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Sexual sin is a big one, isn't it? I mean, the Bible makes much ado of it. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (Hebrews 13:4) Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18) But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2) For this is the will of God, your sanctification:…  ( Click for more )

There has been a spate of stories in recent times of well-known and respected Christian publicly ejecting their Christian faith and leaving for "greener pastures," so to speak. It's tough. It's tough when you hear that one who was considered to be a believer rejects the Savior you love. It's tough when you are connected in some way to that person -- a follower, a fan, an admirer, something like that -- and then see them drop out. It's tough to see the assault on your faith and the faith and, ultimately, on your Lord. It has ever been thus, you know. Think of Adam, living…  ( Click for more )

Given the current conglomeration of Democratic presidential hopefuls and the apparently large number amont them that are socialist in their leanings, it might be a good time to ask the question. If you ever talk to anyone from the self-identified "Christian Left" you will find many who answer a resounding, "Yes!". To hear the "Christian Left" tell it, Jesus was a socialist. Hmmm, really? Let's examine that. First, we need to come to terms with the term. What is a socialist? I find the word abused and misunderstood so often that I feel the need to protect…  ( Click for more )

Try to find out what the Gospel is and you'll get a lot of different answers. There is the social gospel and there is the street-corner gospel and there is the "Romans Way" and so on. Some agree, but trying to actually pin down the essential pieces can be tough. So I thought I'd do it from a single paragraph in Scripture. For your consideration, then, here is the Gospel in one paragraph: Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works…  ( Click for more )

"I hope they have apple fritters," my wife told me as we went into the donut shop. Hope. It's a good thing. Merriam-Webster says it is "to want something to happen or be true." You might hope for a promotion or hope for a particular gift at Christmas or hope that someone says something nice to you or hope that you do well in the interview or test or whatever. It's a positive thing. In our language, it's also sometimes a desperate thing. We hope that laws can be passed that will decrease gun violence. We hope that our least favorite candidate for office doesn't…  ( Click for more )

Even if you don't know the address, you know Matthew 18:20. It's a beautiful verse. "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20)

So we are warmed to think that when we get together with other believers, Christ is there. But ... is that what it means? Logically there is a problem. The suggestion is, "If you're alone, I'm not there." And, apparently, if it's four or more He's not there either? No. The logical problem is that there can be no place where an omnipresent being is not. That is, if this verse is saying…  ( Click for more )

If you read through the Gospels you'll see where Jesus says multiple times in multiple ways, "For this reason I came ..." You can (and should) hunt those down to see what our Savior's intent was when He came to earth. Another explanation (not an alternate explanation; an additional one) is given in Titus. [Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)

That, as it turns out, is a pretty comprehensive (and surprising) answer. We learn here that His…  ( Click for more )

Recently I had a discussion in which it was suggested, perhaps indirectly, that Paul and Jesus might have disagreed on something that is part of our Bible. The topic (not relevant to this discussion -- just for clarification) was whether or not it was possible to be pro-life and pro-capital punishment. I cited Paul (among others). He cited Jesus. Ergo, it would appear that Jesus and Paul disagreed on the topic of capital punishment, with Paul falling on the "pro" side and Jesus clearly standing opposed. What to do when Jesus and Paul (or any other Scripture) disagree?…  ( Click for more )

We just celebrated work in the form of Labor Day. I think I should talk about work for a moment. As we all know, we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, what do works have to do with it? I recently read this in my Bible readings. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk…  ( Click for more )

As most of you know, a "meme" is a fairly recent term mostly for an Internet fad. They're popular sayings and trends that pop up and spread via the glorious Internet. When you hear, "That video went viral" you're hearing about a meme. Popular memes include cat and dog pictures, exaggerations about ninjas, and "gangnam style". (You'll have to look that one up yourself.) They're typically adolescent, intended as humorous or insulting, and they're everywhere.

One popular meme is "Where is Your God?" They'll often have some bizarre picture like…  ( Click for more )

Remember the "open book test"? We loved that in school. That is, if we had to have a test, it was much better to have an open book one than something that relied on your own total recall. Open book tests were much easier. As it turns out, in many cases life is an open book test. The answers to so many questions we ask ourselves turn out to be readily available. "Should I pursue a sexual relationship with that person?" No (1 Corinthians 6:18). "Couldn't I make a good career out of being a hit man?" No (Matthew 5:21).

"How important…  ( Click for more )

A lot of people over the last few years have complained that folks aren't as considerate as they once were. Now, you might think it's because old people are crotchety, but I'm even hearing it from younger folk. There was a time that we would open doors or let people in front of us in traffic or "ladies first" or ... well, a host of things -- "Common courtesy." And, they tell me, common courtesy is not really common anymore. As a nation we've decided that a woman should have the right to terminate life at will as long as it's inside her body at the time. Science…  ( Click for more )

This has always been a gut-wrenching read for me, taking the Bible as seriously as I do. What does John mean? Is this a call for sinless perfection? Or is it hyperbole? "Oh, no, everyone sins and sins a lot! He's just saying that, well, we shouldn't." Is that all it is? Let's take a closer look. First, the King James (and other older translations) all say it like that -- "doth not commit sin". Taken at face value,…  ( Click for more )

I heard this term the other day and wondered about it. "Bible-saturated" refers to someone who has been immersed for a great deal of time in the entirety of Scripture. It doesn't mean someone who has memorized John 3.16" data-version="nasb95" data-purpose="bible-reference" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(70,149, 156); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">John 3:16 and can quote it without thinking about it. The term refers to a saturation of Scripture. It means "full immersion" Bible living,…  ( Click for more )

It has been an axiom since the 1960's. "Question authority!" In the '60's it was considered avant-garde, cutting edge. Today it's considered normal operating procedure. "Of course you have to question authority." I think, however, that it is unevenly applied. There is a series on the National Geographic Channel called Brain Games that explores how the human brain works through games and experiments. One of them was on peer pressure and examined the ways in which we are unconsciously controlled by those around us. In one experiment they had a woman go into an…  ( Click for more )

Meet Laelius Socinus. He was one of the founders of a secret religious sect operating under the banner of "Christian". In the late 1500's, this sect, called "Socinians", referred to themselves as Unitarians. The primary doctrinal difference between them and the rest of the existing Christian Church was on the nature of God. Most obviously, they denied the Trinity. They argued, instead, for ... well, a unitarian view. There was one God. The "Holy Spirit" wasn't a person, but was simply the power of God. And Jesus? Well, He was a nice fellow, but certainly…  ( Click for more )

I learned a new phrase: "gender complementarity". Cool! I like new things like that. So ... um ... what does it mean? Well, "complementarity" is "The state or quality of being complementary". "Fine," you say, " ... so what in the world does that mean?" Well, obviously it's when you say nice things about people. No, kidding. "Complementary" (as opposed to "complimentary") means "completing" (in short). The idea is this. Presence A has these qualities and thoseshortcomings. Presence B has those qualities…  ( Click for more )

If you are a Christian, a genuine follower of Christ who believes in the Bible and all it teaches, be prepared. You are ... narrow-minded. Yes, you. You're not a "free thinker" (defined, oddly, as "one who doubts or denies religious dogma"). By aligning yourself with all that stuff you stand in opposition to all sorts of stuff like "free love" and science and ... well, all sorts of stuff. You, you ... you narrow-minded bigot! Of course, the label is common, but the truth is far from it. Consider a couple of examples. The Bible teaches that sex was…  ( Click for more )

In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin devoted an entire chapter to the notion that the Christian life is summarized in the concept of self-denial. Like so many other "Calvinisms", this isn't Calvin's idea. It wasn't Calvin who said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). It wasn't Calvin who wrote things like "I discipline my body and keep it under control" (1 Corinthians 9:27), "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31), or the real kicker: "I have…  ( Click for more )

It is obvious that our job as followers of Christ is to speak the truth. Lies do not become us. Neither do false doctrines, misguided rants, or a lazy understanding of God's Word. As followers of "the Truth" (John 14:6), we must find the truth mandatory rather than optional. However ... ... Scripture is clear. We must speak the truth, but we must do so in love (Ephesians 4:15). You see, it can be a pretty simple thing to declare with teeth bared what is true, but it can be a real challenge to do it in love. It speaks to the motivation, the aim, the purpose. Paul told…  ( Click for more )

In discussions on abortion, I've seen this passage used to say that God doesn't care about abortion. When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:22-25)

"In this passage," they say, "you can see that…  ( Click for more )

There are few verses we love to claim more than Jeremiah 29:11: "I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"

Mmmm, we love that. We put it on Bible covers and posters and artwork. We put it up at home and remind ourselves at work. The simple, straightforward notion that God has plans for my welfare that gives a future and a hope? Wonderful. Of course, there are no small numbers of genuine, Bible-believing Christians who will tell you, "That's not for you." Why? Well,…  ( Click for more )

A group of friends were sharing prayer requests. One said, "Pray for my granddaughter. She feels like she doesn't deserve God's love and is very depressed." So they did. And I thought, "But ... she doesn't deserve God's love." And I became concerned that no one in the group seemed to notice. I became concerned for the group. I get it. "Depressed" is indeed a real problem. That's one of those "demons" that doesn't come out without much prayer. I get it. I'll pray about that. On the other hand, I thought "don't deserve" was at the…  ( Click for more )

Paul is a problem sometimes. Like, for instance, he says, "If possible so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all" (Romans 12:18) and then he goes and writes something like this: Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

Paul, Paul, what were you thinking, man? You can't get away with something like that? Don't you know this will cause no end of conflict between…  ( Click for more )