Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Joel J. Miller

About
Resources
Joel's Books
Article Categories
- Spiritual Growth
- Theology
- Prayer
- Church Life
- Family Life
- Society
- Books
- Misc

Home
Evangelical

2012-02-23T00:05:43-06:00

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 gangster, the cardinal, and us

Last updated on: February 23, 2012 at 12:05 am By Joel J. Miller

In You’ve got Mail, Tom Hanks’s character says that all of life’s questions can be answered by reference to The Godfather. Not quite, but close. For instance, just ask yourself why in a supposedly Christian nation things are so decidedly unchristian. There is a scene in The Godfather: Part III which provides an answer. (more…) Read more

2012-02-20T00:05:30-06:00

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.

Grace and the blame game

Last updated on: February 20, 2012 at 12:05 am By Joel J. Miller

There’s a view of God’s sovereignty that can leave us with nothing to do. Since God provides for all our needs, it seems as if there is little to do but wait for him to act and accept everything that comes. But such a view smacks more of fatalism than providence. We’ve all encountered this view, and probably have believed it in one way or another ourselves. (more…) Read more

Spiritual Growth

Bethesda

Jesus Christ

Paralytic at the pool

sanctification

working out your salvation

2012-12-24T21:00:35-06:00

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.

What child is this?

Last updated on: December 24, 2012 at 9:00 pm By Joel J. Miller

“What child is this?” asks the famous nineteenth century Christmas carol. It’s a question posed since Christ first entered human history two thousand years ago and a question that sometimes provokes vitriolic and sometimes violent answers. We’ve seen it in recent public tiffs about Nativity displays and, far more seriously, in threats against Christians in the Middle East. A glance to the distant past provides useful and sobering perspective. Few people exemplify and clarify the fight for the true meaning... Read more

2012-11-28T12:55:37-06:00

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.

Jesus: The sweetest name

Last updated on: November 28, 2012 at 12:55 pm By Joel J. Miller

Jesus, the door Jesus, the road Jesus, the guide Jesus, the goal Jesus, the beginning Jesus, the end Jesus, maker of all worlds Jesus, babe in Mary’s womb Jesus, physician of my soul Jesus, healer of my body Jesus, the word of God Jesus, the wisdom of God Jesus, the face of God Jesus, the son of God Jesus, the son of man Jesus, waves beneath his feet Jesus, winds at his command Jesus, angels arrayed in fear Jesus, children... Read more

Theology

Jesus Christ

2014-04-02T08:01:45-06:00

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.

Things I’m pretty sure are true

Last updated on: April 2, 2014 at 8:01 am By Joel J. Miller

Many are the authors who have assembled lists of various undeniable truths and irrefutable laws. I’m less sure about these ones, but here’s my list of things — some discovered through ample trial and much error — that I’m pretty certain are true: If your Christianity doesn’t leave a mark, you’re doing it wrong. Even the Body of Christ has an armpit or two. If you don’t discipline yourself, others will. If you don’t learn from history, you’re like most... Read more

2012-12-22T07:01:50-06:00

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.

How differing Christians can work together

Last updated on: December 22, 2012 at 7:01 am By Joel J. Miller

The lack of unity among Christians is lamentable. But the divisions are oftentimes real and over genuine differences of interpretation and understanding. These cannot be papered over or wished away. But neither can we simply stay isolated, one from the other. It seems there are three ways to approach ecumenism: the nice approach, the eschatological approach, and the co-belligerency approach. 1. The nice approach The first is to look at the differences between ourselves and dismiss them, even the big... Read more

2012-11-30T21:09:09-06:00

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.

Christian love’s bastard child

Last updated on: November 30, 2012 at 9:09 pm By Joel J. Miller

If you follow the conversations and events of our day, it’s clear that our contemporary culture values agreeableness over truth. Christians have fallen for this as well because the greatest Christian virtue is love, and love is patient, kind, etc. In other words, love comes off as pretty agreeable. It’s not going to interrupt. It’s not going to correct and chastise. It’s definitely not going to judge. It’s going to calm the mood and make nice. I think that is... Read more

the cult of agreeableness

2011-11-15T00:05:18-06:00

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.

Make room for suffering

Last updated on: November 15, 2011 at 12:05 am By Joel J. Miller

There is a strain of Christianity that promises material blessing as a sign of God’s favor: cars, homes, bank accounts, etc. Given the economic downturn over the last few years, this strain should strain all credibility. Did God decide to withhold 30 to 40 percent of his favor across whole neighborhoods as their housing values plummeted? (more…) Read more

2011-11-14T00:05:53-06:00

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.

Stepping upon Christ’s back

Last updated on: November 14, 2011 at 12:05 am By Joel J. Miller

Getting your theology from pop lyrics is usually a poor idea, but there are wonderful exceptions. Take Terry Taylor’s 1998 solo album, John Wayne. Known better for raucous numbers like “Hide the Beer, the Pastor’s Here” and “Darn Floor, Big Bite,” Taylor has also written many quiet and meditative songs over the years. (more…) Read more

2012-12-21T20:40:00-06:00

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.

Why we don’t bear fruit

Last updated on: December 21, 2012 at 8:40 pm By Joel J. Miller

One of Jesus’ many well-known parables is the parable of the sower, which imagines a man with a bag of seed, casting the kernels this way and that. The seed, which represents the gospel, lands on different types of soil, which represent human hearts, human lives. We often think of this parable as speaking primarily about evangelism. The sower is the evangelist, spreading the Word. But that’s only the most basic dimension. (more…) Read more

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who found Moses' basket in the Nile?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Zipporah Pharaoh's daughter Miriam Jochebed

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Church Life Family Life Misc Prayer Quotes Society Spiritual Growth Theology Uncategorized Video

Select a Month April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 November 2008 October 2008 July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 August 2007 June 2007 October 2002 July 2002 November 1999 October 1999

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Evangelical