It is, perhaps, one of the easiest things in the world for us to compromise on truth. Though we are called to faith, transformed by the power of the Spirit, we still live in this world, and it’s a world that frequently conflicts with the Scripture. Perpetually presented with competing thoughts and ideas, the tension … Continue reading Forsaking the Vanity of Many
God
Our Restless Hearts
It’s perhaps not terribly out of line to say that we are an anxious people, often times difficult to satisfy regardless of the blessings that we enjoy. We are always looking for something more, as if unable to find contentment, wanting things to be different than they are, desiring change without asking if that change … Continue reading Our Restless Hearts
Imitators of Christ
As Christians, we are called to live as imitators of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) patterned after he who, for our sake, took on the form of man, living that perfect life in accord with the Law, and served as the sacrifice for our sins. Most of us have some understanding of what that means, viewing … Continue reading Imitators of Christ
The Dangers of Pride
Augustine of Hippo once postulated that the first sin was pride. Producing the desire to overthrow and replace God, this was the sin that caused the fall from heaven that created the devil. It was then this sin that he passed to humanity as he tempted in the Garden of Eden. Whether or not one … Continue reading The Dangers of Pride
More Than A Feeling
As Christians, we are called to live a certain way, to be followers of God, walking in love just as Christ first loved us, giving freely of himself. (Eph. 5:1-2) Charity, kindness, goodness, and gentleness are intended to bloom from our souls, the fruits of a life transformed by the power of the Spirit. These … Continue reading More Than A Feeling
The Practice of Love
To read the Scriptures is to realize something very basic, very fundamental. This is, namely, that love is essential to the Christian faith. There can be no sincere expression of Christianity, no life in the Spirit, no transformation if it is not guided and led by love. It is God's love, made manifest through His … Continue reading The Practice of Love
Thoughts on Scriptures (Part Three)
Biases are unavoidable. Everyone has them. For better or worse, they are a part of human thinking formed by how the brain processes information through categorization. Shaped by culture, education, experience, history, or any number of other factors, they can, and, often times, do have a direct impact then on how the individual sees and … Continue reading Thoughts on Scriptures (Part Three)
Thoughts on the Scriptures (Part Two)
The nature of Scriptures as the divinely inspired Word of God remains a concept that is difficult for a great many people, even amidst the Christian faith. It’s perhaps not that terribly surprising. The reason why is because the Bible itself can be difficult to read, particularly if one does not know how to read … Continue reading Thoughts on the Scriptures (Part Two)
The Gods of Our Own Making
One of my favorite units in English class back when I was in school was mythology. The focus was always on Greek and Roman, but it often sent me down a rabbit hole where I would read anything I could find on the topic. I would be engrossed in the stories of the Norse gods, … Continue reading The Gods of Our Own Making
What’s the Big Deal About Going to Church
What’s the big deal about church attendance? Does church membership even really matter? That appears to be the as we witness a seeming rapid decline in recent years. Some of it is, perhaps, not surprising. One might expect a sharp decline in attendance in recent years, like the 6% drop that occurred between 2019 and … Continue reading What’s the Big Deal About Going to Church