If we're going to take Scripture seriously, then we can't pick and choose biblical texts. Instead we have to engage the wisdom of the entire corpus. One of the best examples of this cherry-picking happens with alcohol. As an adolescent, fundamentalism of the Holiness Movement variety had me convinced that alcohol merely passing your lips was a sin. Imagine my surprise when I … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Has No Scruples About Using Natural Substances
Short-Form Content
Beatnik Christianity Is A Countercultural Lifestyle Above All Else
The same historical evolution of the Christian faith has been described by various writers. First it was a community of Jesus followers in first century Israel, then it moved into Ancient Greece and became a philosophy. After a few centuries, it spread throughout the Roman Empire and became an institution. Over the next 1,500-odd years, Christianity settled into every nook and … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Is A Countercultural Lifestyle Above All Else
Beatnik Christianity Deprioritizes Principles in Favor of a Pragmatic Ecclesiology
Theologically speaking, water is thicker than blood. Baptism spiritually grafts believers into the covenant community and transforms their identities, including who they see as their ultimate family. Down deep I'll always affirm that perspective. However, I'm overriding those convictions. Sorry, Reason, but I'm deprioritizing the spiritual ruminations, lofty biblical metaphors, … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Deprioritizes Principles in Favor of a Pragmatic Ecclesiology
Beatnik Christianity Doesn’t Subscribe to the Myth of the Church’s Mandatory Goodness
You ever meet one of those true believer college football or basketball fans? These diehards still criticizes NFL and NBA players as being all about the money while praising the NCAA's tradition of pure amateur athletics. I sit there listening and am inwardly marveling, 'It's been three decades since Blue Chips burst this bubble. How is this level of continued naivety even … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Doesn’t Subscribe to the Myth of the Church’s Mandatory Goodness
Beatnik Christianity Is Terribly Conflicted About High vs. Low Ecclesiology
The term "ecclesiology" refers to the theological study of the Church. It's a multifaceted field that explores the origins of Christianity, the relationship between Jesus and the Church, its role in the process of salvation, the Church's means of spiritual formation, the beliefs and practices around ordination, the nature and culture of its institutional structures, how … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Is Terribly Conflicted About High vs. Low Ecclesiology
