175 results for tag: Q & R

Q & R: Are all people God’s children or only Christians? Brad Jersak

Brad Jersak Question: Previously, I responded to the question, "Is Christ in ALL people or only in Christians?" In that post, I talked about Scriptures that say, "As ALL were in Adam, so now ALL are in Jesus Christ," by virtue of the Incarnation. Christ in ALL because he united himself to ALL humanity. But I also identified at least four types of New Testament texts that narrow Christ's "IN-ness" to those who reciprocate the covenant relationship. Those who identify with Christ by faith, relate to him intimately, focus on him through prayer and worship, etc. are "in Christ" and Christ is "in them" in a particular way. In those cases, "IN" ...

Q & R: Is Christ IN all people or only IN Christians? Brad Jersak

Brad Jersak Question:  Is Christ in all people or is Christ only in Christians or only in some Christians? Response:   Full disclosure: my response comes with a two-fold agenda. To say that we can find a good number of verses that make "in-ness" exclusive (e.g. believers are in Christ), but those passages do not negate the truth of the inclusion texts (i.e. humanity is in Christ). Both Scripture sets are true. They are simply referring to different truths. To say that neither inclusion-focused believers ("Trinitarians" for example) nor exclusion-focused believers (Evangelicals for example) need to force all the ...

Q & R: Friendly Pushback on Baptism – Brad Jersak

Question: Emily Jersak (Brad's grandmother) baptized in Czechoslovakia (17 years old). I just read "Baptism and the fate of the unprepared." Overall a great message. I did want to push back slightly on your point of "why not?" Here's my push back: I once knew someone who waited decades (plural) to get baptized. His hangup for so long was that he would be alienating his very religious but non-Christian family - to the point of being disowned - if he were to be baptized. I wonder if the point ("a point") of baptism was that it was meant to be a "low barrier" into the community of faith - i.e. Judaism required circumcision to join the communi...

The Perpetual Virginity of Mary? – Greg Albrecht

Question: A friend of mine who is a Catholic Christian differs with me on many topics about our common faith.  In a recent conversation he told me the Virgin Mary was not only a virgin when she conceived and gave birth to Jesus but she remained a virgin until her death.   I mentioned Matthew 13:55 which seems to say that Jesus had brothers (half-brothers at least) but he says that the verse does not prove Jesus had brothers and that brothers in his verse means what we call cousins. Can you explain further? Response: It seems the difference in opinion you and your friend have about the meaning of “brothers” in Matthew ...

Q&R with Greg Albrecht – “Should Christians Boycott & Protest?”

Question: Should Christians boycott? Should they actively use their “dollar power” to support or protest moral issues? Response: This is a difficult question and I don’t know that there is one right or wrong answer for it. I do know that there are many boycotts Christians have organized in the past that have not worked.  In fact, some of these protests have boomeranged and allowed or caused Christians to be seen as silly and perhaps even as hateful and mean-spirited people. Some churches and ministries seem to do little more than “take a stand.” Among such groups, it seems that virtually every month there is some new position that needs to ...

Q&R with Greg Albrecht – “Does God Bless Financial Vows?”

Question: I watched a television ministry that claims if you make a financial vow unto the Lord it will change your circumstances. When you’re seeking answers, you just want to believe that something will work, almost like looking for a sign. I want to have faith in God, but at times I’m tempted to transfer my faith to human promises. Response: The program you watched may base its “theology” in the Word-Faith movement, which, among other unbiblical teachings, teaches the health-wealth or Prosperity Gospel. The teaching is based upon human effort and performance. Obey, and you will be blessed—disobey and you will be cursed. But the gospel of ...

Q&R with Greg Albrecht – “Rethinking Church”

Question: I’ve been re-thinking my whole church scene.  I enjoy church for what it provides. I like to see friends, I like to hear a good message, and I enjoy Christian music and hymns. But for me church has not been a God-encounter.  In fact, outside of church and any of its activities and programs I am finding people in my life who inspire me and encourage me to dig deeper, and I like to think that I am doing some of that same kind of thing for others. The whole concept of not being concerned about where exactly I attend church and how often I physically show up inside of a building is new to me, but I am coming to believe that each one of us ...

Q & R with Greg Albrecht – “Does the Bible condemn cremation? “

QUESTION: Please explain cremation from a biblical, Christian viewpoint. Is there anything wrong with being cremated? RESPONSE: Burial became the Christian practice following its Old Testament roots. Of course, Jesus was buried, but in a tomb, above ground, and in a very different way than our Western custom of burial in a casket. The Bible gives no specific burial practice, customs or traditions that we must follow. For many years, Christian sailors have been buried at sea, for example. God does not need for us to be buried in a particular way so that he might resurrect us. Some bodies are so destroyed in accidents or in warfare that ...

Q & R with Greg Albrecht – “How can I show love and compassion without condoning specific behavior?”

Question: My cousin had a child out of wedlock. Some time after the birth, my family had a baby shower for her. My father, who is Christian, did not feel it was right for him to attend due to the fact that the baby was born out of wedlock, and believed his attendance would only show that he tolerated this behavior. However, at the same time my father attended a funeral for a close friend of the family who committed suicide. I feel that he should have given the same support that he gave to a friend of the family to my cousin. I hate to compare and contrast sins, but isn’t it rather hypocritical of him? Response: Your question seems ...

Q & R with Greg Albrecht – “Those mean, nasty, hateful Christians . . .”

QUESTION: It seems that our society is becoming tolerant of most everything except Christianity. Why is this? Could it be that the love Christians are to show is offset by fire-and-brimstone preaching condemning to hell those who do not comply? RESPONSE: Has Christianity been so marred by inaccurate representations of God that many have determined that Christians at large are bigots, fear-mongers, hateful and nasty people?  I heard of one survey that determined that the least desired potential next-door neighbor in the United States is a fundamentalist Christian. Some might say that's because many people don't want Christians next door making ...

Q & R with Greg Albrecht – “Is becoming a better person the goal of Christianity?”

QUESTION: I am confused.Someone told me that the main thing Christians should do is to become better people and in turn make the world a better place. I want to be a better person and I want to help change the world but isn’t Christianity more than that? RESPONSE: Exactly! Christianity is more than a checklist of rules that help to make us and others better. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not primarily about morality. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a self-help program. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a formula. It is not a careful regimen of popping religious pills to make us better, nor does it consist of religious programs that will give ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak- “How do we trust God when prayers for healing are denied?”

Question: How do you remain in a state of trust and faith when your prayers for healing are continuously denied? Not to mention those of your friends and family.   When I read about Jesus in the scriptures, I see a character who values restoring those to healing and wellness. I don't recall Jesus ever turning anyone away, or saying He wanted to teach someone "a lesson" with their suffering. I also think of the following verse: James 5:14-15 – "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick ...

Q&R with Brad Jersak – “Bring them here & kill them in front of me” (Luke 19:27)

Question: I was thinking of WWJD? (What would Jesus do?) the other day in the context of world events, especially the wars that are raging right now. I've run into some strange reactions. Some said, "Jesus would side with ______," and others said, "No, Jesus would join ______." As a militant? Not Jesus, surely! But then a friend posted Luke 19:27: "But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me." I'm stumped. It's in the New Testament. How do you read this?  Response: Let's start with the question of God taking "sides." While I can find all kinds of biblical ...

Did God the Father Kill God the Son? – Greg Albrecht

I love whodunit mysteries, potboiler detective novels, television shows and movies. OK, I’m taking a risk – you may not respect me anymore and your trust in Plain Truth Ministries may be wavering – but you are my/our friend, you should really forgive me, so stay with me …  Employing DNA to identify the perpetrator(s) of a crime has been a fundamental tool of forensic science dating back to 1986. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is self-replicating and carries genetic instructions and information so that distinctive characteristics and qualities of living organisms can be determined. DNA, present in almost every cell of the human body, ...

Q & R: Baptism and the fate of the ‘unprepared’ – Brad Jersak

Question: If I found myself numb with pain, injured and bleeding in the cold on a cloudy day, having never been baptized for whatever reason(s), and therefore not "OFFICIALLY" in the Body of Christ as I died. Being lifelong mostly homeless, reality itself seemed to communicate to me "authoritatively" that my death and eternal punishment were now imminent? Would I have reason to quiver convulsively in deep and dreadful fear?  To add a little humor, if I were dying in those circumstances, could I say a few words then spit on myself and confidently count it baptism? Thus, I'm in! But what if I were unconscious? I know these "unprepared ...

Q&R with Greg Albrecht – “Is Christianity a Religion?”

QUESTION:  I’ve heard you use the word religion in a negative way.  How do you define religion?  What is the difference between Christian and Christian religion?  Some application forms ask, “what is your religion?”  What’s a good answer? ANSWER:  I make a critical distinction in the definition of the word religion.  I define religion as any belief system or methodology that promises God’s love and blessings in return for human effort and performance.This definition is a sub-definition of the commonly used definitions for religion, i.e. 1) serving and worshiping God; 2) commitment to or devotion to faith, as in attending church ...

Q & R: Are God’s hands tied until we “return” to God?

Question: Have you done any writing, or know of someone that has...around the biblical theme of "returning" to God?  In contemplative prayer, "returning" has been a beautiful invitation, but many biblical references describe the "return" as being the precursor or condition to God's favor, compassion and/or forgiveness. Undoubtedly this has contributed to the toxic idea that when we turn away, God is also turned away, and until WE do the work of returning, God can't do anything. Obviously, I know you've written and talked a lot about this in the context of the "Gospel in Chairs" ...but I'm just wondering about broader writing on the ...

Q & R – Greg Albrecht – “How do you define sin?”

Question: I am seeking to join a church that promotes Christianity w/o the religion, but they define sin as "missing the mark".  Isn't that a religious definition of sin? I am moved to not join this church because of that, however, no brick and mortar church is perfect. What do you think, briefly? Response: I would say that defining sin as “missing the mark” is narrow and legalistic. Sin is bigger than failing to measure up to a standard - it includes that, of course, but sin is our nature - for humans, sin is part of our spiritual environment, just as air is to our physical environment.  Perhaps sin is a bit like gravity - a spiritual law (see ...

Q & R – Greg Albrecht – Why does Jesus mention the Sabbath?

Question Hello Greg, I worshipped with you and many others on CWRa – your message was "SO THAT ... OR BECAUSE?" As a side note, I am wondering why Jesus referred to "the Sabbath" in Matthew 24:20? Hebrews 4 seems to indicate no specific day for "Sabbath-rest" now. Praying for and supporting PTM/CWR. Response Great to hear you joined us for the message. The question to which you refer, in Matthew 24:20: “Pray that your flight will not place in the winter or on the Sabbath.” Matthew 24 is the Olivet Prophecy – some believe many of Jesus’ warnings/predictions are yet to take place.  I believe, based in large part on vs. 34, “this ...

Progressive Revelation and the Unveiling of God – Brad Jersak

Question from a reader:   I have been reading a lot about progressive revelation, specifically in my readings of John Howard Yoder and Guy F. Hershberger. This sounds like some of the things I may be reading from Michael Hardin (anthropological revelation). This idea of God incrementally slipping revelations into humanity's cognitive compartments, filling them gradually through different epochs is what I am referring to. Also, the study of later texts (prophetic texts) critiquing earlier (royal dynasty of Israel/kingship texts) makes for a more complete understanding of the Bible. I was curious if you have come across this and if ...