After a recent gathering, the woman whose home we were meeting in (a total stranger) asked if she could pray over Wendy and me. Of course, we said, “Yes.” As she prayed for us, it was clear that she had several specific words of encouragement for both Wendy and myself. One thing she shared was that God looked at me and was very pleased. But honestly, as she prayed these things I sat there in disbelief. I did not accept… Read more
March 8, 2018
Are We Already Living In A Dystopian Society?
March 8, 2018 By Keith Giles
5 Comments
Many American Christians are convinced that the Second Amendment is necessary to prevent the US Government from ever imposing tyranny upon its citizens. Should the day ever come, everyone needs to be well-armed and prepared to overthrow the oppressive government and impose another, more freedom-loving one, they say. Here’s a handy test to let you know when your government might be approaching this threshold: If your Government is spying on your phone calls, email, and text communications, you might be living in a Dystopian Society…. Read more
March 8, 2018
Learning To Love
March 8, 2018 By Keith Giles
0 Comments
I can remember when my oldest son Dylan was in first grade. He came home one day and told us about a boy in his class who was choking him and kicking him at recess. At first, I was enraged. I could only think of how to get that kid kicked out of school, or how to talk to the school principal about protecting my son. I even considered putting my son in a karate class. Instead, my wife and… Read more
March 2, 2018
Contradictory Christianity
March 2, 2018 By Keith Giles
20 Comments
I typically have two types of arguments online with other Christians: One is about whether or not Islam is a peaceful religion and the other is about how Jesus was absolutely not a pacifist Messiah. So, in the same breath I can be in a conversation with Christians who scream at me about how Jesus was not nonviolent and totally wants them to own guns, kill terrorists and open carry, and then turn around and have another conversation with those… Read more
March 1, 2018
Why Is Jesus Violent In Revelation?
March 1, 2018 By Keith Giles
3 Comments
According to the book of Revelation, when Jesus returns He will bring an army and strike down His enemies in a bloody war. Before I get into this one, let’s start off with a few observations: First, this objection seeks to temper the numerous commands of Jesus to love our enemies, turn the other cheek and bless those who curse us by saying, “Look! Jesus gets violent in the end” as if this negates His clear commands to His disciples…. Read more
March 1, 2018
The Christian Bill of Rights
March 1, 2018 By Keith Giles
3 Comments
If you are a Christian you need to know your rights. According to Jesus and the Apostles, as a follower of Jesus, you have the right to: *Give up everything for Christ: “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” – Jesus (Luke 14:33) *Lay down your life for others: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”… Read more
February 26, 2018
6 Times Jesus Contradicted the Old Testament
February 26, 2018 By Keith Giles
168 Comments
A friend recently told me that Jesus would never contradict the Old Testament scriptures. In response to that statement, I’d like to offer this list of specific contradictions that Jesus made against teachings found in the Old Testament: 1) According to Deuteronomy, God commands His people to swear in His name: Old Testament: “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.” – Deuteronomy 6:13 But Jesus says that to swear by anything… Read more
February 24, 2018
PAUL: Apostle of Peace
February 24, 2018 By Keith Giles
1 Comment
When we first meet Paul, he’s described as a zealous Pharisee who is “breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of Christ.” [Acts 9:1] Later on, Paul describes himself as someone who “persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.” [Gal. 1:13] But somehow this formerly violent man who stood by and watched the mob stone Stephen to death, and held their coats while they did so, became an Apostle of Christ who boldly preached “the Gospel… Read more
February 23, 2018
Backward Christian Soldiers
February 23, 2018 By Keith Giles
10 Comments
As many Christians in America today loudly declare that they have been blessed with a “God-given right to bear arms”, here’s what Christians said about weapons, violence, and the military for the first 300 years of Church History – without exception: “The Lord, in disarming Peter, disarmed every soldier.” —Tertullian from “On Idolatry” “Christians could never slay their enemies. For the more that kings, rulers, and peoples have persecuted them everywhere, the more Christians have increased in number and grown… Read more
February 22, 2018
Paul’s Nonviolent Authority
February 22, 2018 By Keith Giles
6 Comments
I recently received an advance copy of a scholarly paper written by my friend Dr. Scott Bartchy which deals with Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 4:21 where he says: “What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” The context of this statement is that Paul’s authority among the Corinthian Christians was being challenged, and Paul certainly felt that his grip on these people was slipping away as… Read more
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