Snarky Faith

The advent season is filled with shopping, families, parties, gifts, and joy. We all seek the perfect picture of Christmas with presents under the tree and houses decorated to the hilt. This is the epitome of Christmastime. Advent was never meant to be like this. The story of Christ's birth happened far away from the parties and festivities. It takes place in the gutter away from warmth and cheer. And yet, this story is about longing in a place of uncertainty and finding hope in hopeless times. It was a reminder to the forgotten that God is still with us and this was good news. Let us not lose the story and call from the story of Jesus' birth in the midst of wrapping paper and eggnog. For advent to be good news to the world, we need to live incarnationally. We need to be Jesus to others. We need to embrace hope and bring that hope to those that are forgotten and marginalized. It is my hope that this time of year reminds us of that. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.   www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Justin T. Miller was just a regular undergraduate college student when he felt the desire for something bold and extraordinary. In his new book, Beyond Blood: Hope and Humanity in the Forgotten Fight Against AIDS, Justin lays out the story of how he met Duncan Kimani Kamau and Cornel Onyango Nyaywera, two men who had grown up witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS in their own communities in Kenya. Though Kamau and Nyaywera grew up in opposite ends of the country and came from opposing tribes, they overcame prejudice and cultural expectations to bring healing to their communities. With Miller's help, their dream of empowering people to live a life beyond AIDS became a reality. Once Kamau, Miller, and Nyaywera realized their common purpose, CARE for AIDS was born. But it was only the beginning of their fight against AIDS, as they quickly discovered the fear and stigma that blanketed the disease. If their fledgling nonprofit was going to empower anyone, they would need help--and they found it, one local church at a time. As they slowly but steadily grew their network of friends and allies, Kamau, Miller, and Nyaywera discovered that the most complex problems can be solved through intentional, redemptive relationships. Join me as I talk with Justin about the intersection between faith and advocacy. We'll also talk about ways that church can look beyond the Sunday service to integrate into the needs of the marginalized it the community. It's a great ride that you're sure to enjoy. You can find Justin T. Miller's book, Beyond Blood: Hope and Humanity in the Forgotten Fight Against AIDS, here.  You can also find out more about Justin and Care for AIDS here: Care for Aids and Justin T. Miller. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www. SNARKYFAITH.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why are Christians so uncomfortable with the idea of equality? It's laid forth so quickly in the first chapter of Genesis when it says, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." We know this, yet, the tribalistic nature of modern Christianity has morphed it into a judgmental exercise of the pious degree. People want equal rights because they don't have them, but those in positions of privilege feel that giving equal standing erodes their own position in the world. To the pious, others gaining freedom means they will lose an edge. This is merely an exercise of selfishness and pride and has nothing to do with the teachings and ways of Jesus. Religion calls people to obedience. It's a control structure that is obsessed with the self. The faithful calling of Jesus leads to a journey fueled by wonder that focuses us on the needs of others. Christianity needs to return to its roots because our faith shouldn't inhibit our creativity or imagination. Faith should be the trajectory that thrusts us forward in wonder. To freely give equality to all is the heartbeat of Jesus and the way forward. Faith shouldn't constrain, it should always inspire us for more. It should also inspire us to give more freedom and dignity to others because we're all created equal in the eyes of a loving God. We can do better. We must do better. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.   www.Snarkyfaith.com  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

By 2035, the US will no longer be a majority Christian nation. We're beginning to see, especially along generational divides, that the church is in the slow decline towards death. This isn't simply about the loss of platforms in culture or power in politics, it's people walking away from the faith altogether. So, if the death of the institutional church in America is imminent, what are we to do? Is it finally game over for Christianity? In America, we also find ourselves in a very interesting place in history as the rift between ideologies and polarization gap continues to widen. There are two Americas that don't fundamentally understand one another. To some, this can be a time of great frustration, fear, and uncertainty, but I think it's a glorious time of opportunity to make and dream something new. The ways and teachings of Jesus no longer have to be forced to fit into the mold of institutional Christendom. The faithful can begin to imagine new ways outside the church building. There's great hope to be found within a faith that no longer has walls to cage it in. While the American church slides towards 'game over,' Christianity must always remember that resurrection is at the heart of the faith. There are new things ahead if we embrace them. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.   www.Snarkyfaith.com  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump’s spiritual adviser Paula White has now officially joined the White House staff as Advisor to the president’s Faith and Opportunity Initiative. If you don't know Paula White, you really should. She's the thrice-married, prosperity gospel preaching televangelist that has decades of moral and financial scandals. So basically, she's perfect for the Trump administration.  Oh and I forgot to mention that d she's currently married to the keyboardist from Journey. Yep, she's a spirit-filled dumpster fire.  She's even peddling, in her recent book, the insane idea that Donald Trump's presidency is all part of a divine plan. If that's true, God help us.  Join us today as we delve in this controversial figure that somehow makes sense for working with this three-ring circus of grifters and thugs that currently work at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.  Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.   www.SnarkyFaith.com  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) often acts as a mirror to modern-day Christendom. It sounds pretty and looks good, but it's just lots of empty words and vague phrasing. The truth is, both are all about celebrity and money and not the gospel. In CCM, Jesus is your boyfriend as long he doesn't do anything to rock the boat. The Tomlins and W. Smiths have worked so hard to neuter the faith and Crowns have been cast in order to make Christianity inert and impotent on the Third Day. Mercy Me! Sorry, no more CCM puns. I apologize. Today, we'll use Kanye West's descent into CCM (Crappy Christian Music) to speak to the faith's modern-day problems with money, fame, and politics. In the past, prophets and psalmists would use their voice as a weapon to inspire change, to call out abuses in power, and to remind the faithful about their role in the kingdom of God. Nowadays, in Christian music, the message doesn't matter as long as it sells and keeps the base happy. Politics and greed have made Christianity safe and malignant. It's cancerous and looks nothing like Jesus or his teachings. When commerce has become the driving force behind Christianity we have a problem. The songs we sing, say something about us and contemporary Christians music is a hollow as it is malignant. It's a symptom of a faith that looks nothing like Jesus or his teachings. Grace may be amazing, but the faithful are only singing empty songs of self-worship in a time when the world needs revolutionary voices. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world.   www.SnarkyFaith.com  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For too long, Christians have allowed themselves to be duped by the resident charlatan of the week. Always looking for a messiah and never accepting personal responsibility. It's the sheep always seeking a shepherd mentality that continues to allow the faith to be lead astray. Whether it be Kanye West's new money grab called Sunday Services or fake health insurance like Medi-Share, Christians are always suckers waiting to be duped. Jesus didn't call us to be idiots always being tempted by the nectar of things that seem Christian-y. He called us to be faithful. Faith is about responsibility. It's about work. It's about doing the tough things that are required to help a hurting world. One of the reasons Christianity has gone astray is that congregants have let it go that way. Too many false prophets, too many schemes and too many wolves in pastors clothing. We must be awake. We must be aware to continue forward if we're willing to do what needs to be done. Otherwise, Christians will continue to be duped into following something that looks like faith but isn't. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout the history of Christianity, women have underestimated, underappreciated and downright oppressed. The playing field has never been level and men often twisted scripture to abuse, shame or subdue women. Sure, in ancient times, culture was patriarchal, but we are now thousands of years past the time of Jesus and these problems still exist within the church, especially within conservative circles. There's no easy way to say it, but conservative religious men have a problem with women. Through their perspective, a women's value is in the home, making babies and tending to the work not deemed for men. The same thing happens in the church. Women can teach other women and children, but definitely not men. So, however you shake it, complementarianism is misogyny. It's been an enduring cancer on theology and one of the many sins of the church. This has to change. Christianity has to change. If Jesus saw women as equal members of the faith, why do so many Christians not? Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.  -Henry David Thoreau  In these crazy and calamitous times, it's easy to lose perspective and rely on emotional reactions. When topsy turvy becomes normal, it's hard to keep your bearings straight. Too often, do we let pastors and pundits tell us how to look at the world. They warp our perspective and then we proceed to engage the world in a distorted manner as we're open to being manipulated. That's not what we're called to do.  Furthermore, we need to move back to being a people of rational thought. We need contemplation. We need perspective. And returning to the ways and teachings of Jesus returns us to our ethics and how we're supposed to stand and engage during crazy times. We are called to be awake, aware, and sober as we look at the world around us. Remaining steadfast and grounded is paramount. Caring about compassion and grace still matters. We must continue on in a better way if we expect to create a better tomorrow.  Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The sheer fact that Evangelicals have worked so hard to grab political power and shun culture is dripping with irony because to be Evangelical at its root means you must evangelize (i.e. make converts). To evangelize should mean that you can't shun culture. It also means that power isn't your ultimate aim. The madness they have made out of their pursuits has pushed culture away and made any witness or testimony utterly impotent. They've killed any hope of fulfilling their mission and established as a trademarked their own brand of "unvangelism." It's the anthesis of the mission of God and Evangelicals have forgotten how to evangelize. Furthermore, a true act of evangelism isn't about converting the masses. It's going into forgotten places and being a version of Jesus. It's offering people compassion, empathy, hope, and love. God's give of grace is freely given and comes from a place of humility, not one of coercion and power. So in the vacuum of evangelism, unvangelism reigns. It's a hollow message that takes and takes. It doesn't offer anything, besides guilt and oppression. If Evangelicals cared about the kingdom of God, they'd stop hating the world, look in the mirror and learn to hate what they've become. Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.