New Era of Conscience and Change series It was a time of change and a horrible time for Jews, apostles, and Christians. The first Christians were primarily Jews. Jews thought Christians should convert to Judaism, or some thought they should just die. The Christians didn’t know what to believe about anything so arguments were endless. The Romans grew more and more intolerant and drove them all out. The Apostle John walked through this era of change and brought us the... Read more
For me it’s like being asked, “Are you amber or violet?” Are you amber or violet? “Are you liberal or conservative?” is the question of the day, isn’t it? I was raised in a very conservative area and church. United Methodist, then I became a seeker, New Age, then Fundamentalist, then Baptist, …. Presbyterian, UCC, UMC, Love. I agree and disagree. The area I was raised in would not let those of other races spend the night. White and Christian,... Read more
Doers and hearers “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness,... Read more
None of us are smart enough to challenge God. We don’t even know what God is. Nearly every religion believes in a “Creator God,” the God above all and everything. Yet many people think they are the only ones in God’s Kingdom. While I practice Christianity, I understand it doesn’t exclude other people, and Jesus himself indicated as much. One of my favorite and frequent statements to my wife is, “I know nothing. How could I have been so wrong!”... Read more
It’s okay not to be liked “It ain’t easy being green.” – Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street about being different. “If you are a communicator, no one really likes much of what you say, therefore they don’t like you. So you never worry about it, just tell the truth.” – Dorian S. Cole Jesus: “… you will be hated for my name sake” (Matthew 10:22) There is no law more important than that of our own conscience. If we... Read more
The idea of same sex relationships wasn’t well recognized in the region in Paul’s time. What was recognized was same sex activity. Paul had not yet gained that understanding of relationships, nor did the later church. Some things gain understanding slowly before change occurs. Things that are dehumanizing often taken time for us to recognize. F or the Middle Eastern and Western World it took until the 1800s to understand that slavery wasn’t love, but was dehumanizing. In the 1900s... Read more
Religion is locally and culturally situated. For example, the Law of Moses developed over time and some of it was likely a reaction to Egyptian and Canaanite religion which would have been well known to the Hebrews as they went out of Egypt and through Canaan. Moses used them as a bad example of the way not to live, worship, or adopt their religious practices, such as the bull used as a symbol by both Egyptian and Canaanite religion. Moses... Read more
Be like youth. Build your house on the rock “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will... Read more
Why is there law? “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality [sex] of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.” – 1 Corinthians 5:1 “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even... Read more
Following up on Part 8 on the Sin of Sodom and the power of words. The question was raised: was the lack of a word for men lying with men simply a refusal of the culture to talk about it. “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.” – James 3:8 (NASB) Working with new generations (Gen Z) – Series The power of words. It’s important to look deeply at language... Read more
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