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Progressive Christian

2022-06-19T19:46:51+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Apologetics for The Status Quo

Last updated on: June 19, 2022 at 7:46 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

Theology serves a crucial purpose. It steers us back time and again to the heart of God. It informs us of Whom we worship and provides a structural understanding of the faith we hold to. In my opinion, theology is often employed in a less laudable endeavour – to reinforce the status quo. For example, I was brought up in a church which regularly taught on ‘wilderness times’ – periods in the life of a believer when God seems... Read more

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2022-06-14T21:14:47+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Those Wounds Yet Visible Above

Last updated on: June 14, 2022 at 9:14 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I’ve often taken comfort from the idea that Jesus’ resurrection body still bears the scars of crucifixion in his hands, feet, and side. A teacher I respect says that the only person in Heaven whose body remains imperfect will be Jesus, who carries the marks of mortality and the sacrifice he made for all humanity. I’ve also reflected on the idea that his wounds are an expression of his continual intercession for us – though we be perfected in the... Read more

Discipleship

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The scars of Jesus

2022-06-07T13:04:37+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Lord Tests the Heart

Last updated on: June 7, 2022 at 1:04 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I’ve been dwelling on this verse in Proverbs 17: ‘The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.’ As a younger Christian, I was offered the explanation that God tests us through difficult circumstances to see if we will still hold to faith in the midst of the storm. This picture of refinement through suffering dovetailed with a general view of God as stern, obsessed with our good behaviour, and putting our... Read more

Discipleship

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the crucible for silver

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the Lord tests the heart

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trials and temptations

2022-06-03T23:25:43+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What is Lacking in Christ’s Suffering?

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 11:25 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I very much believe that through the sacrifice of Jesus we are given everything we’ll ever need. He is our righteousness, now and forever. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. He provides for us from his limitless resources. Philippians 4:19, And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ... Read more

Discipleship

Fellowship with his sufferings

Fellowship with his sufferings

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take up your cross

2022-05-31T17:58:01+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What does the Bible say about abortion?

Last updated on: May 31, 2022 at 5:58 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I generally avoid this topic, especially since the SCOTUS leak about the overturning of Roe v. Wade – the key legal judgement underpinning the right to abortions in the United States. So why write about it now? Truthfully, I don’t want to. It’s a topic that causes such division, including among believers, but that is exactly why I feel I must at least attempt to foster some understanding. I’m hoping that some of the fever heat has died down,... Read more

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2022-05-27T12:48:20+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Problem of Persecution

Last updated on: May 27, 2022 at 12:48 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

Christians have a weird relationship with persecution, often speaking and acting as if it only applies to us. It’s all too easy to get overfamiliar with an idea, especially when referring to a Biblical word, laden with set associations. I want to look at persecution from scratch. The dictionary defines persecution as ‘hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression’. The word ‘especially’ is important in that sentence, because although persecution is most... Read more

Re-thinking Christian Concepts

rejoice in sufferings

religious persecution

2022-05-21T14:57:55+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lean Hard Into That Rudder

Last updated on: May 21, 2022 at 2:57 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I’ve always found James’ teaching on taming the tongue exciting and bewildering in equal measure. His claim is extraordinary – that by controlling our tongues we can master our bodies and take charge of the direction of our entire lives. On the one hand this is empowering, but on the other I’ve never been able to understand the mechanics he’s implying, until now. First, the passage. James 3: 2-8, ‘Anyone who is never at fault in what they say... Read more

relationship counselling

Taming the tongue

2022-05-12T16:57:13+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Is Tithing a Christian Concept?

Last updated on: May 12, 2022 at 4:57 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

The Old Testament is very clear on tithing – give the whole 10% and you’ll be blessed, give anything less and you are robbing God. Malachi 3:8-12. “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.” ‘But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” ‘In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in... Read more

Re-thinking Christian Concepts

2022-05-01T18:08:40+01:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why Believe?

Last updated on: May 1, 2022 at 6:08 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

At the age of twenty I had a decision to make. I’d reached the end of the road with the faith of my childhood, which was inherited rather than forged. I was a devout young man, praying two hours a day in the hope that the touch-paper of spiritual experience might be lit, but after months of gruelling effort I’d hit rock bottom. My search had come to nothing, and I felt frustrated and let down. I’d heard that God... Read more

breakthrough and change

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2023-10-29T19:09:03+00:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Is God in Control?

Last updated on: October 29, 2023 at 7:09 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I often hear it said that ‘God is in control’ as a kind of self-soothing mechanism. It can be comforting to believe that the difficult events of our lives have meaning, even if that meaning is impossible to fathom, but is it true? What if in holding to this notion we disempower ourselves and open the door to all kinds of harm God would otherwise protect us from? The key passage used to express this idea of a God... Read more

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