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The Gospel Does Not Have to Contradict Itself: Alternatives

A response to Lilith Helstrom

Eric Sentell
Backyard Church

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Photo by George Bakos on Unsplash

If you read Lilith Helstrom or me, then you might wonder why in good heavens I follow her. If you read us both, then you probably get it.

I follow Helstrom because she shares interesting, good-faith critiques of organized Christianity. It can be helpful to engage with the fiercest critics of your beliefs and ideals, so long as they criticize in good faith.

Generally, Helstrom does not just criticize in good faith. She bares the scars of growing up in a form of fundamentalist, dogmatic Christianity. She highlights the very real, very true flaws in fundamentalist religion and the ways it can warp people into their worst selves. Her words might sting, but that’s only because they land true.

Her recent(ish) article, “8 Ways the Gospel Message Contradicts Itself,” is correct. But I will argue that it’s not the whole story.

Helstrom highlights contradictions in the Gospel, the message of God redeeming humanity through the death and…

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Backyard Church
Backyard Church

Published in Backyard Church

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Eric Sentell
Eric Sentell

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👉 SAVING FAITH: Build a faith that works, in 2-minutes a week: ericsentell.substack.com

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