Is it Right or Wrong to Say This?
When you’re quotable, people quote you. Even when what you say is rubbish. You can quote me on that. H.L. Mencken is quotable and here’s something he said: Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority. The more uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is right and what […]
You Ain’t Funny
If you don’t have any critics, you’re not doing anything.
Why I Talk Politics In Church
When I’m at church, I’m not supposed to talk about elections, or policies, or laws, or scandals, or crimes, or anything that can be described as “political” because it’s divisive. I’m told that church, “isn’t the place for politics” and that Christian fellowship should be positive, encouraging, and amiable. Here are a few reasons why I ignore all that nonsense and talk politics in church.
God Isn’t Looking for A Relationship with You
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Satire is a great way to reveal truth.” An article appeared in The Onion with this title: “God Weirded Out By Christian Who Loves Him After Only Month In Church” I’ve linked to the article because grown-ups should be allowed to decide for themselves what they […]
You Feel Bad Because You Are Bad
I’m sensing the need to clarify my perspective on the subject of “shame”. When I wrote about it last time, some people contacted me and expressed confusion about what I was actually trying to say. One person sent me a link to this article. I agree with most of the points but especially with the […]
Feelings of the Faithless
I’ve been around a long time. Way back in the 80’s, the era of leggings and misused hairspray, I took part in conversations with church people about how to make Christianity appealing to rich, self-centered Americans. We came up with a thing called, “Youth Ministry”. Youth Ministry involved converting the teachings of Christianity into games, […]
How to Respond When Someone Says, “Jesus Was A Socialist.”
It is impolite to laugh at people who believe Jesus taught socialism. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Mockery serves an important purpose. It makes people afraid to express themselves. People with bad ideas should be afraid to express themselves. Laughing at bad theology is a crucial ministry that few Christians are willing to […]
The Great God of Style
I’ve had a few conversations with fellow Christians about whether or not the blood of Jesus can atone for the sins of the people who write for the Babylon Bee. Although we disagree on the eternal effects of satire on the human soul, we agree that seeing any of those writers in Heaven proves that […]
Why I Don’t Invite Friends To Church.
I grew up going to church (and please don’t tell me “church” is people not a “building” or a “service” because I know that since I grew up going to church ) so I’ve been encouraged to invite my friends to church many times. By “encouraged”, I mean prompted, urged, compelled, cajoled, coaxed, coerced, shamed, […]
Kanye Is Jesus In Reverse
Remember awhile back when Kanye West converted to Christianity and millions of Christians jumped for joy because a famous person was validating their religious views? We’ve moved on from Kanye and that’s too bad. I cannot judge anyone’s heart. I can’t read anyone’s mind either. Most of the time, I can’t read my own mind. […]