Over the weekend I watched a live concert DVD from a band called “Rage Against the Machine”. Their message and their attitude – as one might expect – is not only rage, but more specifically “outrage” at the injustices of our society and the crimes of our government against the innocent people of this nation, and also against people in other nations. So, they crank up their guitars and they pound on their drums and they shout and scream against... Read more
America has a gun problem. But America doesn’t know it has a gun problem. The research confirms it. Every 60 hours Americans are victims of a mass shooting. We are 10 times more likely to die from gun violence than people in other nations. Other countries have successfully reversed gun violence, but we seem unable to do so. More “unwilling” than unable, to be honest. Our problem is rooted in our DNA. We have a “Right to bear arms”. This... Read more
Honestly, this is a very challenging topic for me. Not only to write about, but more so to walk out in a practical way. Here’s why: Because quite often people will mistake engaging the culture with being political. For example, systemic racism is a pervasive reality in America. For many, this is seen as a political issue and not a moral issue. Therefore, if I write about the evils of racism, or if I point out the injustices suffered by... Read more
There are no worms in the Body of Christ. Our favorite hymns might suggest otherwise, but once we come to Jesus we begin to become new creatures who are partakers of the Divine nature. Everyone who abides in Christ is a brand new creature. We are not “worms” or “wretches” who are in need of God’s constant pity or objects of disgust. Yes, before the cross perhaps we were most pitiful and dead in our sins. Before we knew Jesus... Read more
Our only first-hand account of the Roman assault on the Temple comes from the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius who was a former leader of the Jewish Revolt who had surrendered to the Romans and had won favor from Vespasian. In gratitude, Josephus took on Vespasian’s family name – Flavius – as his own. As an eyewitness to the destruction of Jerusalem, Josephus gives us a startling window into a series of seven signs which God sent to the people of... Read more
“Immediately after the distress of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” – Matt. 24:29 The apocalyptic language that Jesus uses to describe the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem is often misunderstood as being about the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. But if we read the actual context of the conversation we’ll... Read more
Believe it or not, some Christians keep a list of people who can be righteously hated and even put to death, in spite of Jesus’ commands to love our enemies and bless those who hate us. Usually, those who fall into this exceptional category are criminals, terrorists, enemies of the state, homosexuals, and abortionists.Frankly, many Christians have their own private list of who can be/should be put to death. It might be an ex-spouse, a person who abused them in the... Read more
One of the biggest challenges for American Christians who embrace the idea that they live in a “Christian Nation” is how to reconcile the very Un-Christ-like things their Government says and does. Never mind that there is zero trace of anything Jesus ever taught in any of the foundational documents, including the Constitution. Never mind that Jesus already is a King who reigns over His own sovereign nation whose citizens are from every tongue and tribe and nation on Earth.... Read more
Christ warned us that after he went away, many others would come claiming, falsely, to be the Christ. Our task is to clearly recognize those who claim to be of Christ but, in reality, are not. To that end, it’s helpful to remind ourselves who Jesus was and what Jesus said. If we can clearly recognize the original, then we will never accept anything, or anyone, who takes the name of Christ but stands opposed to His character or His... Read more
For thousands of years, every major culture saw blood sacrifice as an acceptable – even essential – means of worship. To appease the gods one must shed blood – human or animal – so that rain would fall, crops would grow and soldiers would be victorious in battle. This was the unquestionable center of all religious activity for cultures all over the world for centuries. Today, however, the practice of blood sacrifice is almost universally regarded by everyone as barbaric,... Read more
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