Click the Apples to Apples link below to read a great story It is a must read. Such a tremendous allegory to the modern church.

Apples to Apples

OK, for Old Testament law #2 we will be talking about one of those more mature topics. It comes from Leviticus 15: 28-30.

When the woman’s menstrual discharge stops, she must count off a period of seven days. After that, she will be ceremonially clean. On the eighth day, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons and present them to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle. The priest will offer one for a sin offering and the other for a whole burnt offering. In this way, the priest will make atonement for her before the Lord for her menstrual discharge.

There are several verses before these three that are extremely interesting, but for today let’s just talk these three.

Can you imagine if every woman at every church had to make a special appearance eight days after her time of the month. (more…)

Over the course of the next couple of weeks I want to point out some of the laws and commandments given to the children of Israel in the Old Testament. Eventually I want to use all these to make a point. Some of them address topics that are “adult”. They are all from the Bible though.

Let’s start with Leviticus 19:19. It states ” . . Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of fabric.”

Can you imagine the shakeup this would cause if pastors started teaching this commandment from the pulpit. (more…)

An email question about why our church has women deacons was the start of this post. . . . BUT it’s also about how to approach/interpret scripture and so much more. Here is a sampling:

I guess I need to start with some of my fundamental assumptions (everyone has them, so we might as well be honest about it).

1) I assume that scripture cannot be taken pure, that is, without interpretation. (more…)

I was recently asked how do we get to know God. It’s a question I have thought about a lot over the last few years. The short answer is that I don’t think there is a specific way that works for everybody. The long answer, well read on.

I was taught growing up that the centerpiece to any relationship with God was church. Those words may have never been used, but the idea was unmistakable. The problem was this was not the way it worked out for me. Church has never made me feel any closer to God. As a matter of fact at times it often makes me feel further from him. (more…)

I just saw this message on a church marquee:

“Jesus: Eternal Life Insurance”

Really . . . it actually said that! Yikes!!! I know a lot of Christians approach Christianity as if it’s nothing more than an “insurance policy,” and I guess I know that some folks present the gospel that way, too. But it’s usually much more subtle (which doesn’t necessarily make it better). This, however, is blatant! Is that all they think the gospel is about? Is that all that Jesus means? Is it even true to what Jesus stood for?

I was reading “A Deconstructed Christian” blog and came across a great post about the things we hear in churches. Click here to read it. It is well worth it.

I completely get what she is trying to say. I remember those days of sitting in church and listening to talk like this. I remember the choruses of “Amen” that rang up all around the sanctuary. I watched as hands were thrown up in the air as people shouted, “Yes, Lord”.

Most of these same people who had the hootin’, hollerin’ hallelujah hoedowns over one of these quaint Christian catch phrases were the same ones who completely forgot their excitement the moment they stepped out the front doors of the church. (more…)

Have you ever read a sign in front of a church and ended up with a reaction that you are sure was the polar opposite of what was intended by the person who put it up? I had just such an experience today.

I read a church sign with the following message: “You can’t hide from God by missing church”

I was extremely happy to hear this. Because I don’t just miss church, I never even aim for it. (more…)