CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
The First Chapter of Genesis – Literal or Not? – Greg Albrecht
Question:
I am beginning your online CWR Bible Survey. In your intro for Genesis you claim that it is not important whether or not I take all the accounts in Genesis literally or not. Are there any particular accounts that ARE important for me to take literally?
Response:
Your question is about literalism and your question includes the idea of “importance.” How one must read the Bible in a literal manner is often taught as the most important priority. However, much of the Bible is not written (in terms of the literary genre used) to be unders...
In Search of a Lost Art – by Ed Dunn
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry - James 1:19, (NIV)
When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen – Ernest Hemingway
Listen with curiosity…the greatest problem with communication is that we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply – Roy T. Bennett
For those of us living in the United States, we find ourselves in the midst of one of the most contentious pre-election seasons in our national history. Whether we are Democrat, Republican, ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 31, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“Sensational predictive preaching and teaching about the book of Revelation is but one of the many tools used by legalistic religion to control its followers by keeping them ever vigilant and on edge about some eminent event, such as the Rapture. In order to maintain its control, religion keeps moving the finish line as to ‘when’ the prophecies will happen. The focus in such cases is almost entirely on the future. By contrast, authentic Christianity proclaims the second coming, but always in the context ...
Love, Honor and Respect
Have we become angrier, more confrontational, more in-your-face? Are intolerance, disrespect, criticism, castigation and put-downs on a Christian "to do" list?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0212.mp3
Our Eternal House – by Greg Albrecht
Friend and Partner Letter from September 2024:
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling… and we would prefer to be away from the body and present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 8).
When I turned 50, along with nearly everyone else my age in these United States, I started receiving literature from the AARP (American Association for Retired Persons). I was surprised – to be ...
When the Ground Shakes – Ed Dunn
This Month at PTM - September 2024
Watch a short video and the message on "When the Ground Shakes" by Ed Dunn as he updates us on the latest from Christianity Without the Religion and Plain Truth Ministries.
https://vimeo.com/1001658214
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 29, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“… in this computer age you can go through the day without ever getting up close and personal with a ‘real, live’ human being. You can watch television, you can listen to the radio, follow the news and pay your bills on our computer. Cell phones not only enable you to call others but to receive calls, text message others, send email messages, listen to music, as well as a host of other functions.
Have you ever wondered why some television shows are so appealing – you know, the ones that depict people ...
Watch the Lamb!
Oskar Schindler saved the lives of 1,200 Jews during WWII but agonized over the thought that he could have done more. Similarly we can never do enough to rid ourselves of sin. The central message of Christianity is, "Look to the Lamb of God! Only he can remove the burden of our sins."
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0210.mp3
Trapped By Religion
Has a normal, likeable friend of yours ever suddenly "got religion" and become an unreasonable, fire-breathing, hypercritical, placard-carrying, end-times-predicting kook? Why does religion do that? Is that what God wants? Greg discusses the dangers of religious fundamentalism.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0209.mp3
Name It and Blame It – by Greg Albrecht
Many churches and ministries today claim that God heals everyone who requests relief of physical afflictions, as long as they ask in faith. This assertion is made on the assumption that Jesus' death on the cross, his atonement, was for both "spiritual" and "physical" sins.
Further, some even claim physical healing is a "right" that one who is doing all of the things that God commands and demands might "claim" from God. Some call this claim a "prayer of positive confession." Others who have reservations about this practice believe it to be naive and perhaps superstitious ...
Rethinking Evangelism: “No more yellow pencil religion” – Brad Jersak
This article is about how I moved on from "Attack & Extract" Evangelism.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 27, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“Memories of hurts and pains inflicted on us by others haunt and torment us, and cause all kinds of emotions – guilt, shame, resentment and hatred. Looking back on our lives, hurts litter our journey like discarded trash on the side of some lonesome road. As painful as our memories of being hurt are, they can fester and grow into resentment and hatred of those who either hurts us or had some part in our pain… in all the stories of revenge and vindication, individuals who experience life without giving or receiving ...
Overcoming Fear
People are afraid of change, the future, getting older, death, pain, loneliness, failure and others who are different from us. Fear leads to distrust, alienation, bitterness and hatred. Greg talks about the antidote to fear in today's program.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0208.mp3
What God Expects
Science tells us we are blobs of protoplasm. Psychology likens us to rats running through a maze. But who are we, and what does God expect of us? Greg discusses both what God does not expect and what he does expect from us.
Finding Hope – by Kimalee Finelli
Follow Up Post to February 4, 2024:
Growing up in a legalistic church, I was unable to think for myself. Words like obey, repent, and submit were a part of our daily life. The pastor preached that he was not to be questioned. Church leaders were instructed to carry out the pastor’s agenda. Members were informed that disobedience would be dealt with swiftly. Those who dared to rebel were labeled as “backslidden” or “living in sin” and church disciplined. Most of us learned to be silent so we would go unnoticed by the preacher.
Except for me. I had ...
Isn’t Matthew 24 “Coming Alive” with what is happening in the Middle East Right Now? – Greg Albrecht
PTM is receiving questions about the significance of Matthew 24 and the news that we read and hear about virtually every day from the Middle East. Many mention what is called the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew 24 as a proof that we are really living in the “end times.” Here’s a brief summary of Matthew 24:
When we read the Bible we read it over the shoulder of its initial readers and listeners. We can only understand it fully if we understand its original meaning/message. Matthew 24 is a response by Jesus to his disciples when they were all touring the ...
September 2024 Plain Truth Magazine
The September 2024 Plain Truth magazine is now available:
CLICK HERE to read:
Articles:
Gift After Gift After Gift – pg. 1
In Search of a Lost Art – pg. 2
Sister Rivals – pg. 5
Outside the Walls – pg. 7
Quotes & Connections – pg. 8
If you have found our magazines helpful, please consider subscribing (free online). And if you'd like to help us help others, please consider sharing it with others and hitting the "GIVE NOW" button below.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
August 24, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“1) Are you sure that you are saved? Askmost Christians that question. Seldom will you receive a dogmatic ‘Yes.’ Normally you will receive a prevaricating, hedging, two-step-like dance. ‘Well, yes, I think so – that is, as long as I continue to do such and such.’ Or the answer might be something like this: ‘I hope I’m saved, but I wouldn’t want to be so arrogant as to say I have it made. I still have a long way to go. I hope I make it.’ Those kinds of comments ...
Having the Experience — Missing the Meaning
There's a line in the musical "Cats" from T.S. Elliot which says, "We had the experience but we missed the meaning." Does that describe your life? Greg talks about spiritual maturity and how to avoid missing the meaning of our experiences.
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