Posts Tagged ‘social issues’
No Shame in Good News
Shame can be a powerful force. It can be good, and lead to repentance. It can be bad and lead to death. In a society that praises greed, power, self-reliance, and all sorts of immorality, shame can also be used by the devil to keep us away from God. Saint Paul thought otherwise. Paul, a…
Read MoreSometimes You Must Walk Away
Standing up for your beliefs can be exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Will those around me respect my defense or rally against me? In a split second we are forced to face death, even if metaphorical, or praise. Sometimes, we just walk away. IN THOSE DAYS, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at…
Read MoreNo Law Against Kindness
I hear it all the time. Be kind. What does it mean to be kind? Is it kind to allow people to think they are something they are not? Is it kind to tell someone they are going to hell if they don’t change? Some say yes. Some say no. Brethren, the fruit of the…
Read MoreHow do we heal?
Like many of you, I didn’t get much sleep last night. Ever since I was a little boy, I have been excited on Election Night, almost as much as Christmas. The past few elections have caused me to think. So many friends stand on opposite sides! How do we heal from this division? The past…
Read MoreBe Blameless When Society Is Wicked
Sometimes we like to think is was ‘easier’ to be a Christian in the past. We read the stories about Church growth and mass baptisms. We then think of today. We can’t imagine the same stories taking place today. It is so much harder to be Christian today than ‘back then.’ Brethren, as you have…
Read MoreDon’t Twist the Saints
The devil will never stop trying to trick us away from God’s path. He fooled Eve using her ego to taste the fruit, and she died along with Adam. He fooled Judas using his ego to betray Christ, and he died. At every turn the devil uses our ego against us, always to fool us…
Read MoreRemain or Repent; Which is it?
It has become popular to use the expression, “God made me who I am,” as an excuse toward all sorts of behaviors the Church teaches against. “God doesn’t make mistakes,” is another excuse. I say excuse, because we never want to remain how we are if we don’t like who we are. Brethren, in whatever…
Read MorePassion Bearers
Throughout the world Christians are caught ‘in the crossfire’ of war. These Christian find themselves ‘on the wrong side’ of very powerful nations and movements. In many cases these same Christians are killed ‘just because’ they are Christians. They are called Passion Bearers. Today is the commemoration of Saints Boris and Gleb the Passion Bearers.…
Read MoreNo Shame in Believing
In our society it can be more than a little intimidating to admit we believe in Christ. Maybe not among our close friends, but in public we may even be ashamed to admit our faith in God. Afterall, our society teaches us to keep our faith to ourselves. Maybe we should obey. No! I don’t…
Read MoreChristian Hypocrisy
There are many sayings that mock hypocrisy. One of my favorites, “Do as I say, not as I do,” expresses the sad truth that we are all susceptible to becoming hypocrites of the Law. As Christians we say one thing, and often do the other. At least we’re not alone. Brethren, when Gentiles who have…
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