When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not
By Russ Lackey | Mark Mattes
01/20/26
19mins

When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not

American religion did not become optional because the gospel failed. It became optional because religion slowly redefined itself around usefulness.
Behold the Lamb
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
01/19/26

Behold the Lamb

The Passover wasn’t just Israel’s story; it’s ours.
Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
01/16/26

Psalm 12, Part 2: The Saint Fails, The Word Purifies

God makes us pure saints by planting us back in the earth we imagined we needed to escape.

All Articles

Steven A. Hein
Steven A. Hein
03/30/16

Being Lured Away From Justification

There is an unfortunate, but familiar pilgrimage that entirely too many have taken—servants who have offered strong confession and service in the pure Gospel, but who then have doctrinally gone astray.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/24/16

A Tangible God Who Descends To Rescue The Worst Of Us

In this evil generation we’re all in the dark about something. We’re all inevitably overcome by the darkness of sin and death.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/17/16

A High Feast Day for Failures and Fools

If you want to find God, he’s hiding in plain sight. Christ is in the very things that we would never select as a vessel befitting divinity.
Rick Ritchie
Rick Ritchie
03/15/16

If God is Better than My Father, He's Really Good

God the Father Almighty is good. And He must be good in ways that surpass my earthly father.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/14/16

The Most Unusual Cemetery in America: New York City’s Hart Island and the Heart of Easter’s Lord

The Lord has a special place in his heart for those whom the world forgets. For the anonymous. For the rejected.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/09/16

The God of Second Chances—and Third Chances, and Fourth Chances, and More

If even your family has disowned and discarded you; yes, if every single person in this world regards you as a hopeless, embarrassing failure at life, the Father of all mercies does not.
Rod Rosenbladt
Rod Rosenbladt
03/08/16

How Do I Know I Have Actual Saving Faith?

The following conversation occurred between one of 1517's readers/listeners and Dr. Rosenbladt via email in February of 2016.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
03/03/16

There's No Cure For That

“Why now,” I said to no one, or to myself, or to God. Whoever. I was drunk, strung out, mostly dead, hopeless in the darkness. I knew I’d done it all to myself. I didn’t need God to drive the point home.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
03/01/16

The Older Brother of the Prodigal Son Speaks Out

If there’s going to be a celebration, why not celebrate fidelity, obedience, hard work?
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore
02/29/16

Miles To Go…

I was excited and eager to start my journey. I was driving from NYC to Florida to attend the Christ Hold Fast Conference in Orlando, meet some dear friends, and make some new ones.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/28/16

Pastors Don't Always Want to Go to Church Either

For many, there are days when they’re as excited about going to work on Sunday morning as you are about going to work on Monday morning.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/25/16

The Tragedy of Accomplishment

Cindy’s tragedy was that she was blind to the Christ from whom all her good gifts came.
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