by John Ellis My pastor, while quoting a Nirvana lyric during a sermon, accidentally got the number of years that have passed since the song’s release wrong, and then looked at me in way that even my non-Nirvana fan wife picked up on. After the service, he made a beeline to me – well, as … Continue reading Claiming Rock Music is the Devil’s Music Is, In Fact, a Devilish Claim
Tag: rock music
‘Electric Jesus’: The Christian Rock Movie You’ve Been Waiting For
by John Ellis Christian contemporary music (CCM) didn’t play much of a role in my formative years. My parents, youth pastors, and teachers all believed that there was no real difference between “real” rock and CCM; if Bob Jones University banned it, it was banned in my home, church, and Christian school. It didn't matter … Continue reading ‘Electric Jesus’: The Christian Rock Movie You’ve Been Waiting For
A Godless Fundamentalist
by John Ellis To help make it easier to read, I've posted links to each chapter in the story of how I went from being an atheist to a Christian. You can find those links below. Clicking the link will open a new tab to the corresponding chapter. This should be much easier than having … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist
A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 12 “Freedom, Finally”
(The previous chapters can be found by clicking on A Godless Fundamentalist under Topics on the right hand side of this page. To receive email notifications whenever subsequent chapters are published, hit the follow button.) by John Ellis In December of 1997, the Oscar winning film Good Will Hunting was released. I watched it three … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 12 “Freedom, Finally”
A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 5
by John Ellis During my transition from a student at a Christian day school to a Bob Jones University student, grunge music and its accompanying culture became my god. It didn’t happen overnight, though. The 1993-94 school year, my senior year, provided me with clarity about my beliefs, or lack thereof, as well as boldness … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 5
A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 4
by John Ellis One of the sad ironies embedded in my authority figures devotion to protecting my testimony was that while they were busy guarding my external actions, Satan was further warping and hardening my rebellious heart of stone. Even if my authority figures had been successful in protecting me from outward acts of sin … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 4
A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 3
by John Ellis Every so often, I wish that my kids could have the schooling experience that I did. My time within the Christian school movement, from kindergarten through high school, was, for the most part, fun and contained a sense of community. I can’t help but wonder if my kids who attend public school … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 3
A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 1
by John Ellis On August 2, 1975, I was born for the first time. Interestingly, one of the most vivid metaphors that Jesus used to describe salvation is birth. During a clandestine meeting with a Jewish religious leader, Jesus made the astonishing claim, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist: Chapter 1
Practically Known Theology 