General Revelation Archives - Faith and the Other Five Senses

10 Questions to See If You’ve Accidentally Become a Christian-Gnostic

smgianotti@me.com — May 22, 2018

You’re probably not one of those Da Vinci Code heretics who believes Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene. But even if you’re quick to slap a scarlet H on the Gospel of Thomas or the idea that Jesus wasn’t really human, you might be affected by a subtle reboot of this heresy seeping through American evangelicalism. Unlike it’s older brother, Christian-gnosticism can be hard to see and a bit slippery to catch–a fact I know from firsthand experience. So here’s a quiz to take your temperature and see if you’ve been affected:

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash, edited

Quiz

Does it feel like a stretch to think about worshipping through football, a slice of german chocolate cake, or–if you’re married–having sex?
Do you think it makes God happier when you read your Bible than when you pick up trash from the side of the road?
Do you feel like sex is dirty? Are you ashamed of your sex drive?
Does it surprise you that there might be politics and commerce after the resurrection?
Is your Christianity strong when it comes to lying and prayer, but light on gluttony and fasting? Continue Reading…

3 Reasons I Find It Hard to Get Excited About Heaven

smgianotti@me.com — May 1, 2018

I love Jesus, but if God is handing out spiritual report cards, I’m probably getting an F when it comes to getting excited about Heaven.* The Apostle Paul—who tells us to imitate his faith—says, “I desire to depart and be with Christ” (Phil 1:23), but when I try to rev my enthusiasm for that place after death, my battery sputters.

Over the last five years at seminary, I had the chance to study the Bible as one big story, from the garden to the city. Revisiting the edges of God’s story gave me a new lens for understanding why I have a hard time getting excited about heaven. Here’s three of my top reasons:

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Unsplash

1. Worship songs aren’t really my thing.

After three repetitions of the chorus from “10,000 Reasons” at church, I’m ready to call a time-out and connect with the maroon cushions, not stay on my feet for another four songs. I’ve never been a good stander. And despite my laser focus when it comes to reading and writing, singing turns my mind into seven-year-old with ADD. Music time at church deteriorates into twenty minutes of hand-slapping my brain back to attention.

The Waiting Room

smgianotti@me.com — March 1, 2016

“Sir?”

A woman’s voice ricochets inside his head.

“Sir?”

He follows the line of chairs to the pamphlets, mounted on the wall, and the window beyond. A woman sits behind it, with the glass pane slid open, and points toward a young man who is taking off his headphones.

Photo courtesy of Carol Von Canon via flickr.com