Bryan J. Hickey
Careful thinking for people who take faith seriously.
Long-form writing on theology, culture, and the Christian life — for anyone who believes deep faith and honest questions belong together. Whether you’re preparing a sermon, wrestling with what you believe, or simply looking for writing that doesn’t rush past the hard parts, you’re welcome here.
About
You’ll find me writing at the intersection of theology and everyday life — exploring Scripture carefully, thinking about how faith is formed slowly, and asking what it looks like to follow Jesus without pretending the hard parts are easy.
By day, I work in operations at Youth Ministry Futures, a mission agency investing in long-term, full-time youth ministers across Australia. The rest of the time, I’m reading widely, writing honestly, and trying to be a decent husband to Jane and father to our two daughters.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to think carefully about things that matter — not quick takes, not hot opinions, just honest writing — there’s a good chance something here is for you.
Start Here
Longer essays worth the time — on Scripture, culture, and what it means to take faith seriously.
Free Speech like Charlie? Historical, Philosophical, and Legislative Context through an Australian Lens
Free speech in Australia feels natural, but our laws treat it as fragile. In the shadow of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, this piece explores history, law, and faith—arguing why minority voices must be defended, and where our true hope ultimately lies.
Beyond Seeing Jesus Everywhere: A Case for Christo-telic Hermeneutics
Claims that every Old Testament passage is "about Jesus" often lack New Testament support. A better approach: Christo-telic hermeneutics recognises all Scripture finds its ultimate fulfilment in Christ without forcing Jesus into every single verse.
Recent Writing
New thinking on theology and reflections on the Christian life.
Writing in the Shadow of the Word
Writing is both wound and gift. Our words never capture ideas perfectly, yet in their failure new questions and deeper truths emerge. In their brokenness, words become lifeblood—awakening wonder, shaping thought, and pointing us toward the eternal Word who gives life.
Moral Fiction or Corporate Persons? How Legal Convenience Became Economic Doctrine
When corporations gained the legal status of persons, they inherited rights without souls and responsibilities without shame. This exploration traces how practical business arrangements evolved into moral agents that shield human accountability whilst accumulating unprecedented power.
Abraham and the God Who Passes Through: When Divine Promises Cut Deeper Than Doubt
When Abraham doubts God's promises, God performs a covenant ceremony staking His own existence on keeping His word—passing through divided animals alone while Abraham sleeps, essentially declaring "may I be destroyed if I break this covenant."
Questions in the Garden: Character, Reader, and Resolution in Genesis 3
We think we know Genesis 3—the serpent, the woman, the forbidden fruit. But this may be our greatest obstacle to reading Scripture. When we slow down and pay attention to, we discover sophisticated character development, dramatic tension, and theological depths that reward patient reading.
The Story of Creation: Where Everything Begins
Genesis 1-2 isn't just ancient history—it's the foundation for everything we believe about God, humanity, and our purpose. Discover how to read creation's story carefully, teach it confidently, and help others see why it matters for their lives today.
The Cosmos as God's Temple: Where the Creator Finds His Rest
What if the universe isn't just something God made, but somewhere God dwells? Drawing on Ancient Near Eastern creation stories and biblical theology, this piece explores how the cosmos functions as God's temple—a place where He rests.
Edwards Between Cities: Learning in the Crossfire of Institutional Politics
Before Jonathan Edwards became America's greatest theologian, he was a college student caught in the middle of Yale's founding political crisis. Shuttled between rival campuses as trustees fought over the school's future. Sometimes the most formative learning happens in the chaos.
Church, Membership, and Disciple-Making: Belonging, Authority, and the Challenge of Growth in New Churches
In churches that welcome all, how do we disciple well? This reflection considers why membership still matters, especially when the lines feel blurry.
From the Reading Pile
All reviews →Honest assessments of books worth engaging — theology, biblical studies, and the occasional surprise. If you're looking for your next serious read, start here.
Book Review
Speaking in Tongues: A Critical Historical Examination: Volume 1: The Modern Redefinition of Tongues
by Philip Blosser
Blosser argues today's 'heavenly language' view of tongues is a modern redefinition. Historically, tongues meant xenolalia—unlearned human languages. He traces the shift via missionary failures, Reformation habits and cessationism, proposing Corinth faced a sacred-language/interpretation issue.
November 8, 2025
Book Review
An Invitation to Analytic Christian Theology
by Thomas H. McCall
Do hard questions threaten faith? McCall argues analytic theology—clarity, rigour, and conceptual care—keeps Scripture in the driver's seat. His invitation maps the field with case studies on sovereignty, Christology, and evolution, showing mystery isn't muddle.
November 8, 2025
Book Review
Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics
by Jeannine K. Brown
Jeannine K. Brown's Scripture as Communication presents the Bible as divine–human conversation. Blending theory and practice, she teaches readers to seek authorial intent as communicative act, bridging meaning and application. A clear, pastoral guide that forms humble, attentive interpreters.
October 9, 2025