Category: Evangelicalism

Evangelicalism, fear, Grace, Hope, Jesus, Leadership, Ministry, Politics1 Comment

Investing in Grace

Gary Furr

I first wrote this post seven years ago. Seems to me it is needed more than ever. Hope depends upon the capacity of a person to trust in the ultimate goodness of things rather than on the evidence of any particular moment’s appearance. That is important for the living of these days. In the fractures of our present politics, our divisions, our radical differences of how we see the same world, it is tempting to withdraw from the fray. It is also tempting to deepen the gulf. And neither of these options helps either us or the world. And it … Continue reading Investing in Grace

America, Bible, Christianity, Citizenship, Constitution, Culture, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics, Evangelicalism, Jesus, Leadership, Politics, spirituality, Story4 Comments

On Stupidity

Gary Furr

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and pastor, wrote shortly before his death at the hand of the Nazis,  “Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that every strong upsurge of power in the public sphere, be it of a political or of a religious nature, infects a large part of humankind with stupidity. It would even seem that this is virtually a sociological-psychological law. The power of the one needs the stupidity of the other. The process at work here is not that particular human capacities, for instance, the intellect, suddenly atrophy or fail. Instead, it seems that under the overwhelming impact … Continue reading On Stupidity

Calling, Christianity, Competition, Conflict, Evangelicalism, Forgiveness, Fundamentalism, Grace, hope, humanity, Humor, Jesus, Jesus, Lent, Pilgrimage, Prayer, reconciliation, spirituality, Story, Thankfulness

NEW PODCAST Cheap Preachers Trip to Israel

Gary Furr

LATEST PODCAST. Preachers are like manure. When you spread us out, we can do a lot of good. But when you pile us up all together it can be almost unbearable. On a preachers tour to Israel I found out why. Click to listen Continue reading NEW PODCAST Cheap Preachers Trip to Israel

Bible, Covid-19, Evangelicalism, Faith, fear, God, Jesus, pandemic, Sickness and Health, Theology, Theology and Life, Vaccines3 Comments

Faith and Vaccines

Gary Furr

This week I remembered a conversation I had with a woman many years ago. I had gone to teach a series on the family at a friend’s church in another state. She came up to me after the presentation and asked to talk with me. Of course, I said. “What’s on your mind?” I asked. “Well, I feel like such a failure in my faith. I suffer from depression. It was affecting my marriage, my children, and most of all, my faith in God.” “Why did you feel it made you a failure?” I inquired. “I’ve tried everything. I prayed … Continue reading Faith and Vaccines

church, creation, Culture, Evangelicalism, Faith, Fundamentalism, Rachel Held Evans, spirituality, Theology1 Comment

Rachel Held Evans’ Questions

Gary Furr

The passing of Rachel Held Evans unleashed a surprising wave of grief to some.  But to readers in the Christian world, and young women in particular, she was a voice of welcoming honesty.  In an October 2012 article in Christianity Today called, “50 Women You Should Know,” Katelyn  Beaty said of Rachel Held Evans that her blog, which began in 2007, spoke out on many traditional evangelical issues in a fresh and fearless way.  Evans, she quoted, wrote that young Christians “aren’t looking for a faith that provides all the answers.  We’re looking for one in which we are free to ask the questions.”

It was intense questioning that led her to start writing in the first place.  In 2012 alone, 1.2 million visitors went to her site to hear what she had to say.  She was speaking for many others, giving voice to many who were needing one. To a church (in the largest sense) that is always, at least institutionally, last to respond to change, she pushed to make it look at its truth and heart and reassess what it was Jesus meant us to do. Continue reading “Rachel Held Evans’ Questions”