Category Archives: Theology

True Religion Does Not Demand that You Believe in Heaven and Hell

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Ron Goetz

True religion does not require you to believe in heaven and hell. This comes on good authority, if you need it–the Bible. Writing around the time of Alexander the Great, long after the Babylonian Captivity and around the time of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Devotional, Ecclesiastes, Theology | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

Sam Deetz: the Wrath of God, Community Rejection, and Sam’s Lingering Anger

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Ron Goetz

The wrath of God! I grew up afraid of it. My father was the pastor. As I grew from a little boy into a young man, we moved every few years, from one pastorate to another. I listened to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Testimony, Theology | 9 Comments

The Author of a Major N.T. Epistle was a Woman

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Ron Goetz

Priscilla wrote the N.T. Epistle to the Hebrews It will probably surprise some of you to learn that many Bible scholars believe that a New Testament woman named Priscilla wrote the book of Hebrews.  No, this is not a news flash.  The argument for Priscilla’s authorship … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Diversity, Religion, Theology | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

The “Clarity” of I Cor. 6:9, the “Choice” of Homosexuality, “Abominations” Forever

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Ron Goetz

A reader called “theologyarchaeology” commented to the note from Rick James with the following short reply. The problem for Rick James is 1 Cor. 6:9 clearly states that the homosexual will not see the kingdom of God.  No God did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Clobber Passages, Gay Marriage, Homosexual Marriage, Homosexuality, Homosexuality and the Bible, Marriage Equality, Religion, Theology | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

Growing Up Gay in the Church

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ron Goetz

A little girl is born to Christian parents. She is raised in a Nazarene church, goes to Sunday school, attends VBS in July, and youth group on Friday nights. She prays to receive Christ in her heart when she’s 5 years old, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Colleges, Church of the Nazarene, Gay Christians, Homosexuality, Point Loma Nazarene University, Religion, Simpson University, Theology | 7 Comments

The Great Minds

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Ron Goetz

Once upon a time there was a Land with Many Great Minds. They devoted themselves to a Huge Book, which had been written and edited by Hundreds of People over thousands of years. The Huge Book The Huge Book told how those hundreds of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christendom, Liberal Parables, Parables, Theology | 2 Comments

“It’s the ‘Homosexual Lifestyle’ We Hate”

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Ron Goetz

One of my FB friends objected to the title of my last post, “One Anti-Homosexual United Methodist Pastor,” saying that disagreeing with people’s lifestyle doesn’t mean you are against them personally. Politically charged headline–divisive and untrue. Because someone doesn’t agree … Continue reading →

Posted in Gay Christians, Homophobia, Homosexuality, Pastoral Ministry, Propaganda, Religion, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | 63 Comments

Look Again: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Ron Goetz

There’s a favorite verse of many preachers, and the verse is quoted perhaps more often than any other (a key verse in some of their personal canons). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto … Continue reading →

Posted in Jesus, Mysticism, Sanctification, Theology | 3 Comments

Clobber Passage: Romans 1:26-27

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Ron Goetz

Romans 1:26-27 is one of the most popular Clobber Passages ever. I’m sure many of you have received emails with the verses pasted in, as though you had never read them before. Sometimes fourteen verses are pasted in, verses 18-32. People apparently think … Continue reading →

Posted in Clobber Passages, Dialogue with Charlotte, Gay Christians, Gay Marriage, Homosexual Marriage, Homosexuality, Homosexuality and the Bible, Marriage Equality, Paul Gays, Paul Homosexuality, Romans, Romans Gays, Romans Homosexuality, Theology | 12 Comments

Bride of Christ, Imago Dei, Perfect Unity

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Ron Goetz

A Journey to Metaphorland When we meditate on the unsurveyable, untrackable riches of Christ, we need to remember that these riches are expressed mainly, if not completely, in metaphor. The Greek scriptures contain a wealth of metaphors, in the gospels, … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplative Prayer, Deeper Life, Devotional, Mysticism, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments