Abusive religion cannot produce healthy spirituality. Where Paul used the term “sound doctrine” or “sound words or teachings,” the word “sound” meant “healthy” and Paul was talking about healthy teachings that build healthy spirituality. (See Bible references below.) Extremism, fanaticism, prejudice, ignorance, hypocrisy and a
What is the ‘essential Jesus’? What do we know for certain about Jesus that is relevant and truly helpful to everybody today? Do certain basic facts and clear certainties exist about Jesus that can form a basis for realistic objective logical faith? The Sources The
Television personalities constantly remind us that September 11 changed our world forever. They say that the world will never be the same after September 11. But what are the changes and what do they mean? What events have most changed our world in our lifetime?
Soulforce protests and civil disobedience action that I joined in New Orleans in June were not about Southern Baptist doctrine. It was about genocide. It was not about Southern Baptist polity and practices. It was about the life or death choices that multitudes of gay
Many of you who read this magazine have endured long struggles for survival and worked hard to build and maintain your own self-esteem. What has kept you going? What has most motivated you to continue in your purpose for living and not give up? As
Spiritual abuse: What is it? A preacher, his face distorted with rage, shouts anti-gay slogans from his pulpit into a television camera. A mother quietly tells her son that he is no longer her son because he has just revealed that he is gay. She
When I was a student at Furman University in Greenville, SC, and serving as pastor at Beaverdam Baptist Church, I went through a severe spiritual crisis of doubting that I was “saved.” I had gone to hear a well-known evangelist preach in a revival in
Freedom from fear Readings: John 6:15-21, John 14:27, John 20:19-23 Years ago, when I was at home from seminary for a few days, at about 2:00 A.M., I was suddenly startled awake by an ear shattering noise. A huge wall mirror in my bedroom fell
When I reflect on our anger with God, I immediately remembered of how Adam reacted when God confronted him about eating the forbidden fruit that Adam thought would “make him become like God.” God asked Adam, “What have you done?” Adam blamed God and the
Don’t weary yourself with worry over things you cannot change or the past that you cannot erase. Let go and move on! Bishops, preachers, the Pope, religious leaders and Bible “experts” try to tell other people what to think and do spiritually rather than equip,