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

John W. Hoyum

08/09/21

That's a Good Question: When is Baptism Not Valid

Baptism is always valid because no unrighteousness or faithlessness on our part could ify God’s faithfulness.

Peter Nafzger

08/07/21

Gospel: John 6:51-69 (Pentecost 12: Series B)

Jesus, the Son of God from all eternity, the agent of creation, the Savior of all people, promises to abide IN His people.

Uwe Siemon-Netto

08/06/21

Theology 101, Under Bombs

I am cognizant of the powerful lessons for life I owe to those nights in the air-raid shelter.

Haroldo Camacho

08/05/21

The Seventh Beatitude: Pax or Hapax?

The title “peacemakers” is not ours except as we tell and retell his peacemaking story.

Donavon Riley

08/03/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to Be Free (Part 2)

Luther's response to Erasmus was not meant to be a polite contribution to an academic duel.

Steven Paulson

08/02/21

That's a Good Question: Are We All Predestined to Either Heaven or Hell?

The reason the mind is endlessly troubled about God predestining everything is the vague generalization. Generalizations are cold as ice, without the warm Christ.

Peter Nafzger

07/31/21

Gospel: John 6:35-51 (Pentecost 11: Series B)

Jesus promises more than a disembodied “spiritual” existence after death. He has promised to raise our perishable, mortal bodies to immortality.

Scott Davis

07/31/21

The Gospel and the Boy Who Cried Wolf

It isn’t that God struggles to believe our repeated cries of “wolf.” Rather, we struggle to believe God when he repeatedly comes to us with forgiveness and mercy on his lips.

Haroldo Camacho

07/29/21

The Sixth Beatitude: Makarios in a Crucible?

We are not saved by the success of our refining process. We are saved precisely because our impurities, no matter what the percentage, ruin the whole thing.

Donavon Riley

07/28/21

Luther versus Erasmus: Bound to Be Free (Part 1)

Luther’s allies and opponents also would not allow him to put off responding to Erasmus indefinitely. They badgered him constantly to write a response.

Scott Keith

07/26/21

That's a Good Question: What Should we do When the Church Lets us Down?

The Church is where God has instituted the office of the preacher of the gospel. And if you are let-down, the gospel is what you need to hear.

Peter Nafzger

07/24/21

Gospel: John 6:22-35 (Pentecost 10: Series B)

In His grace, Jesus promises that all who come to Him in faith will live abundantly and eternally.

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