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

Valerie Thur
Valerie Thur
07/08/19

Three Words and the Truth

“I love you” is great, as long as whatever commitment I may or may not be intimating is mutually beneficial and causes the least amount of emotional strain to me.
Dan van Voorhis
Dan van Voorhis
07/03/19

On Reading Broadly

We can’t all afford to travel the world, but the more we read from outside our own context, the bigger we see the world.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/24/19

The Gospel Doesn’t Blow Smoke

It was during one of these garbage burns, however, that I was bathed in a fresh remembrance of grace.
Michael Berg
Michael Berg
06/20/19

Truth Serves Love

Love is the ultimate gift from God. To be loved by him for all eternity is truly the ultimate goal.
Erick Sorensen
Erick Sorensen
06/20/19

Taste the Goodness

I love apologetics, the art, and science of defending the Christian faith. I love talking about all the philosophical arguments for the existence of God with my skeptical friends.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
06/17/19

Staring into the Sun on Holy Trinity Sunday

On Holy Trinity Sunday, God draws our attention, not to the inner workings of the Trinity, but the outer workings of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
06/14/19

Christians in a Time of Pride and Shame

Shame is shameful. That may seem obvious but ponder this observation from the authors of Scenes of Shame: “Shame, indeed, covers shame itself—it is shameful to express shame.”
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
06/10/19

A Communion of Saints for the Forgiveness of Sins

The Holy Spirit gathers us together and keeps the church in the true faith, and He does it all by way of the Gospel.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
06/07/19

The Dangerous Nature of God's Grace

I’d say that one of the best depictions of God’s grace comes from a well-beloved and world-renowned children’s fantasy novel, that being C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
06/03/19

Abs-of-Steel Man & Mr. Sad-Sack

I saw a commercial once that said I just have to do whatever it takes to actualize my best me. And it makes sense, really. Doing results in being, cause and effect. Want six-pack abs? Just buy the right product and give your new, healthy lifestyle 110% for 10 weeks and maybe you’ll see results.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
05/30/19

Ascending Downward: When the Manger Becomes the Cosmos

Because of the ascension, the manger has become the cosmos.
Gretchen Ronnevik
Gretchen Ronnevik
05/28/19

This Is My Body, Broken For You

My family fills a row of chairs in the sanctuary of our church. I always feel bad for the people who sit around my noisy family. Our pastor loves children and has told me once he struggles to preach on the Sundays when they are all whisked off to Children's Church after the music once a month because the sanctuary is too quiet.
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.org
Search
Academy
Donate

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.