About

Why do we need Nerdchurch?

There are wonderful possibilities when nerds and Jesus connect. But the reality is that, even when they’re trying to get along, nerds and church have a history of rubbing each other the wrong way. Questions, nonconformity, and passion shake things up, and even Christian nerds who helped build the church have faced opposition. Among Christian and non-christian nerds today, there are many who have been ‘othered’ by churches, and many others who simply keep their distance.

Jesus expected his friends to be opposed or even demonized, as he was. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:25) There is room in Jesus’ circle for people who have been stigmatized, censured, excommunicated, or disowned.

Galileo didn’t start out as an opponent of the church. In his youth, he’d thought about becoming a monk. The problem was that his discovery of four moons of Jupiter–using a telescope he’d built himself–conflicted with church teaching that all heavenly bodies orbited Earth. He got in hot water for seeing what nobody was supposed to see, and for publishing his results.

Peter signs off his New Testament writings with these words: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.(2 Peter 3:18)