real Christianity, theologyPreston Sprinklebible, real faith, sandalous

Theology in the Raw

real Christianity, theologyPreston Sprinklebible, real faith, sandalous
Theology in the Raw

As you now know, I've started my own personal blog. I’m terrible at titling, so I thought long and hard about this one and “Theology in the Raw” seemed to best capture what this blog is all about. I’m not a very churchy theologian, and I despise Christianeze rhetoric that clutters the scandal of the gospel. I love to talk about real things, nitty gritty issues—the messy stuff. We serve a real God whose Son was born in a real manger surrounded by shame, scandal, and real cow dung (or maybe goat dung, I don’t know). God really entered history to roll up his sleeves and get his hands messy with our real sin.

I like talking and writing about real stuff. The stuff that we all wrestle with and think about but are oftentimes scared to admit. The stuff that secular marketing firms know about, even though the church often pretends like it doesn’t exist—the real wants and needs and struggles and desires. I want to talk about sex. I want to talk about depression. I want to talk about alcohol. I want to talk about a crucified and risen Christ, who bled real blood when the spear pierced his side. I want to talk about homosexuality, violence, hell and heaven. Parenting, relationships, masturbation, and poverty. I want to think theologically through all the real facets of our life; I want to bring our thoughts and actions—what’s really going on in our hearts and noggins—back to God’s inspired text to find direction and comfort; critique and forgiveness.

Hence the name “Theology in the Raw.”

The Bible is a very raw book, and it would be rated R were it shown on the big screen. A father having sex with his daughter in law; a priest chopping up his concubine into 12 pieces; the wife of a political traitor smashing a spike through the skull of a famed warrior; a terrorist turned preacher who penned ½ the New Testament; a God with tattooed hands commanding his image bearers to have lots of sex and rule the world. It’s all there. It’s in the Bible.

Yeah, I’m a Bible professor. And I LOVE my job!

So that’s what my blog’s all about. A real God. A messy book. And a life turned upside down by a scandalous gospel.

AlcoholPreston Sprinklealcohol, beer, bible, drinking, weaker brother, wineComment

Alcohol in the Bible: A Response

Life for a few years now, but I’m now going solo. I’ll explain why in a later blog, but for now, I wanted to follow up with a discussion that’s been brewing over an article that I recently wrote for Relevant Magazine titled “What Does the Bible Really Say About Alcohol.” After writing the article, I have to confess. 

AlcoholPreston Sprinklealcohol, beer, bible, drinking, weaker brother, wineComment
Alcohol in the Bible: A Response
church, communal faith, Discipleship, ethnic diversity, grace, obedience, poverty, real Christianity, sanctification, Urban MinistryPreston Sprinklechurch, discipleship, Jesus, Millennials, poverty, social actionComment

If Your Church Closed Its Doors, Would the Neighborhood Care?

I want to talk about why millennials are fleeing the church in droves. But first, let’s circle back around to a question I raised at the end of a blog last week. Regarding discipleship, I said: “I wonder if we’ve elevated certain pet aspects of personal morality over communal and social action.”

church, communal faith, Discipleship, ethnic diversity, grace, obedience, poverty, real Christianity, sanctification, Urban MinistryPreston Sprinklechurch, discipleship, Jesus, Millennials, poverty, social actionComment
If Your Church Closed Its Doors, Would the Neighborhood Care?
Christianeze, church, Discipleship, millennials, real ChristianityPreston Sprinklechurch, discipleship, Jesus, leaving the church, MillennialsComment

Why Are Millennials Leaving the Church in Droves? Part 2

In my last post, I pointed out that millennials (18-29 year olds) are fleeing the church. Again, it’s not that I’ve based this on a few anecdotal stories. It’s not that I’ve read one or two surveys that have argued this. The evidence is overwhelming,

Christianeze, church, Discipleship, millennials, real ChristianityPreston Sprinklechurch, discipleship, Jesus, leaving the church, MillennialsComment
Why Are Millennials Leaving the Church in Droves? Part 2
Christianeze, church, communal faith, Discipleship, millennials, Ministry, poverty, real ChristianityPreston Sprinkleaction, church, community, dialogue, Millennials, missionalComment

Why Are Millennials Leaving the Church in Droves? Part 3

Millennials are leaving the church for all sorts of reasons. And as I showed in a previous blog, there are different types of Leavers. However, after combing through various books and studies on the topic, all of which consist of extensive surveys and interviews of people who have left, I’m struck by the common reasons that keep popping up. 

Christianeze, church, communal faith, Discipleship, millennials, Ministry, poverty, real ChristianityPreston Sprinkleaction, church, community, dialogue, Millennials, missionalComment
Why Are Millennials Leaving the Church in Droves? Part 3
homosexuality, Intersex, LGBT, Megan DeFranza, Sex Difference in Christian TheologyPreston Sprinklebinary, Christian Theology, intersex, male and female, megan defranzaComment

Intersex and Christian Theology

Over the summer, I spent many hours combing through Megan DeFranza’s fascinating book Sex Difference in Christian Theology: Male, Female, and Intersex in the Image of God. 

homosexuality, Intersex, LGBT, Megan DeFranza, Sex Difference in Christian TheologyPreston Sprinklebinary, Christian Theology, intersex, male and female, megan defranzaComment
Intersex and Christian Theology