Q&A
Molinism and Open Theism – Part I
Category: Q&A
Tags: Calvinism, Choice, Determinism, Free Will, God, Molinism, Open Theism
Topics: Open Theism What it is and is not, Providence, Predestination and Free Will
I’ve been asked for the umpteenth time on Twitter lately about the difference between “Molinism” and “Open Theism,” and for some reason, today seemed like a good day to begin addressing this question. I’ll do this…
Was Jesus Violent in the Temple?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Jesus, Mennonerds, Non-Violence, Violence
Topics: Enemy-Loving Non-Violence
Many adopt the attitude depicted in the picture above, saying that Jesus used violence when he cleansed the temple. But Jesus’ stance on nonviolence is clear not only from how he responded to threatening enemies…
Is Non-Violence a Key to Christian Discipleship?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Mennonerds, Non-Violence, Peacemaking, Violence
Topics: Enemy-Loving Non-Violence
For the first three centuries of the church, Christians understood that forgoing the use of violence and expressing God’s self-sacrificial love was central to discipleship. However, this mindset changed after the Church acquired power in…
Why Believe that There Is a God?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Apologetics, God, Letters from a Skeptic
Topics: Apologetics
“Why should we believe in God in the first place?” This was a question that Greg’s father asked of Greg. While there are many ways to respond, Greg’s offered what is called “the anthropological argument.”…
How should Christians respond to Near Death Experiences?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Christian Life, Death, Greg Boyd, Kingdom Living, Sermons, Theology
Topics: Death and Salvation, End Times, Following Jesus
In a recent Q and A session about the book of Revelation, Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy answer a question on How Christians should respond to claims of Near Death Experiences. You can view the…
What About the Contradictions Found in the Gospels?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Apologetics, Bible, Jesus, Letters from a Skeptic, Reliability of the Gospels
Topics: Biblical Reliability
It’s quite common for people to question the veracity of the Gospels because there are contradictions between them. In fact, an interaction between Steven Colbert and Bart Erhman, a scholar who makes a big deal…
Why Do Some Prayers Go Unanswered?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Is God to Blame?, Prayer
Topics: Free Will and the Future, Hearing God, Prayer, Providence, Predestination and Free Will
All of us have prayed for things and have been left wondering why God did not answer. Clearly, our prayers don’t all bring about what we ask for. It has been popular to say that…
What is the meaning of 666?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Sermons, Woodland Hills Church
Topics: End Times
Woodland Hills recently completed a series on the book of Revelation. To conclude, Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy did a Q and A session to answer any lingering questions. This question answers what is the…
If God Can’t Control, How Can I Trust Him?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Open Theism, Prayer, Problem of Evil
Topics: Open Theism, Providence, Predestination and Free Will
Question: If God can’t always answer our prayers for healing, for example (and I completely understand why—free will etc), then HOW can he promise to bring good out of the bad things that happen? Surely…
What To Do with the Bible’s Talk of Satan
Category: Q&A
Tags: Free Will, Problem of Evil, Spiritual Warfare, Warfare Worldview
Topics: Spiritual Warfare, Cosmic Conflict, The Problem of Evil
Recently, Roger Olson raised the question on his blog about why Satan is ignored in modern theology. He observed how Greg’s theology takes an “obvious, ‘up front,’ blatant belief in a very personal, very real,…
Was Jesus Fully God and Fully Human?
Category: Q&A
Tags: God, Incarnation, Jesus
Topics: Apologetics, Christology
In the previous post I argued for the logical possibility of the Incarnation, so today I’d like to establish its biblical foundation. This will be review for some readers, but it’s important review because this…
How Should We Respond to Bullies?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Bullying, Compassion, Enemy Love, Jesus, Kingdom Living, Non-Violence
Topics: Following Jesus
Greg answers a question from parents as to how their child should respond to a bully.
Why Isn’t God More Clear?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Belief, Faith, God, Hearing God, Knowledge, Prayer, Video Q&A
Topics: Attributes and Character, Hearing God, Prayer
Ever wonder why God isn’t more clear and obvious? Here’s Greg’s take on that question.
Warfare and Sickness
Category: Q&A
Tags: Death, Kingdom Living, Prayer, Sickness, Warfare Worldview
Topics: Spiritual Warfare, Cosmic Conflict
Is sickness something we should come against as spiritual warfare or is sickness just something that is part of our life until the Kingdom of God comes? Greg deals with the answer to this question.
Why do some of Jesus’ parables depict God in violent ways?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Bible, Bible Interpretation, Cruciform Theology, Jesus, Parables, Violence
Topics: Enemy-Loving Non-Violence, Interpreting Violent Pictures and Troubling Behaviors
Greg deals with the question of what it means that some of Jesus’ parables seem to depict God in violent terms. In addition to getting an answer to this question you’ll be treated to a…
Are we called to suffering?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Abuse, Kingdom Living, Love, Sacrifice, Suffering
Topics: Following Jesus
What does it mean when we say we’re called to suffering? Does it mean that we should allow ourselves to be victimized or that God approves when we are abused? Here are Greg’s thoughts on…
Are You Guilty of Marcionism?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Bible, Cruciform Theology, Heresy, Jesus, Non-Violence, Old Testament, Violence
Topics: Interpreting Violent Pictures and Troubling Behaviors
Greg responds to the question of whether or not his cruciform hermeneutic is anything like the heresy of Marcion, who basically advocated throwing out the Old Testament. (Spoiler: it’s not.)
Forgiveness in the Christus Victor View of the Atonement
Category: Q&A
Tags: Atonement, Christus Victor, Forgiveness, God, Jesus, Sin, Wrath
Topics: Christus Victor view of Atonement
Did Jesus need to die on the cross to satisfy God’s wrath in order for us to be forgiven? Greg discusses the role of forgiveness in the Christus Victor view of the Atonement.
Open2013 Speakers (Video)
Category: Q&A
Tags: Greg Boyd, John Sanders, Open Theism, ReKnew, Tom Oord, Woodland Hills Church
Topics: Open Theism
Here’s all of the videos of the speakers and their Q&A’s from Open2013. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up and we didn’t get Jessica Kelley’s presentation taped. We’re working to get her to speak again so…
Are we God’s children by nature or adoption?
Category: Q&A
Tags: Adoption, God's Character, God's Love, Nature
Topics: Death and Salvation, Following Jesus
Greg addresses a reader question about our status as God’s children. Do we come by that by nature or by adoption? Scripture seems to give something of a mixed answer. What’s up with that?