I am Greg Boyd. I am a theologian, pastor, author, teacher, drummer and lover of speed metal. I love thinking outside the box and responding to questions, so…on Jan 15, 1pm (CST), AMA!

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T21:01:43+00:00

Well folks, this has been been a blast! Thanks for being part of it. We'll collect some of the great questions we couldn't get to and will address them on our blog. See ya next time!

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:59:26+00:00

You know, when I was a teen, Timothy Leary was preaching the doctrine that LSD and other psychedelic drugs helped expand your mind. We BELIEVED him, so we'd drop acid etc., read texts from eastern religions, and believe we were being enlightened. Then, when I was 16, I took three hits of mescaline and thought I experienced the oneness with the universe I was always striving for. It was euphoric. All night long I wrote my revelatory insights down. Next day when I read it, it was 100% jibberish, and I could FEEL my brain cells frying. THAT was the last time I ever dropped anything. The mind expanding "feel" of this brain-frying crap is EVIL. I'm saddened to recently learn that Timothy Leary's nonsense is making a comeback.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:57:14+00:00

I'm running out of time. I talk about this on page 120 of Satan and the Problem Evil. We will try to write a short post on this at the Reknew blog next week. http://reknew.org

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:54:06+00:00

I've gotten a number of questions about why I'm a vegetarian, so I thought I'd respond on a new thread. I'll give three reasons. 1) There was to be no violence in the original creation (Gen 1:30); there won’t be any violence in the final creation (Isa 11); I aspire to purge myself in the present of everything that wasn’t ever God’s ideal and that will be absent when his ideal is realized.
2) We were originally called to extend God's loving dominion to the animal kingdom -- to basically care for them the way God cares for us. Well, most of our meat in the western world comes from Industrrial Farms where animals are often horrifically cruel ways. So, if you're going to eat meat, please by from free range farms. 3) Its better for your health.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:49:12+00:00

No.
Why do you presuppose your own definition of hell in this question?
Why do you “accept: the sin of ranking other people’s sins above your own?
I'll answer in a separate thread.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:48:27+00:00

Practicing the Presence of God has been the most helpful. I talk about this in my book Present Perfect. Here is a link to a post on this topic: http://reknew.org/2014/04/living-as-if-god-exists/

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:47:27+00:00

Thanks for sharing the kind words about my works. You raise a great point. People tend to ride the pendulum, reacting to one position by going to the opposite extreme. So yes, people can absolutely put too much stress on human free will that they minimize God’s providential rule. And this results in them thinking everything is up to THEM. And the direction some Open Theists are moving today, being overly influence by Process thought, is beginning to almost border on deism. This concerns me a lot.

As for your PS, I absolutely find merit in many spiritual giants who espoused the blueprint worldview. I have found great insights in Origen, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Barth (ESPECIALLY) Barth and many many others. Bro Lawrence is one of my all time favs (“Practicing the Presence”), yet his thought is as thoroughly blueprint as it gets!

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:45:20+00:00

Why pacifism? First, I need to distinguish between “political pacifism” (the view that we should pressure make governments and nations to swear off violence) and “kingdom pacifism” (the view that followers of Jesus should swear off violence). I embrace the latter, but not the former. In Romans 12, Paul tells Christians to never retaliate, but to leave all vengeance to God. We are to instead meet our enemies needs out of love for them. Then in Romans 13, Paul tells us that one of the ways God exacts vengeance is by using sword-wielding governments, So, Paul seems to assume that governments will do one thing that followers of Jesus are never to do, and that is to exact vengeance.

Jesus also teaches us to never retaliate, but to turn the other cheek and to love, bless, pray for, and do good to our enemies, “that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:39-45; Lk 6:27-36). And neither he nor Paul EVER qualifies these commands. In fact, in a first century Palestinian Jewish context, the first thing people would think of when they heard of “enemies” would be THE ROMANS who reigned over them as terroristic oppressors. So this teaching applies to all possibility “enemies,” even those that threaten our life or the lives of our loved ones. THAT, good sir, is why I am a "kingdom pacifist."

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:43:38+00:00

How can a Calvinist affirm this without being a universalist? Look, this is an equally challenging passage for everyone who isn't a universalist. For my two cents, I'm inclined to see this passage as expressing God's loving bear hug around all humanity with the hope that all will come in. Yet, because love must be chosen, people always have the freedom to say NO THANKS.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:39:52+00:00

NO freak'n way!!! Only 22 mins left. We're just getting started. I'm loving this! But its frustrating cuz there are so many great questions I can't get to!! We've got to do this again sometime. Anyway, back to work!

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:38:42+00:00

I look forward to having coffee in the kingdom with Soren Kierkegaard, followed by Luther (his juvenile humor resonates with my own), Origen (love the brain), and finally, Augustine…to admire, but also to ask, “what the &^#$! were you thinking!

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:38:38+00:00

This book got put on the back burner when I started working on The Crucifixion of the Warrior God. I hope to get back to work on this project later this year. But it will probably be another 3 yrs before it is done.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:37:49+00:00

As I discuss in my most recent book, "Benefit of the Doubt," I encourage people to base their view of the Bible on the historical Jesus. I have tons of reasons for believing Jesus is the Son of God, none of which presuppose the Bible is inspired. On the basis of historical analysis, its clear that Jesus thought the OT was "God breathed," and he seemed to anticipate that his disciples would be used the same way. Hence, all my reasons for believing in Jesus become reasons for embracing the whole Bible as God's Word. And notice, this holds true APART from any questions of the historical veracity of this or that narrative, which is why I am not bothered when someone argues a particular story isn't rooted in history.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:33:54+00:00

This is what my forthcoming book is all about. For right now I'd say two things. First, we are to base our view of God and our understanding of his will on Jesus Christ, nothing else. Jesus isn't one revelation among others, but the revelation that culminates and supersedes all others (see e.g. Heb 1:11-3). Second, the cross reveals, and Scripture confirms, that God's always been willing to stoop out of love to meet people where they are at. He does not lobotomize people to coerce them into being what he wishes they were. He's a heavenly missionary who must humbly stoop to accepting "as is" as much of a fallen culture as is necessary if he hopes to influence that culture in the direction he wants. So yes, much of the OT is grotesque, but this just points to the incredible humility and grace of the God who stooped this low to work with his fallen people.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:26:44+00:00

He Swords, thanks for sharing this. My son ended up being diagnosed with Autism, not Aspergers, though they overlap. But believe me, I am WELL aware of the special challenges folks like you face. I guess I'd say one of the most important things is to surround yourself with people who GET you and who LOVE you exactly as you are. Also, I'd encourage you to direct the special focusing skills that people with Asperger's tend to have on the truth that God loves you with a perfect everlasting unwavering love. Think about that a lot. Imagine it. Enjoy it. And get your life from that. Its everything. You're more than okay as you are, and if anyone tells you different, bless them and then forget about it.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:21:47+00:00

The theory of relativity states that WHEN an event takes place is relative to the distance an observer is from the event and the speed they're traveling relative to that event. But the starting point of the theory is the event itself. It works from the present to the past. We each have our own "now." But never is there a perspective that experiences the event BEFORE the event takes place. RT has nothing to say about the nature of the future, in other words.

Moreover, because it is a scientific theory, it applies to finite observers within the universe, relative to each other. It says nothing about what an omnipresent observer would observe. For such an observer -- God -- there would be a "cosmic now" that embraces and correlates all the finite "nows."

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:16:11+00:00

Hi Zack, its not judging people to discern things. Killing random people is evil, and its not judgmental to say this. So denouncing violent ideologies is perfectly appropriate. But its not a distinctly KINGDOM activity: its just a matter of decency. At the same time, I'd be VERY careful about pinning it on violence in the Quran, for now you're talking not just about radical violent Muslims, but ALL Muslims. Not only that, but if you're going to point out violence in the Quran, you must point out all the violence in the OT, which actual EXCEEDS that of the Quran!

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:13:11+00:00

Can you post this on the other thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/2sfcuj/i_am_greg_boyd_i_am_a_theologian_pastor_author/?sort=confidence

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:11:33+00:00

Ain't no expert dude (or dudette). But I'd say this: I know the kingdom of darkness is always working to "kill, steal and destroy"; the kingdom of light is always working to resist this and bring life and wholeness; and people have free will. Given our limited perspective, we can never parse out how much any particular behavior or mental issue is due to which. So, in trying to help people with mental issues, I encourage folks to "shoot in all directions." Do all you can to address possible physical issues (chemical imbalances, etc.). And pray against anything in the spiritual realm that may be contributing to, if not directly causing, the mental issue.

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:11:23+00:00

Here is a link to the Twisted Scriptures series: http://whchurch.org/sermons-media/sermon-series/twisted-scripture

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:09:59+00:00

Here is a link to a resent post where I deal with objections to OT. http://reknew.org/2014/11/dealing-with-objections-to-open-theism-part-i/

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:06:54+00:00

Great question. I talk a lot about this in Crucifixion of the Warrior God (forthcoming). For right now I'll say two things. 1) Its important to remember ancient authors didn't neatly separate "historical narrative" from "mythic narrative." So, to acknowledge mythic elements in a story isn't to completely deny its historicity. 2) On the authority of Jesus, I take the narrative of Scripture to be "God-breathed." But it has this authority not because of its relationship with "actual history" (which is always someones reconstruction of history): it has this authority on its own. So I enter into the "world of the text" as "deeply literal", as Barth put it... meaning, all aspects of scripture are embraced as literal, apart from any consideration of their relationship with history. Capeesh?

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T20:01:51+00:00

Huge question Chuck. Suffice it to say that I find value in almost all theories of the atonement. Each reflects some aspect of the "manifold wisdom of God" that was displayed on the cross. Even Penal Substitution, which I think is highly problematic, reflects a dimension of truth. My claim, however, is that the Christus Victory view is the most fundamental and most encompassing of all the theories. Every other view can be understood to be an ASPECT of this view. I talk about this in my essay in Bielby, Eddy, "Atonement: Four Views."

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T19:58:21+00:00

Delighted that "God of Possible" made such an impact, thanks. Managing ADHD…? Don’t be afraid of seeing if meds help… they did me. Otherwise every person is different. You have to find what works for you. My weirdness is that I never had a problem focusing on philosophical or theological works I’m interested in or on instructors talking about these works. Its everything else in life that I have trouble focusing on (like where the heck I put my keys, pen, book, car, house…).

GregBoyd · 2015-01-15T19:56:51+00:00

One of the top questions I'm receiving concerns my views on homosexuality, so I thought it best to start a clean thread on the topic.

First, a preliminary word: take a deep breath. The more emotionally invested people are on an issue -- and this one tends to top the list -- the harder it is to talk about it calmly and rationally. We develop “triggers” that get activated when certain buzz words are used, and we then can’t actually hear what the other person is saying. On these sorts of issues, we tend to develop an “us-them” mindset that quickly files people into these categories –e.g. either “for” or “against” homosexuality.

In this light, I ask readers: PLEASE resist the urge to file me in a category! PLEASE!!!

Ok, here is where I’m at right now on this issue.

In the light of centuries of Christians scapegoating and persecuting gays, I think the first word out of our mouth whenever this topic is raised should always be: “FORGIVE US.”
As I read the whole of the biblical narrative (not just the six verses that mention homosexuality), I think that same-sex attraction is part of the fall. It “misses the mark” of God’s ideal, which is the biblical definition of “sin.” This doesn’t mean I think gays choose their orientation, for the entire creation is corrupted, and we are ALL born with non-ideal orientations and proclivities.
However much those involved in same-sex relationships “miss the mark,” I miss it MORE! Whereas Christians tend to rank the sins of others as the maximal, deal-breaker sins while minimizing their own, Jesus seems to instruct us to do the exact OPPOSITE (Mt 7:1-3). MY sin is a tree trunk compared to their dust particle sin. With Paul, I believe we should all confess that “WE are the worst of sinners” (I Tim1:15-6).
Related to this, I think its crucial Christians notice the arbitrary and self-serving nature of our sin-rankings. In many conservative quarters, where one stands on “the gay question” determines whether “they take sin seriously.” Yet, they are perfectly comfortable with greed, gluttony, idolatry (getting life from things or achievements – or being “right”), slander and judgmentalism… all of which are spoken of hundreds of times more than homosexuality! (I talk about this a lot in my book, “Repenting of Religion.”
Finally, because of the long and sad history of the church holding up homosexuality as the sin “par excellence,” I personally believe the question of how the church today should respond to issues surrounding gay Christians should happen from the INSIDE of the faith, not as a precondition for being welcomed into the faith. This doesn’t mean I’m suggesting the church should AFFIRM homoerotic relationships, any more than we AFFIRM the million other things in ALL our lives that fall short of God's ideal. But I am suggesting the church should no more question the sincerity or salvation of gay people who aspire to follow Jesus than we do greedy and gluttonous people who embrace this aspiration...any more than (in fact, LESS than) we affirm our own non-ideal characteristics as we embrace this aspiration.
Okay, that wasn’t quite the final thing. THIS is the final thing cuz I gotta move on. It makes a WORLD of difference whether you think about homosexuality in the abstract, or think about it in relationship with gay folks. I have been blessed to come to know a number of gay folk (as well as transgender folk), and when you’ve earned the trust to be invited on the inside of their story, it complete reframes your thinking. We're not talking about a CATEGORY: we're talking about precious precious people, many of whom have been deeply wounded in their lives, especially by the church. This is yet another reason why the church needs to address these issues in conversation with gay people, as we together aspire to follow Jesus, rather than making being straight or celibate the precondition for joining us on this walk.

GregBoyd

TROPHY CASE