“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (NIV). This is another challenging statement which Jesus makes in the “sermon on the mount”. However I think there are a few things which shed light on this statement. Often, words in other languages have different shades of meaning which can’t be exactly translated. As I
Category: Series
Understanding Matthew 5:31-32: Divorce
One passage of scripture that people struggle to understand is Matthew 5:31-32 where Jesus states: “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries
Shrewd as Snakes: Condescension as Cover for Insecurity
Going along with my previous post, while it might appear that the one condemning others may be boldly standing against sin, this is ironically a sign of insecurity. A person who is insecure about how good they are may try to show the faults of others to “prove” that others are no better. A person
Shrewd as Snakes: Condemning Sin or Belittling Others?
Sometimes the biggest problem with a message isn’t the main point itself. The overall message may be right and true. However the speaker or author can make major errors along the way. Many wrongs can be hidden in this way, but the ends does not justify the means. Most people miss these problems, yet they
Shrewd as Snakes: Forceful Messages
There are some messages I have heard which might be described as powerful, strong, or forceful. There is a world of difference between a message which is powerful because it boldly speaks the truth, and one which seems strong because of the aggressiveness of the messenger. This is a very dangerous situation, because a convincing
Shrewd as Snakes – Work to Please God
I personally don’t like to spend much time being critical. (If I criticize, it’s usually in the context of contrasting one thing in order to try and communicate something better.) I’d much rather focus on what I perceive to be true, good, and right instead. My thought is if we focus on these things, the
7. Can we find a way to address human sexuality without fighting about it?
7. Can we find a way to address human sexuality without fighting about it? Those who are observant may have noticed that I never finished a series I started last year. I intended to, but the subject matter of this question is difficult. It’s a big topic, and I had considered launching a whole series
Christianity 101: We Have a Problem
(Note: This article is based on the previous lessons. Please review these, if you have not already done so, before proceeding.) God created people to live in this awesome world. Not only that, but he commissioned us to care for it on his behalf. God intended that we would live with him and other people
Christianity 101: Creation and God’s Ultimate Plan
(Note: This article is based on the previous lesson(s). Please review these, if you have not already done so, before proceeding.) God decided to do something utterly amazing and nearly unbelievable. Out of the overflowing love among the trinity, God decided that he would open himself up and bring another entity into the fellowship of
Christianity 101: Beginning with God – Love Foundational
(Note: to fully understand this post, please review the article: Defining Love.) “In the beginning, God…” This is where both the Bible and Christianity start—with God. This in and of it self isn’t very unique—many religions start with God/a higher power. The questions naturally following from this is “What is God like? What are his