Monday: Read Acts 24 In Acts 24, Paul has the first of several trials before a Roman governor. We must bear in mind that the governor’s job was to maintain peace in the region. The fact that Paul spent 2 years in prison in Caesarea (AD 57-59) was a direct result of the fact that those in power were seeking either a bribe from Paul (26) or to make the Jewish leaders happy (27). Paul is convinced that he is... Read more
So, you want to know what an evangelical is. Of course, when most people think of “evangelicals” they likely have in mind those of a particular (usually far-right) political agenda. But this is not necessarily so. Essential to understanding “what is an evangelical?” and “what is evangelicalism?” is the fact that evangelicalism is neither a religion nor a denomination, but a faith movement. Because it is a movement, it is not restricted to a “theological” construct. As a result, evangelicals... Read more
Monday: Read Acts 19 Paul’s 3rd missionary journey (53-57) takes him to Ephesus which was a leading city in the Roman world. At the time, it was a port city on the West coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Paul had set his sights on Ephesus from the beginning of his ministry. Paul, in fact, remained in Ephesus longer than he did in any other city (2+ years). While in Ephesus, significant problems arose in the church in Corinth that... Read more
I know that pro-life evangelicals are rejoicing today. Well, I am grieved. and here is why. The Church has historically led the way on women’s rights One of the ironies that gets lost in the modern debates regarding abortion is that Christianity has historically been a movement that has flourished among women and the poor. Jesus was certainly on the side of the oppressed and the marginalized. In addition, historically Christianity has led the way in arguing for women’s liberty... Read more
Monday: Read Acts 14 Paul and Barnabas reach the interior of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Here we really get a good understanding of the tension that they faced. As we noted earlier, Paul and Barnabas enter the synagogues and preach to the Jews first. Then they would begin to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom to the Gentiles. When they preached in Iconium, many Jews and Greeks believed. This may sound like good news, and it is, but it creates... Read more
In the summer of 2011, I traveled alone through the West Bank. It was arranged ahead of time for me to stay in a local home and to visit with numerous pastors and leaders throughout the Bethlehem area. What I experienced forever changed me. My thought was that l really needed to go and talk to the people myself. I had read enough books. I have been to enough conferences. I had even been to the land several times—though it... Read more
Monday: Read Acts 9:1-43; Galatians 1:13-17 Acts 9 begins with an account of Saul/Paul’s[2] transformation. While heading to Damascus with letters of extradition requesting that those Christians who fled Judea be brought back to Jerusalem for trial, the Lord appears to Saul/Paul. He is asked, “why are you persecuting Me?” (4). This must have been incredibly confusing for Saul/Paul. After all, Saul/Paul was convinced that he was doing the Lord’s work. (again, we must remember that Pharisees, such as Saul/Paul,... Read more
When I first became aware of what was transpiring in Israel and Palestine, and in particular the injustices that were a part of daily life for Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, I began to suspect that the evangelical convictions with which I was raised played a huge role in perpetuating this conflict. As I have come to learn, this is true far more than I wish to admit. Shortly after I began learning about the injustices that the... Read more
Monday: Read Acts 4:1-31 Acts 4 opens by noting that while the disciples were still speaking (1), some of the leaders of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish supreme court) came to them (NB: It just so happened that all of those listed by Luke in 4:1 were Sadducees). Now, as far as we can tell, the Sadducees, who were largely members of the aristocracy, did not believe in the resurrection or in life after death. This is why, as we will... Read more
My wife and I have worked for the past 14 years trying to be a voice to the evangelical church with regard to the conflict in Israel-Palestine. Knowing how explosive an issue this is for evangelicals; we adopted a strategy that might be labeled as “slow and steady.” Don’t give them too much. Start with what they can handle. Give them time to process. We tried this strategy. And I must say that I think it has largely been ineffective.... Read more
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