wine – The Two Cities

Check Out My New Article on Wine and Temple Theology in Ephesians 5.18–21

Jan 16, 2019

Recently my new article on Ephesians 5.18–21 was published in the Polish Catholic Theological Journal, Biblica et Patristica Thoruniensia. The article is called “Filled with the Spirit: Wine and Worship in Levitical Light (Ephesians 5.18–21).” In this piece I try to make sense of a number of intriguing issues related to Ephesians 5.18–21 in its literary context which, in my opinion, have not been addressed in a fully convincing manner. This piece represents something of a signpost...

Responding to “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink”

Jun 7, 2016

Did you all see the article, “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink,” make its way around Facebook? Typically when I see stuff like this I just roll my eyes and carry on with my business. But for some unknown reason I decided to give this article a quick glance. Most of the points were predictable. Although this is the sort of article that really doesn’t warrant a response, I feel a little compelled to address...

Why did Jesus use Alcohol for Communion?

Sep 23, 2015

Until I recently moved to Scotland, I spent most of my Christian life in American Evangelical churches. In these churches, they have unanimously done communion with grape juice, without the option to use wine if one so desired. As much as I regularly experienced this, I never really understood why churches decide to use grape juice instead of wine, apart (of course) from the fact that it would make those who have had addictions to alcohol stumble....

The Eucharist with Children

Oct 2, 2013

The Huffington Post recently published an article thanking the parents of young children for bringing their kids to church because of all that it teaches us about being part of the Body of Christ. I couldn’t agree more. Specifically, I think of all the things the children in our church have taught me about the Eucharist. When you take the Eucharist surrounded by children, you experience theological truths in the flesh. You see them brought...

Christian Beer and the Question of Weed

Jul 24, 2012

This week I’m in Amsterdam for the International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. Yes, that’s right, a Bible conference in Amsterdam. I can already say that this city is one of my favorites. It is absolutely wonderful. The canals and architecture are picturesque and make me wish I intended to stay longer. Of course, there are some sketchy bits to Amsterdam as well. The infamous “Coffee Shops” house copious amounts of weed that can...

God Feeds Us: Finding Acceptance in the Eucharist

Jul 18, 2012

When I was a kid, tons of things scared me–not the least of which was taking Communion. I can remember walking into church and being filled with dread when I saw the Communion trays stacked at the front of sanctuary. I would spend the entire service wracking my brain trying to remember and confess everything that I had ever done wrong, begging God to bring to mind anything I might have forgotten. It was a...

Alcohol in the Bible: Part Two (The New Testament)

Aug 23, 2011

Last week I posted an entry on alcohol in the OT and you are personally invited to read my former post before reading this if you have not done so, since the NT builds on a lot of the same theological imagery. I’m not sure what the general assumption of most Christians would be; whether the NT is more strict or less strict regarding alcohol than the OT. But whatever the case may be, the...

Alcohol in the Bible: Part One (The Old Testament)

Aug 16, 2011

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” This quote, uttered by Benjamin Franklin, is closer to the mark than most Christians may realize. Growing up in a fairly conservative evangelical tradition (albeit in Las Vegas!), I was basically raised to believe that alcohol was evil. Period. The Bible was clear on the issue, I was told. Yet, as the grip of dispensational fundamentalism began to loosen on my thinking...

Check Out My New Article on Wine and Temple Theology in Ephesians 5.18–21

Responding to “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink”

Why did Jesus use Alcohol for Communion?

The Eucharist with Children

Christian Beer and the Question of Weed

God Feeds Us: Finding Acceptance in the Eucharist

Alcohol in the Bible: Part Two (The New Testament)

Alcohol in the Bible: Part One (The Old Testament)

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