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Our culture these days seems almost to be built on being offended. We are offended by anything and everything. When I used the word "boy" in a brief comment to a black person (referrring to her young son), she took offense. When the movie, Tropic Thunder, had one actor describe another as a "retard", people took offense. When Martin Scorsese did The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988, Christians took offense. Publish comics about Mohammed, and Muslims take offense. This last year, with the presidential contests, it seemed as if one of the most popular tactics…  ( Click for more )

After the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus spoke in the temple (John 8:20). He ended up in a discussion with the Pharisees (John 8:13) in which they, obviously, take Him to task. In that discussion we see this exchange: They said to Him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My word. You are of your…  ( Click for more )

In Paul's epistle to the church in Rome, he writes this. As it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Romans 2:24)

No one is entirely sure to what Paul is referring with his "as it is written" statement. Written in Scripture? Written elsewhere? There are a few possible Old Testament links there; Matthew Henry lists three (Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22-23; and 2 Samuel 12:14). None are a word-for-word quote. The intent, however, is clear. The text is talking about those of us who know what is right. After listing…  ( Click for more )

It's a common complaint among many. "I've looked for a good church in my area, but I can't find one." Maybe the music is too loud or too boring. Maybe the preaching isn't ... whatever. Not enough of the Word. Too much of the world. "I'm not being fed." "I'm not able to worship." "I don't feel welcomed." Lots of things. I've seen both "They're King James Only" and "They're not King James Only." Lots of things. So what do you do if you can't find a church? There is a tendency among many to join the "Nones", the…  ( Click for more )

In Romans 1Paul lays out a sequence of God giving Man over to worse and worse sin, starting with "though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks" (Romans 1:21) culminating in a list of evils of the "depraved mind" (Romans 1:28) that takes up 6 verses (Romans 1:28-32). And as the chapter ends, we sit there and nod our heads and say, "Yep, those are really evil persons." Of course, the passage doesn't end at Romans 1:32. Paul has not finished his thought. Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that…  ( Click for more )

Paul wrote: We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on Me." (Romans 15:1-3)

Did you see that? Has the church in America seen that? This is so counterintuitive to American thinking or, to be honest, human thinking. In fact, there are many -- even Christians -- who would cry, "That's wrong!" What was it? Let's see if I can…  ( Click for more )

I live in the desert, and it has been a hot one here. One week we had temperatures near or beyond 120°F. They were grounding aircraft and warning everyone to stay indoors. So, there I was, walking the distance to my afternoon bus that would take me home ... in the heat. And I'm thinking, "This is something new." I've been in 105°, 110°, even 115° heat, but this was something different. It felt like ... a furnace, like I was standing in an actual furnace. Which called to mind some guys who actually did. You remember those three Jewish boys who refused to…  ( Click for more )

"What is God's will for my life?" If you're a Christian, it is a genuine question to be asked. There is an answer. Of course, the broadest answer is "It's in God's Word." But one of the direct answers is in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians. In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

I mean, seriously, can it be any clearer? Give thanks ... in everything. When times are good. When you get the promotion, solve the problem, meet your goals, exceed their expectations. When you are healed, at…  ( Click for more )

It is popular among the "Christian Left" (I refer to the group that leans "left" in religious terms, not necessarily political) to argue that Genesis is not to be taken as historical narrative, but as myth. Now, to be clear, they don't (generally) say that to demean Scripture. It's not "myth" as in "fantasy" or "fiction", but more at "metaphor" and "teaching stories." "Myth" might refer to false beliefs or it might refer to traditional stories explaining some natural or social phenomenon, but they are…  ( Click for more )

In our society we've managed to prioritize a new set of sins. Near the top is "boring" -- "Thou shalt not be boring" -- but also high on the list you'll find things like "certain", "non-inclusive", "judgmental", "discriminatory", and "intolerant", all carefully redefined to suit the moment. It might come as a shock, then, if you consider, over against these "top sins", the nature of truth. Truth is that which correlates to reality. It doesn't care if you believe it. It doesn't care if you confirm it.…  ( Click for more )

Solomon wrote, "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18). "No vision." What is that? Many have concluded it was a reference to leadership. Leaders must have a vision, a direction to go, a plan, even big dreams. Using invariably the King James Version ("Where there is no vision the people perish"), they use this as proof of the need to dream big. As it turns out, the idea in Solomon's text was a direction from God. The text, in fact, tells you where to get that "vision" by contrasting…  ( Click for more )

My all-time most read entry from my blog was way back in October of 2006. As long ago as that was, I'm still getting comments and it's still being read. (As of this writing the counter says there have been 26450 views and 161 comments on this one alone ... and that count started a couple of years after I wrote it.) The title: Hard Sayings - "Sell all your possessions". You understand, of course, why that's so popular, right? On one hand, genuine believers read something like that and say, "Hey, am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing here?" On the other, skeptics…  ( Click for more )

We are, by definition, supposed to be "Jesus followers". That is, as Christians, we should be like Christ. So it would likely be wise if we examined His life and His strategies and adopt them ourselves. At the end of His time on earth, Jesus gave His disciples what we call "the Great Commission". Yes, we even capitalize it. It was, in a sense, our marching orders. All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them…  ( Click for more )

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has a series of "You have heard ... but I say" things to say. He enlarges the concept of adultery from sexual relations to simple lust (Matthew 5:27-28). He expands the problem of murder from actually killing someone to wishing they were dead (Matthew 5:21-22). He speaks to the "keep your promises" problem with a much broader "have such integrity that you never need to make a promise" (Matthew 5:33-37). And He addresses the "love your neighbor but hate your enemies" concept. "But I say to you, Do not…  ( Click for more )

We are commanded to "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). Paul says it is "the first commandment with a promise" (Ephesians 6:1-3). Nowhere is there an exception clause. "You only have to honor honorable parents." "Honor good parents, but not bad." "You can stop once you become an adult." It's a simple, straightforward command. I, thank God, have been blessed with an honorable father. He is a man that loves God, loves his wife and my mother, loves his children. He is a man who has always sought to do what is right…  ( Click for more )

Cool word, right? Okay, maybe not, but ... what is it? In an opinion piece entitled Is Your Pastor Sexist?, the New York Times says, "It refers to those who believe the Bible set forth that men should lead and have authority over women, and that married women must submit to their husbands." Feminist writer Carol Howard Merritt, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), wrote, "Complementarianism means married women have no choice over their lives at all.” (Emphasis in the original) Typical objections are based largely on the recognized abuse of the concept, focusing…  ( Click for more )

I once talked with a young man who believed in Perfectionism. That is, he believed that you could become completely sin-free ... and, in fact, he had. "Really?" I asked. "You never sin?" "No," he assured me. "Oh, I make mistakes, have some missteps." I see. Change the language and you eliminate sin. So, using his word, I think I've come across a serious misstep among Christian husbands (and, in case you missed it, I'm not talking about a mere misstep). Most of us know about the commands to the married found in Ephesians 5:22-31. You know…  ( Click for more )

We live in a "diversity" world, where everything is viewed as "equal". We claim "equal rights" and "equal pay" and "racial equality" and "all genders are equal". We believe that all religions are equal, too. And, as a consequence (just like in the use of the vague "equality of the sexes" concept), people often believe that all religions are equally valid. Now, this can be easily demonstrated as false. That is, without accepting any of the truth claims of any religion, you can simply take their truth claims, lay…  ( Click for more )

Christians know the Good News. We're all sinners (Romans 3:23), but while we were sinners, God sent His Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). If you place your trust in Him, your sin can be forgiven and you can be given the righteousness of His Son (2 Corinthians 5:21). Good news, indeed. But, as, we are often reminded, "It's not a religion; it's a relationship." Imagine, then, this Judge before Whom we stand clothed in sinner's rags. "How do you plead?" He asks. You can answer nothing but, "Guilty." But your trust is in Christ Who stands alongside.…  ( Click for more )

There are lots of mothers in the Bible, some good and some not. For the "not good" you can think of folks like Jezebel or Lot's wife. But there were some really good ones. Take, for instance, Hannah. She prayed that God would give her a son and, in so doing, vowed to give him back to God (1 Samuel 1:10-11). That's a devoted mother. She highly valued children and wept for not having one, but more highly valued her God and believed that a child is a gift from God. She did quite literally what all good mothers must do in spirit as well; she gave her child to God. …  ( Click for more )

Ephesians 5 is famous for what it says to married couples (Ephesians 5:17-33). Or should I say "infamous"? Truth be told, a lot of people, even Christians, don't much like it. All that "wives submit" stuff and all. Gotta do something different, right? Well, in fact, we don't get that option if we're going to be true to the Word of God. We need to stick with what He says. My point here, however, is not to repeat the very clear commands of God that wives submit to their husbands and husbands love their wives as themselves. I mean, it's abundantly clear, even if…  ( Click for more )

In his epistle to the Romans Paul writes the wonderful, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) Good stuff. He says, "For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17) Powerful. But it begs the question, doesn't it? "Salvation ... from what? Why do we need salvation?" And Paul answers that in the very next verse. For the wrath of God…  ( Click for more )

If you've been around much at all, you've heard the accusation. "You Christians pick and choose which verses you're going to obey." Pretty common. Why do they say it? Well, at the bottom, of course, it's because they figure if they can cast aspersions on us, they can use that as a reason to ignore God. Fine. But what is the more surface reason? Well, it's largely based on the fact that we don't follow the Jewish laws of dress and food and animal sacrifice but do aim to follow the moral law, not for salvation, but to obey the God we claim to follow. Because of the fact that…  ( Click for more )

Our annual celebration of the Resurrection is upon us. I thought we ought to look at it for a moment. There are some today who question the Resurrection of Christ. Oh, they're okay with a "spiritual resurrection" of sorts. You know, spirituality is quite popular today. I mean, it's a popular theme that when someone dies they're "up there in heaven, looking down on us." Nice. And that was Jesus, too ... right? No, not right. The bodily resurrection of Christ is not negotiable, nor is it minor. The Resurrection assures us that there is a God. Its violation of…  ( Click for more )