We’ve also told Jesus that His death wasn’t good enough. Sure, we’ll quick to accept His death as payment for our own sins. But when we refuse to forgive, we’re saying that Jesus’ death of the cross wasn’t good enough to pay for the sin of the person that we’re refusing to forgive!
I will never forgive. But if you do not forgive … More
Wives submit to your husbands? Seriously? Isn’t that outdated? Sexist? Wrong?
Well, actually, no – but …
For one thing, It’s taken out of context.
For another, there are also conditions attached that aren’t met.
And all of that is because it’s also incomplete.
The problem of “Wives submit to your husbands” More
This then is how you should pray: Our Father…
But what does the word “Father” really mean? It’s a common enough word. But does it have the “common” meaning in this context?
This then is how you should pray.
How and Should. Some religions – even some Christian denominations – seem to be more into what and must.
But that’s not what Jesus said.
He said How and Should.
This then is how you should pray… More
And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. This verse is from John 20:22. Yes – John’s Gospel. This is one of those verses that just makes you want to ask, “What is going on here? Didn’t that happen later? Wasn’t that in Acts? On Pentecost?”
Let’s start someplace unexpected. In the middle. At the very beginning of the book of Acts, written by Luke.
The problem of “Receive the Holy Spirit” More
Let the dead bury the dead. What does that even mean? How can one dead person bury another one? Actually, the more common translation is “let the dead bury their own dead”. But still – we’re not talking a horror movie here. This is a quote from the Bible. From Jesus. I don’t remember ever reading about this verse in a book. Don’t remember hearing it in a sermon either. I only remember reading it in the Bible. Right now though, I feel like I’m living it.
Let the dead bury the dead More
Becoming a Christian is easy. You know – say the sinner’s prayer and voila, you’re a Christian. Or so we’re often told. But, saying “I’m a Christian”, or being told, “You’re a Christian” – does that really make someone a “real” Christian? No, it doesn’t. Being a real Christian isn’t that easy. It takes a lot more than just some words. Many who start off on the path to becoming believers end up leaving that path. At one point, Jesus even asked His closest followers, You do not want to leave too, do you?
Being a real Christian isn’t easy. You do not want to leave too, do you? More
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. It’s a pretty common saying. It’s most likely to be used when something bad happens. Like it’s supposed to make people feel better. And it might actually accomplish that goal – if it was told correctly. It’s like the old thing about the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So here’s the truth about the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. It’s true. However, it’s not the whole truth. Therefore, it isn’t actually “nothing but the truth”.
The Lord gives and The Lord takes away More
Have you ever heard of a Grown-again Christian? Me neither. But the Apostle Paul did. “But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast.” The Message
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. This tells of a time when we won’t cry anymore. Will this be the greatest miracle in the Bible? Maybe that depends. For instance – who is being talked about here. Who’s eyes are their eyes? And what does wipe away every tear actually mean?
Wipe away every tear from their eyes: the greatest miracle? More
