Books introduced me to Christ, and it was books that led me back to him after deconstruction. But it wasn’t the writings of C.S. Lewis or Charles Spurgeon or any of those “spiritual giants.” I was re-introduced to Christ through Rachel Held Evans and Peter Enns and Sarah Bessey, leaders of progressive Christian thought whose… Continue reading The Church needs the questions that progressives are asking
Tag: Christian culture
On waiting well
I’ve been married nearly a decade, but still vividly remember being single all through college. I remember having one friend after another pair off, wondering when it would be my turn. I heaped so much shame on myself for not being able to find satisfaction in God alone. Everyone at Bible Study told me that’s… Continue reading On waiting well
Should Christians celebrate Hanukkah?
If you’re familiar with my stance on Christians celebrating Passover, then you can guess my feelings about Christians observing Hanukkah. In a recent article for Christianity Today, Maria Baer profiles a Messianic Jewish family who observes the feast of Hanukkah as a reminder of God’s promise to preserve the Jewish people. While I take some… Continue reading Should Christians celebrate Hanukkah?
Does Galatians 3:28 teach “Jewish erasure”?
I’ve been rereading Amy-Jill Levine’s book, The Misunderstood Jew. Levine’s work captivates me because she’s an Orthodox Jew who teaches the New Testament at Vanderbilt University. That makes her perspective unique in a world where Jesus’ Jewish background is often forgotten or ignored. While I don’t always agree with her views, Levine’s work is the… Continue reading Does Galatians 3:28 teach “Jewish erasure”?
Overturning Roe isn’t enough to eradicate a culture of death
Does anyone care what I think about the increasingly likely possibility of overturning Roe v. Wade? Likely not. I’m admittedly quite hesitant to add my voice to all the noise on the internet right now. In my social media feeds, I see two prevailing perspectives: one from conservatives who are celebrating, and one from liberals… Continue reading Overturning Roe isn’t enough to eradicate a culture of death
The danger of reactionary theology
The online world of deconstructing Christians is a sad one. In private Facebook groups and DMs, I read story after story of adult children being disowned by their parents for coming out of the closet; rape victims being forced to apologize for “adultery” before their congregation; abused wives told by pastors to endure beatings like… Continue reading The danger of reactionary theology
Rethinking sex, celibacy, and abundant life
I’m currently reading The Thrill of the Chaste by Dawn Eden. I read it before when it was first published in 2007, but this is an updated edition in which Eden, who was born Jewish, describes more of her journey to becoming Catholic. I’m naturally a sucker for these stories, so I had to buy… Continue reading Rethinking sex, celibacy, and abundant life
From Deconstruction to Reconstruction: a story of doubt to faith
I became a Christian in the fall of 2008, after growing up in a liberal Jewish household. You would think that someone who made such an extreme conversion would have a great deal of certainty about her faith. But from about 2013 to 2017, I was basically an agnostic. I believed in God, but didn’t… Continue reading From Deconstruction to Reconstruction: a story of doubt to faith
How to love your hostage neighbor
You may have seen the viral video of a group of Christians singing worship songs on an airplane. While some people are criticizing those who were offended, the Jewish side of me raises an eyebrow at the whole thing. That's because I know how it would have affected me if I were on that plane… Continue reading How to love your hostage neighbor
What’s amazing about grace? Everything
I’ve been reading Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace? I’m normally a fast reader, finishing at least two books a week, but this one is so heavy on the topics of grace and forgiveness that I’m forcing myself to slow down. But it’s a slower read for me because it’s bringing up some personal… Continue reading What’s amazing about grace? Everything