538 results for tag: Brad Jersak

Q&R – Were only WE ‘saints’ chosen from eternity? Ephesians 1:4 – Brad Jersak

Question Brad, how do we counter the claim that Ephesians 1:4 was addressed to the “saints” in accordance with verse 1b and not everyone from before the foundation of the world? Response My first instinct is not to counter the claim at all.  Here's how I might approach it: I would point out, first, that MAYBE we should say that while the letter is addressed to the saints in Ephesus (1b), the WE of verse 4 could EITHER refer to WE SAINTS, OR it could refer to the universal outcome anticipated in verse 10: "...as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on ...

Faith, Fiction, Fantasy & Truth – Brad Jersak

"Sometimes fairy stories may say best what’s to be said.” —C.S. Lewis “C.S. Lewis taught me that in fiction, stepping into magical realms means encountering earthly concerns in transfigured form.” —Lev Grossman CAN FICTION BE TRUE? I frequently encounter surprise and even disdain when I recommend works of fiction as an essential element in one’s spiritual or theological diet. Indeed, as a professor of theology, I’ve contended with students who were intent on exemptions from the classics I assign as coursework! “What’s the point? Novels aren’t true,” I’m told with incredulity. Or sometimes, I hear, “I only ...

Q & R: David’s Census – What was God up to? – Brad Jersak

Normally, our Q & R features begin with a reader's question followed by a response from Greg Albrecht or Brad Jersak. In this case, Brad asks the question of one of our readers. Question from Brad In 2 Samuel 24, we read that God was angry with David and therefore incited him to commission a census of his mighty men, so that he could then turn around and punish him for it! It's not that God was angry about the census, but that in God's anger, he incited the census! Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he [God] incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” ...

August 2022

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Brad Jersak: Faith, Fiction, Fantasy & Truth – pg. 2 Monte Wolverton: IN, Not OF, the World – pg. 4 Greg Albrecht: Fairy Tales, Fantasy & Parables – pg. 7

Supersized Mercy: All the Goodness of God – Brad Jersak

At some point in my early Christian training, I inherited the memorable maxim on mercy, Mercy is not getting what you do deserve,Grace is getting what you do not deserve. It seemed clever, so I adopted and often repeated those lines when defining those two important words. As a young pastor, I even posted it as a slogan on the signboard outside our church for passersby to digest. In that model, what we deserved was God’s wrath, so we had effectively reduced the word mercy to withholding punishment. Praying “Lord, have mercy” was akin to pleading, “God, please don’t condemn me!” We could ...

CWR Video – Jesus the King – by Brad Jersak

Short 3 minute video on Jesus the King.

Q&R: Why did Jesus only choose male disciples?

Question Do you have any thoughts on why Jesus chose twelve men for his group, but no women in his inner circle? Response Excellent question! The short answer: he didn't! What helps me most on this question is examining the way the disciples wrote each of the four Gospels, noting where they are not identical. I. The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke - written early and at some points similar) do identify a group of twelve men ("the Twelve"). Given the array of other disciples in Jesus' entourage, why these twelve? One reason made explicit in the text is that Christ is creating a conscious parallel to the twelve tribes of ...

“Let the Peace of Christ reign…” Brad Jersak

"Let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts" - Colossians 3:15 This morning I'm feeling peaceful, despite the usual congenital temptation to pick up lurking worries. I've had some outside help... I've been enjoying a coffee on my deck, sitting with my baby grandson (who's singing to me sweetly), and feeding peanuts to some adolescent Steller's Jay visitors. I've also been editing an article titled "The Peace of Thanksgiving" by my friend and colleague Ed Dunn, well in advance of our November issue of Plain Truth magazine.        Ed is reflecting on the apostle Paul's counsel to the Colossians, "Let the peace of Christ reign ...

“If God…?” – Brad Jersak

“If God…?” I had a wonderful conversation about God.  I suppose that’s already an “iffy” thing to say these days. High risk in some circles and forbidden in polite company. But this exchange was truly special. My conversation partners self-identified across the map—agnostics, pagans, heretics and yes, even a few Christians. Each of us were welcome to express our evolving or devolving faith without any fear of judgment. I heard stories of faith found, abandoned, and adapted. And, however different our convictions, we all shared a humble agreement that who or what God is or is not defies our comprehension. “Ineffable” ...

The Good News Banquet Invitation – Brad Jersak

A Pressurized Gospel My earliest Christian formation taught me the urgency of “evangelism,” which in that stream of faith, focused heavily on Jesus’ “great commission,” which included the mandate to “…go and make disciples of all nations,…” (Matthew 28:19). For us, that meant trying to “convert” people—convincing them to “ask Jesus into their hearts” by praying a “sinner’s prayer”—confessing their sinfulness and putting their trust in Christ’s saving work. The urgency came with an ultimatum to pluck souls from the fires of hell before it was too late. Imagine the anxiety a sensitive ...

Q&R with Brad – “For God shut up all people”? Romans 11:32

Question I wonder if I could pick your brain on something! I’m battling a severe form of CFS/ME and have been for almost 20 years. I am also going through deconstruction (an almost lethal combination!) and am questioning the goodness and fairness of God. I’ve got really stuck on Romans 11:32. Here’s my dilemma: I didn’t choose/consent to being created and as I read Gen 1-3 it feels like God set us up for failure (putting us near the tree, allowing the serpent in, etc). But then he sends Jesus as the solution to the problem he created. Allowing free will led to absolutely catastrophic consequences. The devastation this illness has ...

Everything Happens for a Reason? – by Brad Jersak

Everything happens for a reason. But sometimes, that reason is you’re stupid and you make bad decisions.—Demotivational Meme Thought Experiment Response: “It was meant to be. Everything happens for a reason.”Thought experiment: Describe the scenario that led to the response. In our hypothetical scenario, something bad happened. Maybe not truly tragic—but somewhere in the flat tire to romantic break-up spectrum. Or if you’re gutsy, you could go as severe as bankruptcy. Or as irrelevant as a traffic jam. “It was meant to be.” A kind word of consolation. “Everything happens for a reason.” An appeal to a bigger ...

“Without the Shedding of Blood” – Brad Jersak

“Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). The prosecution rests, your honor.A blood sacrifice is required or there is no forgiveness.That should end the discussion. Well it shouldn’t. But it did … for me. See, God can’t just forgive freely … that wouldn’t be ‘just.’ Sin must be paid for. How? Only by the shedding of blood. Because why? Because a blood sacrifice is what God requires, what God needs, what God wants … and by blood, we mean death. Death of the sinner, or alternatively, a ram, lamb, bull … or a Son. And so we taught, “Sin cannot simply be forgiven. ...

Q&R with Brad – “Anthropomorphisms”?

Definition The attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. Question I’m reading your chapter in A More Christlike Word on Cassian and Ambrose. I find it really helpful to have the Fathers speaking about the question of "anthropomorphism." The question that keeps rattling around as I read is that this is great when we apply it to the negative things we attribute to God, but what about the positive? Compassion, kindness, love, delight; even grief? I see that you note that God’s love is immutable so that it isn’t wavering like human passions. But how is it still not an anthropomorphism of sorts, if ...

June 2022

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: THIS is God – pg. 2 Ed Dunn: A Father's Gift – pg. 5 Brad Jersak: Does God Have Enemies? – pg. 7

Q&R: God in the Old Testament

Question I have one quick theological question (but it may not be a quick answer!). I am trying to read about God in the Old Testament through Jesus revelation that God is nonviolent and non-vengeful. What is your opinion on the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah? Is that just an accommodation of God to man’s expectation? Response I would suggest starting with my book, A More Christlike Word. I don't address Elijah's massacre of the prophets of Baal in the book, mainly because it's not one of the most difficult stories to deal with. I say that because, in that particular story, there is no indication at all that God ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – Is Noah’s flood story true?

Question Is the narrative about Noah's ark in Genesis a true story? Response Oh, of course the *story* is *true*, just as the *story* of the Prodigal Son is *true,* which is to say, the story is telling us the *truth.* Discovering the truth the story is telling means honoring the genre the story is written in. If we treat a parable as if it is not a parable, and literalize it when Jesus wasn't telling it that way, we may be treating a story as a fact and missing out on its truth. So, to demand a physical address for the Father's house, the names of the prodigal sons, and what type of cow they ate at the banquet would be untrue ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – “Can we withhold God’s forgiveness?

Question What is your take on John 20:23? "If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Response That's a very difficult verse. Of course, the first part seems easy enough. Up until that point, there was this sense that only God could forgive sin (Mark 2:7), so Jesus' critics were upset when he would announce (in the passive voice), "Your sins are forgiven." They claimed it was tantamount to blasphemy. But note, he didn't say, "I forgive you," but rather, spoke the words as the Son authorized by his Father. Even on the Cross, we hear Jesus praying, "Father, forgive ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak: Will Jesus be ashamed of me? Luke 9:26

Question Brad, could you help me to see a more beautiful way of understanding Luke 9:26? "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory, and in the glory of his Father, and of the holy angels." Response That's a difficult passage, isn't it, especially coming from Jesus Christ, the epitome and Incarnation of God's grace and radical hospitality. So when we see a warning so jarring, so out of character with what we know of the Jesus Way, it's good we ask not only what Jesus said or meant, but what he's up to. What is he aiming at with these words? And how might his aim align ...

“God is Love BUT …” Brad Jersak

"Everything before the word 'BUT' is horse sh*t." - Game of Thrones I've heard this statement elsewhere as "Nothing someone says before the word 'but' really counts," especially when an affirmation of love is immediately followed by its negations. The aphorism is loaded with wisdom and experience. Even if you feel that love compels you to bring a word of critique or correction, if you use love as your opening salvo to bring someone down, you'll bring love down with them. It's a big relational mistake... unless it's a case of deliberate 'gaslighting,' which is abusive. How much more so with God! Does Jesus say, "God so love the world BUT..." ...