Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
Who is the Gospel for? That may seem like a ridiculous question. And of course, the proper response is that the gospel is for everyone. The Gospel is God’s remedy for humanity disordered by sin. But a church disordered by its surrounding culture has often missed the mark in practicing the Gospel.
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Centuries before the modern feminist movement, Christian theologians used feminine imagery to talk about God. It’s a mistake to assume that feminine references to God are a capitulation to radical feminism. Even the divinely inspired scriptures use feminine imagery in reference to God.
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The Christian revelation that God is Holy Trinity is firmly established in Jesus’ commission to his disciples: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This is remarkable when we realize that God is called “Father” less than a dozen times in the Old Testament. However, the “fatherhood” of God is woven throughout message of the New Testament. But what does it mean to confess, “I believe in God the Father?”
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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
The ancient theologian who first wrote these divinely inspired words made no attempt to explain the presence of God. From this simple sentence we can deduce two things about God. First, God exists outside of time, space and matter. Second, God created time, space, and matter. God is the uncreated Creator.
Continue reading “How Should We Talk About God?”
The gods and goddesses of the ancient world were sexual beings. Images of these mythological deities emphasized their genitals and myths emphasized their sexual exploits. The creation of the heavens and the earth were sexual acts. The gods and goddesses of the ancient world often had sex with humans. It is here that the uniqueness of the God of the ancient Hebrews is revealed.
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As a pastor of almost 40 years, I can testify that most of the questions that have been asked of me have to do with sex:
Continue reading “A Conversation about Sex – Part 9: Pastoral Care for the Sexually Broken”