas Jay Oord's concept of God's "amipotence" (rather than omnipotence). My chapter was about how a good God isn't waiting for our prayers to act for our good.
When we re...
When I was a Lead Pastor, I had a memorable conversation with a church member who loved the Old Testament but found my approach to it troubling. They couldn’t understand why I didn’t hold its teachings at the same level as the New Testament. That moment set the stage for countless conversations a...
In the latest "Cabernet and Pray" podcast episode, I explored a nontraditional interpretation of a familiar parable in Luke 19. If you attended Sunday school or have any church background, you likely know this story well.Â
Here’s a quick recap of the parable: A nobleman leaves for a distant empi...
Recently I shared a clip on social media about whether robots could be made in the image of God (from episode 31 of Cabernet and Pray). In response to that, I received an overwhelming number of comments online. Now in Episode 33, I reflect on what I learned from these reactions.
This leads me to...
In the latest episode of my podcast, I tackled the topic of the "Word of God." Most people instinctively equate this term with the Bible. However, I propose a different angle—what if the "Word of God" actually refers to Jesus? This idea stems from the Gospel of John: "In the beginning was the Wor...
On the latest episode of the Cabernet and Pray podcast, I sat down with Greg Boyd, one of the theological mentors in my life. I showed Greg a few video clips of intriguing things said in previous episodes and invited him to respond in real time.
This was especially fun because one of the clips h...
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