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Progressive Christian

2022-11-15T10:54:04-06:00

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.

Walking On Hallowed Ground

Last updated on: November 15, 2022 at 10:54 am By C. Don Jones

“Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 5:5) I walked around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania the last few days. Lincoln, in the Gettysburg Address, says no words spoken or actions by dignitaries can make the site any more holy than the full measure of devotion demonstrated by the soldiers. He wrote stirring stuff, for sure. But what really makes a place holy? I have wrestled with this question... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

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Spirituality

Theology

2022-11-07T15:31:11-06:00

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.

Winning And Victory

Last updated on: November 7, 2022 at 3:31 pm By C. Don Jones

Have you ever considered there is a difference between winning and victory? One is the action of achieving. The other is the action achieved. I often ponder these slight distinctions. It is easy to make too much out of them. When we look at states of being, we are confronted with the difference. In sports someone may claim victory before the game is over. But the team is actually only winning. Decisions to turn away from a game by leaving... Read more

2022-11-03T10:13:12-06:00

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 Ridiculous Middle

Last updated on: November 3, 2022 at 10:13 am By C. Don Jones

There is the center. The point that is truly equidistant from the edges. Then there is the middle. It appears good to many people to be of the middle. And there are many good people who inhabit that grayish area. But there is also a ridiculous middle. This is an area of false equivalencies, rights to every opinion, and looking for good when there is none. It is the place of alternative facts and “how do we really know?” The... Read more

Philosophy

Preaching

Progressive Christianity

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Truth

2022-10-31T11:42:46-06:00

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.

Time To Commit To Nonviolence

Last updated on: October 31, 2022 at 11:42 am By C. Don Jones

I am a violent person who believes nonviolence is necessary. I do not claim to be a nonviolent person. It would not be a true statement. But I have worked on becoming nonviolent for some time now. And the more I work toward it, the clearer my understanding becomes. The empires of the world are built on violence. Violence is the enemy of freedom. Therefore, to be truly free requires a commitment to nonviolence. There is no freedom of thought... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

Redemptive Violence Myth

The United Methodist Church

Violence

2022-10-27T10:05:58-06:00

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.

Trying To Live With Rhythm

Last updated on: October 27, 2022 at 10:05 am By C. Don Jones

I get caught up in the melodies of life. The rhythm often escapes me. In other words, I lose track of the timing. Life is lived as one long series of notes that repeat. But the beat is hard to find. Strangely enough I thought being a member of the clergy would help my find an appropriate rhythm to my life. But it does not happen often. It is as though someone claps at the wrong time and is not... Read more

Spirituality

Theology

2022-10-24T13:27:06-06:00

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.

Crickets

Last updated on: October 24, 2022 at 1:27 pm By C. Don Jones

Have you ever had the problem with someone not returning emails, texts, or phone calls? When people do that to Kathryn, she says “crickets.” It is a familiar trope in television meaning silence. Now we use other terms. Ghosting comes to mind. However, when we hear crickets at dusk we are not hearing silence. We are merely hearing less noise. Crickets vs. Noise Summer nights are filled with many sounds. Bird’s flapping their wings can be heard. Cicadas, June Bugs,... Read more

Spiritual Self Care

Spirituality

2022-10-20T14:10:32-06:00

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.

Inclusiveness And Repentance

Last updated on: October 20, 2022 at 2:10 pm By C. Don Jones

Did Jesus practice inclusiveness? Not too long ago, I saw a meme claiming Jesus ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other sinners not to be inclusive but to call them to repentance. Curious. I hear the distant voices of ancient Pharisees. What is not inclusive about calling people to repentance? I find no reason to think the two are mutually exclusive. Again, while discussing this with another clergy person, he claimed these people repented at the preaching of John the... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

Progressive Christianity

The Kingdom of God

The United Methodist Church

Theology

2022-10-17T13:54:31-06:00

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.

Conformity Is Easier

Last updated on: October 17, 2022 at 1:54 pm By C. Don Jones

I ask myself every week. What would St. Paul think about the value the Church places on conformity? I grew up hearing the mixed message. “Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is — what is good pleasing and mature.” (Romans 12:2) The message was bizarre. Do not do the bad things the people of the world do. God’s will is do... Read more

Church Discipline

Community

Identity

Neurological disorders

2022-10-11T11:26:26-06:00

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.

Forgive Us Our Debts

Last updated on: October 11, 2022 at 11:26 am By C. Don Jones

Comparing sins to debts in Christian teaching and preaching is not as common as it once was. Even though, we sometimes sing, “Jesus paid it all” claiming he paid our debts we could not pay, we do not hear about it from the pulpit enough. We often hear sins compared to crimes in teaching and preaching. Crime is the preferred metaphor for sin in the minds of many Christians. Youth are often told accepting Christ as their savior “wipes the... Read more

Biblical Interpretation

Preaching

Progressive Christianity

The Kingdom of God

The United Methodist Church

Theology

Wesleyan

2022-10-06T10:26:14-06:00

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.

4 Myths About Pastors

Last updated on: October 6, 2022 at 10:26 am By C. Don Jones

Christians, non-Christians, and just about everyone including seminarians believe a few myths about clergy. Today, I will add my feeble voice to setting the record straight. I do not have much hope that it will. Some people will not believe what I say out of prejudice. Others will wonder why any one thinks the way(s) refuted here. I thought about these issues while reading a post about clergy “quiet quitting” church. So here are what I believe are major myths... Read more

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