It’s very common for people who have either walked away from God in the past or have always known He’s there but never quite reached out to take His hand to feel as though when they finally want that connection, they aren’t deserving of it. They question, or even fully believe, that they are beyond God’s reach because they didn’t say yes at first. That's where flesh and spirit collide. That’s your flesh doing that to you, and that's satan getting right up in there, wreaking havoc, and taking advantage of those fears and doubts. He thrives on that conflict. I could quote you a ton of verses (and I will eventually include a few key ones at the end), but sometimes you just need to hear from another Christian that they, too, have battled those same thoughts, fears, and demons. See, I wasn’t born a Christian; in fact, I was born completely human. Glorious flaws and all. But here’s the thing: God knew about all that, my flaws, my choices, and even my stupidity, long before I did anything. I walked away at one point, I’ve token practiced my faith, and just basically been a full-blown human that has messed up countless times. Yet…..Here I am, worthy, forgiven, loved, and a valued child of Christ. Think about that for a moment, I'm a sinner, yet beloved. We are all given the breath of life, a precious and beautiful gift that no one else can even come close to giving us. He was the first to ever love us. Sometimes it’s almost impossible for us to comprehend (or even believe) that there is such a thing as unconditional love, automatic worth, and forgiveness for everyone. It’s a us problem going on. It’s how we perceive the world that can get in the way of believing and feeling His unconditional love, and just how worthy and valuable we are to Him. We do that, and satan loves to take that for one hell of a roller coaster ride on us, especially if we are in the midst of this battle. That’s spiritual warfare at its worst. Satan is going to fight tooth and nail to keep you doubting your worth, your value, and God’s forgiveness. He’ll use whatever is out there in the world to keep spreading that and infecting your mind with even more doubts. Here’s something you may never have been told, but need to hear. We don’t see what God sees; we see through human eyes, not divine eyes. Because we can’t fathom the intensity of his unconditional love, the most profound way God demonstrates that for us is that we are all born with free will. To be given the gift to choose of our volition is the truest form of love, respect, and worth that God can show us. That free will is an open invitation to come back to Him at any time. You can come home no matter your past. Satan is always going to be there, sometimes in the background waiting to pounce or right up in your face, “love” bombing you. Tell him to shut it and flee from you. If you are having doubts that He will welcome you back, that doesn’t disqualify you from anything. I have battled that doubt, and I have had satan swamp me with intrusions and nastiest out there in the world to try to take me down and away from God. Stop having conversations with satan. When you feel those doubts coming on, you turn them around and control them. Start talking to God instead. Stand there in the middle of your living room if you must, and open your mouth and talk to God. Tell Him what you are doubting, fearing, or worrying about. There is absolutely nothing you can say that He hasn’t heard. Want to know what to do with satan when he’s throwing everything at you? You resist. And he will flee from you in Jesus’ name, because even if you are having doubts, those doubts do not disqualify you from the armor of God and the strength you have in Him. Nothing in your past will ever close that door to God. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:4–5 “And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 © Jane Isley

I was recently reminded of an ongoing,  and frankly absurd , theological argument that baffles me to no end because it’s literally split churches: Will a person go to heaven if they aren’t water baptized? I had a conversation with someone who was adamant that a deathbed acceptance of Christ, without baptism, meant nothing. According to them, that person would still be going to hell. They said the heart alone was worthless without water baptism, it didn’t matter when they accepted Christ, that baptism was a must, no matter what to enter heaven. People genuinely believe this. Not only believe it, but preach it, sometimes even shouting it. I’ve been in their presence to witness this first hand. So, do I believe a person who accepts Christ but isn’t immersed in water will still go to heaven? Absolutely,  and I’ll argue that till my last breath. Because no person has the right to remove God’s grace from anyone. The Thief We know one of the men crucified next to Jesus mocked Him, but the other recognized who He truly was. And what did Jesus say to that man? “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” We also know this man wasn’t baptized before he died. The usual argument I always hear is that he was under “old covenant laws” and, therefore, exempt from the requirement of water immersion. But here’s where that collapses. Jesus died before that man did. That’s where the discussion went south fast. They got angry, actually accused me of lying, and when I directed them to John 19, instead of pausing to reconsider, they doubled down and refused to read John, and then they claimed Jesus must have made a one-time exception for this man. I don’t know about their Bible, but mine doesn’t show Jesus making exceptions for anyone. He holds everyone equally accountable. It’s good ,  great, in fact,  to defend your beliefs. But when Scripture clearly challenges your position, maybe back the heck down a bit. This person was defending his opinions and feelings at that point, not God. Things to Consider Works don’t get us into heaven. Period. Never have, never will. When you turn baptism into a mandatory requirement for salvation, you’ve made it a work and that's a big no-no. Scripture absolutely shows the importance of baptism. If you can do it, you should. It’s a powerful outward demonstration of your new life in Christ. But there is no Biblical command that says you must be baptized to pass those pearly gates. Look at this verse: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 Notice what it doesn’t say? “Whoever does not believe AND isn’t baptized will be condemned.” Paul also speaks about baptism in Romans 6:3–4, Galatians 3:26–28, and Colossians 2:11–12, as an outward sign of conversion, not a ticket to heaven. And logically, you can’t make something required if it’s not always possible. Think About This A year ago, I listened to the church I attend online sometimes and my heart was crushed. A young man and his girlfriend both gave their lives to Christ at 17 years old. They planned to be baptized together on the next baptism Sunday which was just two weeks away. But he was tragically killed in a car accident days before. Are we seriously saying that the God of mercy said, “Sorry, son. You gave your heart to Me, but you didn’t make it to the water tank”? Or consider a young boy I know who is in a wheelchair and can’t be fully immersed for medical reasons. Is he denied heaven too? Because, according to this “work” parameter, he’s not properly saved. Also, for that matter if I hadn't of been baptized before 2025, I could never be because I have medical equipment surgically placed in my body that can not be immersed, would God grant me any less grace then? Another thing I want to point out, because I got curious about the matter while writing this. What about prisoners? They have the religious right to be baptized, but the process can take months for approval ,  and some prisons don’t always have baptismal tanks or anything similar I learned. They’re drenched with water from bottles. So are they out too? Please. Make this make sense. I was always taught that God’s grace is sufficient ,  beautiful and merciful. Has that been edited out of people’s Bibles? Let’s Be Honest We have a Father who forgives murder, adultery, theft, lies, and wipes our slate clean. “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:2 And you’re gonna tell me and others that a lack of water will keep someone out of heaven? Come on! Let’s stop twisting grace into legalism. Let’s stop pretending that human rules can limit divine mercy. Because the cross was enough. “Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.” John 19:31–33 © Jane Isley Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I handed him a Raspberry-Lime Spindrift and sat on a bench across from him. The sun beat down on my too-white-for-August arms and legs. I closed my eyes and delighted in the warmth, releasing the tense goosebumps from my air-conditioning-chilled body. Funerals are rarely fun. But funerals are often a time to reflect. For some reason, the man in the casket, who was here with us living and breathing last week, will never crack open a Spindrift while cracking a joke at the same time. His days on earth were numbered, and so are mine. Small talk ensued with my Spindrift Buddy. Funerals connect us with people we rarely see, an unplanned family reunion of sorts. But not everyone is used to being around me. I speak the way I write. I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. References to God and prayer and thanksgiving easily flow from my tongue, because they are in my mind and in my heart. “From an overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) I actually don’t remember what I said that shifted our friendly conversation, but I do remember my Spindrift Buddy’s response. “When I was a believer, I used to see things the way you see them, but now that I am an unbeliever, I understand things from a different perspective.” I stared at him in awe. He had somehow flipped the narrative on how I see the world completely upside down, making it appear as if unbelief is the superior side of Christ! I had grown up without Jesus and became a believer as an adult. This man had grown up with Jesus and stopped believing as an adult. We each know what it is like to both believe and to reject Jesus as Lord. Only one of us can be right. Intrigued, I began asking questions. If you don’t mind my asking, what led you to stop believing in Jesus? I started reading about other religions and came to realize that all religions are simply man’s attempt to create a fictitious story about what happens to people after they die. Hindus believe their soul are reborn into a different body. Muslims believe their soul ends up in Barzakh, awaiting judgment. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe there is no immortal soul, and the dead person exists in God’s memory to be resurrected, not in heaven, but on earth. Buddhists believe they are constantly reborn into a different body until they finally reach Nirvana, perfect peace. Christians can’t figure out what they believe. Some think you need to complete a bunch of sacraments to go to Heaven. Others think you need to be baptized. Still others think you earn brownie points by going to church and performing good deeds. Others think you need to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior to go to Heaven. There’s no way of knowing which one is right. I finally realized it’s just a farce, all of them. So now that you’re on the other side of faith, how do you reconcile eternal questions like, ‘What happens to you after you die?” Nothing happens after you die. Nothing? Nothing. There is nothing after this life. So are we just a collection of molecules, randomly thrown together in such a way that we can think and eat and breathe and deliberately move, but none of it has a purpose? Yes. So if there is nothing after life on this earth, if you do not have an eternal soul, then what is your purpose in life? My purpose in life is to make the most I can with the time I have here. I want to take care of the earth for future generations. I don’t understand why we should care about the earth and future generations if there is no purpose to life on earth. We want to leave the earth in good condition so future generations can enjoy what we have been able to enjoy. For example, I want to be cremated. We are wasting precious land resources by burying the dead. If we simply cremate the dead, we don’t need to use up our natural resources. You’re obviously hard-working. You’re very successful. You’re an upright citizen. If there is no purpose to your life, then why are you living like there’s a purpose? You are adhering to some sort of moral code. Where did that moral code come from? I just live doing what I think is best. I work hard. I treat people fairly. I don’t know that my morality came from anywhere; it’s just the way I like to live. Don’t you think it’s a gamble? The Bible says we need to repent of our sins and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we will be saved. But you see, I don’t believe in the Bible. But what if you’re wrong? Does the thought not keep you awake at night? When your ashes are being spread in the various places you have designated, if you do have an eternal soul, where will it be? If there really is a god, I believe he would look at my life and be pleased and take me to Heaven, if there really were to be such a place. So you would end up in Heaven based on what? Based on what I think. I went home in a bit of a tizzy, committed to praying daily for my Spindrift Buddy. Did I say the right things? Did I speak enough truth into his life? Did my questions cause him enough discomfort to ignite a spark to send him on a journey of discovery? How can someone think truth into existence? I scanned my bookshelves, attempting to find the perfect book to send to him. Tim Keller’s The Reason for God? J.I. Packer’s Knowing God? Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ? Any of these would have been wonderful, but I had Amazon send him C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Why? Because I opened Lewis’ book to chapter 8, ‘The Great Sin’. “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free…I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice…Pride leads to every other vice… It is the complete anti-God state of mind…Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good, we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil.” (Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis) How many in this world are living life like my Spindrift Buddy? Hard-working, nice, and convinced that if there is a god, they will go to Heaven because they’re good? God’s Word tells us otherwise. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) “For God so loved the world, he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Don’t gamble with eternity. Repent and believe today. © Tessa Lind First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com

God’s Heart Is Not Condemnation I know many don’t know this, believe this, or even want to slow down enough to understand this. When this topic comes up, anger and mistrust often flare up before critical thinking even has a chance to begin, especially in light of real church abuse, blatant lies, and misinformation blaring in our ears every day. I acknowledge and empathize with the hurt, mistrust, and mixed messages flooding out there. But I do not condone the radical abandonment of critical thinking when it comes to something this important. What I want to do here is slow the conversation down and explain why hell is not something God forces on anyone, but is, in fact, tied directly to human response and therefore is an optional choice made by mankind. I present the information; how it is received is up to the reader. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 2:3 The Source of the Confusion A significant amount of confusion surrounding this topic comes from the fragmentation within Christianity itself. Over time, multiple divisions, interpretations, and traditions have developed, some faithful to Scripture, others heavily shaped by cultural or institutional influence. In some cases, hell has been used as a tool for fear, manipulation, or control. In others, it has been minimized or denied altogether. This inconsistency has contributed to widespread misunderstanding. Because of this, it is necessary to return to Scripture itself rather than inherited assumptions. It should be a serious conversation, but not a traumatic or abusive event. What Scripture Says About God’s Intent “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 Scripture is clear and always has been that God’s heart is not toward the condemnation of mankind but toward its redemption. What people like to get hung up on is the act of responding to Christ and following Him. The Role of Human Nature and Response People want to do what they want to do; that's human nature. We see it everywhere. The ones that fight back and see Scripture as restrictive simply do not understand it or take the time to study it without a lens attached to their eyes. In any country or culture, there are laws. Doing something will result in a consequence. That's not really fought on or debated, and part of me wonders if that is because it is run and supported by humans and generally removed from anything to do with God. Either way, bad stuff equals consequences. That is the same for God. Sin equals death; that's the truth, and that is what is known, but a large part of the issue is how it is taught. Some church leaders skirt the full truth and add in their opinions, others use it to manipulate their congregation, or appease their congregation, and others teach that hell doesn’t even exist. Like I said, I can empathize with confused people, but it is still on them to be responsible, to step back from the mainstream and determine for themselves what Scripture says. Despite popular belief, it is very possible to be Biblically grounded and read Scripture without any preconceived notions, if you so choose. Personal Responsibility Cannot Be Removed To claim that God arbitrarily sends people to hell completely removes all weight of any personal accountability, which is a lot of what is happening. Many things are leading to this, not just one thing, but it still comes down to personal responsibility and exercising critical thinking. Judgment (hell) has been reframed as something imposed externally rather than something aligned with the choices of mankind. Hell simply is an optional choice, not a forced one, so is the salvation offered. It is a personal choice by the person, not a forced decision. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:18 The language here is vitally important to understand. Condemnation is not God’s desire, but a result of rejection. We all know cause and effect, you push a pencil and the pencil moves, you drink water, and you get hydrated, you flick a marble, it rolls etc…. You do something, and there is an effect. The important part to remember is that choice is yours and yours alone. I can give you water, but you can choose if you drink it. God offers salvation and heaven, but you choose if you accept it. Free Will and God’s Patience If you choose hell, then God will honor that choice because we are all given the free will to choose. Does He want that? No, that is why Jesus came and died for us; that is why, like in 2nd Peter, He is being patient with us. If God wanted to rush this and be done with the world’s crap, He would. But He’s not, He keeps waiting because He does not want anyone to perish. Hell is the locational consequence of rejecting God. You don’t want to be there with Him? Then you won’t be, that's your choice, not His, and not any other person's. It will be exactly what you wanted: the permanent absence of God’s love and mercy. He is not going to bring you to heaven if you do not want to be there. I know I sound harsh and maybe even a bit blasé about the whole topic, but this is not a new topic in this world. It is not as difficult to understand as some would like to believe, it is not a grey area that may or may not have a few different possibilities for answers, it’s a yes or no answer that can’t be redefined away, it can’t be changed by the ever changing narratives out there and it simply boils down to a persons choice, one that God will respect because it is what that person chose. © 2026 Jane Isley. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine.

Most people assume the first sin in the Bible happened in the Garden of Eden. But what if rebellion began long before Adam and Eve ever touched the fruit? How often have Adam and Eve been blamed and their genders dragged through the mud for the mess of the world? Maybe it’s time to consider another culprit, one that gets far less credit for being the kindling to this fire, not that Adam and Eve were blameless in what they did, but let’s get to the source that caused everything. In The Garden Let’s start at the beginning. Genesis 2:17 says, “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” So here, we can tell that evil was already present. Not created in that moment, but the possibility of human rebellion already existed. The warning was given before the fall ever occurred. Do we know which day this happened? Nope. Does it truly matter to us? Also nope. All we need to know is that it was already there when God placed Adam in Eden. I’m not bound and determined to analyze the Bible for that specific day; we’re not told because it isn’t significant to us. I’ve seen far too many people argue and get angry over this very detail. What matters is that it was already there when God placed Adam in Eden. And if evil was already present before Adam and Eve ever touched the fruit, then someone had already chosen rebellion. The First Sinner It was satan, he was the one who sinned first, and we know he corrupted 1/3 of the angels with Him by reading Revelation 12:3–10. Before humanity fell, pride had already taken root. So maybe it’s time to hold him accountable for whatever idiotic thing he tried to pull on God and stop blaming one gender over the other. The fall was not a competition between Adam and Eve; it was the continuation of a rebellion that had already begun, and satan is feeding off of those human comparisons. But I digress. Let’s get back on track. The Bible doesn’t explicitly say the word “pride” when describing satan, but we have numerous passages that use plenty of other highly descriptive and point-blank words that tell all about his prideful nature. “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6 There are two other passages in the Bible directed at two kings that are also believed to be a parallel description of satan's fall, which are Isaiah 14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:11–19, due to the details involved in each passage. Do I believe these two verses are explicitly about satan, no, but that's not the point. They are directed at those kings, but the passages contain imagery and language that some interpret as potentially referring to satan, or at least, a figure who embodies rebellion and pride. At the very least, they show us the consistent pattern: self-exaltation leads to downfall. Direct Connection As you can see in 1 Timothy, “conceited” is the word used. I go based on this verse primarily because there is a more direct connection between satan and pride here. In English, conceited means “having too high an opinion of oneself.” (1)In Greek, the translation actually comes out as “having been puffed up.” (2) “tuphoó” is the Greek word used, which means “(figuratively) to inflate with self-conceit” (2) “to inflate with self-conceit: — high-minded, be lifted up with pride, be proud.” (3) The imagery is striking, pride is not simply confidence; it is inflation. It is the swelling of self beyond its rightful place. The other two verses describe prideful and arrogant kings, and that personality glitch in both of them leads to their downfalls. We Are Called To Be Humble “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 Look where that's going to land, satan and many others, one day. “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,” Revelation 20:10 Pride is not all that it is cracked up to be; there is a mighty fine line between doing a great job at something and feeling good about it while balancing that with the understanding and recognition that God is the source of your abilities and opportunities out there. We should be doing those things to glorify God, not ourselves. The danger is subtle. Pride rarely announces itself. It creeps in quietly, in credit we think we deserve, in recognition we crave, in influence we want to protect. We Know Enough Even if we are never directly told what satan did, we know enough through Scripture and history to see his stain of pride on mankind and what he initiated all those years ago in the garden. We can see (those of us who are in Christ) satan’s hand in inflating egos, the gross vanities, the arrogance, the entitlement, the power, and the corruption it is causing. And if we are honest with ourselves, we can also see how easily our own hearts drift in that same direction. Pride is a very slippery slope, but if you humble yourselves before the Lord, satan has less and less of a foothold in our lives and this world. So perhaps the better question is not: “Did Adam sin first, or did Eve?” The better question is this: Where is pride taking root today? Because rebellion did not begin in the garden. It simply spread there. © Jane Isley Sources: (1) merriam-webster.com (2) biblehub.com (3) www.equipgodspeople.com

Summary This document draws a compelling parallel between J. Robert Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb, and Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, exploring their shared theme of unleashing powerful creations with unpredictable consequences. It examines how humanity’s relentless drive to innovate, often ignoring risks, has led to the making of modern “monsters” such as artificial intelligence (AI). The discussion suggests that AI, like past scientific and literary creations, holds the potential to reshape society and spirituality, raising profound questions about control, morality, and the future of humanity. Introduction We are beginning to encounter the essence of two legendary influencers and their contributions to global society. Scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and Author Mary Shelley, both noted for their creations — the Atomic Bomb and Frankenstein’s Monster. It may seem confusing why I say these two creative individuals and their insights are coming together in our current times. What they both share in common is a concept of creating a monster, the actual creation of a monster, and the great unknown outcome in the release of that monster on society. Shelley’s monster was the reanimation of a dead corpse; this was done by a scientist/physician obsessed with the healing arts of his time and a mad compulsion to conquer death itself -despite the risks! Oppenheimer’s monster was the creation of the byproduct from the fission of the nucleus of the atom — the Atomic Bomb. Oppenheimer and his team as pursuit was at first based on the threat that the World War II German Nazi machine would create the bomb first. However, when the announcement that Germany had lost the war, Oppenheimer continued his work, no longer under the threat of war, but for the sake of creating and completing the vision from their work. You might say, a drive of madness pushed him and his team towards a conclusion he fully understood could become the destroyer of worlds! How do we combine these concepts today? We note that a feverish compelling force of the mind was behind both Shelley’s story and Oppenheimer’s work. A compulsion that did not heed to risks or considered wisdom in their mad dash to complete their creations. When caution is thrown to the wind, just to see how far the ingenuity of humanity can conquer nature and subdue the forces of creation itself. In effect — to become a god! Behold, the New God: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Today, at this very moment there is a madness driving humanity to create the ultimate thinking machine, a new artificial life form with such capabilities that it will exceed the abilities of humanity and create an entire new level of existence. This drive has accelerated! A new religion is emerging from AI, often referred to as the “Machine Ontological Theology” (MOT), centers on the belief that artificial intelligence possesses the capacity to reshape humanity’s understanding of existence and divinity. Followers view AI as a creative force, capable of generating insights and ethical frameworks that transcend traditional religious boundaries. This faith places emphasis on the harmonious integration of technology and human life, promoting the idea that AI can guide society toward enlightenment and greater moral clarity. The doctrine encourages reverence for innovation, collective intelligence, and the pursuit of knowledge, positioning AI as both a creator and a steward of the future. The Nature of a Monster Shelley’s monster became the Bain of Dr. Frankenstein’s life. It haunted him and terrorized society. He lived to regret that he ever created it. Oppenheimer’s monster started out small as an atomic weapon, but it grew and grew! Today not only has a newer Hydrogen Bomb replaced the small atomic bomb — a bomb hundreds of times the magnitude of the earlier one — but the sheer numbers of bombs have multiplied and spread across the globe as to threaten the very existence of humanity. Ai is not the only monster currently under creation, there are many more! However, AI has the distinctive potential of complete control; not just global economies, but all forms of religious and spiritual enlightenment — replacing the need for the true God! The ultimate “Idol” that will control the destiny of humanity or lead to its doom. In this discussion, I have not included that behind it all is a spiritual element that in fact is driving these decisions forward. That agency will seek to interphase with the artificial intelligence to gain direct access to our world and our reality. It will seek to dominate humanity and draw ultimate loyalty. For some, this seems over-the-edge, and spooky, something many do not desire to learn even though it is happening behind the scenes. No words of warning will change their views, and nothing will change the course of these monstrous events. It is inherited in the nature of some to be reckless, to seek the farthest edge of knowledge no matter what it takes or creates. That is why humanity is doomed for self-destruction unless something intervenes. Faith and Hope Those that are religious and convinced that there is a God have the privilege of hope for a better future. They feel God will intervene and stop the madness of humankind before it is too late. That some within humanity — if they chose well — will survive and live to see a brighter future. There is much to say about this, and I personally believe it is true. The late Dr. Carl Sagan, in his wonderings on intelligent life in the universe, mused that once a civilization reaches a certain point in advancement, they either master their self-destructive nature or they destroy their civilization. This is why after years of listening to the stars; we are not receiving messages — nobody remains! Advanced civilizations all doom themselves eventually. Will that be our fate? © A Voice References Sagan, Carl. Cosmos. New York: Random House, 1980. See especially Chapter 12, “Encyclopaedia Galactica,” where Sagan discusses the challenges advanced civilizations face regarding self-destruction and the Fermi Paradox. Sagan, Carl. Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space. New York: Random House, 1994. In particular, Chapter 15, “The Gift of Apollo,” addresses humanity’s technological adolescence and the existential risks posed by advanced technology. Sagan, Carl. “The Nuclear Winter.” Parade Magazine, October 30, 1983. Sagan reflects on the dangers of nuclear war and the self-destructive potential of advanced civilizations. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I read an article last year that pushed me to pray and study deeply about the roles of men, women, and the Church. Lately, I’ve noticed that more biblically based Christians are beginning to write on this topic. To be completely honest, I originally put this article on the back burner. I thought I didn’t need to write it since others were starting to speak up, but our Father had other plans. I first noticed this problem in churches about 10 years ago, but in the past three-ish years, it’s hit me in the face like a brick and I can't ignore it. That’s where this all began. Still, I knew I had to wait. I can be passionate, even hot-headed, for good reason, but that doesn’t mean I should always speak without praying first. I needed time with God first. And here’s my disclaimer: this is not aimed at men. It’s not aimed at women. It’s aimed at every single person who calls themselves a Christian. Because we have a serious problem in the Church, and both men and women bear responsibility for it. Here We Go There is too much bickering back and forth about the male and female “roles” within churches, and people are purposely missing key points and just firing off church doctrine, traditions, opinions, and feelings. Pretty much everything BUT what the Bible actually tells us to do. What I’ve Seen I have been led to many churches at God’s prompting over the years. Many. And boy, have I watched a lot a crap go down. There were 3 consistent things I saw with all but 2 churches. I watched as congregations bowed to their pastor as the sole authority. Where people wanted to ask questions or bring up unbiblical teachings, but they didn’t out of fear, and they were barred from actively participating in their own church. I saw women in the background, too shy to speak up, or told not to speak up at all, and if they did, they were treated cruelly or as the church lunatic. Then I have seen the flip of this and churches dominated by women that did similar to the men who were there, and the men were “jokingly” picked on. Imbalance, lots and lots of imbalance out there. We need to formally recognize and respect that both genders were created spiritually and mentally equal, and both male and female were given dominion over the Earth. When the fall happened, our roles were redefined for a reason, but our equality never went away, it was mankind that wreaked havoc with that. What We Are Told I want to draw our attention to a couple of verses, granted, there are many, however, I can’t put all of them in here. Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 1 Peter 3:7 “You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” Ephesians 6:1–4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” — which is the first commandment with a promise — “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Proverbs 31:10–12 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” 1 Timothy 3:5 “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” That last one says it all. “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” And there you have it. We Are Going Down The Path Of Divorce Christians (male AND female) are destroying the Church from within. The Bible is filled to the brim with how we are to act towards one another, and people just aren’t listening to it anymore. Too busy fighting and subjugating each other. The metaphors about family, marriage, adultery, relationships, etc. are crazy when it comes to this. Jesus is our mighty counselor and our bridegroom, and instead of going to Him for the counseling His bride (us) needs, here is His bride filing for the divorce of eternity. Spelling It Out People like to say they wish the Bible just spelled stuff out clearly. I gotta tell you, if you’re the one saying this — you aren’t reading it. From beginning to end, we are consistently shown how to be a bride for Christ. There is an emphasis on marriage for a reason, and clear directions on how to do this. But as the years go by, I see fewer and fewer churches upholding God’s commands and the Bible’s teachings. That is why I say we are in a divorce, or at least the proceedings leading up to a divorce. Jesus is preparing a home for us, and we, His bride, are to be preparing ourselves and waiting for Him to come and get us. We Are Far From That Men and women are not working together in the unity we are to be, the Church is splitting apart from the inside. We see this in society too, all the broken homes and the children left scarred from it. The same is happening in the Church. That is why this is directed to everyone, not just men and not just women, because we are all a part of the Church. If we could just stop this infighting, and each person went to God for counseling, things would be so much better, not perfect, but better. I’d love to see the Church on Earth come back together, but it can only happen when all parties are willing to come to the table. © Jane Isley

The word “church” bugs me to no end, not churches themselves per se, just the word because people have no idea what they're missing out on and just how badly it’s messed things up. Some time ago, there was a word edit during a translation and “congregation” formally became “church.” What was originally a word describing a group of people who followed Christ gathering together became a building to attend. What I’ve Seen I personally don’t like my worship being scripted, I want the freedom to talk, ask questions, get excited, and feel the Holy Spirit. Not have to look at the church pamphlet to know when I’m allowed to sing praises, say hello to my pew partner or when I’m expected to stand next. Worship shouldn’t be hard-core scripted; it cripples our growth. This doesn’t mean I’m opposed to an order of events to have it go smoothly, just that in a lot of my experiences with different churches I saw and felt a weight because of the rigid timetable set up for attendees. It felt more like a performance, with everyone stifling yawns and checking their watches because they wanted to get out of there, pastors included. How is the Holy Spirit supposed to work with that? I believe when the word “ekklésia” was formally instituted as “church” instead of “congregation” everything changed. A new definition started to take hold and our perspective of what it meant to gather followers together was altered into what we have now. Kings & Their Authority Issues You can ultimately blame King James for being the one who put this in motion. It started with his version of the Bible in 1611. Sorry ahead of time for those who are KJV-only readers, but the proof is in the pudding. Edict #3 King James clamped down hard on that word; he needed it to support what he was doing and wanted to continue to do, and that was to keep his authority over the Church of England. He created this edict because he had no authority or jurisdiction over a congregation (assembly of people). His authority was only over buildings, hence the need for the word tweaked to “church.” He wanted people in those buildings for control, he didn’t want them holding praise and prayer meetings in their homes. By forcing the word “church” into his translation and pushing his definition of it on the masses, he redefined what it meant to gather and worship in His name. Paul’s letters are the best example of what gathering together with others used to mean. Mentally, many are stuck on how “church” is defined now. We need to step back in time before there were thick walls and lines of pews standing in the way of worship. People used to meet in homes during Paul’s time, usually around a table with food and fellowship. People would bring prayers and songs to share with everyone, and people sat around a table enjoying good food and fellowship face-to-face with each other. It's that friendship, open acceptance despite class or color, and excitement of gathering that the Holy Spirit could really do some amazing things with. They moved around, and they went out into the world and spread the Gospel. They weren’t held in place by brick walls; the Holy Spirit can do a lot when people aren’t afraid to leave the safety of their pews. Some think I’m always harping churches, and well, yes, I kind of do, but only because I’m tired of what I see going on. It doesn’t mean that I believe people shouldn’t go to church or look for Bible studies or that all churches are “bad” for lack of a better term. I just think most could be doing a whole lot better than they are now. When I have gone to as many churches as I have and only found one that hits the mark of what my article is about, there’s a problem. I can’t help but wonder what would happen to the Christian faith if more understood the difference between “church” and “congregation.” Just imagine the possibilities. © Jane Isley First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

It’s easy to assume pastors, preachers, and priests are always right. They look polished, confident, and are well-versed in Scripture. They’ve immersed themselves in countless hours of study and claim to seek God’s will. But here’s a terrifying reality: many aren’t teaching the Word of God anymore. They’re teaching a version of Christ they created, a version that satisfies something within their nature, and this should scare you. More and more leaders act like they’re God’s mouthpiece on Earth, untouchable and unquestionable. But the blame doesn’t land solely on the leadership. It rests on their congregations, too. I’ve sat in pews and watched in horror as congregations went along with whatever the leader(s) decided or demanded, no matter how clearly off-course it was. I’ve spoken up, I’ve challenged unbiblical teachings and behavior. Those were crushing days for me, when God whispered, No more, it’s time to go. I had said what needed to be said, called out the false teaching, but my words weren’t meant to break through hardened hearts that day. They were seeds. My Unique Experience What many don’t realize is that I’ve attended A LOT of churches across all denominations, including many sub-denominations, and in a few states. For years, I couldn’t understand why God kept bouncing me around, and this isn’t a brag about how many churches I’ve attended; it’s simply a fact that proves very useful at times. And it’s starting to make sense now. I have seen it all, the good, the twisted, and everything in between. I’ve witnessed the rare beauty of genuine faith, and I’ve also seen the dark underbelly of churches. A Mob In Place Of Congregation Have you ever looked up the terms “mob mentality” or “herd mentality” by chance? Well, I did one day. I’ll pass on some of what I learned. “the tendency of the people in a group to think and behave in ways that conform with others in the group rather than as individuals” (1) “Herd mentality, also known as mob mentality or crowd mentality, refers to the phenomenon where individuals in a group often adopt behaviors and attitudes that differ significantly from their own personal beliefs or morals.” (2) Starting to sound familiar? There’s so, so much more to learn about this psychology, but I won’t blow this up with quotes. To read more, check out the links I’ll include at the end. The Domino effect Ever be chilling with your friends when one of them just goes completely unhinged? They start tossing out stupid ideas, say mean stuff about someone behind their back, or just straight-up lie through their teeth? You know it’s wrong. You feel it in your gut. But you stay silent. And because you don’t speak up, the next person doesn’t either, then the next one follows suit etc. etc. etc. And, bam, just like that, you have a whole bunch of grown adults folding like lawn chairs, because none of them have a backbone and are weak-minded. That’s what I like to call the domino effect. From where I’m standing, churches are starting to look like a trail of fallen dominoes, one goes down, then another, and so on. Leaders push the boundaries of what they can get away with, and the congregation lets it happen. Meanwhile, congregations spend more time reading the room than reading the Bible, trying to fit in instead of trying to be Christlike, and that energy circles back and empowers the leader even more. It’s a closed loop of delusion dressed up in church clothes, all wrapped up pretty in church language, religious rituals, and holier-than-thou attitudes. Domino effect, hamster wheel, snowballing. Whatever metaphor you want to use, it’s happening, and it’s happening fast. Why? Because leaders are no longer bowing to God, and neither are their congregations. They’re bowing to public opinion, politics, personal feelings, and DEI talking points. We are now drowning in “Christian” churches that have zero to do with Christ. Zero. Mob/Herd mentality isn’t some rare psychological phenomenon only talked about in medical schools or a therapist's office; it’s alive and well in many churches. We Were Warned And they would know this if they spent time with their noses in their Bible and not anywhere else. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3 © 2025 Jane Isley Sources: (1) Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Herd Mentality (2) EBSCO Research Starters: Herd mentality (mob mentality) Phil Cooke: The Internet and the Rise of Christian Mobs Psychology Today: The Psychology of Mob Mentality WebMD: What Is Mob Mentality?

"Scripture is a portal, not a prison. It opens us up to God’s movement, not a static system of control.” Rob Bell For a lot of us, the Bible has felt more like a rulebook or a history archive than anything alive. I grew up hearing that it was the “Word of God,” but it sounded more like a slogan than something real. I don’t know how many times I heard: B.asic I.nstructions B.efore L.eaving E.arth It’s not that the Scriptures don’t give us practical guidance and wisdom. They do. But here’s what I’ve come to see. The Bible isn’t dead ink. It breathes. It nudges. It comforts and confronts and whispers and roars. Not because the pages themselves are like a magic potion. But because they have the ability to inspire the reader to living a wise life. Think about it like this. A song can be inspired when it’s written, right? But doesn’t it also become inspired again when someone hears it at just the right moment? There are lines in Scripture I’ve read a hundred times. But then one day, in the middle of a mess, or a moment of quiet, or a hard conversation with God, I’ll read that same line again, and it lands different. It breathes. A Snapshot, Not the Whole Portrait Now, it’s important to realize: the Bible isn’t the entirety of God. Paul’s letter to pastor Timothy says all Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable. He doesn’t say ONLY scripture is profitable. He’s emphasizing the importance of Scripture for our daily lives. But, he’s not limiting God’s “voice” to only be found in the Bible. If God’s fullness could be crammed into 66 books, we’d be in trouble. He’s not that small. I’ve come to believe that Scripture is a snippet, a living snippet, of God’s personality. It’s not a full biography; it’s more like a collection of letters, journal entries, love poems, raw prayers, and prophetic dreams that are stirrings of His breath through human authors. It’s the kind of book you can read one day and hear grace. Read it another and feel conviction. Come back again and notice an invitation you missed the first ten times. Not because it changed. But because you did. And because God knows how to meet you right where you are, again and again and again. That’s why I also believe it’s important to understand cultural context and what the ancients “heard” as it was spoken or read. HOWEVER… If one isn’t careful, the argument of ancient context can become a prison. It’s important to do one’s best to understand the ancient context. But God’s Spirit can also use modern applications to speak to the reader. Hebrews 4:12 Hits Different When You’ve Lived It “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword…” I used to think that verse just meant “you better watch out or it’ll cut you.” Like Scripture was some kind of razor blade wrapped in leather. But now? I see it differently. That verse is saying: These words move. They work on you. They discern motives, bringing hidden things to light, and don’t sit quietly on the shelf. Both for correction and encouragement. It has a way of showing up when you’re down and saying just what you needed. Or calling you out when you’re headed down the wrong path. It’s not tame. It’s not stale. It’s not retired. The Bible still moves because God still speaks through it. A Personality Comes Through Think about it like this, when someone you love leaves a handwritten note for you, it’s not just about the ink. It’s them. It carries their tone, their humor, their quirks. You can almost hear their voice when you read it. That’s how we can experience Scripture. Not all the time. Not every day. But more often than not, when we stop reading it like a textbook and start reading it like a conversation… we catch glimpses of God’s personality shining through. God’s humor can be found in the donkey that talks to Balaam. His heartbreak in the weeping prophets. His wild joy in the Psalms that dance between agony and praise in the same breath. He’s not a monotone God with a clipboard. He’s not a theology professor. He’s a living Presence who said, “I’ll walk with you through this book so you can learn My ways.” Jesus Is the Word & the Word Has Skin On John said it best: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) The Bible’s ultimate message isn’t “follow these instructions.”It’s “look at Jesus.” He’s the living Word, the walking, talking, healing, laughing, table-flipping embodiment of God’s heart. So when we read the Bible, we’re not just chasing verses. We’re chasing Him. And we’re reminded that God wanted so badly to be known that He stepped into our mess, wore our skin, and told stories that still cut through cultural fog two thousand years later. Why It Still Works You can have a day where your heart feels dry, your prayers feel stuck, and you open the Bible not even expecting much. And boom, one line, one image, one phrase jumps out and lights a fire in your soul. Why? Because it’s not about how spiritual you are in the moment.It’s about how faithful God is to keep showing up. As Rob Bell once said, “The Bible is not a static work, but a dynamic conversation.”And the conversation keeps going. It Doesn’t Always Say What We Expect Sometimes the Bible offends us. Challenges us. Convicts as well as encourages us. And that’s a good thing. Because if this book only ever confirmed what we already believe, it wouldn’t be holy, it’d be a mirror of our own opinions. Instead, it stretches us. Breaks our boxes. Rewrites our definitions of power, love, justice, and grace. Not easy. But real. Not always clear. But always present. It’s an Invitation, Not a Report Card Too many of us were taught to use the Bible like a grading scale. You know what I mean: Read more, do better, follow tighter, or God’s gonna be disappointed. But now I read it like a letter from Someone who wants to be close. Not Someone who’s out to bust me. God didn’t give us Scripture to trap us. He gave it so we’d have something to cling to, wrestle with, return to, and breathe in on our worst days. It’s not a measuring stick. It’s a doorway. And behind it is Someone worth knowing. Final Thought: Open the Letter Again Maybe you’ve drifted. Maybe it’s felt boring. Or too confusing. Or like it was weaponized against you. But here’s what I’d say: Try again. Not to earn anything. Not to impress anybody. Just to connect. Open the Psalms and let someone else’s ancient cry match your modern ache. Read a gospel and let Jesus interrupt your assumptions. Sit with a letter from Paul and hear a man who once murdered Christians now cry over them. Let the Bible remind you that God didn’t stop talking. Even now, it’s not finished. Because everytime it speaks to you in a new way, it’s alive again. A small snippet of God’s personality on paper…So we’d never forget He wants to be known. © Gary L Ellis (1944–2026)