I’ve gone back to Ecclesiastes for my devotional time in the mornings. This morning I read chapter 8, verse 11 (LEB), “Because sentence against an evil deed is not carried out quickly, the heart of humans fills up within … Continue reading
The issue of temptation is deeply rooted in Christian faith and ethics. We have a strong view of morality and believe temptation to sin to be our common lot. Scripture teaches we are all guilty of sin (Rom … Continue reading
Do you ever feel you messed up so bad that God must have surely washed his hands of you? This is not a question of losing your salvation or not. Let’s separate being saved from being used for … Continue reading
Genesis 22 is very controversial. God tested Abraham with a command to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering. This story has offended countless generations of believers and nonbelievers alike. The Danish philosopher, and father of Existentialism, Søren … Continue reading
Many Christians espouse the view that all telling of untruths is lying and lying is always, in all circumstances, immoral and wrong. Let’s begin here and address several issues. Of course, as Christians, we can’t just stop with … Continue reading
Send to Kindle“Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to … Continue reading
Send to Kindle“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV What has Christ freed us from? What is this … Continue reading
Recently, I was at a conference in Tampa with representatives of churches and ministries from all over the world. At one point an evangelist got up to address the assembly. While bemoaning a too common lack of boldness … Continue reading
One of the benefits of Christian ministry is the opportunity to discuss and debate with fellow believers holding an assortment of views. It is amazing to me how often in these discussions people who defend the Bible as … Continue reading
While reading the story of the paralytic healed by Jesus at the Bethesda Pool, I was struck by Jesus’ second encounter with the man. In John 5:14, after the man was healed and obeyed Jesus, he was scolded by others for carrying his mat in violation of the Sabbath. In the exchange he pointed out that he had been commanded, by an unknown person who had healed him, to carry the mat. Later, Jesus meets him again and warns him: “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” (NIV). This short passage speaks volumes, but it doesn’t say what many claim to hear in it.
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