Posts by Chris Marley

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The Art of Getting Out of the Way

Chris Marley
Dec 9, 2024
There’s an old trope that gets applied to a lot of different subjects, “It’s both an art and a science.” Whether the skill in question is drilling wells, acting, or writing fiction, this is a way of conveying that there are objective, mechanical aspects that can be taught and learned by most anyone...

The Unforgivable Sin

Chris Marley
Jun 13, 2022
There are many difficult questions to answer in Christianity. Does God stand outside of time? What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh? Who really was the streaker in Mark’s gospel? But one that has always challenged me is the nature of the unforgivable sin. The Sin in Scripture In Luke 12:10, Jesus...

St. Anselm, the Praying Monk

Chris Marley
Feb 22, 2022
Several years ago, I was texting another pastor while I was waiting for a somber meeting. I remarked that I at least had Anselm to keep me company. He shot a wonderfully nerdy reply: “That's the greatest way to pass your time that could be conceived.” For those who miss the joke, don’t worry; we’ll...

A Christmas Tree on Mars Hill

Chris Marley
Dec 23, 2021
December. 'Tis the season for Christians to argue. Over the years in ministry, I’ve run across some interesting claims about the nature of Christmas. Santa is just a secret word jumble for Satan. The Christmas tree is actually Thor’s oak tree and when you put presents under it you’re offering...

Beauty in the Eye

Chris Marley
Nov 4, 2021
It has become a repeated theme among Christians, particularly those bent toward philosophical constructs, that beauty is not subjective, but objective. The reasoning behind this is that God is the supreme object of beauty, as He is also the supremacy of being, love, grace, justice, righteousness,...

Before You Go...

Chris Marley
Jan 10, 2018
I have served the same small congregation for over seven years now. I am not one of those who would consider myself to have had phenomenal success in the ministry--by most metrics. We did not grow exponentially and send out a dozen missionaries and pastors. We have grown. We have shrunk. We have...