Wes McAdams's Blog, page 9

The Sexual Ethics of Jesus and His People

No issue is more contentious in our culture than sexual ethics. From the outside, followers of Jesus are accused of being bigots. And from the inside, many preachers, writers, and theologians are questioning whether or not Scripture is really as clear on sexual ethics as we’ve always asserted. Co-habitation, same-sex relationships, transgenderism, and more; ours has become a tricky culture to navigate with kindness and without compromise.

Everyone Has a Sexual Ethic

Every person with whom I hav...

Are We Giving Money “to God” on Sundays?

For decades there have been countless church arguments and even splits over how “the Lord’s money” can and cannot be spent. But what if we’ve been working from some flawed assumptions? We typically assume that putting money in the collection plate is giving money “to God” and we assume the church’s bank account is a treasury of sacred funds belonging to the Lord. But are these biblical assumptions?

To Whom are We Giving?

I’ve always assumed that when the collection plate is passed on Sunday mor...

1 Corinthians 6:19 Re-Examined: Your Body is a Temple

In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul asked, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” The implications of a Christian’s body being a temple of the Holy Spirit are deep and profound. However, this sentiment is also often misapplied. What does it mean for your body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit? Does it mean you need to exercise and eat right? Does it mean you shouldn’t get tattoos or piercings? Let’s re-examine this passage in context.

How...

Five Things I Love About Churches of Christ

I grew up in churches of Christ. I unapologetically claim them as my family. But as a millennial, I recognize that many of my peers in churches of Christ are leaving or are incredibly critical. Of course, I recognize the truth in some of their complaints, but there are still countless reasons I love, appreciate, and remain committed to the congregations who identify as churches of Christ.

Please don’t read the following list in a holier-than-thou tone. I’m certainly not saying churches of Chri...

Spiritual Things NOT More Important Than Physical Things

A paradigm shift happens when you change or correct an assumption on which other conclusions are based. Most Christians, for instance, assume spiritual things are more important than physical things. Do you hold that assumption? If so, there are probably many other conclusions about the Bible, salvation, Chrisitan living, and more that are all based on that assumption. But what if that assumption is false? Maybe it’s time for a paradigm shift.

“Spiritual” in the New Testament

When we use the wo...

What is the Kingdom of God? – Understanding Jesus

One of the most important themes of Jesus’ ministry is the theme of “kingdom.” Matthew uses the phrase, “kingdom of heaven,” while Mark and Luke prefer the term, “kingdom of God.” Almost everything Jesus taught revolved around the idea of the kingdom, but many of us really don’t understand the significance of Jesus’ “kingdom” teaching. Here are some things that might help us understand what Jesus means when he teaches about the kingdom of God.

The Promise of a Kingdom

The Hebrew prophets, who l...

Is It Wrong to Celebrate Religious Days Like Christmas and Easter?

I very much believe Scripture should be that which shapes and informs our doctrines and practices. I do not believe Christians should create new doctrines or practices that we do not find in the New Testament. With that in mind, I would like to share with you why I believe Christians can observe man-made religious days (like Christmas or Easter) without violating these principles.

Purim and Hanukkah

In the book of Esther, the Jews created a holiday, “Purim,” to commemorate being saved from a ge...

Don’t Be Afraid: What I Noticed When I Read Revelation

It is a shame that the book of Revelation is either ignored or read in a hyper-literal way. Christians seem to either be scared of it or obsessed with trying to “decode” it. I think we should simply heed the admonition at the beginning of the book by reading it aloud, hearing it, and keeping the things that are written in it. Revelation blessed its original audience and it can continue to bless the church today if we will heed its encouraging and timeless message.

Apocalyptic Literature

When re...