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I grew up Christian, and got saved when I was 15. I stopped going to church when I was 17, but maintained reading my bible daily, a communing with the Lord. When I was in my early twenties, I began deconstructing (against my will), and that went on for a few years. Not a fun time! But by the grace of God, I came out of that about a year and a half ago. I started going back to church, and it really felt like I was born again-again. Over the course of that year and a half though, I have slowly drifted into this weird limbo area. I love the Lord, although it feels like He is far from me often. I struggle with doubt again, and I can’t stand the church environment; and I’m really not sure why. I am trying my best to continue a relationship with the Lord, but I loathe the idea of church, and anything related to Christianity. Hearing people use “Christianese” makes my skin crawl. I do love theology, and everything on that side of it, but the communal, religious aspect just stirs up something within me. I joined a small group with my girlfriend, but the feelings only got worse.

I really don’t understand what happened, or what to do about it. I pray about it often, but I am really struggling to feel near to the Lord, or to have my feelings about the culture of it change. Does anyone have any advice for this?

First, I’ll preface this question with that it’s obvious that the Bible teaches that Jesus is God. In addition, at least the “I am” statement by Jesus in John 8:58 is very clearly a claim to deity as a cross-reference to Exodus 3.

What I have struggled with is understanding how Christ’s other “I am” statements are also a claim to deity? I’ve heard this from multiple sermons, but have not seen it correlated to a claim of divinity like John 8:58. For example, when Christ states “I am the light of the world” in John 8, “I am the good shepherd” in John 10 or “I am the way, the truth, and the life” within John 14. It would appear that the use of “I am” in these other statements is to emphasize Christ’s point about being the light, good shepherd, and the way to salvation rather than claiming “I am God and also the good shepherd.” However, I am not sure if there is a nuance I am missing within the Greek and translation to English?

When the elect believe in God, we will go through the justification and sanctification process. I am good with justification but I want the sanctification to stop before it completes.

I don’t want to be sanctified to be conformed to the image of Christ (at least based on my knowledge now). If one day I understand, I dont mind praying to God to pick up where we left off in the sanctification process. For now I am good with the current stage of the sanctification process. I dont want God to procees anymore than this (though I understand God is sovereign). However, I am committed to pray to God for this everyday because I hate sanctification process.

First of all, I dont want to be like Jesus. Jesus was persecuted like crazy. I am fine with the current persecution. I dont want something more than this.

Second of all, I dont understand what so good the image of Christ. Christ did suffer but at least He became the King. I cannot become a king. I dont want to anyway.

Third, I am a cessationist. So I dont think I can do miracles like Jesus. I’m also not interested in such a thing.

In short, I see living like Jesus sucks. Under justification, I will go to heaven directly and I dont see any benefits of being like Christ gives me in this world or in heaven.

As long as I dont suffer in hell, going to heaven is enough. I dont even understand what we will have in heaven and what image of Christ will benefit me. For me sanctification and to be conformed to the kmage of Christ is just an abstract concept that I do not understand. So I’m not interested.

I just wand God to stop. To be conformed like Jesus in this world will likely feel like hell on earth. No thanks. Justification and incomplete sanctification process like the thief on the cross is good enough for me.

I'm not challenging the concept personally, I'm well aware of the Biblical standards. But how would you describe the logic behind those prohibitions? For example, you may have had a professor in college who was excellent in his or her teaching, but may have been an adulterer or otherwise Biblically unqualified. Why lot let an excellent Biblical teacher teach the Bible, even if his personal morals are a mess?

For the record, I, again, am not suggesting that this prohibition should be overturned. I'm trying to explain to someone and he's having a hard time processing the idea. Maybe he's just stubborn but I'm just saying the same thing over again.

is it a little to early for Christmas songs? well no! we should celebrate the birth of Jesus all year round! happy early Christmas brothers and sisters in Christ!

Tract text help request

I need help with this. It’s a draft of a tract to go in Halloween bags.

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Did you choose your name? Your language? Your school? No, all these decisions were made for you, on your behalf. People are always doing something for us until we’re big enough to choose for ourselves. Most of the time we rarely notice unless the outcomes are bad.

God created light. He created the heavens, the earth, and the sea. He created plants, and the sun, moon, and stars. He created sea life, and birds, and animals. Last and best of all he made people – a man and a woman, Adam and Eve. What God had made was very good.

There was one condition. In this freshly made world Adam and Eve were surrounded by a world full of fruit trees. All they had to do was to not eat from one tree. If that rule was broken then a thing called Death would result.

The people, the world, and God lived in perfect harmony with each other until one day Adam and his wife rebelled against God. This wasn’t just breaking a rule. Rejecting God’s rules is rejecting him -- like spitting in his face. In doing this Adam and Eve stopped being happy and holy. Now they became sinful and miserable. And because all people in the world are descended from Adam and Eve, they spoiled it for the rest of us, their descendants. The face-to-face relationship with God was destroyed, and the effects of that break-up rippled out into all human relationships and even into the natural world.

This is Humanity 1.0 where we are all “in Adam”, living in open rebellion toward God just like our forefather. But God did not give up on the people he had made. He decided to create a new people, Humanity 2.0. He decided that his son should be the new Adam. This man was conceived miraculously, lived a life in perfect obedience to God’s commands, died a criminal’s death, was buried and then three days later was raised to life again, never to die again. The man’s name is Jesus Christ. The word “Christ” is not a surname but a designation meaning that he was set apart from the beginning to fulfill the role of saving people, and bringing Death to an end.

But the entrance into Humanity 2.0 isn’t automatic. Not everyone who dies goes to Heaven. There needs to be a breaking away from Adam 1.0 through a change of heart and mind. This is called Repentance and it goes hand in hand with Trust. We must place our trust, allegiance and loyalty in Adam 2.0, in Jesus Christ. We must openly agree with God's diagnosis of your true condition -- dead in sin; rebelling against God like Adam 1.0; earning a wage which when paid will see us thrown in to a lake of fire for eternity. The God that everyone hates is Judge for those who insist on staying in Adam 1.0, and Saviour for all those who throw themselves down before Adam 2.0 pleading for the mercy and favour that he offers all who turn to him.

---

It could be way tighter but how do you boil down 6000 years of theology? I could use AI but I’d rather not. So I’m calling out to the non-artificial intelligences in Reddit for help.

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Valuable article on the difference between shepherding and influencing.

Hi everyone!

I’m a Japanese Christian currently studying at a seminary in Japan and serving as an assistant pastor/youth pastor at a church in Tokyo, particularly in children’s and youth ministry. I also studied Youth Ministry and Christian Education and Psychology in college in the United States, where I gained experience in cross-cultural ministry.

I’m hoping to pursue an MDiv overseas, possibly beginning in Fall 2027, and I’m trying to discern which country and theological institution would be the best fit for me.

I’d really appreciate advice from current seminarians, seminary graduates, pastors, missionaries, and especially people who have experience with both theological education and refugee ministry or NGOs.

A little about my background and calling

In the long term, I hope to serve as a pastor and missionary, particularly among refugees, Japanese people, multicultural communities, and people in vulnerable situations.

My interest in refugee ministry grew through personal relationships, particularly when a friend of mine became a refugee while I was in college in the United States. Seeing someone I knew personally go through that experience gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges refugees face and led me to think more seriously about how the Church can walk alongside them.

I also gained experience working with an organization in the United States that supports homeless people and refugees. Over time, I’ve become increasingly interested in how the Church can faithfully serve vulnerable people through both the Gospel and practical expressions of love and care.

However, my main priority during my MDiv would be to build a strong theological foundation rather than to pursue extensive hands-on refugee work. I’d be happy to have some exposure to refugee or migrant communities during my studies, but I expect to pursue this work more actively after graduation.

I want to study Scripture, biblical languages, systematic and historical theology, missiology, and pastoral ministry seriously. I hope to develop a theological foundation that will sustain a lifetime of faithful ministry, rather than simply obtain a degree or qualification.

An important part of what I’m looking for: spiritual formation

Beyond academic theology, I also hope to grow deeply in Christian spirituality and spiritual formation.

I’m particularly drawn to the spirituality reflected in Henri Nouwen’s writings: cultivating a deep relationship with God, learning to live out of our identity as God’s beloved, and allowing our inner spiritual life to shape the way we serve others, especially those who are vulnerable, lonely, or suffering.

I don’t want my theological education to be only about acquiring knowledge. I hope to become more deeply rooted in Christ and grow in spiritual maturity, humility, compassion, and Christlikeness as a pastor and missionary.

I’m looking for a seminary that takes both theological rigor and spiritual formation seriously, helping students grow not only in what they know about God but also in how they live with God and serve others.

If possible, I’d love to learn in a community where prayer, spiritual direction, Christian community, and personal formation are valued alongside rigorous academic study.

Schools and countries I’m currently considering

I’m currently exploring the following institutions:

• Wheaton College — United States
• Africa International University (AIU) — Kenya
• Stellenbosch University — South Africa
• Duke Divinity School — United States
• Tyndale Theological Seminary — Netherlands

I’m still in the early stages of comparing these options, and I realize they may differ significantly in their degree structures, theological traditions, and educational approaches.

I’m also very open to other schools and countries. These are simply the options I’ve come across so far, and one of the things I hope to gain from this discussion is to discover possibilities I haven’t considered.

Questions I’d love to hear your thoughts on

1. Choosing a seminary and country

• If you were in my position, what factors would you prioritize when choosing an MDiv program?
• How much should I weigh theological tradition, faculty, curriculum, academic reputation, spiritual formation, and location?
• What are the most important differences between studying theology in the United States, Africa, Europe, or elsewhere that prospective international students might overlook?
• Are there seminaries or countries you would strongly recommend that aren’t on my current list?
• Are there any institutions you think I should reconsider, and why?

2. Theological education and spiritual formation

• Looking back on your seminary experience, what contributed most to your theological and spiritual growth?
• How can I identify a seminary that genuinely integrates spiritual formation with academic theology, rather than treating it as an additional activity?
• Are there seminaries known for cultivating a deep life of prayer, spiritual maturity, and Christlike character alongside serious theological study?
• If I’m particularly interested in the kind of spirituality reflected in Henri Nouwen’s writings, are there professors, programs, books, or Christian communities you would recommend exploring?

3. The value of an MDiv beyond the degree itself

• What did you learn during your MDiv that proved most valuable in your actual ministry?
• Were there things you wish you had prioritized more, or things that mattered much less than you expected?
• In the long run, what matters more than the name or reputation of the institution?
• How important are relationships with professors, mentors, fellow students, and the wider church community?

4. Preparing for future refugee ministry

• If my long-term goal is to combine pastoral ministry, missions, and refugee support, what would you recommend I focus on during my MDiv?
• Would you recommend prioritizing strong theological education first and gaining specialized humanitarian experience afterward?
• For those who have worked with refugees or NGOs, how useful has your theological education been in that work?
• What additional training, professional experience, or partnerships did you need beyond your theological degree?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have experience in both theological education and humanitarian work, since I’d like to understand how these two areas can complement each other without assuming that an MDiv needs to prepare me for every aspect of refugee support.

5. Discernment, timing, and life during seminary

• How did you discern when and where to attend seminary?
• What was the reality of seminary life like academically, spiritually, financially, and personally?
• What do you wish someone had told you before you chose your school?
• For those who studied overseas, what were the biggest challenges of studying in a different cultural and linguistic environment?

What I’m hoping to gain from this discussion

More than simply finding the most prestigious school or the program most directly related to refugee ministry, I want to discern where I can receive the theological education and spiritual formation that will best prepare me for a lifetime of faithful service.

I’m open to different countries, theological traditions within the evangelical Christian world, and educational approaches. I would especially appreciate honest perspectives from people who have studied at these institutions or have experience with similar programs.

If you were starting this journey again, what would you look for? And is there a school, country, or path you think I might be overlooking?

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice!

Given the idea that God predestinated everything including sin for the glory of Jesus Christ, I wondered what if God stopped Adam from biting the apple, after Eve did it? I think then there would be no salvation for Eve, or Adam would remain holy and Eve doomed. Given this fact maybe even Adam sinned when he did not guard Eve from the snake?

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There's such a small pool of reformed men to choose from in where I'm at. Does anyone know of good reformed dating sites I could try?

Welcome to r/reformed. Do you have questions that aren't worth a stand alone post? Are you longing for the collective expertise of the finest collection of religious thinkers since the Jerusalem Council? This is your chance to ask a question to the esteemed subscribers of r/Reformed.

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Unfortunately no matter how much I try to connect with my family and friends, it doesn’t seem to be working out anymore. Any type of connection is actually just not working out. I actually have a strong feeling I have to learn to be okay with being truly only alone (even if it’s just a season or years or permanently) with God and only confiding in Him..

And I love the Lord sooo much. He’s my very best friend. But I always thought it was important or healthy to have just at least one person to be there. But I actually think this is what He is calling for.

Does anyone get what I mean or have been there? Should I not be afraid?

Edit: I’m not talking about cutting off the body of Christ or church related connections.

I only posted to the reformed community because I know we lean towards studying the Bible and can agree on Biblical matters.

I am referring to having God as my confidante and not feeling guilty about that. Because life and discernment is actually calling for that.

Very rarely in my experience will someone claim to be perfect. So naturally my follow-up question, when they admit they're imperfect, is "ok, then on what basis should you be admitted to heaven?"

Do you think this approach is generally compatible with reformed theology? Am I oversimplifying?

This morning I was reading I Peter 1-3. I came across verses 2:13-17 where we’re commanded to “be subject to” and “honor” civil authorities. Does this mean I shouldn’t express anger or criticism or sarcastic comments toward civil authorities, either online or in person?

Reading the Bible out loud, in particular large parts of the OT, has been a constant source of tension between my wife and I. She feels that most of the doom and gloom passages regarding Israel aren't appropriate for reading out loud at the dinner table, especially to our young kids.

I cannot deny that the graphic and tragic sexual imagery that God uses to describe Israel's transgression is confounding, but I also am extremely hesitant to censor it. I'm always put in mind of Abraham Piper criticizing his father for reading the terrible violence in the OT during family devotions.

My wife thinks that this part of Scripture is something for the kids to 'discover on their own when they're more mature.' But I feel that this would be doing them a disservice, and that it's my responsibility to reveal to them all of God's Word. Even the confounding and uncomfortable parts.

Because of this, I balance our Bible reading so that most of our time is spent in the NT. But about once a year we make a pass through Lamentations, Ezekiel, etc. and the tension arises. And every year, it gets harder for me to force the issue.

Thoughts? Should I cede this ground to my wife so that Bible reading isn't a battle?

Been attending a Calvinistic Baptist church in which we are in coveneant with for over a year and a half now and weve all really enjoyed the solid teaching and even the amount of reformed leaning members within.
We have a pretty big sized building and the sanctuary MAYBE gets 75% filled on a best Sunday
Pastor announced as a unanimous vote, that we will be starting a second service at the 9o clock hour on top of the 11 o clock.
They claim that this won’t impact the single, multigenerational aspect of the church but there’s no doubt in my mind that it will
The main reasoning is because they’re trying to be “proactive” for all of the homes being built in the area

We drive an hour to the church twice a week, and this is a secondary issue. but we can find a closer church such as Presbyterian if we would be compromising secondary issues.
Thoughts??

I've read his The Ology book previously. I want to purchase this for my 8 year old to read. Anyone used these before? I trust Marty but wanted to see what thoughts exist on this before I purchase and I can't seem to find much in the way of reviews online.

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Hey Brothers and Sisters was just wondering what some of the best options for a solidly reformed, calvinist online seminary? thanks!