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

Home
Evangelical

2023-08-15T13:16:58-07:00

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.

Treat Persons, Not Merely Diseases

Last updated on: August 15, 2023 at 1:16 pm By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

One of the leaders at my son’s care facility likes to share a quote from the film, Patch Adams. The film stars Robin Williams. The quote reads, “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome.” (Here is a link to the video clip including the quote) This post is about applying this mindset to every sphere of life, including healthcare. I find that healthcare workers who take this approach... Read more

Health, Fitness and Religion

2023-08-13T09:16:28-07:00

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.

Wedding Vows: for Better, for Worse, in Sickness and in Health

Last updated on: August 13, 2023 at 9:16 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

My wife Mariko and I celebrated 33 years of marriage Friday. I told our adult son Christopher at his adult care facility in the afternoon that Mom and I were celebrating our 33rd anniversary. Christopher suddenly made a few interesting gestures, which I assumed were in response to what I shared. After visiting with Christopher for some time, I headed home to pick up my wife and head out to dinner. Over dinner, my wife and I reflected on all... Read more

Family, Parenting and Religion

2023-07-22T08:57:15-07:00

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.

People Are Far More Important Than Things

Last updated on: July 22, 2023 at 8:57 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

None of us wants to be treated as a thing. But we struggle to treat one another as persons. It is very difficult to discern what a person is when what we do, what we wear, what we own, and in some cases, who we own, generates our sense of value rather than who we are. We live in what Pope Francis referred to as a “throwaway culture.” A throwaway culture cheapens human persons as tools to use or commodities... Read more

2023-07-09T13:22:01-07:00

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 Close Is Cleanliness to Godliness?

Last updated on: July 9, 2023 at 1:22 pm By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

How close is cleanliness to godliness? What kind of cleanliness matters most when considering godliness? This is the subject of my new post. According to Christianity.com, “John Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism, may have been the originator of the slogan ‘cleanliness is next to godliness.’ In 1791, he referenced the phrase in one of his sermons as we use it today. Wesley wrote, ‘Slovenliness is no part of religion. Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.’” I’m a big fan of Mr. Wesley,... Read more

Health, Fitness and Religion

Family, Parenting and Religion

Uncategorized

Cleanliness

Godliness

2023-07-02T15:38:05-07:00

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.

Fighting for True Freedom: A Work in Progress

Last updated on: July 2, 2023 at 3:38 pm By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

True freedom or liberty is not easy to achieve. It is a work in progress. On this Fourth of July weekend, I reflect upon the importance of not taking freedom for granted and working hard to attain it nationally and interpersonally. Let’s start with our nation’s longstanding pursuit of democratic freedom. In his Gettysburg address, President Abraham Lincoln sought to honor the fallen on both sides of the conflict in the Civil War: “It is for us the living, rather,... Read more

History and Religion

Uncategorized

Freedom

Work in Progress

2023-06-25T09:57:40-07:00

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’s On Your Bucket List?

Last updated on: June 25, 2023 at 9:57 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Summer is in full swing. Countless people are taking vacations or planning trips that have long been on their bucket lists. New research building on behavioral economics adds to the import of such trips, as we are encouraged to “buy experiences, not things.” “Moment-to-moment experiences” constitute happiness, according to Matthew Killingsworth. In no way do I wish to discourage people from planning or going on such trips. I just know my wife and I can’t plan them, that is, not... Read more

Family, Parenting and Religion

Uncategorized

Bucket List

2023-06-18T09:01:40-07:00

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.

We Are God’s Children, Not Slaves: Break the Chains

Last updated on: June 18, 2023 at 9:01 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Today, our country celebrates Father’s Day. Tomorrow, it celebrates Juneteenth. The Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 4 bears import for how followers of Jesus might look at both days in terms of spiritual import. We need to live as free people. Break the chains. Paul writes, “What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees... Read more

History and Religion

2023-06-04T10:08:38-07:00

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.

Love Never Fails: Trinity Sunday and Beyond

Last updated on: June 4, 2023 at 10:08 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Today is Trinity Sunday. This post reflects upon the import of the Trinity as divine love for our various relationships, including those who fail to match our expectations or aspirations for themselves. The Trinity’s love never fails. I wonder how often people think of Trinity Sunday and reflect immediately on the import of God as Trinity for true love. All too often, well-meaning individuals use images from nature or math to try and make clear what the Trinity is. “The... Read more

Family, Parenting and Religion

Uncategorized

Love

Trinity Sunday

2023-05-28T09:15:12-07:00

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.

Pentecost Sunday: Keep Your Eye on the Holy Ghost Hole

Last updated on: May 28, 2023 at 9:15 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

My son Christopher’s catastrophic brain injury over two years ago left a giant size hole in my family’s collective heart. It’s really hard to patch it up when various ordeals keep tearing away the scab and create an open wound. But it is this very hole through which the Holy Spirit can flow to bring healing and anointing in various ways. On Pentecost Sunday, I call to mind the “Holy Ghost Hole” found in medieval church architecture. You can find... Read more

2023-05-22T08:37:02-07:00

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.

Secure Attachment: Relational Nutrition for Life

Last updated on: May 22, 2023 at 8:37 am By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

In this post, I reflect upon the importance of secure attachment and how it provides the necessary relational and spiritual nutrition for one’s life. I will define the psychological concept of secure attachment shortly. But I want to begin with a short account of what got me to thinking about this theme over the weekend. Later, I will account for the biblical emphasis on secure attachment that God’s love provides. This past Friday morning, I received a call from my... Read more

Family, Parenting and Religion

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Song of Solomon is also called Song of Songs.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE

Books by This Author Books by Paul Louis Metzger

See All Titles »

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 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

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Evangelical