Pluralism does not mean all opinions are created equally. Pluralism does not mean all religious belief systems are different paths to the same ultimate destination. Pluralism does not mean a postmodern morass of factual irrelevancy and feeling supremacy. Pluralism does not mean it's inappropriate to say, "I disagree." Jesus followers have been enculturated to immediately think … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Appreciates Pluralism
grace
Beatnik Christianity Creates Room for the Eastern Orthodox View of Theosis
Protestant theology dating all the way back to the 16th century contains a strong, unnatural break between justification and sanctification. Paul writes about salvation in the past, present, and future tense. You were saved. You're being saved. You will be saved. It's a salvific process, not a salvific moment. The Reformers were right that the process begins … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Creates Room for the Eastern Orthodox View of Theosis
Beatnik Christianity Renounces the Cosmic Bellhop View of God As Blasphemous
In every religious expression throughout history there has been a disconnect between the official tenets and expectations of the powers that be and the actual beliefs and practices of the everyday people. Christianity is no exception, so it's probably best to be charitable between the espoused ideal and the actual reality. At the same time, it's worth asking, "At what point … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Renounces the Cosmic Bellhop View of God As Blasphemous
Beatnik Christianity Maintains That Christian Culture Misrepresents God’s Grace
One of the most peculiar elements of Christian culture is the doctrine of grace. Jesus followers can't stop themselves from bringing up this implicit moral ledger of debts and credits even as they endlessly reiterate that, no really, God's love truly is a free gift. While denying that God's love for us is in any way transactional, there's this lingering rhetorical shadow of … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Maintains That Christian Culture Misrepresents God’s Grace
Beatnik Christianity Sees Christendom As Nauseating to the Kingdom of God
Christendom is to the Kingdom of God as cancer is to the human body. It's a corruption that insidiously warps and seeks to kill our Lord's spiritual vision. That's why it's beyond tragic that so many Jesus followers today hear the words "Kingdom of God" and conceive of something vaguely akin to Medieval Christianity where the institutional church exercised hegemonic power over … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Sees Christendom As Nauseating to the Kingdom of God
