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Tag: Evangelicalism

Is Jesus Found Anywhere in the Old Testament?

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blue eyed jesus

Is Jesus found anywhere in the Old Testament? No. Jesus is not mentioned directly one time in the first thirty-nine books of the Bible. Evangelicals will point to Old Testament prophecies that allegedly reference Jesus. However, when these prophecies are read contextually without appealing to univocality, you will find that Jesus is not talked about in the Old Testament.

Bible scholar Dr. Dan McClellan has this to say about the subject:

If you were raised in an Evangelical church, you likely heard that Jesus is found in the pages of every book of the Bible; that Jesus’ blood is a scarlet thread that runs from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21. This sounds right to people who have never read the Bible, but if you carefully read the Old Testament prophecies attributed to Jesus, you will find out Jesus is nowhere to be found — and that includes Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 14, when read in context.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

God Has a Message for President Donald Trump and Congress

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evangelicals and donald trump

Woe to those [politicians] who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, to make widows their spoil and to plunder orphans! What will [politicians] you do on the day of punishment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will [politicians] you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth…

— Isaiah 10:1-3 NRSV

Does this not describe Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and some Democrats?

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Are Religious People Mentally Ill?

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fake news

Are devout Christians mentally ill because of their irrational supernatural beliefs? For those of us who were committed Evangelicals at one time, were we mentally ill? Does this mean that billions of people are mentally ill just because they devoutly worship, serve, and follow God? Listen to some atheists, and it is clear that they believe the answer is a resounding YES! Most atheists who make this claim have never been religious. To them, religion is a virus that causes mental disease. This allows them to dismiss Christianity out of hand without wrestling with and engaging their claims. In my opinion, this is lazy thinking.

We humans, religious or not, are prone to irrational belief. All of us, at one time or another, have had wonky, crazy beliefs. As a former Evangelical, I know that many of my past religious beliefs were illogical and unjustifiable. Does this mean I was mentally ill? Of course not. For those of us raised in Evangelical churches, we spent years being indoctrinated and conditioned by our parents, pastors, youth directors, Sunday school teachers, and others. We believed what we did because that’s all we knew at the time. How could I have believed otherwise?

I wish atheists would stop saying religious people are mentally ill. Christians might have mental health problems, but is religion solely to blame for this? I don’t think so, and it is uncharitable and unkind to suggest otherwise.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Can Evangelicals Turn Water Into Wine?

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jesus turning water into wine

Here’s what I want to know: why can’t Evangelicals turn water into wine, raise the dead, or heal through sick? The miracle-working Jesus allegedly did all of these things and more. Surely, people saved, filled with the Holy Ghost, and owners of leather-bound Bibles they rarely, if ever, read, should be able to do the same miracles Jesus did.

Did not Jesus say to his disciples:

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 NRSV)

Was Jesus lying? Name one place where we see Jesus’ followers doing greater works than he did? If Evangelicals are commanded to walk in the steps of Jesus, you would think they would work a few miracles, now and again. Instead, Evangelicals are busy waging war against anyone who disagrees with them.

Of course, just because words in the Bible are red doesn’t mean Jesus said them. All we have is what an unknown author, sixty to eighty years after the death of Jesus, says Christ said. And since it is clear that Evangelicals don’t have supernatural powers, we can either conclude that Jesus lied or Evangelicals are not real Christians.

What say ye?

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Parents Are Commanded by God to Circumcise Their Sons, Says Evangelical Preacher

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dr david tee's library
Dr. David Tee’s Massive Library

Supposedly, Evangelicals believe in salvation by grace, not by works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). For those of us who spent years in Evangelical churches, we heard preachers say that we are saved by grace apart from the works of the law. Of course, these same preachers quote Old Testament verses, when needed, to justify their claims — i.e. tithing.

Recently, world-renowned theologian Dr. David Tee, whose real name is Derrick Thomas Thiessen, wrote:

Circumcision was instituted by God, and that makes it a right and healthy act to do. When one circumcises their male child, they are acting in obedience to God’s instructions and not mutilating the body.

Thiessen claims Christians are commanded by God to circumcise their male children; that in doing so, they are being obedient to God.

If circumcision is commanded by God, we can conclude that it is a sin not to circumcise your male children, right?

Just another day in the wacky theology of Dr. David Tee. I have long believed that Theissen has a warped understanding of the Christian gospel. This is yet another example of this.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Have You Heard of Kundalini?

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kundalini

Warning! Evangelicals who have never had sex with the lights on or in anything other than the missionary position might find this post offensive. The rest of us? Snicker away!

Last night, I listened to a YouTube channel called the Deconstruction Zone. Its host is a college-trained former Evangelical preacher named Justin Holmes. I love Justin’s approach when challenging Evangelical dogma and presuppositions. He regularly “cooks” Evangelicals in their own juices. 🙂

Justin has a wonderful, snarky sense of humor, which is shown below.

Spiritual Caller: Have you heard of Kundalini?

Snarky Atheist named Justin: No, but I’ve heard of cunnilingus.

Bruce rolls on the floor laughing.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Bruce’s Ten Hot Takes for July 9, 2025

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hot takes

Benjamin Netanyahu nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is akin to nominating OJ Simpson for husband of the year. (From The Daily Show)

The Jeffrey Epstein client list doesn’t exist says Attorney Pam Bondi, after telling the American people it was sitting on her desk to be reviewed. Shock! Another Trump cabinet official lies to the American people.

Congress needs to criminalize law enforcement wearing masks in an attempt to evade identification and accountability. If I have to show law enforcement identification, they should, at the very least: give their name and department and reason for stopping or arresting someone.

The Trump Administration put on a show of force at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. The park was flooded with law enforcement, soldiers, and military vehicles, scaring the bejesus out of innocent park users. Just what Trump wants — fear.

Alligator Alcatraz is testimony to the brutality of the Trump Administration’s war against undocumented workers.

Scores of devout Christian Texans were swept away and drowned in recent flash floods. A tragedy of the first degree, but I can’t help but wonder where God was as his followers were drowning.

I hope Musk follows through on his political threats. Nothing better than a junior high lunch room food fight to distract the MAGA crowd.

Did you notice that many of the tax cuts passed by Republicans don’t take effect until after the 2026 midterm election? Cowards.

Trump does something right . . . Airline passengers no longer have to remove their shoes during TSA screening.

Listening to a non-parent Evangelical justify beating children if they disobey. Here’s hoping he never has children.

Bonus: The IRS ended prohibitions on churches endorsing candidates. Good riddance! Now it is time to start taxing churches and end tax benefits that only apply to ministers.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Do You Oppose Genital Mutilation?

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circumcision

Evangelical apologists are known for their hatred of LGBTQ people — especially transgender folks. Evangelicals argue that there are only two sexes and two genders, so gender reassignment surgery is morally wrong. Many apologists claim that top and bottom surgery are genital mutilation. Surely we can’t allow people to mutilate themselves, Evangelicals say. Yet, Evangelicals practice genital mutilation themselves. How many Evangelical women have had breast augmentation surgery? How many Evangelical men use Viagra or mechanical means such as a penis pump to get an erection? Worse, how many millions of Evangelical males have been circumcised? If it is a sin for transgender people to “mutilate’ their bodies, then it’s a sin for Evangelical women to have breast/butt implants and males to be circumcised. Disagree? Explain the difference between permanently cutting the end of your foreskin off and gender reassignment surgery. Both change the physical nature of the person.

What say ye, readers?

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Was Jesus All-Powerful?

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muscular jesus

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6 NRSV)

He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?  Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?”  And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own hometown and in their own house.” And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:54-58 NRSV)

In the passages quoted above, we find Jesus and his disciples traveling to his hometown to preach at the local synagogue. Jesus wasn’t well received. Jesus declares, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” Jesus’ mother, his three brothers, and his sisters likely attended his sermon.

In Mark 3, we find:

Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.

Many in the crowd believed Jesus was crazy, and when his family heard of this, they tried to restrain him.

….

Then his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers [and sisters in some manuscripts] are outside asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

What do we learn from these passages of Scripture?

First, we learn that Jesus had brothers and sisters. Second, Jesus’ family doubted who he was. Third, Jesus calls himself a prophet. Fourth, Jesus could not do mighty works in their midst because of their unbelief.

Isn’t Jesus God? Isn’t God all-powerful? How could mere humans stop Jesus from doing supernatural works?

Conclusion: Jesus is not all-powerful. Humans can thwart the will of God.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.