Thoughts on Justice and Persecution from the Beatitudes

I grew up in the church. I have heard “The Beatitudes” read over and over again. Here is what they say: Matthew 5 NIV: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for […]

Joshua Harris, Faith Deconstruction, Losing My Religion, & A Part of my Journey

“I would be willing to give up Christianity.” This was the thought that went through my mind at age 19. That’s me in the corner That’s me in the spotlight Losing my religion – R.E.M. I know that I was in the middle of a series about heresy, but I am taking a break from […]

There is Less Heresy in Christian Circles Than People Think! Part 2

If you have not read part 1 of this series, you will want to read it for the foundation of this conversation. Click here to read it: https://davidruybalid.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/there-is-less-heresy-in-christian-circles-than-people-think-part-1/ There are problems with saying, “the Bible clearly says…” about every view and doctrine that we hold. Modern science as we know it using logical data, research […]

There is Less Heresy in Christian Circles Than People Think! Part 1

A moment of vulnerability: Over the past 15 years, I have re-engaged with my faith in a fresh way. It started with me wrestling with what I believed generally about God and then led to me working out what I believed about the Bible. At a certain point, I landed a more orthodox perspective of […]

The “Us and Them”Mentality

The other day I wrote a post about the conversation with the older brother and father in the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”. You can read it here, if you haven’t yet. https://davidruybalid.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/burned-out-on-religion/ This was the passage that I was using: Luke 15 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So […]

Food For The Hungry

Over the past decade, my belief system on what we are called to do in the life we have here and now has changed. Many of you have heard me process this as I have spoken in churches, written songs, and have shared these stories. The idea that what we do now matters for eternity… […]