Power in Weakness

  Are you tired of an irrelevant faith? An antiquated set of beliefs that are embarrassing at best, and a menace to society at worst?  I have good news then. A new Christianity is coming. In fact, it is already here.  For me, it all started when I realized that what the Bible taught about monogamous heterosexual sex was increasingly out of step with what my friends and I knew to be true. I have many same-sex attracted friends that are pristine examples of true love and civility (way more than my church friends, to be honest!), so I knew there was something awry with the many straightforward verses that taught against homosexuality. Or perhaps, my interpretation of them. Either way, I did what any sensible person would do: I ignored the scriptures and followed what was right in my own eyes. After all, love is love, right? No one can disagree with that.  At first I felt guilty about rejecting the black and white teachings of my youth. I wondered if I would have to ditch Christianity alto

Is it just me, or was 2020 the biggest embarrassment for public prophecies in recent history? Akin, perhaps, to Hal Lindsay's epic fail in predicting Christ would return in 1988.  If you don't know, I'm writing this as someone who believes that the gift of prophecy is still in operation today. I believe that because the New Testament makes it clear that we should "pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy" (1 Cor 14:1). The exegetical attempts I have seen from Cessationists to argue that spiritual gifts have been discontinued are, well, about as embarrassing as all the failed prophecies I have seen lately.  So the Bible is clear on spiritual gifts, and I have experienced prophecy's power firsthand. One time a prophetic speaker I had never heard of before called me out of a crowd and said that God had planned a trip to Israel for me that would be significant. I actually started laughing out loud midway through his words becaus