538 results for tag: Brad Jersak

September 2020

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: The Overlooked and Ignored – pg. 1 Question the Question – pg. 2 God is Love – pg. 5 To Seek and Save that Which is Lost – pg. 6 The Prodigals – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

Q&R with Brad Jersak: Abba vs. Father?

Question I have a question that is as much prompted by the timid and anxious heart of a recovering Evangelical as it is by the analytical rigor of a developing theologian. If I understand you right, In your books A More Christlike God, A More Christlike Way and IN: Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb, you argue the uniqueness of Jesus is to reveal Abba — Daddy. I want to believe that. However, as you know better than me, the word Ἀββά only appears three times in the NT: twice where Paul is talking about adoption (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6); and only once on the lips of Jesus, in Gethsemane (Mark 14:36). On the plus side, all ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak: The wrath of Christ in Jude’s Epistle

Question Hi Brad, I just finished reading A More Christlike God and I wanted to thank you for your thought and words, and for helping me see the pure love of the Lord. I still have one questioning pertaining to wrath, however, and I’d love to know what you think. In Jude, the author says that Jesus saved, then destroyed those who did not believe. He seems to imply that Jesus did this himself. I agree that Paul read the Old Testament differently (attributing to the Destroyer and not God), but what about this instance in Jude? Response Great question. Short answer: Jude is pulling out every rhetorical weapon in his arsenal in a ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – “It is a dreadful thing…” (Hebrews 10:31)?

Question Hi Dr. Jersak, I am enjoying your books a lot. Some of those ideas I am sharing also with some of my friends that are believers. Today after a discussion, one of them mentioned a verse: "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). My question is how this verse can be reconciled with a Loving Father's heart. Your comments are highly appreciated. Response I would classify Hebrews 10:31 as one of those judgment texts that identify God himself as the consuming fire, as in Hebrews 12:29 or Malachi 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.  How then do we harmonize these Scriptures with those ...

Q&R with Brad: Isaiah 54:7-8 – Does God abandon us or hide his face?

Question Hi Brad, I was just reading about your response to a question about Isaiah 59 about "separation". When I read it seems clear that it means our sins, our actions have caused us to separate from the Father, not the Father separating from us. When I read Isaiah 54:7-8 certainly seems like God is directly saying I have abandoned you for a time but goes on to say, I have compassion on you. I am just curious about the interpretation you hold when reading this. I would love to hear your input. Thank you.  7 "For a brief moment I abandoned youbut with great compassion I will gather you.8 In overflowing wrath for a ...

God is FREE to forgive – Brad Jersak in Moose Jaw!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfQqEzGSk4&feature=youtu.be

Q&R with Brad Jersak – “Do you think the Bible is authoritative? And why?”

Question Do you think the bible is authoritative? If so, why? Response That's a great question, partly because it's so tricky. I can't be sure what our reader means by "authoritative" so I'll have to supply a definition and work from there. Here's Merriam-Webster's definition: Here we have two different senses. The first would describe how the Bible's authority is derived from its source. In other words, is it authorized and by whom? The second definition includes a subjective side -- is it recognized as having authority and by whom? Let's take each in turn. First, is the Bible authoritative according to its source or sources? Do ...

August 2020

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: Destroyed But Not Defeated– pg. 3 Brad Jersak: Grace Is the Real Offense– pg. 7 Blair Baker: Keep Shining – pg. 10 Jonathan Foster: My Soul Is Like a Chiminea – pg. 11 Brad Jersak: With Hope for All, Why Share Our Faith? -pg. 15

Rethinking God’s Prophets (part 3) – Brad Jersak

In parts 1 and 2 of this series, I explored an analogy that compared the Bible and the human conscience to prophets of God, such as John the Baptist or Nathan. I suggested that neither the Bible nor the human conscience should usurp Christ from the throne of grace, but they do have a God-given role in testifying to him. In this final installment, I'll suggest a third prophet-like witness: a category that we might call "these little ones" or the "least of these." God's little prophets My agenda here his two-fold. First, I want to emphasize the nature of God's prophets as Christlike in their humility, when all too often, those who self-i...

Rethinking God’s Prophets (part 2) – Brad Jersak

In part 1 of this series, I compared the Bible to a prophet. Like John the Baptist, the Bible is NOT the Light of the World but is a WITNESS to Christ, the final Word of God. Today, we will consider the human conscience as a God-given inner prophet. The conscience, Nathan & the prodigal sons A conscience trained by grace is a blessed prophet, forever calling us to the Jesus Way into the Father's house. The role of a healthy conscience is to discern right from wrong from the Holy Spirit (not independently, as Adam and Eve dared by eating from that tree). And what constitutes right or wrong? According to the Bible, the 'right' path is the ...

Rethinking God’s Prophets (part 1) – Brad Jersak

Who were God's prophets? What are God's prophets? Are there still prophets among us? How do we discern the true prophet from the false? By what criteria? If they're still around, what is the role of a prophet? In this brief series, I hope to help readers rethink the idea of the prophets a wee bit. I'm hardly going to engage the above questions at all, at least not along standard lines that generally divide charismatics and cessationists, much less those who presume to put "prophet" on their business card or genuflect before their favorite politician and take the Lord's name in vain by spouting partisan talking points in the name of God. Blech!!! ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – Gritty Love or Syrupy Sentimentalism?

QUESTION: Isn’t your emphasis on “love” really just syrupy sentimentalism? The whole “Love Wins” thing sounds great, but in the real world, I don’t see it working. RESPONSE: To reduce love to syrupy sentimentalism, as I suppose many do, drains love of its gritty power. "True grit" is not defined by gun-slinging cowboys or the actors who played them. "True grit" looks like cross-shaped love. When I say that love is gritty, I’m talking about the type of resilience it takes to engage this hard world, so corrupted by injustice and cruelty.When systems of oppression grind away at our humanity, it is normal—even healthy ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak: What about “God’s wrath” in the NT?

Question Hi Brad, Just bought and read A More Christlike God. I loved the book! I really want to believe your theology of wrath – but how do you explain these NT verses that refer to wrath? Is it all explained by "giving over"? For example: John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.Colossians ...

Gospel Before Translation (pt. 3/3) – Brad Jersak

Gospel Before Translation: In parts 1 & 2 of this series, I claimed that the first Christian interpreters established in their hearts the gospel of Jesus Christ before they attempted to translate or interpret the Scriptures. Apart from that gospel, they believed the Bible could not be understood, much less translated, as inspired Scripture. The gospel formed and affected all of their translation work. Sadly, modern translators seem to pretend to be unbiased by their theology (but of course they are). Our first two examples came from Isaiah 53:10, which affects our view of God, and Jeremiah 17:9, which informs our view of humanity. While modern ...

Gospel Before Translation (pt. 2/3) – Brad Jersak

Gospel Before Translation: In part 1 of this series, I claimed that the first Christian interpreters established in their hearts the gospel of Jesus Christ before they attempted to translate or interpret the Scriptures. Apart from that gospel, they believed the Bible could not be understood, much less translated, as inspired Scripture. The gospel formed and affected all of their translation work. Sadly, modern translators seem to pretend to be unbiased by their theology (but of course they are). Our first example came from Isaiah 53:10, where the NIV and KJV depicted God as taking pleasure in crushing the suffering servant (a type of Christ). But ...

Gospel Before Translation (pt. 1/3) – Brad Jersak

Reader's Question: What Translations Do You Prefer? Response: With all the English Bible translations available, most readers tend to pick a favorite based on either readability or accuracy. When reading the Old Testament, I prefer Robert Alter's translation, The Hebrew Bible, as it blends accuracy with style beautifully, and The Orthodox Study Bible, because its OT section is based on the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek version of the Hebrew canon translated before Christ and most popular among NT authors who cite it. When reading the New Testament, I love NT Wright's Kingdom New Testament because of its readability and David Bentley Hart's ...

“Preach the Word [Logos!]” Brad Jersak

"Preach the word..." —2 Timothy 4:2 How many times was I exhorted as a Bible College student to "preach the word"? My memories are admittedly reconstructive but here's how I recall those instances. I'm hiding in the balcony of the old chapel, trying to sneak in an extra 30 minutes sleep. One of my highly skilled Evangelical instructors is beseeching us with booming preacher's voice, waving his (always a "him") well-worn, leather-bound Study Bible before us. And he's nearly shouting, "Preach the word!" That is, when you preach, always preach from the Bible. Whatever you say must be found in and founded on this book, the inspired ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – A Nonviolent God with Violent Prophets?

Question: In a talk I saw you give at an Open Table discussion, you cited 1 Sam. 15, the genocide of the Amalekites, and your conversation with a mentor. You seemed to be okay interpreting the story metaphorically.  That explanation is a big stretch for me. How can verse 3 (the command to slaughter) be a metaphor? Samuel was a bona fide OT prophet... and yet in verse 33, he kills Agag, hacking him to bits! God is good, is not destructive, but are we to believe his prophets are? Sure, they can have their faults, but a metaphor? I need help... lost in translation..." Response: Now you are seeing the reality of the Bible as a "text ...

June 2020

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: Tear Down This Wall– pg. 3 Brad Jersak: Practicing Matthew 18 without a Bludgeon– pg. 7 Steve Crosby: Script-torturing Matthew 18 – pg. 10 Jeff K. Clarke: The Gospel of Sin Management – pg. 12 Richard Rohr: The Mystery of Suffering – pg. 14 Greg Albrecht: Politically Charged Conversations -pg. 15

Q&R “What’s the Deal with Hosea’s Angry God?” Brad Jersak

Question I'm working through Romans right now because I want to understand Paul's theology. I am also reading through Wright's simple "For Everyone" commentary and John Stott's commentary. In all of my reading, I am trying to step outside of my human, 21st century, North American understanding of justice (and justification), instead looking at the text as God's plan for setting the world back to the way he designed it to function, which will ultimately culminate in a new heaven and a new earth.  In reading Stott on Romans 2:6, "God will give to each person according to what He has done," I was directed towards Hosea 12:2. I was instan...