When “Every Eye Shall See Him…” The Salvation of the Human Will – Bradley Jersak
QUESTION Christ’s death saves humanity from hell as a place of eternal torment, but many people don’t realize it and live apart from God. When they cross over in death, I believe all deception will be removed, and they will know the truth. But they can still have the option to accept the gift or […]
You can now pre-order “Out of the Embers” (by Bradley Jersak)
Now available for pre-order OUT OF THE EMBERS: FAITH AFTER THE GREAT DECONSTRUCTION by Bradley Jersak foreword by Brian Zahnd CLICK HERE to order now Description: Deconstruction: Trendy brand name for falling away from belief in God? Or a process essential to authentic faith? Liberation or trauma? Prison break or exile? It’s complicated. Just like […]
Bradley Jersaks foreword to Alvin Kimel’s “Destined for Joy”
Alvin Kimel, Destined for Joy Foreword by Bradley Jersak With great joy, I have for a decade followed Fr. Aiden Kimel as he forged a path of inquiry that unveiled answers, advanced an exploration that yielded discovery, and posited a hope that became deep conviction—for me and in many others. His biblical, historical, and philosophical posts have completely convinced me […]
Expanding Mercy – Every Kindness of God – Bradley Jersak
At some point in my early Christian training, I inherited the memorable maxim, Mercy is not getting what you do deserve, Grace is getting what you do not deserve. It seemed clever, so I adopted and often repeated those lines when defining those two important words. As a young pastor, I even posted it as […]
Q&R: Why did Jesus choose only male disciples?
QUESTION Do you have any thoughts on why Jesus chose twelve men for his group, but no women in his inner circle? RESPONSE Excellent question! The short answer: he didn’t! What helps me most on this question is examining the way the disciples wrote each of the four Gospels, noting where they are not identical. […]
Q&R: If Christ ‘draws everyone,’ does he violate free will? Bradley Jersak
QUESTION In John 12:32, Jesus promises, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” That seems like good news for everyone because the only contingency is whether Christ will be lifted up (crucified). But it raises questions. What about free will or human agency or a willing […]
Universal Hope – Bradley Jersak
TEXTS REFERENCED Luke 3:6 John 1:7 John 1:29 John 3:35 John 4:42 John 6:33,37,39 John 8:12 John 12:32 John 13:3 John 17:2 Acts 3:21 Romans 5:18 Romans 11:26 Romans 11:32 1 Corinthians 15:21,22 1 Corinthians 15:26,28 Ephesians 1:9,10 Ephesians 1:22,23 Philippians 2:10,11 Philippians 3:21 Colossians 1:15-17,20 1 Timothy 2:4 1 Timothy 4:10 Titus 2:11 Hebrews […]
Fridays with Godfather: Holiness, Presence, Conversion & Restoration – Bradley Jersak
Fridays with Godfather: “Holiness,” Conversion & Restoration Ever since my confessor, Staretz Varlaam, joined the “cloud of witnesses” in February 2020, my dear godfather, David Goa, has generously stepped into that gaping breach to spend an hour each week with me on the phone. I share my struggles, look for his input, and we enjoy […]
“Let the Peace of Christ reign in your heart” – Bradley Jersak
“Let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts” – Colossians 3:15 This morning I’m feeling peaceful, despite the usual congenital temptation to pick up lurking worries. I’ve had some outside help… I’ve been enjoying a coffee on my deck, sitting with my baby grandson (who’s singing to me sweetly), and feeding peanuts to some adolescent […]
The Gospel: A Banquet Invitation – Bradley Jersak
A Pressurized Gospel My earliest Christian formation taught me the urgency of “evangelism,” which in that stream of faith, focused heavily on Jesus’ “great commission,” which included the mandate to “…go and make disciples of all nations,…” (Matthew 28:19). For us, that meant trying to “convert” people—convincing them to “ask Jesus into their hearts” by […]