I’ve known about Jane Isley’s “Why do you believe?” project for almost a year ,  back when it was just an idea, before God had her put it in motion. I had started writing for it then, and I remember my initial reaction being: “How can I not?” This has been stuck in my head and heart since then. When it comes down to it, how can I not believe? My Life I have seen and experienced too much to simply set God aside or deny His hand in everything. Too much has happened in my life. I’ve seen too many miracles, been pulled from too many dark places, been healed from too much hurt. I look back at my life and see Him guiding, comforting, healing, and walking with me, even when I wasn’t really following Him. He was there through it all. I’ve seen too much of Him in my life and in others’ to ignore. Truthfully, I shouldn’t be alive right now. From complications when I was in my mother’s womb, to abusive and dangerous situations, to debilitating health issues and resulting depression ,  it really is a miracle that I am here. It’s also a miracle that I’m not still depressed, bitter, or angry. I’m not stuck in past hurt and trauma, or stopped living my life just because I’m disabled. I’ve moved forward. I push myself (most of the time) to do the things I love and work toward goals like school, going into town or to events, and volunteering at different places. But I couldn’t have come this far without God. I could never have done this on my own! In fact, I often hinder my growth and the plans He has for me! (Though thankfully, He has accounted for this). God has healed me. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. He also put people in my life to hold, help, advocate, and motivate me. I wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for them, too. I’ve also found that the more I get to know God and Jesus, the more I see Him everywhere. I can feel His presence and peace surround me, even in the darkest of places. He has proved His character to me countless times, and has kept every single one of His promises. I can trust Him. Creation I look at creation and can’t help but see Him. I can see His work in everything, in all the beauty, intricacy, creativity, humor, and wonder. It’s all too much to be reduced to chance or evolution. The more I learn about His creation and how it works, the more in awe I am and the more I can’t deny His existence! I recently discovered that certain plants, particularly types of orchids, mimic insects in appearance, feel, and even scent to facilitate pollination and reproduction. The Bee Orchid, for example, poses as a female bee through its visual imitation and production of “pheromones” that are almost exactly those of female bees. This lures in male bees, looking to reproduce themselves, who land on the flower, collecting pollen which it then carries to other Bee Orchids. And don’t get me started on Spider Orchids or Corpse Flowers (some of which can raise their temperature to mimic a freshly dead animal on top of smelling like one)! The creativity and humor in these plants alone show God’s glory. When looking at all creation, and the processes that have to happen for any of it to exist and thrive, it is insane to think about! This is why I love science , it proves that God has made and thought of everything. It proves His sovereignty. I don’t understand how anyone can look at all creation, look at science, and ecosystems, cells, forests, mountains, and all of it, and not see that it all requires a Creator to exist the way it does. Simple chance can’t do all of that, even with billions of years. Humanity And look at humanity. Our tendencies that repeat throughout history show that we crave more than this world has to offer. That no matter how much we gain, there is always something missing. Nothing is ever enough. Nothing from this world at least. Jesus is the missing puzzle piece. The more I study cultures, the more I see how humanity is built to have a relationship with God. From our ability of language, tendency to define right and wrong (which can defy cultural upbringing, showing that morality comes from something deeper), and our social nature. Even the variety of religions or spiritual beliefs that exist or have existed is proof to me of God and our desire for Him. We have always recognized that there is someone or something greater. We can see and feel it. I could probably spend days talking about why I believe, and I know God has many more reasons in store for me. Honestly, I think Brandon Lake sums it up pretty well: More — Brandon Lake © 2026 Maia Vashti. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in the Why We Believe series.

“If God is real, why is there so much suffering?” “The Bible is full of contradictions.” “All religions are basically the same, why should Christianity be special?” You’ve heard these objections. Maybe you’ve asked them yourself. They sound intelligent, well-reasoned, like they’ve thoroughly dismantled Christianity. But here’s what I’ve discovered: Most objections to Christianity fall into two categories: Legitimate hard questions that deserve honest engagement. Surface-level arguments that sound profound but collapse when you actually think them through. The first category? Those are the questions that make faith deeper. Wrestling is part of the relationship with God. The second category? Those are the ones we need to talk about. Because too many people abandon Christianity over arguments that don’t actually hold up to scrutiny. Let me be clear: I’m not saying faith is easy or that all questions have neat answers. I’m saying some of the most popular objections to Christianity are built on misunderstandings, false premises, or logical fallacies. And if you’re going to reject Christianity, you should at least reject it for the right reasons. Objection 1: “If God Is Good, Why Is There Evil and Suffering?” This is the big one. The problem of evil. And honestly? It’s a legitimate question that deserves serious engagement. But here’s where the objection usually goes wrong: It assumes that a good God would create a world without the possibility of evil. Think about what that would actually require: Option A: God creates robots with no free will. You can’t choose to love. You can’t choose to do good. You’re programmed to be “perfect.” But is that actually good? Is forced love even love? Option B: God creates beings with free will. Which means they can choose love or hate. Good or evil. Selflessness or selfishness. And when people choose evil, suffering results. (Cough, Adam & Eve, cough) The objection assumes Option A is better. But most people, when they think about it, don’t actually want to be robots. They value freedom, choice, and agency. So the real question isn’t “Why does evil exist?” The real question is “Can love exist without the possibility of its opposite?” What About Natural Evil? “Okay, but what about earthquakes? Cancer? Tsunamis? Those aren’t caused by human choice.” Fair point. Here’s where it gets complex: 1. We live in a fallen world. Christian theology teaches that sin didn’t just corrupt human hearts — it corrupted creation itself. (Romans 8:22: “The whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth until now” & Genesis 1:29–30 when animals started to eat each other, aka the food chain) 2. Natural disasters create opportunities for sacrificial love. When tragedy strikes, humans have the choice to respond with compassion, generosity, and courage. Evil becomes the context where the highest forms of good can emerge. 3. God doesn’t promise comfort — He promises presence. The Christian claim isn’t “believe in God and nothing bad will happen.” It’s “God is with you in the suffering.” Does this answer every question about suffering? No. Does it make it easier when you’re in the middle of a tragedy? Not really. But it does show that the objection “evil disproves God” is built on a false premise, that a good God must prevent all suffering. That’s not what Christianity claims. If you enjoy articles that challenge how you read Scripture, Pangaea in the Bible is one you won't want to miss. Objection 2: “The Bible Is Full of Contradictions” This one always gets thrown around. Usually by people who haven’t actually read the Bible. Here’s the reality: Most “contradictions” are either: Different perspectives on the same event (not contradictions, just different angles) Translation issues Cultural context that’s misunderstood Intentional literary devices that modern readers miss Example: “How many angels were at Jesus’ tomb?” Matthew mentions one angel. John mentions two. CONTRADICTION! Except… no. If John saw two angels and Matthew focused on the one who spoke, they’re both accurate. It’s like two witnesses to a car accident, one says “a red car ran the light,” the other says “two cars were in the intersection.” Not contradictory. Different focus. Example: “God is love vs. God commands genocide in the Old Testament” This is a legitimate hard question about God’s character and the Canaanite conquest passages. But here’s what’s not legitimate: acting like these passages are hiding in obscurity and Christians just ignore them. Christians have wrestled with these texts for thousands of years. There are serious theological frameworks for understanding them: The judgment-on-systemic-evil interpretation The ancient Near Eastern warfare hyperbole interpretation The progressive revelation framework You can look these up and disagree with these interpretations. But you can’t claim Christians are just ignoring the problem. Ultimately, who you want God to be vs who He actually is is what this question wrestles with. I have my reasons and my own explanation, but others may not agree. If you’re taking Christianity seriously, then it's a question that God will help you with understanding through prayer. The Real Test Here’s how to tell if something is actually a contradiction: Can both statements be true at the same time from different perspectives or contexts? “Jesus wept” and “Jesus is God” — Both true. God incarnate experienced human emotion. “Faith alone saves” and “Faith without works is dead” — Both true. Saving faith produces works. Works don’t produce salvation. “God is love” and “God is just” — Both true. Love without justice isn’t actually loving. Justice without love isn’t actually just. If you can’t reconcile two statements without assuming one is false, THAT’S a contradiction. Most “Bible contradictions” fail this test. They’re reconcilable with context, cultural understanding, or basic reading comprehension. Objection 3: “All Religions Are Basically the Same / Many Paths to God” This sounds inclusive and tolerant. It’s actually deeply insulting to every religion. Because it requires you to ignore what each religion actually teaches about itself. Buddhism: There is no personal God. Enlightenment comes through eliminating desire. Salvation is escape from the cycle of rebirth. Hinduism: Multiple gods exist. Salvation is reincarnation until you achieve moksha (liberation from the cycle). Islam: One God (Allah). Salvation through submission and following the Five Pillars. Jesus was a prophet, not God. Christianity: One God in three persons. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus is God incarnate. These aren’t different paths up the same mountain. They’re completely different mountains. You can’t say “all religions teach the same thing” without either: Being ignorant of what religions actually teach Deciding that what religions say about themselves doesn’t matter (which is condescending) The Coexist Problem The popular objection is: “Can’t we all just coexist? Why does Christianity have to claim it’s the only way?” First: Christians absolutely should treat people of other faiths with respect and love. Religious disagreement doesn’t require hostility. Second: Every religion makes exclusive truth claims. Buddhism claims Hinduism is wrong about God. Islam claims Christianity is wrong about Jesus. They all think the others are mistaken about fundamental reality. Christianity isn’t uniquely arrogant for claiming to be true. It’s doing what every coherent worldview does — making claims about reality and standing by them. Objection 4: “Science Has Disproven Christianity” This one’s interesting because it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what science actually does. Science answers “how” questions. Religion answers “why” questions. Science: How did the universe begin? (Big Bang, physical laws, cosmic evolution) Christianity: Why does the universe exist? (God created it for a purpose) These aren’t contradictory. They’re answering different questions. Evolution vs. Creation? The supposed conflict here is overblown by both sides. What science claims: Life on Earth has developed over billions of years through natural selection and genetic mutation. What Christianity actually claims: God created the universe and everything in it. These can both be true. Many Christians (including respected theologians and scientists) believe God used evolutionary processes as His method of creation. The Bible says God created — it doesn’t specify the mechanism. Now, Young Earth Creationists like myself disagree with this. That’s our right. But my interpretation of Genesis isn’t the only Christian interpretation, and it never has been….and it won’t define whether you go to heaven or hell because of it (in my opinion). Miracles vs. Natural Law? “Science shows the universe operates by natural laws. Miracles violate natural laws. Therefore, miracles are impossible.” The problem: This assumes natural laws are prescriptive (what MUST happen) rather than descriptive (what USUALLY happens). If God exists and created natural laws, He can obviously work outside them. That’s what makes miracles miraculous — they’re exceptions, not the rule. The objection is actually circular reasoning Miracles can’t happen Why? Because natural laws can’t be violated Why can’t they be violated? Because miracles can’t happen You’re free to not believe in miracles. But you can’t use science to disprove them, science can only describe regular patterns, not rule out exceptions. Plus, doctors witness miracle healings all the time, if you just look it up. Objection 5: “Christians Are Hypocrites” This is less an objection to Christianity and more an observation about Christians. And honestly? It’s often true. Christians are frequently hypocritical. But here’s what that doesn’t prove: That Christianity is false. If Christianity claimed “humans are basically good and following Jesus makes you perfect,” then Christian hypocrisy would disprove Christianity. But Christianity claims the opposite: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Christians being hypocritical doesn’t disprove Christianity. It confirms Christianity’s diagnosis of human nature, we’re all broken, including religious people. The question isn’t “Are Christians perfect? “The question is, 'Is Jesus who He claimed to be?” Judge Christianity by Christ, not by Christians. Evaluate the message, not just the messengers. (Though yes, Christians should absolutely strive to live consistently with what they profess. The hypocrisy criticism should make us better, not defensive.) Objection 6: “A Loving God Wouldn’t Send People to Hell” This objection makes sense emotionally. It’s hard to reconcile “God is love” with “eternal punishment.” But it’s based on several assumptions that might not be true: Assumption 1: Hell is God actively torturing people. Many theologians understand hell differently — as a separation from God that people choose. C.S. Lewis described it as “the doors of hell are locked from the inside.” If God is the source of all goodness, love, and joy, then complete separation from God IS hell. God doesn’t send people there — they choose it by rejecting Him. Assumption 2: Humans are basically good and don’t deserve judgment. Christianity teaches humans are made in God’s image (valuable) but also sinful (broken). If God is perfectly just, sin can’t just be ignored. There are real consequences. Assumption 3: A loving God wouldn’t allow anyone to reject Him forever. But love requires the possibility of rejection. If God forced everyone to be with Him, that wouldn’t be love, it would be coercion. Here’s the hard truth: If you believe people have genuine free will, then you have to allow for the possibility that people can use that freedom to reject God permanently. The Real Question The objection assumes God’s primary attribute is “niceness," a cosmic grandfather who wants everyone comfortable. Christianity claims God’s primary attributes are love AND justice, AND holiness. A God who is only loving but not just would be a terrible God. A God who is only just but not loving would be a tyrant. The question isn’t “Would a nice God send people to hell?” The question is “What does a perfectly loving AND perfectly just God do with human rebellion?” Christianity’s answer: He takes the punishment Himself (the cross) and offers rescue to everyone (grace). But He doesn’t force it on anyone (free will). The Objections That Actually Matter After all this, here are the questions that I think DO pose legitimate challenges to Christianity: Why this particular revelation? Why is Christianity true and not Islam or Buddhism? (This requires positive evidence for Christianity, not just debunking objections) How do we interpret difficult Old Testament passages? The Canaanite conquest, slavery regulations, etc., require serious engagement & not dismissal. What about people who have never heard the gospel? This is a theological puzzle Christians wrestle with and disagree about. How do we reconcile God’s sovereignty with human free will? This has been debated for 2,000 years, and Christians still don’t agree. Notice what these questions have in common: They’re hard, they require thought, and Christians who take them seriously don’t have neat answers. That’s different from the popular objections we covered, which sound smart but mostly reveal misunderstandings of what Christianity actually claims. So, What Now? If you’re going to reject Christianity, reject it because you’ve genuinely engaged with what it teaches and found it wanting. Don’t reject it because of arguments that dissolve under examination. Don’t reject it because of “contradictions” you haven’t actually researched. Don’t reject it because Christians are flawed (we are, that’s part of the point). Reject it, if you must, because you’ve considered the evidence and concluded Jesus wasn’t who He claimed to be. That’s the real question Christianity rises or falls on. Not whether Christians are perfect. Not whether every question has an easy answer. Not whether the faith is “scientific.” The question is: Did Jesus rise from the dead? If He did, everything else is secondary. If He didn’t, Christianity is false regardless of how many objections you can debunk. That’s where honest investigation should focus. Everything else is just a distraction. Which of these objections have you struggled with most? What questions about Christianity do you think ARE legitimately difficult? © Ashneil If this article opened up questions you want to keep pulling on, we have more. Does Paul Really Contradict Jesus? goes deep into the Greek to settle the faith versus works debate once and for all. Does John 1:1 Tell Us That Jesus Is God or a God? tackles one of the most contested verses in the entire New Testament. And if you want to come at Scripture with fresh eyes after all of this, Reading Scripture Differently: Letting Jesus Be Your Lens is exactly where to go next. All three are worth your time.

Many people assume that if a society is outwardly religious, God must be pleased with it. Churches are full. Worship music is loud. Religious festivals are celebrated. Politicians quote Scripture. But the Bible contains a passage that shatters this comforting illusion. Through the prophet Amos, God delivers one of the harshest condemnations of empty religion ever recorded. “I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them…Take away from me the noise of your songs…But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” ~ Amos 5:21–24 The Religious Hypocrisy The message of Amos was delivered during the reign of Jeroboam II, a time when the northern kingdom of Israel was wealthy and politically secure. Economically, things looked great. Trade was thriving. Cities were expanding. The wealthy were building luxurious homes. Religiously, things looked impressive as well. The people attended festivals. They offered sacrifices. They sang songs of praise. From the outside, Israel appeared to be a deeply religious society. But beneath the surface was rot. The wealthy crushed the poor. Courts were corrupt. Justice was sold to the highest bidder. The vulnerable were exploited while the powerful lived in comfort. And while all of this was happening, the people continued showing up to worship as if everything was fine. God’s response? “I hate it.” When Worship Becomes Noise One of the most chilling statements in Scripture comes when God says: “Take away from me the noise of your songs.” Think about that. Music meant to glorify God becomes noise to Him. Not because the musicians lack talent. Not because the melodies are bad. But because the lives of the worshipers contradict the character of the God they claim to praise. Religion had become performance without obedience. They honored God with rituals while tolerating injustice in their society and God refused to accept that bargain. Worship without righteousness is not merely ineffective. It is offensive. The River God Actually Wants Instead of more sacrifices and songs, God demands something else: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Festivals come and go. Religious gatherings last a few hours. Songs fade when the music stops. But justice should flow constantly, like a river that never dries up. God is not impressed by occasional displays of piety. What He desires is a society shaped by righteousness, where the vulnerable are protected and the powerful are held accountable. In other words, worship that ends at the church door or the voting booth is not worship at all. A Terrifying Possibility The most frightening implication of Amos 5 is that a nation can be very religious and still be deeply offensive to God. Churches can be full. Worship music can be loud. Sermons can quote Scripture. And yet God may still say: “I hate it.” Because worship divorced from justice is not merely inadequate, it is hypocrisy. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns that many will come to Him and say: “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not cast out demons in your name? Did we not perform many mighty works in your name?” And Jesus will answer them: “I never knew you. Depart from me.” Think about the weight of that statement. People can perform miracles, they can cast out demons, they can do extraordinary works in the name of Christ. And still not actually know Him. If someone can raise the dead and drive out demons and still fail to truly reflect Christ, still fail to know Him, then what exactly have we done? Most of us have not raised the dead. Most of us have not cast out demons. So where does this confidence come from? Where does this pride come from? If even miracle-workers can stand before Christ and hear the words “I never knew you,” then every Christian should be asking a far more serious question: Does Jesus actually know me? Have I done what He asked of me? Have I lived the kind of life that reflects His character? Because according to both The Father and The Son, religious activity alone proves nothing. The Illusion of Religious Activity Perhaps the most dangerous lie religion tells us is that God is impressed by activity. We sing. We gather. We preach. We debate theology. And we assume that all of this must please Him. But Amos shatters that illusion. God can reject the worship of an entire nation. And Jesus warns that even miracle-workers can stand before Him only to be turned away. That should terrify us. Because if miracles and worship themselves cannot guarantee that someone truly knows Christ, then our comfortable religious routines certainly cannot. The real question is not whether we claim to know Jesus. The real question is whether our lives actually resemble His, whether justice flows through our lives like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. © Joel Sarfraz References Primary Biblical Texts Book of Amos 5:21–24 Gospel of Matthew 7:21–23 Book of Isaiah 1:11–17 Book of Micah 6:6–8 Epistle of James 1:26–27

In the days when your strength feels like that jar of oil in the widow’s hand, barely enough for one more day. You pray, but it feels like whispers hitting a closed sky. You give, but no one seems to notice. You serve, but your own soul feels hungry. You smile in public, but inside you are wondering, “How long can I keep this up?” And yet, the miracle never begins with abundance. It begins with what is left. When Elijah met the widow in Zarephath, he did not arrive with provisions. He showed up with a request: “Bring me a little water and a piece of bread.” It almost sounded inconsiderate. How could he ask for more when she barely had enough for herself and her son? But hidden in that strange instruction was an invitation to trust God with the last drop. That is how God still works. He rarely begins His miracles with overflow. He starts with surrender. That small, trembling “yes,” the willingness to give Him what is left, is what opens the flow of heaven. You may feel like your jar is almost empty. Maybe your oil looks like emotional strength, creative energy, faith for your dreams, or hope for your future. But the same God who sustained the widow is the same God watching over your life today. He never needed much to multiply. He only needed something surrendered. So before you count what is missing, pause and thank Him for what is still in your jar. That small reserve, your leftover hope, your quiet prayers, your decision to keep believing, is still enough for a miracle. Reflect On This Do not despise small faith or shame yourself for feeling weak. Even mustard seed faith can move mountains because it is not about the size of your belief but the strength of your God. He sees the oil, He honors the effort, and He never wastes obedience. A Simple Prayer Lord, I give You what is left in my jar, my small faith, my tired heart, and my limited strength. Breathe on it, and let Your supply never run dry in me. Teach me to trust You not because I have plenty, but because You are enough. Amen. HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY. © Favour

When You Let Your Heart Speak Too Fast Sometimes life hits us with conversations that cut deeper than we expect. A tone, a word, or a silence can stir something inside you. Everything in you wants to answer fast, to defend, explain, or prove that you are right. But reaction often comes from pain, not peace. It is the heart’s first cry before wisdom can speak. The problem is, reactions rarely heal. They only echo what hurt us. But when we pause long enough to let God settle our spirit, something changes. The emotions do not disappear, but they lose control. Jesus, Our Calm in Chaos Jesus was never driven by reaction. He faced betrayal, lies, and anger, yet He stayed composed. When the crowd shouted and the soldiers mocked, He did not meet hostility with hostility. He stood in truth, not tension, but His calm was not silence; it was strength. That is what responding looks like: choosing steadiness when emotions rise, letting the Spirit lead when ego wants the last word. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” -James 1:19 I realized that this verse is not about restraint alone; it is about rhythm. God designed us to respond from His peace, not our pressure, and so when you pause before you speak, you make room for grace to do what anger never could. Letting God Fill the Silence Maybe someone’s actions are testing your patience. Perhaps you have replayed the scene in your head a hundred times, thinking of what you should have said. But what if the win is not in saying more, but in staying still long enough to let God fill the silence? Responding is not a weakness. It is strength dressed in peace. It is saying, “I choose to act from who I am in Christ, not from what was done to me.” That kind of composure confuses darkness and heals you, too. A Sincere Advice Rather than react, ask God to calm your emotions before they control you. Let Him teach you to find His peace in heated moments. When you’re tempted to react, allow Him to help you breathe, wait, and let love lead. © Favour

You can Bible thump, preach till your blue in the face, take on some of the most challenging theological debates out there, and it won’t mean a damn thing to a person who is struggling at that moment. The reason? Because it’s not soul-deep honesty, it's not empathy, and it's not connecting. People want to know why we believe, and we need to be sharing that. If someone came up to you right now, what would you say? Would you quote Scripture or hand out a brochure, or could you look at them and tell them a story of something God did for you that cannot be explained away? Would your love, joy, and thankfulness shine through every word? Would your heart match your smile? Would you shed tears in front of a stranger and bare your soul to show them what God has done for you? I will, and I have. I will open up and share the horrendous parts of my life with a voice full of hope and peace. I will smile with tears in my eyes as I recall past traumas, and I will show my humanity and God’s love in the same breath. I will hold them, comfort them, cry with them, and love them. I don’t care about their “sins” in that moment, because guess what, I too am a sinner, my calling at that moment is to be the person that God uses so they feel His hug. I needed love, I needed safety, I needed to see hope, before I could walk away from many bad choices over the years. We are the lamps unto this world; we shine for them. When you are lost and see that distant beacon of light in the distance, you breathe a sigh of relief. As you get closer, your world starts to light up, and you begin to see clearly the world you are in and the world you can choose to walk into. And in the darkness, that’s enough to draw someone home. Be that for the people around you. Yes, we are to call out sin and wrong, but there is a time and a place for that; there is a time and place for many ways to evangelize for God, and that should be determined by God, not you. But first, let's start with honesty with ourselves. Can you drop all pretenses and just be a real human being and talk with someone and just let God’s light shine through you without hitting them over the head with a Bible or condemning them in the first sentence? To make disciples, you first have to be one. The Bible never sugarcoated anything. It laid people’s lives bare for the whole world to see, their flaws, failures, doubts, and all. God didn’t hide their humanity; He used it. © Jane Isley

This dawned on me with all the alien talk going on and coming on the heels of my Aliens, Demons, & a Biblically Illiterate Church article from the other day. Our country and most of the world have jacked around with definitions for so long that people stopped asking for clarification on anything. And now we have a massive mess on our hands with people searching for answers about aliens and demons online, especially in religious circles. Definition Glitch The modern meaning of alien seems to be a large hang-up for people. In popular culture the word alien refers to beings from other planets or universes. Little grey guys, E.T. phone home, probes, bright lights, silver saucers, and abduction stories. That is a cultural thing, not a Bible thing. All that is shaped by myths, stories and media. So when I see church leaders say alien abductions aren’t in the Bible, or they say because the Bible never recorded an "alien" encounter that doesn't necessarily prove aliens don’t exist, I get annoyed at the blatant inability of reading skills and faith by that church leader. These answers are responding to a modern cultural construct of "aliens" while completely ignoring Scripture. They are not stepping back from the noise of the world or opening the Bible without a cultural lens. That is a genuinely concerning problem for the enormous number of people right now with serious questions. Speaking of what Scripture actually says about these beings, Old Testament Elohim and New Testament Demons goes deep on exactly that and is one of the most thorough pieces we have on the site. Scripture Vs Culture When religion enters this discussion the definition of "alien" often gets its own separate category, while the actual beings discussed numerous times throughout Scripture get completely ignored. Is it because people have been so desensitized by decades of entertainment that they cannot recognize what they are actually looking at? Probably part of it. Is this what satan wants? Absolutely. Is this because teaching Scripture became optional in too many churches? Yes. Is this because people want a fantasy world to escape this one? Yes. Is it because people want another reason to argue against God? Yes. Is it because church leaders are scared to admit they do not have all the answers? Yes. I could keep going. Figure Out Your Definitions First If possible figure out what it is you are actually trying to ask. I mean that sincerely and without the snark I have been bringing to this topic elsewhere, because it is vitally important to start asking the right questions now rather than later when it is too late. Much of the confusion I am seeing right now comes back to language. People are not asking for definitions. Some are too afraid to. And a lot of church leaders attempting to address this topic for their congregations are just as confused, and their answers are making things worse not better. It is actually this simple. If "alien" means the cultural construct, little grey men and flying saucers that has developed over decades of books, movies, and television shows, the Bible is not going to address that. If "alien" is understood as the demonic beings described in Scripture that we do not fully comprehend physically or scientifically, the conversation shifts correctly into theology and the Bible has quite a lot to say. Either way the core issue is the same. Before you can debate conclusions you have to agree on what the words actually mean. And before you dismiss what the Bible says or does not say about this topic you have to stop reading it through a Hollywood lens. Open the Bible, read what is actually there for yourself. When people finally ask are aliens demons, the entire conversation shifts back to Scripture where it belongs. What you need for understanding everything happening right now has been sitting in there this whole time. © 2026 Jane Isley. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Culture & Faith. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

There’s a buzzword hanging around the block, and it’s roaring with popularity. It’s edgy, enticing, and pulling people in by the droves. The problem? This one is dangerous. Before you dive in and start tearing things apart, let’s take a look at some of the snares you will encounter. Where did it come from? Faith deconstruction occurs when a person questions, reevaluates, and potentially relinquishes some or all of their beliefs. At face value, it seems harmless. Everyone should, at some point, evaluate their faith and be sure of what they believe. However, the danger lies in the motive behind why someone chooses to deconstruct. There are many reasons someone would choose to embrace deconstruction, but the three most common I’ve seen are: Past church hurt or religious trauma Lack of solid Bible teaching Getting caught up in a trend Let’s talk about the things you need to know before you decide if deconstruction is a path you want to tread. #1: Past Hurt or Religious Trauma Church hurt is real and heartbreaking. Our churches should be the safest place for believers and non-believers alike, but the unfortunate reality is that many times, church is where some of the deepest wounds are inflicted. Take Jesus, for example. He should have been most welcome in and around the religious community. After all, weren’t they looking forward to the coming Messiah? However, that’s often where he was most rejected. The Jews even went so far as to call him demon-possessed after he taught about how they could be freed from sin. And that was during his early ministry, before he’d stirred things up. The Jews answered him, ‘Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’ ~ John 8:48 Later, after he had continued preaching, teaching, and performing many miracles, one of his best friends turned him over to the authorities, and his own people asked for his crucifixion. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. ~ Luke 22:4–6 One of Jesus’ inner circle plotted, along with the leaders of the church, ways they could find him alone and capture him. That’s the ultimate church hurt. Jesus doesn’t want that for us. He doesn’t want us to be deeply wounded by those who call themselves his followers. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~John 13:34–35 #2: Lack of Solid Bible Teaching This isn’t a new issue, but rather something that’s plagued the church since its start. Scripture warns us repeatedly about false teachers. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves. ~2 Peter 2:1 Friend, I say this with all the loving kindness I can muster: If you are attending a church whose teaching isn’t aligned with Scripture, or only preaches stories about the Word instead of from the Word — RUN, don’t walk, to another one. Even Bible-believing, truth-seeking churches are bound to hurt people from time to time because we’re all human; however, in churches like the above, who don’t carefully handle the Word of God, it’s simply a matter of when you’ll be hurt. Not if. And that’s not what Jesus had in mind for his Bride, either. #3: Getting Caught up in a Trend Paul addresses this in his letter to the Roman church: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2 Fads come and go. We’ll see different movements become popular and fade away in our lifetime, but we should remain set apart from the world. As believers, we will never fit into whatever box society deems “normal.” This isn’t prideful, but a reflection of our purpose. If we are truly followers of Christ, we will always look different because the world constantly evolves while our God remains unchanged. He’s the same today as he was two thousand years ago, as he will be in another two thousand years (if Jesus hasn’t come for us by then). The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever. ~ Isaiah 40:8 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~ James 1:16–17 If we model our lives after the world, we will repeatedly find ourselves caught up in the next fad, both in lifestyle and theologically. When we seek to follow Christ, however, we are transformed in our thinking and our minds will be set on him, not what this world has to offer. Proceed with Caution As I promised at the beginning, I’m not going to talk you out of deconstruction. It could even be necessary if you come from a faith background practicing harmful theology. However, I urge you to evaluate your motive for exploring this path and prayerfully consider whether it’s wise. If you proceed, please make sure to do so with the guidance of your local pastor or a trusted, Bible-believing mentor. Thanks for reading! If any of this resonated with you, or you’d like to see more content like this, please consider subscribing so you’ll never miss out on a post. © 2025 Stephanie M. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. Some other posts you might have missed: The #1 Note-Taking Tip that Transformed my Bible Study You Want to Read Your Bible, but You Keep Getting Stuck Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

People crave validation. They want to be loved, accepted, and affirmed. That’s natural. I get it. And much of the criticism (indeed hate) directed against Christians and churches these days is due to people not being sufficiently loved or (in their minds) accepted or affirmed. In previous articles, I’ve repudiated all churches and church leaders guilty of abuse, toxicity, or callousness. I stand by that. Nevertheless… When it comes to whether a church makes you feel good… Here’s a hard truth… It’s not the role of the church to affirm or validate you. The purpose of the church, at least according to Jesus, is to disciple you. Before we get into what Jesus said, let’s talk common sense here. Religion, by its nature, is…to some extent…exclusive and discriminatory. Now, don’t get all triggered or reactive or bent out of shape. Take a breath and let’s look at this logically. I’m not talking about discriminating against people based on color, race, nationality, or anything like that. To be clear, count me among those who support civil rights for all — including those who don’t subscribe to a religious faith. I repudiate all forms of hate and bigotry. I believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Okay? That said, religion (by its nature) involves beliefs and behaviors. It involves people orienting their lives toward the divine. That means that, while some religions may be more inclusive than others, all religions believe their take on spirituality is superior to any other take that disagrees with or counters their take. This is the case with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Jainism, New Age Spirituality, and so forth. No offense to those religious faiths not mentioned. All religions have a take or point of view, no matter how broad. When you approach a particular religion, your sense of reality or your take on spirituality might conflict with the majority of adherents of that particular religion. And guess what? That’s okay. If you don’t think it’s okay, then I want to very respectfully say… Get over yourself! It’s not the responsibility of other people or communities (religious or otherwise) to automatically validate your beliefs, choices, or even self-proclaimed identity. The world does NOT revolve around you! If you believe the world and everyone in it should revolve around you, that makes you every bit as problematic and perhaps dangerous as the most extreme religious fundamentalist. Let’s hope we’re clear on that. If not, go back and re-read this article up until this point until you are clear. Okay? Now…let’s get back to Jesus… Following Jesus’ resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus said these words to His disciples… And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18–20, KJV) According to the King James rendering of Jesus’ “Great Commission,” Jesus said His disciples are to teach “all nations” (that’s all people groups) about Himself (that’s evangelism), then (when they accept), baptize them, and then…teach those who have accepted Christ and been baptized to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” In other words, teach them what He (Jesus) taught the disciples. That’s discipleship. In fact, most contemporary English translations make this clear, quoting Jesus as saying to “make disciples” of all the nations (or people groups). The church doesn’t exist to automatically validate you and/or help you self-actualize (to use Maslow’s term). It exists to make disciples of Jesus. Does that mean you should be required to join a church and be “discipled”? Absolutely not! Like I’ve said numerous times…I believe in religious freedom. No one should be forced to join a church. And no government should impose religious orthodoxy on its citizens. But if you’re going to voluntarily unite with a Christian church, don’t complain when that church disagrees with you or encourages you to follow Jesus instead of your own heart or wishes. Such a church may make you uncomfortable, but it’s doing its job. © 2025 Brian Tubbs You can follow me on for more📖 First Published in Faith Renewed on Medium If this resonated, here are a few more pieces worth your time: Speaking the Whole Truth: When Churches Soften God's Word It Is Ok, Leaving the Church Does Not Mean Leaving God When Church Makes You Feel Stupid. That Is Church Hurt Thank you for reading! If this challenged the way you think about faith and discipleship, you may also want to pick up my latest book, Thou Shalt Not Kill: The Ancient Commandment We Dare Not Break, where I dig into similar hard truths in Scripture.

"One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘When will the Kingdom of God come?’ Jesus replied, ‘The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.’”~ Luke 17:20–21 (NLT) Those of us raised in the church know, or rather, we’ve believed, that the ultimate hope of humanity is Heaven, and the ultimate fear is Hell. But what if this dichotomy is more of a disservice to us than any kind of motivational benefit? If you’ve gone through any level of disillusionment and restructuring of your theology or relationship with God, one of the biggest questions any intellectually honest and moral person inevitably has to ask is: “How could a just and loving God allow anyone to spend eternity in a place of infinite torment and punishment for finite trespasses?” This is a valid point. Trying to Bible-thump and scripture-quote your way out of it is only going to alienate the people you claim to want to save from this final destination. So what do you do? As with many things in my life, I’ve taken sort of a both/and approach to the dilemma, while also remaining humbly uncertain about unknowable unknowns like what awaits the human soul postmortem. I think it’s worth noting, however, that any sort of faith that is primarily motivated by what happens after death is subject to supreme subversion and hijacking, rather than making the focal point being one’s relationship with God, others, and themselves. If how we live takes a backseat to what we believe then all kinds of mishaps are to be expected as par for the course. Of course, belief should inform behavior, but if the belief is that all sins are forgiven by declaring Jesus as Lord and that this life is a cosmic crapshoot, every human soul is one-and-done, and there are only two options of experience after the body expires… I think we’ve seen plenty of examples of this not quite panning out as a perfect omnibenevolent being would sign off on. If the point of an incarnational human existence is less of any sort of an objective scruples quiz to be reviewed, infinitely graded, and infinitely improved upon, and strictly a one-time doctrinal purity/sincerity of belief geographical crapshoot with infinitely incomprehensible stakes in either bliss or suffering, people on the secular side of the fence are absolutely correct to claim that the deity you believe in could reasonably be concluded to be callous, cruel, and evidently has no qualms creating people expressly for the purpose of setting up them up to eventually damn them. “No Punishment, No Justice” Mindset It’s hard to effectively “love one’s neighbor as oneself” if the underlying idea is that unless one’s neighbor is in total theological and/or behavioral agreement, they’re doomed to experience an eternity of torture and flames once their physical body ceases to function. This perceptual trap intrinsically roots one’s love in a “holier-than-thou” position, which does not translate to feeling anything resembling the agape love purportedly held in such high esteem by religious folks. I understand the concept of the “necessity” of Hell, to some degree. It may seem just as morally abhorrent for someone like Jeffrey Dahmer (who purportedly accepted Jesus Christ before his murder) to not face more than an earthly prison sentence and be welcomed into the pearly gates. Frankly, at this point, I don’t know or care if he was. Not my call, fortunately. Admittedly, I still wouldn’t want the cloud next to his. One could, and probably still will, argue that love for one’s neighbor is the impetus of evangelical work. “We are spreading the Gospel to them because we love them and want to save them from their sins” etc. But this is still rooted in a “we’re right, they’re wrong” mindset, hinged on a belief that the designer and tireless maintainer of the universe either doesn’t care about a vast enormity of His children’s individuated consciousnesses being eternally sustained after physical death for the purpose of punishment for transgressions beyond their comprehension, or worse, actively wants that to happen. Father, forgive us, we know not what we do. The Underlying Cruelty of Evangelical Heaven One of the most striking things I’ve seen in my years around missionary family members and acquaintances is a profound revulsion at the ideas of annihilationism (which postulates that at the “Day of Judgment” non-believers would be simply erased from existence) or universalism (which suggests the crucifixion and resurrection set in motion a chain of events that would eventually redeem all of creation) as opposed to the concept of eternal conscious torment awaiting non-Christians either at the moment of death, or at the end of time. Either way, it’s a pretty telling worldview to see over half of humanity as damnable, irredeemable, and necessary to burn and torture infinitely. I don’t believe in that God; I don’t believe that was Jesus’ Father. “Yes, Jesus’ death absolves all my sins in perpetuity, and no matter what I do in life, I’ll be rewarded with bliss forever, while the happenstances of your birth and life justify a ceaseless postmortem brutality against your soul, regardless of your conduct or character. That’s just Divine Will.” This is monstrous theology. If you’d push your sibling into a furnace and be capable of turning around and enjoying bliss after, I wouldn’t want to be in that Heaven anyway. Overlooking the Gift of the Present Moment “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”~ Master Oogway in Kung-Fu Panda It’s cliché. It’s corny. But it’s still true. I know I’m guilty of ignoring blessings in favor of focusing on things I wish I had or activities I’d rather be doing. Thou shalt not covet. Whoops. That said, I know I’m also guilty of being hedonistic and prioritizing “enjoying now” over preparing for the future. We have to balance responsibility and recreation, trust and truth, embodiment and eternality. Do the laundry. Breathe in. Wash the dishes. Breathe out. Trust the process. Breathe in. Love your neighbor. Breathe out. “Be here now.”~ Ram Dass Final Thoughts I’ve made jokes onstage about varying Heavens of different religions and written ad nauseum philosophizing, trying to reconcile the cosmologies of which I’m aware — both for my own sanity, and for the hope of a future where religion isn’t such a tremendous source of division and we all recognize our connection to divinity. Christians who keep prepping for the rapture to leave everyone else in the ashes are doing themselves and their faith a disservice as much as they are everyone else. God is bigger than our boxes. The dissonance between how much people who call themselves “Christians” follow Paul in actuality, as opposed to Christ, is maddening. If you don’t think their ideals are opposed, consider the following verses“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”~ Matthew 7:21 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”~ Romans 10:9 Hardly seems like these two are in agreement. I would rather sit around a table with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims who are sincere in their respective beliefs, but have done their inner work than a bunch of professing Christ-followers who don’t take issue with the current administration, or worse, actively support it and think it to be some sort of righteous crusade against “the evils of the left”. To be fair, I’d rather get pistol-whipped and taken behind the chemical sheds than sit around that second table. Oh well, here comes the holidays. If you found this thought-provoking, interesting, or entertaining, please feel free to follow The Dropout Professor elsewhere for additional content and musings, or buy me a coffee to support! :) Follow on Instagram Subscribe on YouTube © 2025 Alex AKA The Dropout Professor You may also enjoy reading these articles by our guest author today: Why Do Christians White-Knuckle This Life? The Struggles of a Heretical Mystical Christian My Trip to Hell Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.