Theology Blog
This Theological Blog is a place to openly discuss and share ideas. All are welcome to participate. It is important to know that these contents do not represent the views of the First Presbyterian Church of Newhall or the greater Presbyterian Church USA.
As Presbyterians we are all encouraged to read, study and pray scripture both alone and in community. We are to also pray that we may be guided by the Holy Spirit to live scripture. Paul tells us we must treat each other with humility and gentleness in our disagreements. We may not always be comfortable with divergent ideas, but that’s alright as we journey together learning to follow Christ.
Postings are public and will not be anonymous. All postings will first need to be approved by the moderator so they will not appear immediately.
DEATH IS REAL…BUT SO IS THE CROSS
by Roland Wrinkle The Unspeakability of “Death.” Death was cooked into Creation at least since Cain and Abel. But death during these current troubles is different. It tends to strike while the perishing loved one is in some measure of isolation. Those left...
NO…OUR DEMOCRACY IS NOT AT STAKE
NO...OUR DEMOCRACY IS NOT AT STAKE; NO...OUR CITIES ARE NOT ABLAZE. AMERICA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF VIOLENT PROTESTS AND COUNTER-PROTESTS, AS WELL AS STRONG AND ENDURING INSTITUTIONS By Roland WrinkleThe Battle Cries. “The Future of Our Democracy is at...
SHOULD WE TEAR APART THE BODY OF CHRIST BECAUSE WE’RE ALL CRANKY FROM THE SHUTDOWN?
By Roland Wrinkle “We have become a nation divided against itself...” says columnist Colleen Britton, echoing Lincoln, who was echoing Matt 12.25. No doubt. But followers of Jesus don’t have that luxury! Jesus gave his life for us on the cross so that we...
#METOO, BLACK LIVES MATTER, KAREEM ABDUL- JABBAR AND ME
by Roland Wrinkle“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Bishop Desmond Tutu. I went...
WHAT IS A PARABLE?
by Roland The answer is not: Two male cattle. We are starting to get into the parables of Jesus. To get the discussion started, here’s my take. Jesus saw his mission/vocation as announcing the long-awaited Kingdom of God, as envisioned in the Hebrew...
TOP TEN CORONAVIRUS QUESTIONS ANSWERED
by Roland Wrinkle 1. Where Are We In History? Where do we stand as people of God? Let me start with a simple historical observation. This little church on Newhall Ave. (and many of its members), have weathered and persevered through World War I, the 1918 influenza...
CHRISTIANITY DOES NOT REQUIRE FOLLOWING A SET OF RULES… IT REQUIRES FOLLOWING A PERSON
By Roland Wrinkle, In order to get an undergraduate degree in political science, I had to learn the four rules of physics. (Presumably, in the event I failed to become a city councilman, I could always be a rocket scientist.) In order to continue enjoying the...
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME IF I’M WRONG?
by Roland Wrinkle This has been my church (and church family for over 30 years). I’ve spent half of my life studying the bible and about the bible. I have voiced my positions and beliefs not infrequently and not always softly. Sometimes I have ticked...
More bad fruit?
compiled by John Favalessa based on a question at a bible study on the issue. Conversion therapy, sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy,” is the practice of trying to change an individual's sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using...
HOW DO WE RECONCILE GOD COMMANDING GENOCIDE IN THE BOOK OF JOSHUA?
compiled by John Favalessa Richard Dawkins (an avowed militant atheist) shares this genial observation: “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a...
JESUS KEEPS MOVING; THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO FOLLOW HIM
by Roland Wrinkle Jesus wasn’t as big on making sure his disciples had the correct beliefs, as he was on having them follow him. If you take all four gospels together, either Jesus says, “follow me” or the author says, “they followed him,” nearly a hundred times. He...
A SHORT PIECE ON PASSING THE PEACE
by Roland Wrinkle Our Sunday Services are packed with liturgy. We welcome, we worship, we celebrate communion, we pray, we receive the Word, we confess, we doxologize, we meditate, we sing, we voice our delights and dejections, we offer our shekels and service, we are...
#MeToo: WHERE WAS THE CHURCH WHEN THE CULTURE LOOKED AWAY FROM SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE?
-by Roland Wrinkle God’s failed lab experiment: Combining testosterone with hubris. Movie moguls, TV stars, comedians, federal judges, senators, congressmen, Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, civil rights icons, and, yes, pastors. All powerful and influential men accused of...
You Are Not “Just A Poor Sinner Saved By Grace” ; OK, You Are, But That’s Not The Point
by Roland Wrinkle Our Calvinist tradition teaches us, as the first T in the famous acronym TULIP, that we are “totally depraved.” Many of us believe we are saved by incantating the “Sinner’s Prayer” (“I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences...
WAS JESUS A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN?
By Roland Wrinkle “That’s a stupid question. Political parties are a modern invention.” Yes, this may very well be a stupid question—but not for that reason. The Jewish milieu in first century Palestine was rife with political parties and Jesus had to “live and move”...