Rick Tryon

Bible Rebel: Curious Fearless Faith

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The Bible Rebel blog is a resource for those seeking original and curated content, including news and commentary, covering faith, biblical studies and interpretation, and the intersection of politics, culture, and the Bible.

Curious Fearless Faith

Curious faith asks questions. Fearless faith doesn’t blindly accept the religious status quo.

Is the Kingdom of God now, or future?

If Jesus Christ is God then isn’t Mary the mother of God?

Is the Christian’s destiny to die and ‘go to heaven’ – or to be transformed while alive or raised from death and corruption into the renewed and restored creation?

Our Mission

  1. To monitor current news and events related to faith and culture.
  2. To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
  3. To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.
  4. To present the Biblical truths which reveal God’s nature and purposes and proclaim the lifechanging, world-altering, radical message of Yeshua the Messiah – Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.

Contact us at in**@********el.com

Biblical Literacy: Sayings, Not Bible Verses

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Here are four common ‘old sayings’ that many folks mistakenly believe are bible verses. While these sayings may contain practical wisdom, and even reflect values taught by scripture generally, they are not inspired scripture.

“God helps those who help themselves.”

This one is commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1736).

The Bible teaches dependence on God, not self-sufficiency (see Psalm 121:2, Proverbs 3:5–6). The phrase reflects a moral idea, but it’s not scriptural.

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Popularized by John Wesley in a 1778 sermon.

While the Bible values purity of heart and spiritual cleanliness (James 4:8), it never equates physical cleanliness with godliness.

“This too shall pass.”

Likely from ancient Persian or Hebrew proverbs, but not found in Scripture.

The Bible expresses similar sentiments (e.g., 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, Psalm 30:5), yet the phrase itself never appears.

“Money is the root of all evil.”

This one is a misquotation of 1 Timothy 6:10.

What the Bible actually says: “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” The difference is crucial — Scripture warns against greed, not wealth itself.

Watchdog Alert: Mary As’Co-Redeemer” And More From The Catholics

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Photo via Julius Silvers, pexels.com

The third item below is interesting – apparently the Pope has decided that Mary, previously called the “Co-Redemptrix”, is no longer needed for the finished work of redemption and has been demoted to just the “Mother of the Faithful”.

Neither one of those titles is biblical, they are both the results of doctrines of men.

Investigation of a Spanish bishop

  • The Vatican has opened an investigation into Rafael Zornoza, bishop of the Diocese of Cádiz-Ceuta in Spain, following allegations of sexual abuse dating to the 1990s involving a teenage boy. Reuters
  • Zornoza denies the accusation, has suspended his duties, and pledged full cooperation. Reuters
  • This is significant because it is reportedly the first public case of a Spanish bishop being publicly known to be the subject of a Vatican‐level inquiry. Reuters.

Alleged antisemitic incident involving the Swiss Guard

  • The Vatican is investigating an alleged incident in which a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard reportedly made a contemptuous remark (“les juifs”) and a spitting gesture toward two Jewish women, during a papal audience on October 29. AP News
  • The guard denies the remark and accuses the women of lying; the investigation is still in its early stage. AP News
  • During the same audience the Pope reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to Catholic-Jewish relations and condemned antisemitism. AP News

Doctrinal Note clarifying Marian titles

  • The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), approved by the Pope, released a doctrinal note stating that the Virgin Mary should be referred to as “Mother of the Faithful” rather than the title “Co-Redemptrix.” Vatican News
  • The document also calls for special attention to the use of the expression “Mediatrix of all graces.” Vatican News

Appointment of a new Vice-Regent of the Pontifical Household

  • Edward Daniang Daleng, O.S.A., has been appointed by the Pope as the new Vice-Regent of the Pontifical Household. Vatican News
  • Paulina of Nigeria and an Augustinian religious background. (He had been procurator general of the Order of St. Augustine.) Catholic News Agency

They Said It: Four Quotes On Exodus

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Here are some famous quotes about the second book in the Bible, Exodus.

“Exodus is the story of God’s power to deliver, not just from Egypt, but from every form of bondage.”
— Charles Spurgeon

“The Exodus is the central act of redemption in the Old Testament; it is to Israel what the Cross is to the Church.”
— Philip Graham Ryken

“The story of the Exodus is not only Israel’s story—it is the human story of liberation from oppression into the freedom to serve God.”
— Walter Brueggemann

“In Exodus, God reveals Himself not as an idea, but as a living Redeemer who steps into history to rescue His people.”
— A.W. Tozer

Watchdog Alert: What Are The Methodists Up To?

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Bible Rebel keeps a watchdog’s eye on news and events concerning denominational religion and brings that content to our readers. Here’s the latest from the United Methodist Church.

Annual Conferences voting on constitutional amendments

The UMC is currently in the process of ratifying four constitutional amendments that were passed by the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. These include: (1) regionalization of the global church structure, (2) adding “gender” and “ability” to the list of protected categories for membership, (3) a racial justice amendment, and (4) changes around clergy delegate election. wnccumc.org

The UMC’s Council of Bishops will meet in early November 2025 (Nov 3–7) to canvass the votes of the annual conferences and certify results. unitedmethodistbishops.org

Judicial Council ruling on clergy conscience and same-sex unions

The UMC’s Judicial Council (its denomination’s “supreme court” equivalent) delivered a ruling that confirms: “All clergy have the right to exercise and preserve their conscience when requested to perform any marriage, union, or blessing.” arumc.org

In effect, this ruling maintains that while the broader denomination may permit same-sex unions or other changes, individual clergy cannot be compelled to perform services they conscientiously object to.

Food-pantry and social-service pressures amid federal policy shifts

In October 2025 the UM News Digest reported that UMC ministries across the U.S. are facing increased demand for food, utilities, rent assistance amid the suspension of federal food benefits. The UMC’s mission agency (the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries) and local churches are stepping up grants and pantry efforts. United Methodist News Service

They Said It: Four Quotes On Genesis

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Here are some famous quotes about the first book in the Bible, Genesis.

Saint Augustine (354–430 AD)

“In the beginning, God created — these words are the foundation of all that we believe. The world is not eternal; it had a beginning, and that beginning was God Himself.”

C. S. Lewis (1898–1963)

“The first chapters of Genesis give the story of the human condition — not as science, but as revelation — showing us not how man came to be, but why he is as he is.”

John Calvin (1509–1564)

“The Book of Genesis is the fountain from which the whole of Scripture flows. For there we see both the origin of the world and the covenant of God with man.”

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (1948–2020)

“Genesis is not a book about beginnings alone; it is a book about relationships — between God and humanity, man and woman, brother and brother — and how the drama of freedom unfolds.”

Your Life And What Comes After (4): ‘Unfolding His Glorious Will’

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I just read a great blog article by Dan Kent from a couple of years ago titled ‘Why Did David Pick Up 5 Stones?’. Good stuff, highly recommended reading, which you can find here.

Kent’s piece is a good meditation on faith and faithfulness as well as a thoughtful discussion on how God does and does not act and respond to His people in this age and broken world.

The last two sentences in the article really hit home for me:

“Don’t stand around waiting for God to act, or for God to win your battles for you: don’t stand around watching for what God might do: rather, show God what you can do. Gain wisdom, gather knowledge, develop skills, give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.”
Dan Kent – thatdankent.com

If you’re wondering what your own individual purpose in life might be and what it is that you should be doing day by day, it’s hard to find a better, more succinct admonition than, “…give the Lord something to use as he rumbles through the earth unfolding his glorious will.“

As I pointed out in a previous post in this ‘Your Life And What Comes After’ series, God created man not only to reflect His image and add value to His creation, but we are to work together with Him to do so.

We are helping the Creator bring about His grand plan for His creation. That is our purpose. Look for your own individual purpose there and you will be delighted and amazed at what you find.

Your Life And What Comes After: God’s Grand Plan
Your Life And What Comes After: God’s Grand Plan Part 2
Your Life And What Comes After: Called To Someone