What is the Bible? “Well, that’s obvious, Joel,” you might say, “the Bible is the Word of God.” Yes, that is the obvious answer, but it is not enough. It is true that the Bible is the Word of God, but it also needs some explanation that we don’t normally think about. As we sawContinue reading “What is the Bible? [False ideas Christians believe about…the Bible. Part 2]”
Author Archives: joelkime
The Bible is not the only Word of God [False ideas Christians believe about…the Bible. Part 1]
Did you know there is another more ancient Word of God than the Bible? Keep reading to learn about it. Last week I started a series in which I am looking at common sayings Christians use and believe, thinking those sayings are biblical, but they are actually false, not in the Bible. OR the sayingsContinue reading “The Bible is not the only Word of God [False ideas Christians believe about…the Bible. Part 1]”
Love the sinner, hate the sin? [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 5]
Have you ever heard a Christian say, “love the sinner, hate the sin”? We hear that all the time. Maybe you’ve said it yourself. On the surface it sounds really good. We should be a people that love others no matter who they are. What could be wrong with that? If that was all itContinue reading “Love the sinner, hate the sin? [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 5]”
All sins are not the same? [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 4]
This week we have been fact-checking Christian statements about sin. In part 3 yesterday we looked at the phrase “all sins are the same.” Today we’re investigating its opposite: sins are different. There is an important sense in which sins are very, very different, and they are not the same. In part 3, we sawContinue reading “All sins are not the same? [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 4]”
All sins are the same? [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 3]
This week I’ve started a blog series that will run for 11 weeks, in which we are fact checking ideas that Christians believe that might be totally false or at least partially so. This week we are looking at ideas about sin. Check out the first posts here and here that introduce the series andContinue reading “All sins are the same? [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 3]”
Attempting to define sin [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 2]
What are some of the famous phrases that you have heard about sin? Have you heard these phrases before? All sins are the same. No sin is worse than any other. Or it’s contrast, some sins are worse than others. Love the sinner, hate the sin. You might look at that list and think, “ButContinue reading “Attempting to define sin [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 2]”
Fact-checking our beliefs [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 1]
Did you know Napoleon wasn’t really short? Or that oil doesn’t keep pasta from sticking? Or that the whole right brain vs. left brain thing might not be true? I found this series of false facts from Readers Digest, and some are really surprising and fun. When you think about these facts, it reminds usContinue reading “Fact-checking our beliefs [False ideas Christians believe about…Sin. Part 1]”
Why we can follow God’s way even when we’re scared or anxious [How God feels about our fear – Deuteronomy 31-34, part 5]
What mountains are you facing? This past year, I started doctoral studies, and the thought of researching, writing and defending a dissertation feels like a vast, unconquerable mountain. If I’m honest, sometimes being a pastor of church feels that way too. As does parenting or living out the way of Jesus in our complex world.Continue reading “Why we can follow God’s way even when we’re scared or anxious [How God feels about our fear – Deuteronomy 31-34, part 5]”
God’s blunt song and Moses’ blessing song [How God feels about our fear – Deuteronomy 31-34, part 4]
If God were to write a song to you, what do you think the lyrics would say? The first idea that enters my mind is that God would write a song about how much he loves us. But maybe I’m wrong about that. In Deuteronomy 32, we read a song that God wrote, and itContinue reading “God’s blunt song and Moses’ blessing song [How God feels about our fear – Deuteronomy 31-34, part 4]”
How God’s mercy changes the future [How God feels about our fear – Deuteronomy 31-34, part 3]
Do you feel stuck? Maybe you see some light breaking through the darkness, but there is a wall, a forest that seems like it is blocking the way. Maybe it feels like you will never get past the difficult situation you face. When we are in the middle of pain, we can wonder if GodContinue reading “How God’s mercy changes the future [How God feels about our fear – Deuteronomy 31-34, part 3]”
Engaging Scripture 