Bradley Jersak – Anthropomorphisms & Incarnation
Question I’m reading your chapter in A More Christlike Word on Cassian and Ambrose. I find it really helpful to have the Fathers speaking about the question of “anthropomorphism.” The question that keeps rattling around as I read is that this is great when we apply it to the negative things we attribute to God, but […]
“I look for… the life of the age to come.” Bradley Jersak
“I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.” – the Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed was a gift of the fourth-century church and represents their memory of the gospel of Jesus Christ, delivered through the apostles to all those who would confess their faith at baptism […]
“Without the Shedding of Blood” – Hebrews 9:22 Bradley Jersak
“Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). The prosecution rests, your honor. A blood sacrifice is required or there is no forgiveness. That should end the discussion. Well, it shouldn’t. But it did … for me. See, God can’t just forgive freely … that wouldn’t be ‘just.’ Sin must be paid for. How? Only by the […]
FRIDAYS WITH GODFATHER – When ultimates become absolutes – Bradley Jersak
FRIDAYS WITH GODFATHER When ultimates become absolutes FRIDAYS WITH GODFATHER are journal entries I make as I spend time absorbing the wisdom of my godfather, David Goa. The ideas are his, distilled and poorly interpreted by me. When ultimates become absolutes, they become presumptions and idolatries. But ultimates cannot be fixed and they are not some […]
Loving Liminal Space – A Blessing for Transition – Bradley Jersak
“Loving Liminal Space” Note: this blessing was originally personalized to a young friend in transition. I felt it might be expanded to address all those passing through emotional and spiritual reorientation. If the shoe fits… Dear friends in transition, I offer my blessing as you celebrate each significant waypoint on your journey. I recognize that […]
Q&R with Bradley Jersak: How convinced are you?
Question Hi Brad, How convinced are you that Jesus will ultimately redeem everyone and that no one with a clear eye would turn him down on that offer? Is it like 99.99%? Response That’s an interesting question and just a bit more complicated than you might think. First, I could say that I am 100% […]
Happiness, Joy & Joy Unspeakable – Bradley Jersak
QUESTION Could you please describe or define the concept of joy as you’ve understood, witness, or experienced it? RESPONSE HAPPINESS At first glance, that’s a difficult question. As I thought about it, I began by contrasting it to the word “happiness.” Bear in mind that there are a host of personal, traditional and dictionary definitions […]
Revisiting ‘Satisfaction’ & the Cross – Bradley Jersak
Far beyond crucifixion by execution, the Cross of Christ has, historically, generated a Good News proclamation—the gospel of God’s saving work through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That gospel was announced through a great banquet of biblical metaphors describing the means, meaning, and outcomes of the Paschal Mystery—with the Passover Lamb’s liberation from death and bondage […]
Q&A: What’s a Heresy? Bradley Jersak
Question I just finished reading a book titled Finding God in the Waves by Mike McHargue. Have you heard of it? It’s about a guy who was raised in the church but became an atheist for two years. I thought it would inspire my faith, but it brought up so many questions. The faith Mike returned […]
“God is love, but…” [nothing] – Bradley Jersak
“Everything before the word ‘BUT’ is horse sh*t.” – Game of Thrones I’ve heard this statement elsewhere as “Nothing someone says before the word ‘but’ really counts,” especially when an affirmation of love is immediately followed by its negations. The aphorism is loaded with wisdom and experience. Even if you feel that love compels you to […]