70 results for tag: Christianity without the religion

When the Time Had Fully Come

by Greg Albrecht You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But When the ...

October 2020

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Brad Jersak: Faith Beyond Factions– pg. 3 Greg Albrecht: Jesus Invites Outsiders– pg. 6 Keith Giles: Attack of the "Love Buts" – pg. 10 Brian Zahnd: War of the Lamb – pg. 12 Greg Albrecht: Loving Sinners, Hating Sins? -pg. 15

Love or Justice?

by Greg Albrecht The discussion of eternal torment and the fate of the "unsaved" is often framed, by the law and order crowd, as a matter of God's love or his justice. Those who are intent on relegating those who, to their knowledge and satisfaction, have never heard or accepted their version of Christianity to eternal torture, often characterize those, like myself, who primarily look for answers based on God's love and grace, as soft-headed, soft-hearted and weak. So which is it—love or justice? Is God primarily a God of love or a God of justice? Here's what I see as the fundamental flaw in real, he-man, tough-as-nails Christianity: ...

Browbeaten and Bullied at Church

by Greg Albrecht One of the most gratifying experiences we have at PTM is when we hear from someone for whom God has "turned on the light." By God's grace they realize their primary allegiance is not to a human religious authority. They realize that churches and church leadership are fellow-servants and laborers for the gospel—and that such organizations and authorities lose their credibility the moment they allow the gospel to be subverted by religion and its legalisms. The following letter is a wonderful example: I recently wrote an article about tithing for our church newspaper. My conclusion is the same as that of PTM—"­­tithing" is ...

Should We Boycott the Wedding?

by Greg Albrecht Recently I was asked to give my opinion about a married man, in the process of divorcing his wife, while dating a younger, unmarried woman. My immediate thought was the response of Jesus when he was asked by someone to get involved in a family about an inheritance. "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" (Luke 12:14). However, remembering that Jesus used the question as a way to discuss some of the more important spiritual issues surrounding it (see "The Parable of the Rich Fool"—Luke 12:15-21), I tried to respond in a similar way. The person who asked me the question said that the still-married man was ...

He’s ‘Friended” Us!

By Greg Albrecht What a friend we have in Jesus! So goes that great old hymn—and its message is the gospel truth. In John 15:9-17 Jesus encourages us to remain in him and with him. In the Authorized King James Version the word used is "abide." Jesus is requesting that we stay with him. He's saying, "Don't move away. Don't wander away. Stay with me. Remain with me." Jesus is saying, "Keep your eyes and focus on me. Don't ever stop looking to me as the absolute center of your faith. Don't allow religious ceremonies and rituals to confuse you—so that you think our relationship (your friendship with me) depends on you." This passage is a ...

The Kingdom of Service

  By Greg Albrecht— Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one ...

Battle About the Bible

By Greg Albrecht— What role does the Bible play in our faith? Is it accurate, for instance, to say that the Bible is infallible? Is it accurate to say that the Bible is holy? You might say, well, of course the Bible is holy—that's what it says right there on the front cover of my Bible. It says "Holy Bible." As we consider the battle about the Bible, we're going to study John 5:39-40. Fasten your seat belts. You may feel that some of your cherished notions about the Bible might be questioned as we examine a few sacred cows in the light of John 5:39-40. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal ...

May 2020

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: Grace Is the Gospel of Christ – pg. 1 The Narrow Door – pg. 2 Want to Hear a Good Story? – pg. 5 Franny and Bonnie – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

Which Religion is Right?

By Greg Albrecht— In our postmodern society, it seems that every belief system is afforded equal weight. Well-meaning wishful thinkers like to point out that world religions share many things in common—and if everyone would just focus on these commonalities, perhaps we could "all just get along." Yet even a brief survey of world religions reveals huge contrasts and contradictions. How can so many contradicting ideas, philosophies and doctrines all be right? Of course, logically, they can't all be right. But then how can we know which one is right? And further—if Christianity is the only right "religion"—will only Christians go to ...

August 2019

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: Healthy Faith or Toxic Religion?– pg. 1 Keith Giles: The Gospel: Information or Transformation?– pg. 6 Brad Jersak: Is Christ in All People or Only in Christians? – pg. 10 Peter Enns: The Bible's True Purpose – pg. 12 Brad Jersak: Three Visions of Salvation -pg. 14

September 2018

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: What Do You Expect from Jesus? – pg. 1 Information Is Not Knowledge – pg. 2 Religion or Love? – pg. 5 Bricks or Stones? – pg. 6 Broken Bridge – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8 CLICK on MAGAZINE COVER BELOW for Flipping Page Format [real3dflipbook id="178"]

December 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: The KING Who Became a Man – pg. 1 Brad Jersak: The Great Scandal! – pg. 5 Eden Jersak: God With Us – pg. 8 Laura Urista: Good News of Great Joy – pg. 12 Brian Zahnd: Waiting for God to Act – pg. 13 Greg Albrecht: “If God is love, why would he allow a place like hell?” -pg. 15

November 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: Nones and Dones – The "Least of These" – pg. 1 Generosity Without Expectations – pg. 2 Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart – pg. 6 Thank God! – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

September 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: The Circle Cannot Be Broken – pg. 1 Why Forgive? – pg. 2 Does the Trinity Really Matter? – pg. 5 In Dark Times – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

CWR Magazine – August 2017 Issue: “Moving On”

Contents: Moving On: Faith after Evangelicalism - Brad Jersak - pg. 1 Vive la Revolution! - Brian Zahnd - pg. 7 Do Only Christians Go to Heaven? - Zack Hunt - pg. 8 On Wisdom Amidst the Crowd - Danielle Shroyer - pg. 11 Teaching the Cross to Children - Brad Jersak - pg. 12 Trinitarian Revolution - Richard Rohr - pg. 14 "Is the Bible 'the Word of God'?" - Greg Albrecht - pg. 15 [real3dflipbook id="165"]

May 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: Blessings - Why You... and Not Someone Else? – pg. 1 The Stretch Marks of a Mother's Love – pg. 2 A Covenant... Not a Contract! – pg. 6 Dog's Grace – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

April 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Brad Jersak: The Wounds that Heal – pg. 1 Cindy Brandt: Easter: The Game Changer – pg. 6 Paul Young: The Shack - Interview with Paul Young – pg. 7 Greg Albrecht: "Have I truly accepted Christ?" – pg. 10 Greg Albrecht: The Mother of Us All – pg. 11 Brad Jersak: The Great Descent – pg. 15

March 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: Two Parades – pg. 1 A Son or a Hired Hand? – pg. 2 Grace Notes – pg. 5 No More Gatekeepers – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

February 2017

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: How Great is the Love? – pg. 1 Cindy Brandt: Outgrowing the Christian Bubble – pg. 5 Rob Grayson: Fear God... Or Fear Not? – pg. 7 Greg Albrecht: "I feel like I never do anything right!" – pg. 9 Jeff K. Clarke: This World IS My Home and I am NOT Just Passing Through! – pg. 10 Josh Valley: Being Cross-shaped in a World Bent out of Shape – pg. 13 Brad Jersak: Ghouls, Ghosts... and Gospel! – pg. 15