My Prayer for This Advent Season

I pray that we learn to not look at people of other creeds, races, political perspectives, or sexual orientations as the enemy. I pray that we learn to listen and see the pain and hurt of other people of other experiences and contexts, without feeling the need to correct them on “the facts”. I pray […]

A Unique Substitute

If you know me and have read some of my writings, you will know that writing about the depth of the atonement is part of my passion. This verse is Paul interpreting Psalm 69:9 as Christ-centered prosopological exegesis (pre-text of Jesus speaking). With this hermeneutic (way of interpreting the verse), Paul is saying that the […]

The Doctrine of Accommodation & Penal Substitutionary Atonement

6 Minute Read If you know me and are familiar with my writings, you know that atonement theory (the theological ideas about what happened through Christ’s work and how the cross fits in) is one of the main things that I have wrestled through (I have two eBooks about the atonement). So what happened with […]

Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month 2022

January is “Spiritual Abuse Awareness Month.” Recently, a friend contacted me because they were having a hard time discussing the spiritual trauma they had endured with someone close to them. This person desired a deep relationship but did not comprehend how certain aspects of the Christian environments they were a part of triggered PTSD in […]

What if Jesus Doesn’t Seem to Look Like God in the Old Testament?

This article will tackle how some people seem to communicate God as if Jesus is different than the God that they see in the Old Testament, and how we can read the Old Testament in light of Jesus. 7 Minute Read There is a moment after Jesus rose from the dead in the book of […]

Jesus the Good Shepherd (Pastor)

I have been around ministry my entire life. Both of my grandfathers were pastors, and I spent a lot of time with them. I was raised in the church, around church leadership teams, and served in a high capacity at a very young age. I have now been in full-time ministry for twelve years. I […]

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 […]

When Someone Has Questions

Over the past couple of weeks, we have had famous Christian leaders take to social media to announce that they are leaving the Christian faith or are struggling with their faith. Joshua Harris (author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye) and Marty Sampson (worship leader and songwriter from Hillsong) have been the most notable. As they […]

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 […]