Jason Clark's Blog, page 17

The Church and Her Hierarchy of Exclusion

The Church and Her Hierarchy of Exclusion The Infamous Elder's Meeting

Excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus

One of the graces on my life is conflict resolution. I can help folks see from Greater Love’s perspective. Several years ago, I had a job that required me to use this ability almost daily. As a Family Pastor, I was often in meetings that had the potential to be heated or where difficult decisions would need to be made.

One afternoon, I received a text from our senior pastor asking me to set aside my evening and join him at our south campus to help my good friend and campus pastor, Mark Appleyard, navigate a sticky issue between a couple of his elders.

I remember calling Karen to give her a heads-up. “Hey, Babe, looks like I’ll be home late tonight. There is a meeting I’ve been asked to attend.”

“What’s it about?”

“Not sure; there’s a conflict with some of Mark’s elders.”

I have attended meetings where difficult topics were discussed—money issues, moral failing, church splits, firings, broken trust in relationships, abuses, and infidelities, and so on; but I have to admit, the issue the elders had with Mark caught me off guard.

Women in ministry!

Honestly, at first, I was almost amused by the absurdity of it. Apparently, during the Sunday service, one of the women on the worship team had prayed with authority and confidence over the microphone from the stage. In response, a couple of the elders had called a meeting.

Now, I sat dumbfounded at a table with Mark, the senior pastor, and three elders, two of whom were outraged. It wasn’t a joke. They were serious and deeply offended by the fact that Mark seemed entirely in support of women praying with confidence and authority through a microphone from any stage. Their indignant outrage was ugly; there was nothing amusing about it.

Suddenly, I became annoyed. I’d given up my evening for this religious bullshit? But I could see both the senior pastor and Mark were in earnest, so I took a deep breath, reminded myself why I’d been asked to be there—conflict resolution—and followed Mom’s childhood instruction. You know it, “If you can’t say anything nice….”

I held my tongue while Mark and the senior pastor steadily and generously challenged the two elders with Scripture highlighting women’s roles in ministry—from Miriam in Exodus and Deborah in Judges to the women who participated with Jesus in ministry. You know, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna. And Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee. And Mary, the mother of James and Joseph. (1)

Then, there was that time Jesus, God, the Creator of the Universe, was born of a woman. (2)

Then, there was another time when the resurrected Christ appeared first to a woman. (3)

I held my tongue while the two elders provided their Scriptures, to wit: “…women should be silent in the churches…for they are not permitted to speak, but should remain silent and subordinate.” (4) And, “I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.” (5)

The two elders believed that because their thoughts were biblical, they were somehow true. Of course, they were not. Jesus was far from them. Greater Love was nowhere to be found. And their condescending, self-righteous exclusion of women from ministry was the telltale sign.

Biblically defended hierarchy is always a sign that those searching Scripture are doing so outside of cruciform love. When that happens, it’s not long before such an approach to Scripture leads to the self-righteous justification of broken and abusive systems.

I continued to hold my tongue as the conversation became more intense. Mark wasn’t backing down, and neither were the two elders.

I held my tongue as I looked around the table and realized who was not present. “Six men, including me, had gathered to determine the role of women in our church,” I thought. “Women were being excluded from this very conversation!”

I was beyond annoyed at this point, but I kept holding my tongue…

A Hierarchy Of Exclusion

I sat quietly as the two elders held stubbornly to their biblically based misogyny. They demanded surrender to their cruelly distorted biblical view around the subjugation of women. They wanted the woman who had taught from the stage, and all others, to operate according to their discriminate biblically sourced hierarchy of exclusion.

You know, if Jesus isn’t our hermeneutic, our method of interpretation, if Greater Love isn’t the lens through which we know God and ourselves, we can read the Bible and draw asinine authoritative conclusions, such as “women are less valuable than men.”

And let me be clear. That is so often the heart behind any issue of exclusion, including the exclusion of women from ministry. Exclusion is often hierarchal and dualistic. It positions people as us or them, in or out, for or against.

Exclusion is often the fruit of a retributive, or penal substitutionary atonement, view of the cross—as though the Father looked away, as though Jesus only died to save some, as though Greater Love didn’t reconcile all creation, as though what was lost in Adam wasn’t fully restored in Christ, as though at the cross there was a delineation between Jew or Gentile, black or white, lost or found, sinner or saint, gay or straight, republican or democrat, capitalist or socialist, Christian or Muslim…woman and ministry—as though there is still a veil that separates some from His all-inclusive, measurelessly reconciling love.

Let’s be clear. There is no us or them at the cross, no for or against at the cross, no in or out at the cross. God reconciled all creation at the cross. But to the extent we don’t know and embrace this Truth is to the extent we will participate in hierarchies of exclusion.

These two elders used the Bible to justify their elitist-driven exclusion—control, or subjugation, in its sexist form.

As the conversation grew increasingly tense, I continued to hold my tongue. Finally, Mark turned to me, “Jason, you’ve been quiet. Do you have any thoughts you could add?”

This is when the conflict resolution guy says something generous to create a safe environment to help everyone see the issue from Greater Love’s perspective. Hopefully, the convicting power of Holy Spirit leads the group to repent, come together, and find a resolution. And that’s precisely what I did.

“I’m sorry. I’m not wearing my bra tonight.” I responded.

A few things for clarity: First, had a woman been present, I can’t imagine I’d have given the same response. I wouldn’t have wanted to risk offense. But that was the problem. No women were at the table, just the religious older brother spirit—offense was the point.

Second, Mark and I are still good friends.

Finally, I don’t own a bra.

A brief uneasy pause ensued. Mark smiled, the senior pastor chuckled nervously, and I continued. “Guys, I feel incredibly uncomfortable discussing the role of women in ministry with five other men.”

Mark burst out laughing. He is a good leader and took the reins to clarify further. Essentially, enough was enough. We wouldn’t validate this religious farce any longer. The meeting ended with the two elders’ resignation—given and received. And to this day, Mark likes to tell the story about that time I helped him with an elders’ meeting.

1 Mark 15:40–41 & Luke 8:1–3 & Matthew 27:55–56
2 Galatians 4:4
3 John 20:11
4 1 Corinthians 14:34
5 1 Timothy 2:12

I excerpted this article from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW!

Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… AMY SIMMONS & KRISPIN MAYFIELD / Attachment Theory and a Healthy Spirituality

by A Family Story | August 12, 2020 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Life, Marriage, Parenting, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season One | 2 Comments

The parent-child relationship and our formative years greatly influence how we navigate everything, including our spirituality and faith. Often our theological deconstructions are the fruit of discovering a God with whom we feel loved, secure, and safe; where we move from insecure to secure attachment.

The post ALLEN ARNOLD / THE EDEN OPTION appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 29, 2023 20:55

EDEN JERSAK / A LOVE THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE

Eden Jersak A Love That Includes Everyone

iTunes Spotify Google YouTube

“My mom exemplified this (The Tree of Life) further every time she invited the “black sheep” of the family to our family Christmas events. That was confusing to me as a child because in my mind, and in our culture, they were most certainly “Out,” yet that never deterred my mom from inviting them to our table.” Eden Jersak.

In this podcast, Pastor Eden shares about our heavenly Father’s grace, love, kindness, and all-inclusive love. The cross, the journey of inclusion, reconciliation, pastoring, and valuing humanity as Jesus does, this conversation is between two relational human beings endeavoring to love well.

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!

For more on Eden Jersak
Email: edenjersak@gmail.com
Website: www.thebridgeonline.ca

Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

Follow Follow Follow Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… THE CROSS with DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | January 6, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 3 Comments

In this first episode of season two, Jason and new host Derek Turner dive into the wonder of what Jesus revealed about our Father and humanity through the cross and resurrection.

The post EDEN JERSAK / A LOVE THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 22, 2023 09:33

The Church and Her Inclusively Transformative Nature

The Church And Her Inclusively Transformative Nature

Excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus

I love the Church. She raised me. Most of my deepest friendships have been formed in the church. I’ve experienced Her compassion, authenticity, kindness, generosity, wisdom, grace, desire for righteousness, wholeness, and innocence. I’m also thankful for Her various expressions.

I’m not writing about the institution. Rather, I’m writing about the people I’ve known and with whom I’ve grown through the vast expressions of the Church.

I’ve been sensitive with seekers, shook with shakers, kneeled with kneelers, been lowly in high church, taken communion with robed Episcopalians, and fallen to the ground with 3,000 brothers and sisters after John Wimber prayed.

I’ve received benedictions with Catholics and confessed with a priest in Haiti just outside a children’s hospital where he poured out his life for the least of these. (1)

I’ve tasted God’s goodness with the Methodist, raised a song with the Baptist, missionaried with the Alliance and The Assemblies, prayed in tongues with Pentecostals, and cried out in righteous hunger with friends from Kansas City. I’ve become close with friends who are Eastern Orthodox and discovered the riches of the Anabaptists.

I’ve experienced the holiness of God in a home of the underground Church in China, danced with exuberant worshipers in South Africa, fellowshipped with hundreds of Filipinos who walked days to participate in revival, and laughed with loved and cared-for orphans in Nicaragua.

I’ve seen the impact of the church, miracles large and small—more than a book could contain, broken marriages restored, the lonely put in family, the poor made rich, bodies made whole, and hearts, minds, and lives transformed. I’ve seen addicts set free and imaginations restored. I’ve seen the poor receive care, the hungry fed, the widow, and the orphan loved and protected.

I’ve been part of men’s movements that swept the world, challenging us to live lives of character and kindness. I’ve been a part of equality movements for race and gender where faithful women and men of all colors confronted and led us as we repented for participating in prejudice, exclusivity, and hierarchy.

I could write a book on the history of how the Church has tended to every broken and unjust issue in this often cruel and punishing world. And it would barely scratch the surface of the heaven-to-earth impact the Church has had. Throughout history, the Church has been full of good people, friends of God whose lives became generous expressions of Greater Love. The world is infinitely richer because of the Church’s authentic other-centered kindness.

Greater Love is the hope for the world, and the church is God’s expression of it. The Church is God’s idea, and His ideas are always brilliant. The Church is the city on a hill; the light meant to illuminate His reconciliation for all creation.

I love the Church. I wrote this book for Her. And it’s because of my love for the Church that I confront our obsession with separation, our infatuation with retribution, and the hypocrisy of exclusion.

In my twenties, the early days of my deconstruction, long before anyone used that term, those post-Bible College years when I reacted against the cruel and unkind hypocrisies within the institution, I often wondered if a baby was in the bath water. In those early days, I thought the only hope for the Church was Jesus’ return, and I occasionally thought about waiting for Him at home. But those days are so far behind me I hardly remember them.

You see, as I’ve left every Jesus that isn’t reconciling. I’ve also left every idea of church that isn’t built upon the Cornerstone of Greater Love. I’ve left every aspect of the church that practices us or them, in or out, for or against; and when I find I haven’t, I repent.

Like Peter, I am discovering the Church Jesus described when He prayed that we would be one just as He was one with His Father. (2) I am awakening to the inclusive Church Jesus revealed when He told His disciples, “On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (3)

There is no hierarchy in the Trinity, only mutual, self-giving love. The last are first, and the first are last because that’s how love works. Love is a circle, an ever-expanding revelation. And when the Church mirrors this Truth, there is no end to transformation.

I love the Church. Her history is rich in reconciliation, but we haven’t even scratched the surface of Her inclusively transformative nature. I see a Church awakening to the never leaving, never forsaking, cruciform love of God, and my heart is that we might repent of any heretic circles within the Church that shut people out—because I’m convinced Greater Love “shows no partiality.”

Jesus in us and through us has “the wit to win!” And we, the Church, are meant to partner with reconciling love to draw bigger circles that take all creation in!

1 Matthew 25:40
2 John 17:21
3 John 14:20

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW!

Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… LEAVING (& FINDING) JESUS WITH DEREK TURNER & JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | July 14, 2021 | Interview, Intimacy, Life, Popular, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

God’s sovereignty revealed by Jesus through cruciform, self-giving love, the nature of trust, intimacy, and union, and the transforming truth that there is no shadow of turning with God, in this podcast the guys explore Jason’s upcoming book, Leaving (& Finding) Jesus. This conversation juxtaposes an inclusive, reconciling, self-giving, unconditional view of God’s love against an excluding, hierarchal, punishment-focused, conditional view of God’s love.

Read More We Are So Worth The Blood Of Jesus!

by Lloyd Clark | April 8, 2020 | Articles, Faith, Intimacy, Lloyd's Corner, The Fathers Love | 1 Comment

As my friend, Dan Mohler says, “I am so worthy of the blood of Jesus.” He loves me! And it’s never ever had anything to do with my behavior or performance. I am enough! And so are you!

The post EDEN JERSAK / A LOVE THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 22, 2023 09:24

The Price Is Too Steep

Excerpted from Leaving and Finding Jesus / Chapter Seven: Retribution

For about two weeks after I released the article in which I’d responded to the question, “Can you be saved after you die,” with the answer, “Yes, I sure hope so,” I lived oblivious to the nuclear-sized bomb I’d dropped within our church circles—especially with some of the leadership in our church.

I had no idea how offensive the article was until a pastor friend reached out so we could “catch up” over coffee.

“Do you actually believe you can be saved after you die?” He asked, minutes into our conversation. It was less a question and more an accusation. I sensed what I said next could affect our friendship, so I spoke carefully. “In light of my growing trust in God’s reconciling love, yes…” Then acknowledging my article as the source of his question, I smiled good-naturedly and added, “…I sure hope so.”

He nodded seriously. There was no return smile, just concern and—anger. “He’s offended,” I realized as he gathered himself. Then, to his credit, he confronted me—not from his offense but with a sincere concern for my immediate and, quite possibly, eternal well-being.

“Jason, I share your hope, but….” Then he told me the heartbreaking story of how his dad, at age 80, died in a violent car crash. “The car rolled several times, and he died of a broken neck,” he said.

“Jason, my siblings, and I shared the gospel with him for 20 years, and for 20 years, he resisted. He wanted nothing to do with God. To my knowledge, he never accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior before the accident.”

Then, in great anguish, my pastor friend looked at me and said, “But I’m hopeful he’s in heaven—” I began to respond like that orthodox priest who encouraged the boy to pray for Judas. With a deep hope in the reconciling nature of the love of my best friend, Jesus, I earnestly said, “Amen! Me too–”

He waved his hand brusquely to hush me. Then continued with a corrective tone. “I’m hopeful my siblings and I shared enough of the gospel over the years that he knew to cry out to God before he died. We have no reason to believe he would have, but I’m hopeful.”

The cruelty of his statement shook me. As he continued, my heart broke for him.

“I’m hopeful that before he lost control of the car, before it flipped, before his neck broke, he was able to get out a prayer—to cry out to God. And I’m hopeful it was enough.”

My heart grew heavier each time he emphasized the word hope.

“In light of the circumstances, I’m not sure that his prayer would be enough,” he lamented, “But I’m hopeful, you know, that God heard him. I’m hoping he is in heaven. But…”

Then he went on to agonize over the likelihood that his dad was not in heaven.

I was heartsick and disturbed by the theological certainty he placed in the punishing nature of God—a certainty that was clearly crushing him. He was tormented over whether he’d “evangelized” enough. He wondered aloud if a prayer said in the horror of a violent car crash would be enough.

“What am I still lacking?” That was the cruel and punishing road my pastor friend traveled. He seemed to believe God counted his dad’s sins against him—and his dad had come up lacking.

My pastor friend’s pain was real, traumatizing, and tragically unnecessary.

You see, what he described to me wasn’t Christian hope. It was fatalism.

His hope wasn’t placed in the measureless love of Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins, rejections, cruelties, confusion, delusions, or capacity to be deceived against them. His “hope” was placed in a heavenly Father who looks away—a punishing god who must bend the knee to my pastor friend’s finite understanding.

Like so many of our Christian leaders today, he gave me the religion of separation. He presented the retributive idea that all humanity is born into Adam, but it takes a specific prayer to get us into Christ. He gave me the religion of transaction, and, like many of our Christian leaders today, he twisted the language of relationship into a contradiction of Greater Love.

My pastor friend approached salvation through the unforgiving nature of time. And for his dad, when it came to God’s reconciling love, time had most likely run out. And this is the point at which a retributive theological belief about God is exposed as perverse.

You see, for my pastor friend’s dad, when it came to God’s reconciling love, time was finite. But when it came to God’s punishment, time is infinite, and his dad was most likely gonna spend an eternity tormented by fire in some place where Greater Love couldn’t reach him.

I felt crushed for my pastor friend and disgusted that he believed this bullshit about our friend Jesus, so I challenged His God lens.

“Bro, you just told me that your faith is in a heavenly Father who likely condemned your earthly father to eternal damnation. Man, the price you are paying to follow a God who punishes is too steep. For you to be a Christian, your dad must suffer an eternity in hell.”

Then I told him about my hope. “I have placed my hope in the belief that God is like Jesus; I have put my hope in the One who came to save men’s lives, not destroy them. (1) My hope is that God is in Christ reconciling your dad to Himself, not counting his rejection or brokenness against him.

While I don’t know what that could mean for your dad, I am convinced this hope is the joy of his, yours, and my salvation; the very joy Jesus set before Him while He endured the cross.” (2)

Then, with deepening faith in the reconciling love of God, I referenced the question he had confronted me with, “Can you be saved after you die? I asked.

And then answered, “Yes, I sure hope so.”

1 Luke 9:56
2 Hebrews 12:2
1 John 17:21

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW!

Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… The Nature of Soap

by Jason Clark | September 25, 2019 | Articles, Faith, Prone To Love | 9 Comments

Next to the toilet was a large barrel filled with clean-ish water. Floating in the water was a big plastic cup. The cup was for both flushing and bathing. Oh, I forgot to note, the toilet room was also the shower.

The post The Price Is Too Steep appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 15, 2023 22:57

TOMMY MILLER / DEATHLESS

Tommy Miller Deathless

iTunes Spotify Google YouTube

Union, inclusion, sin, grace, sonship, the covenants, a very high view of Jesus and humanity, and biblical immortality, Tommy Miller shares about his new book, Deathless. Tommy is passionate about seeing the local Church equip sons to look like their Father and create atmospheres that look like heaven, and it’s evident in this revelatory conversation.

“Deathless” is a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of biblical immortality, and the guys have a brilliant conversation unpacking this thought.

For Tommy’s FREE CLASS on the Covenants, CLICK HERE and enter the code – NCCFREE

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!

For more on Tommy Miller
Tommy’s Facebook
Legacy Church Website: www.legacychurchint.org
New Creation Collective’s Facebook

Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

Follow Follow Follow Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… DALE HOWIE / UNSPOKEN SERMONS ON THE GOOD NEWS OF INCLUSION

by A Family Story | June 23, 2021 | Interview, Intimacy, Life, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 3 Comments

Paraphrasing the sermons of George MacDonald, Dale Howie shares his sometimes painful, often beautiful, journey of awakening to the irreducible truth of life discovered in relationship. He speaks to grace, our common Fatherhood, our inclusion in Christ’s life, death and resurrection, our union, and the wonder of our humanity. A humble storyteller and relational theologian, Dale speaks as a father on behalf of Our Father, who loves all His children with a reconciling love.

Read More KATHRYN LYNN CIENIEWICZ / LOVE IS THE LONG GAME

by A Family Story | February 24, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

Salvation, hell, justice, equality, the bible, and the unconditional transformative always good Love of God; in this insightful interview, Kathryn talks about her spiritual deconstruction and the journey of rethinking God. She brilliantly addresses the sin of certainty, newfound feminism, and a Love that casts out all fear.

Read More THE POLAR EXPRESS WITH JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | December 21, 2022 | Art, Dreaming, Faith, Leadership, Life, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Short Story, Untamed, Writing | 0 Comments

“It’s Christmas Eve, and instead of dreaming of the best day of the year, the boy is in his bedroom agonizing over the universal question: Does God…sorry, I mean Santa Claus, really exist?”

In this final podcast of 2022 and season three, Jason shares a story from his first book about the Polar Express, and faith. Whether you’re tired or wide awake, full or empty, lost or found, sick or whole, you are loved by Triune God who walks beside you, will never leave you, and invites you to awaken to His affection and love. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, and goodwill toward men!”

Read More SCOT MCKNIGHT / A CHURCH CALLED TOV

by A Family Story | January 19, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Life, Popular, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Co-Author of A Church Called TOV, Scot McKnight talks about his new book written in response to the abuses of power, sexual abuse, and spiritual abuse within the leadership of Willow Creek, Harvest, and sadly churches of all shapes and sizes.

We talked about TOV (which means goodness) and how when we practice empathy, compassion, extending grace, putting people first, telling the truth, promoting justice, and serving others, TOV emerges in the culture and we all become more Christlike.

Read More THERE IS NO “US OR THEM” AT THE CROSS

by A Family Story | September 15, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Leadership, Life, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three | 3 Comments

This podcast highlights Jason’s book, Leaving and finding Jesus, where he writes about his deconstructing faith journey. The book is Jason’s Emmaus Road discovery of a love that is reconciling all creation; a journey where he’s awakening to a burning heart while leaving every Jesus who won’t lay His life down for His friends.

Read More HE CALLS US FRIENDS WITH BRENT LOKKER & JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | May 12, 2022 | Intimacy, Life, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

This conversation with Jason Clark was hosted by Brent Lokker on his youtube channel Vibrant Life. This podcast begins with two dads sharing stories about helping their children encounter God as a loving Father. The guys dive into obedience in the context of union and friendship, learning to trust the unchanging nature of our Father, not as retributive, punishing, or abandoning, but as the tenderhearted one who accepts us, loves us, and is always good!

The post The Price Is Too Steep appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 13, 2023 16:03

Hell and the Older Brother

Excerpted from Leaving and Finding Jesus / Chapter Ten: Yes, I Sure Hope So

In Luke 15, Jesus told a story about an older brother. He worked his father’s land faithfully while his younger brother ran off with his inheritance to live in, as Benson’s Commentary notes, “unbounded riot and debauchery….” (1)

Then one day, while slaving under the hot sun, the older brother learned his prodigal brother had returned, received forgiveness, and been restored to the family. You probably remember what happened next.

Upon hearing about the prodigal’s return, the older brother leapt with delight, left his labor, and raced to the house to greet him. As he neared the house, he recognized the sounds of merrymaking. Thrilled that His Father had thrown a party, he ran to join them.

There was cheering, wonder, and joy as he reconciled with his brother in an embrace. The older brother also felt a stunning reverence for their father’s relentless, ultimate, restorative nature. “I have hoped and eagerly waited for this day. Reconciliation, at last!” The older brother thought as heaven invaded earth. And everyone was so happy!

Yeah, that’s not what happened.

The father did throw a reconciliation party, but the older brother wasn’t happy about it.

Instead, he took offense and became furious at his father’s forgiving and reconciling nature. As far he was concerned, time had run out on his younger sibling long ago. Hell trains, gnashing of teeth, and eternal separation in a lake of fire—you know, forever, etc. That was the punishment his little brother had earned.

“While my brother partied, I slaved,” the older brother thought angrily. Then he began to count sins. He hadn’t wallowed in “unbounded riot and debauchery” or rejected and betrayed the family. Like a Rich Young Ruler, he’d kept all the commandments. He hadn’t committed murder or adultery, hadn’t stolen anything, or given false testimony; he honored his father. “Hell, I’ve worked my ass off for the old man,” he thought as he fumed outside the reconciliation party.

That last thought was his tipping point into hell. “I’ve earned a reward while my brother has earned punishment, but instead, our father forgives and restores him to the family?” He thought. “It’s unacceptable!”

The older brother would take no part in forgiveness or reconciliation. He wouldn’t join the party. Hell, he wouldn’t even go into the same damn house! And that’s what he told his father after his dad left the ninety-nine to be with his wayward son.

The older brother fumed as his father stood quietly beside him outside the party. The laughter of reconciliation spilled into the cold dark night, each sound of joy offending his self-righteous paradigm until he couldn’t take it any longer. He turned and erupted.

“Look!” the older brother said to the Emmaus Road Stranger…

Wait, let me try that again.

“Look!” the older brother said to the Farmer who went out to sow seed…

Nope, one more time.

“Look!” the older brother said to his father. “All these years, I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet, you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.”

The father looked at his oldest boy and said, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” In essence, “Son, there has never been any need to slave under the heavy weight of reward and punishment. Eternal life has always been available to you here and now!”

The older brother was confronted with the offensive truth that he had been keeping score in a game his father wasn’t playing. When it comes to heaven and hell, I think most Western Christians are playing the same deterministic reward and punishment game, which reminds me of a joke I once heard from my friend Paul Young. It went something like this.

* * *

A man arrived suddenly at heaven’s gates. He was surprised and unsure of what to do. “Do I just walk in?” he wondered to himself. The Apostle Peter, who happened to have gate duty that day, saw the man’s consternation and walked over to him. Relieved, the man lowered his voice and asked, “So, do I just…walk in?”

Peter lowered his voice to match the fella and solemnly responded, “Well, I guess it depends.”

The man nodded, “It depends on something,” he thought. It made sense. “Uh…what does it depend on?” He asked.

Peter answered, “Well, it depends on how many points you have.

“I’m required to have points to get in?”

“Of course.”

“Uh…how many points do I need?”

Peter leaned in and quietly said, “You need a hundred points.”

The man thought for a moment, then grinned. “Only a hundred? Well, I pastored a church for 40 years; only took time off according to my contract. Preached the gospel and prayed for people.”

Peter smiled broadly. “That is wonderful. I will totally give you a point for that.”

The man looked shocked. “A point, one point? That’s all it’s worth, one point?”

“Totally worth a point,” Peter repeated, grinning.

“Uh…well, I worked at the soup kitchen on Saturday evening for a few years, you know, helping with the poor and all.”

“Another point, good for you.”

The man, nervous now, continued. “Okay, I asked Jesus to come into my heart as my Lord and Savior, was baptized and all?”

Peter thought for a few seconds before speaking. “Well, not sure about that one. Folks have only been doing that for a couple of hundred years, so probably not.”

The man began to panic as he thought about his life—all the stuff he had done and not done; and for what, two points?

Right about that time, another fella showed up, and the pastor recognized him as the owner of a coffee shop in the same town where he had lived and died. He was a nice guy, but only a C&E Christian. You know, Christmas and Easter. The fella walked by and waved to him and Peter and then proceeded without hesitation right through the Pearly Gates.

The pastor leaned forward and asked in a desperate and serious tone, “Are you kidding me? That guy has a hundred points?”

Peter put his arm around the pastor and grinned, “Naw, he’s just not playing this game!”

* * *

You know, when our faith is built upon the dualistic certainty of reward and punishment, we’ll think of heaven and hell in the context of points earned or lost. We’ll slave for a god who counts sin, a god who measures the width, length, height, and depth of the distance between us. And eventually, we will participate in the hell of separation and retribution in direct opposition with the reconciling heart of a good Father.

And how great is that darkness?

(1) Benson’s Commentary

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW!

Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… The Glory of God… Without Lifting A Finger

by Lloyd Clark | October 5, 2021 | Articles, Faith, Intimacy, Lloyd's Corner, Sin | 5 Comments

The romance is in the truth that God always loved me, before my co-operation or obedience. Long before I put my trust in Him, He was passionately in love with me. I have always been the apple of His eye! “I was in Him before I was in Adam!” And the incarnate Christ redeemed the glory that I already was!

Read More He Loves Me Best / S&U Message

by Jason Clark | January 2, 2012 | Art, Books, Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, The Fathers Love, Untamed | 2 Comments

The title of my message was “He loves me best!” I hope to post it here in the coming days, but for a quick synopsis, check out this film that was shot last year to help promote my book Surrendered & Untamed.

The post Hell and the Older Brother appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 08, 2023 15:15

BISHOP JAMIE ENGLEHART / MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

Bishop Jamie Englehart Myths & Misconceptions

iTunes Spotify Google YouTube

Lucifer and the devil, God, and control, union vs. separation, awakening to Light, Life, and Love, and approaching scripture through sonship; in this conversation, Bishop Jamie Englehart breaks down myths for truth and sheds light on many of our religious misconceptions that have been built upon separation.

Jamie’s understanding of the Kingdom of God, the New Covenant, and the heart of the Father is evident in every word he speaks.

Please rate, review, share, and subscribe!

For more on Jamie Englehart
Facebook
Website: www.connectinternationalministries.com

Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

Follow Follow Follow Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… DANIEL GROTHE / THE POWER OF PLACE

by A Family Story | March 15, 2022 | Articles, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Interview, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

Daniel Grothe and the guys discuss his new book, The Power of Place, which speaks the sense of loneliness that many feel in today’s age of hypermobility and noncommittal wandering, reminding us of the ancient vow of stability and teaching us how we can lead a richer life of friendship, community, and purpose.

They also touch on the deconstruction movement within the church, how authoritarian leadership has wounded and undermined trust, and how healing and connection are available only where we practice the long game of family.

Read More SHEILA & KEITH GREGOIRE / THE GOOD GUYS AND GIRL’S GUIDE TO GREAT SEX

by Jason Clark | December 14, 2022 | Intimacy, Marriage, Parenting, Popular, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Sin, The Fathers Love | 1 Comment

In this conversation, the guys talked with Sheila and Keith about intimacy, sex, and God’s design for our marriages. Based on groundbreaking surveys of more than twenty-five thousand people, the Gregoires shared how our theology impacts our intimacy, the nature of our sex drives, porn addiction, and freedom, all for the purpose of helping husbands and wives discover intimacy and experience great sex! This is both an insightful and fun conversation.

Read More THE DE/RECONSTRUCTING PARENT WITH SARAH TURNER & KAREN CLARK

by A Family Story | April 21, 2021 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, Intimacy, Leadership, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Sarah Turner and Karen Clark take the hosting reins to share their de/reconstructing faith journey and how, primarily through parenting, they began to rethink who God is and their approach to scripture, church, and ministry.

From Harry Potter and the college years to church life – the good, the bad, and the ugly, they talk about how parenting for connection and living an honest relationship with a loving God, is the most transformative thing we can do in our lives, our kids lives, and in ministry.

Read More ROD WILLIAMS / UNION WITH DISTINCTION

by A Family Story | February 2, 2022 | Faith, Interview, Life, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, The Fathers Love | 0 Comments

Union, a Triune God, mutual indwelling others-centered love (perichoresis) approaching scripture to discover Jesus, and communion are some of the themes Rod Williams dives into. What if “all” means “all” and God isn’t distant? There is no distance, no separation in God and this conversation is a beautiful invitation to awaken to that discovery and our union with Him.

The post Hell and the Older Brother appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 08, 2023 14:27

No Omissions

Excerpted from Leaving and Finding Jesus / Chapter Seven: Retribution

While we could discuss the afterlife endlessly, “I don’t know” is the only empirically true answer. As to the answer a relational theologian would give, I think anything less than “I sure hope so” would be anti-Christ. I don’t write that with condemnation, but as a challenge to the hearts and minds of friends of Jesus—that we might be set free!

As for me, “Yes, I sure hope so” is my answer. I’ve grown convinced that answer best aligns my heart with the heart Jesus demonstrated on the cross when, hanging between heaven and earth, He said, “Father, forgive them.”

* * *

“Them” is everyone.

There is no exclusion, no, “Father, forgive them….”

if they stop sinning

if they repent

if they receive Me

if they say a sinner’s prayer

if they believe in My name

if they love Me

if they love one another

if they obey My commandments

if they are faithful

if they read Scripture

if they believe in eternal conscious torment

if…

Nope.

Just, “Father, forgive them.”

All of them.

“For they know not what they do….” Their eyes are unhealthy, and how great is their darkness…

On that cross, God was in Christ reconciling “the world to Himself,” not counting our if’s against us. “The world” includes all the peoples.

There were no omissions, no “The world except everyone in Timbuctoo, El Dorado, and The Simpsons who live at 742 Evergreen Terrace in Springfield, Oregon.

Nope—just “the world.” All of it!

Then, Jesus, on a cross, proclaimed, “It is finished.”

* * *

“Finished” means “ended or completed.” I looked it up. Case closed, settled, resolved. No one was overlooked by Christ at the cross—not even Judas. Paul told us, “…in Adam, all die, so in Christ, all will be made alive.”

“All” means, “everyone.” I looked it up.

It’s crazy, but most Christians put their faith in the first part of that verse, “In Adam, all die,” but seem to completely ignore the second half and the whole point, “so in Christ all will be made alive.”

What does that ultimately mean? I don’t know, but I bet it’s measurelessly good, and I’m convinced that anything less than positioning our hearts in the hope that all means “everyone.” is not just anti-Christ; it places us firmly on the “What am I still lacking?” road, cut off from experiencing eternal life in the ever-present now. It positions us as self-righteous malcontents slaving on the wrong side of a three-foot concrete median, often in opposition to our Father’s reconciling heart…

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW!

Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… Seen and Known

by Hope Wiles | December 18, 2019 | Articles, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Life, The Fathers Love | 4 Comments

Sometimes He speaks when it’s quiet, and sometimes when its loud. Sometimes it’s inconvenient. Right in the middle of Walmart close to Christmas. Listen. Listen. Don’t miss the chance to connect with His heart. He invites us in. He invites us to not just know Him, but to have an experience of love as we follow through.

Read More Donald Millers, The Open Table: An Invitation to Walk with God

by Jason Clark | July 24, 2011 | Articles, Books, Faith, Life | 0 Comments

In early 2010, my brother Joel asked me if I would be interested in writing the guide book to the second offering of Donald Millers “The Open Table.” …

The post No Omissions appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 01, 2023 22:50

THOMAS JAY OORD & KEITH GILES / DECONSTRUCTING HELL

Thomas Jay Oord & Keith Giles Deconstructing Hell

iTunes Spotify Google YouTube

Perhaps no modern church dogma has been more destructive to the mission of Jesus, created more atheists, or generated more religious trauma than that of eternal conscious torment (ECT).

In this podcast, the guys talk with Thomas Jay Oord and Keith Giles about their collaboration on Chad Bahl’s book, Deconstructing Hell. The book brings together experts in their fields to take the reader on a historical, philosophical, and theological journey to deconstruct this harmful doctrine, and the podcast highlights Oord and Gile’s contribution.

The guys dive into the “logic of love” and offer compelling pathways to reconstruct a biblical perspective on the nature of God and our understanding of hell.

For more on Thomas Jay Oord, Keith Giles, or Chad Bahl
Thomas Jay Oord: www.thomasjayoord.com
Keith Giles: www.patheos.com/blogs/keithgiles/
Chad Bahl: www.facebook.com/chad.bahl

Deconstructing Hell: Amazon Link

Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde Assembly

Derek Turner Follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com

Follow Follow Follow Jason Clark is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY BUY NOW!

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… NAEEM FAZAL / REIMAGINING GOD

by A Family Story | June 30, 2021 | Interview, Intimacy, Life, Prayer, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two, The Fathers Love | 5 Comments

Naeem Fazal, founding pastor of Mosaic Church, and author of Ex-Muslim, talks about deconstruction or reimaging God. Naeem talks about the importance of being able to recognize God outside of our personal context, how to view sin, how to approach scripture, and a beautiful gospel that’s not just about a Jesus who saves but about a Jesus who is restoring humanity and all creation.

Read More SCOTT CROWDER / LEARNING TO BE PRESENT

by A Family Story | April 13, 2022 | Dreaming, Faith, Friends, Leadership, Music, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three | 2 Comments

Scott Crowder is a pastor, singer-songwriter, and one of Jason’s closest friends. The guys dive into their love for the church, about learning how to be present with God, ourselves, each other, and our community. Scott talks about creating church cultures that practice the fruits of the Spirit, learning to lead ourselves and others in seasons of joy and sorrow, that “success” isn’t about numbers, cool fads, or being ‘front runners,’ it’s discovered in community.

Read More THE PROBLEM WITH RETRIBUTION WITH JASON CLARK

by A Family Story | February 22, 2023 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Intimacy, Leaving and Finding Jesus, Miracles, Podcast, Popular, Relationship, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Four, Sin, The Fathers Love, Writing | 0 Comments

This podcast announces and features Jason’s new book, Leaving and Finding Jesus, in audio format. Retribution is the title of chapter seven and is presented in its entirety. In this chapter and podcast, Jason juxtaposes retribution with reconciliation and recognizes that a punishment lens on the nature of God is one of the reasons the church is navigating broken trust. It’s also why we currently find ourselves in a Deconstruction Movement.

God is as Jesus revealed Him, and on a cross Jesus forgave. God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself.

Read More BRIAN MCLAREN / FAITH AFTER DOUBT

by A Family Story | June 9, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Leadership, Life, Popular, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two | 5 Comments

“Christian faith, for me, is no longer a static location but a great spiritual journey…what matters most…is not where we are but where we’re going.” This podcast is a gentle invitation to discover a way of faith defined by love. Brian and Jason discuss navigating rejection, stepping away from literalism, and inerrancy in our approach to scripture and faith, and their personal journey of trusting that God is better than our best thoughts about Him.

Read More CARLOS PADILLA / WALKING IN GOD’S POWER

by A Family Story | May 5, 2021 | Faith, Interview, Intimacy, Leadership, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season Two | 0 Comments

Healing, miracles, the power of God, evangelism through the gospel of inclusion, faith, and reframing repentance, Carlos shares about his journey of discovering that the miraculous, or a transformed life, is simply about discovering God’s love and our origin and union in Him.

Read More JOHN CROWDER / TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY

by A Family Story | May 25, 2022 | Crisis of Identity, Faith, God Is Not In Control, Hell, Rethinking God Podcast, Rethinking God with Tacos / Season three, Sin, The Fathers Love | 2 Comments

John Crowder pulls from the different streams of the church to talk about Christilogical Trinitarian theology, grace, union, contemplative practice, intimacy, and mystical Christianity. John and Jason dive into the Cross, Western atonement theories, and the religious industry built upon separation; how Jesus is healing the human race. John describes a relationship with a person, Christ. He invites us to embrace mystery so we might discover that God looks like Jesus.

The post No Omissions appeared first on A Family Story.

View more on Jason Clark's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on March 01, 2023 18:56

Trust Is My Throughline

Excerpted from Leaving and Finding Jesus / Chapter Seven: Retribution

I interviewed William Paul Young, author of The Shack, a couple of years ago. During the conversation, he asserted, “Trust is my throughline.” I loved the statement. It resonated deeply.

A “throughline” is a central theme on which a writer focuses, holding the whole piece together.

Trust is the central theme of life here on earth. Trust is our throughline and the evidence of heaven coming to earth. Trust is eternal life in the ever-present now. Trust is a Triune God perfectly revealed in the God-Man, Jesus. Trust is discovered in Jesus’ prayer that we would know union as He did—first with Him, our heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit; then with each other.

Trust is defined in Jesus’ rebuke of Peter’s swung sword and revealed at a cross through the sovereignty of Greater Love. 1

Trust is the goal for every human interaction on this often broken and divided planet, and, because it is an often broken and divided planet, trust is our most valuable commodity. And it is a commodity: it’s both earned and traded.

I’ll say it again. Trust is earned through faithfulness over time by those who lay down their lives. When it comes to this world, without trust, there is no eternal life, no heaven on earth, no family of God—only corporations, institutions, and systems for the purpose of control and power grabs.

Trust looks like Jesus. He earned our trust. He laid down His life to prove it. On His way to the cross, a Triune God rebuked the violence of Peter’s sword and gave His very life so we could fully and truly trust.

No one can experience union without trust, and only Greater Love can be fully trusted. Jesus is where trust can be placed, He is what trust looks like, and how trust works. Outside of the model Jesus gave us on a cross, reconciling the cosmos, not counting our divisions against us, trust is fleeting.

And, sadly, when it comes to much of the church today, trust is fleeting. Why? Because, instead of revealing in God’s measurelessly reconciling love, we have become obsessed with retribution.

Consequently, like my angry Christian friend, much of the church doesn’t seem to understand how trust works. Trust can’t be coerced, controlled, pressured, compelled, manipulated, or forced. There is no arm twisting, shaming, or condemning, no fear of retribution or punishment. Trust is only available through participating in mutual, other-centered, self-giving love.

Trust is earned through faithfulness, demonstrated over time, by those who lay down their lives. Period.

And trust is lost when love is presented through the faithless hypocrisy of a good Father who looked away, a punishing God who throws spears, a condemning God who swings swords, and a people who do the same.

Thankfully, Jesus took the trust-compromising, retributive God lens to the cross. God in Christ stepped inside the cruel and fallen belief of retribution and blew up the whole thing. Cruciform love reconciled the world. Then, He rose from the grave, met Peter on a beach, reconciled him in love, and has been building His church upon the Rock of reconciling love ever since.

And only upon this Cornerstone can the church be trusted to feed His Sheep.

1 John 17:21

This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
Order Now At AMAZON.COM

ORDER NOW!

Jason Clark is a bestselling storyteller who writes to reveal the transforming kindness of the love of God. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children, Madeleine, Ethan, and Eva. Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow JOIN OUR MAILING LIST GIVE TO A FAMILY STORY YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE… Sibling Rivalry: The Pee Tyrant

by Jason Clark | October 12, 2009 | Art, Articles, Short Story | 7 Comments

At 10 years of age, I thought that this was grossly inappropriate. Now if Joel had needed to pee…