Two things happen simultaneously when a well-known Christian dies. First, Christians wonder what will happen to his or her ministry, who will fill such big shoes, "what will we do without so and so?" Second, the naysayers begin dredging up every negative fact and scandal to smear his/her name while the deceased teacher's followers go…
Self-Excommunication in American Evangelicalism
During the pandemic and quarantine, there has been a lot of discussion about the nature of church, where and how it should be held, and if online services are consistent with scriptural commandments. While these discussions have been useful in evaluating our obedience to the command in Hebrews 10:24-25 not to forsake the assembly, there…
5 Spiritual Benefits of Diet and Exercise
We all know that proper nutrition and exercise are important, but our reasons for believing so are not often tied to our Christian worldview. Worse, so many of our motivations in this arena stem from a root of vanity, either in all-out narcissism or in self-loathing (which is nothing but a particularly deceptive form of…
The Immovable Object: An Easter Poem
This, the paradox: What happens when An irresistible force Meets an immovable object?
Fellowship and Discipleship in Quarantine
Here at Bone of Bones we were recently joking about how our normal, daily lifestyles are now being called quarantine. While we introverts are more equipped to deal with the current situation, most Christians have seen their spiritual lives drastically impacted. With churches canceling Sunday services, bible studies, and other gatherings, the dent in fellowship…
How Well Do You Understand the Trinity (Quiz)?
I don't think it's unfair to say that many Christians have significant gaps in their understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. Chalk it up to a slew of bad analogies: the three parts of an egg, the three forms of water, the three-leaf clover. While these examples seek to clarify God's nature, they do…
BYU Changes Policy on “Homosexual Behavior”
Last week, Brigham Young University, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced they were changing their honor code policy to remove the ban on “homosexual behavior.” While the details are still being ironed out in terms of practical application, staff at the Honor Code Office stated that LGBTQ students…
The False Religion of Yogi Tea
In case you needed yet another reason to believe that our culture is vapidly self-absorbed, look no further than the tea tags of Yogi Tea. Trust me. I’ve been collecting them over the past week, shaking my head at the absurdity of the messaging. It’s not enough that this mentality of “I’m not religious, I’m…
You Don’t Understand Frost’s Poem, “The Road Not Taken”
Chances are you’ve heard the oft-repeated last lines of Frost’s famous poem, “The Road Not Taken.” Maybe you’ve repeated those words as a life motto or a boost to morale in the midst of a pivotal life change. Perhaps you’ve even internalized them as a New Year’s resolution of sorts, a reminder to live off-the-beaten…