CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
Quote for the Day
“He ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.” – Brad Jersak
“He ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
“Fell on his neck” is such a strange idiom. My inner literalist chuckles if I picture it out of context. It sounds more like a professional wrestling move than an affectionate hug.
That said, in my early college days (circa 1982), when my roommate returned from a date, I was heard to ask, “So,… did ya neck?” Not that he’d kiss and tell but his blush and a hickey gave him away every time. But at least that gives me a grid for bearhug instead of a headlock.
In the biblical context, ...
Reflections along the Jesus Way
February 6, 2025 -Quote for the Day:
“The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a ‘you do this and then I will do that’ message. The new covenant God offers to us is not a covenant of physical prosperity, but instead it is a covenant of adversity. We are asked to consider the needs of others as equal to our own.”
Originally published in:
Between Religious Rocks and Life’s Hard Places
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Why Is Jesus the “Good” Shepherd?
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus used a person whose race and religion was despised as a metaphor of his own work - in the parable of the Good Shepherd he compared himself to a profession that didn't have the best reputation. Why?
Friends Without Borders – Brad Jersak
Even if we feel powerless over big-news global events, we are not powerless to share the grace we've experienced.
Without Him, We Can Do Nothing!
Jesus' parable of the vine yields incredible insight into the nature of our relationship with him.
Intimacy With God – by Greg Albrecht
Here's some breaking news! God is head-over-heels in love with you. He loves you beyond your wildest imaginations. You might respond, "How can he love me that much? He knows all there is to know about me. And of course, anyone who knows that much about me could never really love me."
Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian writer who, with her family, helped many Jews escape the Holocaust, once offered a word picture to explain how God loves us—specifically she was talking about how he forgives all our sins—past, present and future. Corrie Ten Boom said that God takes ...
Q&R: Codependent Christianity – Brad Jersak
"I thought I was going through a depression, but turns out, it was just my religion!"
The following is an email conversation about "codependent Christianity" that I'm sharing with the writer's permission.
READER
Hi Bradley, am so grateful for your teachings and guidance for those of us deconstructing. I thought I was going through a depression, but turns out, it was just Evangelicalism! If only that didn't mean that I now have to sort out the tangled mess that has intertwined in my best faith practice.
My biggest hurdle is ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
February 4, 2025 - Quote for the Day
“Love is the one-word definition of God. God is love, he is not filled with wrath, therefore:
God the Father was not looking for payback from God the Son at the cross
There is no such thing as eternal conscious torment in hell
God is not mad at you and me, and
God does not expect us to do the impossible, which would be to earn and deserve his love.”
Originally published in:
Letters to My Friends
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God’s Grace Is For Everyone
Since Jesus invites us to the kingdom of heaven in spite of what we have done, rather than what we have done, does that mean there are no limits to God's grace?
The Perfect Storm
While the storms of our lives do not define or limit our relationship with God, they can be traumatic and disconcerting. Join Greg as he offers fresh perspective about the blessed assurance we can all have in and through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Kicked Out of Church–Part 2 – Steve Orr
Click here for Jesus Kicked out of Church part 1.
Jesus was not impressed by political power.
When interrogated by the Roman Governor, the foremost authority in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate asked, "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus did not flinch, saying, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." Pilate was oblivious to the double meaning. Jesus was talking about "the god of this world," but Pilate was thinking about Caesar back in Rome.
Jesus also confronted the well-entrenched ...
CWR Video – Progressive Revelation in the Bible
In this CWR Video, Greg and Brad discuss the topic of Progressive Revelation in Scripture.
https://vimeo.com/1013235827
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Reflections Along the Jesus Way
February 1, 2025 - Quote for the Day
“Grace is a multi-layered word. Its many definitions add rich perspectives and significance to our lives. Grace speaks of abundance and gratitude, of charm and inner beauty, of harmony, mercy and forgiveness. We say grace before a meal. A dance or figure skater is graceful. When a dept is owed and a bill is due, grace periods are offered before penalties begin. The world of music speaks of grace notes.”
Originally published in:
Wonders of His Grace
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It’s All on Rails – by Ed Dunn
The beginning of 2025 is a big deal as it relates to my commute to and from work each business day. Early 2025 is the date set for a brand-new train station to open close to my home. This means that no longer will I need half-an-hour to get from my front door to the station stop I use. Rather, all I’ll need is ten minutes, with a convenient Starbuck’s Coffee positioned smartly along the way. I’ll board the train with a hot cup of coffee in hand, and ride the rails to work a bit more quicky than I do now.
It’s all on rails for me, which is to say, it’s all ...
Comfort For Everyone
Christ in us enables us to be wounded healers - transformed by God's grace that we may be vehicles of God's love, offering comfort for others in the same way we have been comforted by God.
Update on PTM – Ed Dunn
This Month at PTM - February 2025
Watch a short video and the message on an"Update on PTM" by Ed Dunn as he updates us on the latest from Christianity Without the Religion and Plain Truth Ministries.
https://vimeo.com/1049354164
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
January 30, 2025 - Quote for the Day
“Christ-less religion has always attempted to eliminate authentic Christianity. Religion has opposed authentic Christians during the course of history. Religion attempts to bypass or improve upon Jesus – to modify and even counterfeit him and offer a false gospel and bogus salvation in the process. Jesus sets us free from all such encumbrances that weigh us down, allowing us to love, comfort and reach out to everyone – including refugees who have suffered at the hands of religion. Authentic ...
The Great Reversal
Greg explains that Jesus' parable of "The Workers" in Matthew 20 is a picture of God's grace, and that the kingdom of heaven reverses the values and expectations of the kingdoms of religion. Luke records Jesus saying, "What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight."
The Commands of God and the Tradition of Men
Sin management is the focus of Christ-less religion - attempting to make bad people good, or at the very least better. But Jesus' mission is not about making bad people better. Jesus comes to make spiritually dead people live!
Hooked on a Feeling – by Greg Albrecht
Once upon a time, the word "addiction" was used almost exclusively to define and describe dependence on mood altering substances. Addiction is centered on sensory stimulation and gratification. When a particular chemical substance that produces an incredible "rush" or "high" wears off, an individual starts returning to the drug to experience the same feeling again. Substance addiction is further understood as continued involvement with a drug because of immediate pleasure and gratification, in spite of the negative consequences the addict would eventually experience....
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