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.

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

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

Ken Sundet Jones

05/03/21

Luther, Jesus’ Body, and a Troubled Conscience

Luther saw that God demands not that we become perfectly righteous like God but that we simply receive the gift of righteousness; a gift that actually makes us worthy.

Bror Erickson

05/01/21

Livingstone's Failure and Christ's Success

Evangelism is hard work requiring lots of patience. Churches and mission boards are often too impatient and want to see numerical growth explode overnight.

Daniel Emery Price

04/30/21

Alive Through Absolution

Absolution is the word God speaks to cause his sin-dead creation to live.

Dominick Santore

04/28/21

Just One Stone

Those called out for their sins, who find themselves knee deep in their transgressions, always need grace.

Kelsi Klembara

04/27/21

When God Says No

When we come to God with our faithful obedience to make a case for our just cause, we expect to hear his deliverance in the form of a "yes."

Ken Sundet Jones

04/22/21

Relax, It's Me: How Jesus Saves Us From Doubt and Despair

For those of us who recognize the disciples’ despair in ourselves, Jesus comes with the same word: “Relax, it’s me. Peace be with you.”

Gretchen Ronnevik

04/21/21

An Excerpt from Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted

This is an excerpt from the introduction of Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted written by Gretchen Ronnevik (1517 Publishing, 2021). Now available for preorder.

Donavon Riley

04/20/21

Possessed by Pardon and Peace

It’s God’s love that sets us free to love in the first place.

Michael Gibney

04/19/21

The Package of Forgiveness

God has a strange delivery system, the foolish preaching of the cross and foolish preachers for Christ’s sake delivering it.

John Bombaro

04/17/21

Good Shepherd Shepherding Well

What kind of shepherd does God provide? The answer, of course, starts and ends with Christ.

John W. Hoyum

04/15/21

Gerhard Forde: A Recommendation

Forde’s work testifies to the liveliness and vitality of confessional Lutheranism, and its promise for the continuing need to preach Christ crucified in this, and every, age until the Lord’s return.

Michael Berg

04/13/21

A Q&A with Michael Berg on "Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing"

"Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing" by Michael Berg is now available for purchase

1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.

Articles

Podcasts

Scripture

Books

Events

Music

Videos

Courses

All Articles