Mary’s Song – Bradley Jersak
Mary’s song, “the Magnificat,” is an offense that lays waste to every last idol and ideology, and in its scandalous beauty, towers as an immovable redwood after the fires have consumed the brittle brush of empires and revolutions. These lyrics are not whimsical aspirations of a fragile teen peasant—they are earthshaking prophecies laying down the […]
Beyond Virtues & Vices: Ephraim’s Lenten Prayer – Bradley Jersak
In the forty days leading up to Pascha (the Eastern Church’s Passover celebration of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection), we take up the daily discipline of praying “St. Ephraim’s Lenten Prayer.” As I write this post, we’re only just now preparing for the Nativity Feast but Ephraim is on my heart. Upon the recommendation of my […]
Q & R – “Freed Will” and Ultimate Redemption – Bradley Jersak
Question If we believe that in the end, every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2) and that Christ meant it when he said, “If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32), what becomes of free will? Doesn’t our response […]
ON THE GREAT FLOOD (2021) – Bradley Jersak
ON THE GREAT FLOOD (2021) In retrospect, documentaries may call it ‘the Great Submersion’ or ‘the Sumas Prairie Deluge.’ It has already been identified as the most costly natural disaster in Canadian history. I’m referring to the catastrophic flooding that we have experienced around my city (Abbotsford, BC) through the final week of November 2021. […]
Q&R: “The End”??
Question Some time back we heard and read some intriguing biblical presentations with historical back-up about how much of what the church is still anticipating about “the End” (Jesus’ prophecies at the end of Matthew’s gospel) has already come to pass at 70AD. Can you share your thoughts on this subject? Response Yes, within the […]
“One of Us” – Simone Weil, Christianity for the Spectrum – Bradley Jersak
“One of Us” – Simone Weil, A Christianity for the Spectrum I’m a doctor, but not that kind. I am a theologian, not a medical professional. I can’t diagnose diseases or disorders. But having been immersed for sixteen years in a fellowship that was uniquely comprised of people who lived with a range of disabilities, […]
The Grace of the Holy Spirit vs. ‘Exemptive’ Grace Justification
It seems to me that the juridical (legal) translation of δικαιοσὐνη as “justification” (rather than “righteousness”) in our Bibles actually comes with an assumption (or even an agenda). Namely, to justify an exemption from existential engagement with the Way of the Cross. That is, ironically, Grace is taken as an exit ramp from […]
Q&R with Brad: How do predictions of O.T. events also point to Christ?
QUESTION I’m onto your new book, A More Christlike Word. I am no longer stuck on all the Old Testament violence. My reaction is now, “How in the world did I not know ANY of this growing up in the church?” But when I got to page 65 in your book, I paused and thought […]
“Stay in your lane, Brad” … I think I won’t.
In 2003, I began to write a series of books about hearing God’s voice, starting with Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God who speaks. Those works launched an itinerant ministry, training people in the beautiful practice of “listening prayer”—a contemplative practice with effective results in the world of “inner healing.” Nothing I’ve […]
Q&R: Why can’t I hear God’s voice?
Question: Why can’t I hear God’s voice or feel God’s presence, even after asking him? I only recently turned to Jesus despite growing up in a Christian household, and so far I’m only relying on other people to keep me from turning away from Jesus. I hear stories and watch videos exploring Christianity, but even […]