The Mileses

Paul and Olena Miles with Grace Abroad Ministries

pneumatology

Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, and Pinocchio

Paul has been invited to contribute a chapter to an upcoming book entitled, Moral Theology and the World of Walt Disney. His submission is on anthropological, hamartiological, and soteriological implications of Pinocchio. Here is an excerpt from the soteriology portion of his draft.

Disney’s Pinocchio brings about a salvation essentially in the one grand event of his death and resurrection after rescuing Geppetto. After proving his maturity, Pinocchio is rescued from his donkey-puppet body into the new body of a real boy. However, the Bible presents salvation in an entirely different manner which actually consists of three phases. These three phases are salvation from the penalty of sin (often called, “justification”), salvation from the power of sin (often called, “sanctification”), and salvation from the presence of sin (often called, “glorification”).
[Read More]

What is Systematic Theology?

​Systematic Theology is a discipline in Christian theology that divides doctrines into categories. Here are the eleven most epic topics of Systematic Theology:[Read More]

Abundant Eternal Possession

I came so they could have life and so they could have it abundantly.
-Jesus

Eternity lasts forever, so not a single day could be added to or taken away from it. What, then, does Jesus mean when He says that He wants us to have eternal life abundantly? It is not that He wants us to have more eternity, but that He wants us to have more in eternity.
[Read More]

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”
​-Yoda

In the Star Wars franchise, “The Force” is a metaphysical energy source that flows in all and through all. There is a dark side and a light side and characters can manipulate the force to do the bidding of whichever side they align with. The Force is impersonal, that is, it does not have a will, intellect, or emotions. 

​It’s no secret that The Force was not George Lucas’ creation, but spurred from the New Age Movement of the 1960s-70s, which was actually rooted in ancient philosophies and religions that were around before the Bible was completed. The early Church had to deal with proto-New Age heresies that developed when people combined Paganism with Christianity. The early councils gave us some great creeds (and a cool story about the infamous Santa punch), but unfortunately, some modern forms of these ancient heresies are still attacking the doctrine of the Holy Spirit today.
[Read More]

Let’s talk about Santa

Lately, there has been a resurgence back to European Christmas traditions. A few years ago, Dwight Schrute of The Office introduced America to the old German character, Belsnickel. There is also a new movie out this year about the Bavarian Christmas creature, Krampus. I like this resurgence. Too often, the American idea of internationalization is actually Americanization. Instead of expecting the world to appreciate and celebrate our Santa Clause, this resurgence calls Americans to seek out other traditions of the season from around the world.
[Read More]