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Challenging the Church

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April 2023

April 04, 2023

What If the Church Preferred the Path of Jesus to Theology?

What if Church membership were based on loving and trying to act like Jesus, instead...

March 2023

March 30, 2023

What if the Church Could Have its Cake and Eat it, Too?

If the Church embraced paradox with humility, it could have its cake and eat it...

March 26, 2023

What if the Church Valued Doubt as Much as Faith?

"Don't question God," my Sunday school teacher told me. What they meant was, “You'd be...

March 22, 2023

Best Practices for Church Security

When my parishioner threatened to bring a gun to church and start shooting, we wished...

March 19, 2023

What if the Church Focused On Its Own Sin Instead of the Sins of Others?

Witch hunts are common in the church today. The connection between Saddleback and Salem is...

March 15, 2023

Rethinking Saint Patrick: How It’s Not Nice to Christianize a Nation

AndThese days, we’re learning that not all of our heroes were heroic. What can we...

March 12, 2023

The Climate’s Changing, So What if the Church…

It’s been said that Christianity must change or die. So, too, the church must either...

March 05, 2023

Pastors (and Others) Exempt from Tithing

Pastors: This tax season, you're examining your own church donations. Here are reasons why pastors...

February 2023

February 27, 2023

Why are Evangelicals Afraid of Rumspringa?

If the conservative Amish encourage their young people to experiment and figure out what they...

February 25, 2023

The Gay Subtext of Jesus Revolution

“Jesus Revolution is really about the Queer community,” I whispered to my wife as we...

February 21, 2023

Youth Leave U.S. Pews Like Rats from a Sinking Church

Youth are leaving U.S. pews like rats from a sinking Church. Nigerian youth are leaving...

February 17, 2023

Worship Wars: Which Type of Church is Best?

Which type of church is best? Everyone has their opinion about worship style. Let's examine...

February 13, 2023

Hey, Church! Stop Denying People Romance!

What if someone told you that you were unworthy of romantic love, but instead, God...

January 2023

January 27, 2023

When the “Church Family” is Dysfunctional

In some church contexts, thinking of “church family” is a beautiful thing. In others, it's...

January 16, 2023

Pastors: When the Extra Mile Turns into a Marathon

Pastors: Jesus told you to go the extra mile, not run the extra marathon. Sure,...

December 2022

December 25, 2022

Christmas Songs that Declare Universal Salvation

‘Tis the season for Christmas songs that declare universal salvation for everyone. Flipping through popular...

December 12, 2022

What Does “Touch Not the Lord’s Anointed” Mean?

Evangelicals often use the phrase, “Touch not the Lord's anointed” to mean that it's wrong...

December 06, 2022

Evangelical Preaching Tricks of the Trade: Manipulations from the Pulpit

If you go to an Evangelical Church, chances are your preacher has a few tricks...

November 2022

November 29, 2022

What if the Church Got Its Hands Dirty Like Jesus?

Some people don't like to get their hands dirty—and I am one of them. I...

November 06, 2022

How Your Church Can Help With the Housing Crisis

We are in a housing crisis, with rents rising faster than wages. Here's how the...

November 04, 2022

Leslie Jordan & Southern Baptist Sissies

The death of performer Leslie Jordan saddened many who enjoyed his performances on Will and...

October 2022

October 27, 2022

Was Blind, But Now I See: Deconstruction and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

Deconstruction is not a new movement. Plato's allegory of the cave is an ancient story...

October 23, 2022

How Fundamentalism Shoots Itself in the Foot

Fundamentalism shoots itself in the foot by telling people that they can't be good Christians...

October 17, 2022

“Christians and Third-Way Thinking”

These days it seems like everything is polarized. It's Republicans versus Democrats, pro-life versus pro-choice,...

October 14, 2022

“What I Don’t Believe About Hell”

Fun-damn-mentalists enjoy scaring the Hell out of people. They love the idea of people burning...

October 11, 2022

19 MORE Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month

If you missed Clergy Appreciation Day (October 9, 2022),  don’t worry—your church can still show...

October 06, 2022

22 Ideas for Clergy Appreciation Day – October 9

Clergy Appreciation Day in 2022 is October 9th and your minister is well aware of that....

October 04, 2022

Pastors are Quiet Quitting the Church

Many pastors are quiet quitting the church. If you're unfamiliar with that term, it's come...

October 02, 2022

What Jesus Said to the Homeless Man

What do you say to people experiencing homelessness when they speak to you on the...

September 2022

September 29, 2022

Tongues: A Prayer Language?

Many people call the gift of tongues their Prayer Language. This assumes that it is...

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