Category: Reflections Articles

Christians, unlike other groups, have only a secondary allegiance to our country.  Also unlike other groups that does not mean that we are in any way unpatriotic, or lacking gratitude for the nation in which we live.  It also does not mean that we condone disobedience to the laws of the land, either civilly or criminally. Continue reading “Our Civil Responsibilities” →

I just finished reading an article on my phone from USA TODAY titled, “Americans are become less religious. None more than this group.” The emphasis of the article was the departure of many from Christianity (especially younger people), and the fact that for the first time in American history, more women are leaving their faith than men.

Two statistics from the survey: Those who nominally identify as Christians in America  are 63%, down from 90% in the early 1990’s.  Second, “Among generation Z, however, the pattern has flipped (regarding men and women leaving their childhood faith): 54% of those who’d left the church are female. Meanwhile, nearly four in 10 Gen Z women identify as religious unaffiliated, compared to a third of Gen Z males. Continue reading “Women Leaving the Church” →

Marriages can look very different. This is because each union is between unique personalities. You have heard that opposites attract. That is true for some. Others are comforted by common proclivities or interests. Some are loud, some are quiet. Some are voluble, some are taciturn. Some may exhibit great passion, where the emotions of others resemble a placid body of water.

These differences have little to do with the success or failure of any marriage. Likewise, it does not determine the effectiveness of parenting.  None of this is “one size fits all,” and those who so claim need to be carefully examined before any advice is accepted and implemented. Continue reading “A Good Marriage” →

In 2 Corinthians 3, the apostle Paul discussed his reputation toward the Corinthians.  They knew him well, having received letters and strong teaching from him in the past. So, he did not need to introduce himself to them in an attempt by reputation to make his letters more influential to their faith. First, he stated in verse one to have no need to “commend” himself to them. They knew his authority and the truthfulness of his words to them. Continue reading “An Epistle of Christ” →

Paul wrote a test in 1 Timothy 2 that is no doubt familiar to many:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ).

The passage establishes several truths.  First, we are to pray for others.  These prayers are divided up into supplications (asking God to fill a need), intercessions (petitions made on behalf of), and giving of thanks (thanking God for the express blessings that come from any particular individual). Continue reading “God’s Pleasure in Our Prayers” →

No one likes to be lied to, or to be cheated out of what they deserve. If this is so regarding worldly matters, how much more so spiritual concerns.

This concerned Paul, and he warned about those who would come in and do this to his brethren. He wrote in Colossians 2, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (8-10). Continue reading “Being Deceived and Cheated” →

In 1 Corinthians 4:13, the apostle Paul referred to the constant criticism of the apostles, and their response.  “Being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

The Greek word translated entreat in the passage is parakaleo?.  It is define as a strong invitation or invocation, and is also translated beseech in various places in scripture.  Literally, “to call near”. It is a word of passion, that can rightly bring the image of begging.  Notice the use of the term in Romans 12:1-2:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Continue reading “The Passion of Gospel Preaching” →

Some religious people believe the Old Testament to still be in effect. If not for all men, then at least for the Jewish people. While we believe the Law to be from God, and an important part of our story of redemption, Paul made it very clear that its authority was only temporary. This truth is taught time and again in scripture, but a very interesting argument on the matter is made by Paul in Galatians 3:15-18:

“Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Galatians 3:15-18).

Continue reading “A Mistaken View of the Old Testament” →

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he expressed the type of Christians that please God, categorized by age and gender.  Consider the following verses:

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things — that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,  not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:1-10).

First, note the phrase “sound doctrine.” The word ‘sound’ means “to be well, to be healthy, figuratively, to be uncorrupt, true in doctrine.” These things are as they should be. They are God’s desires rather than the desires of men.  These are things we disregard at our own peril.  Consider further these thoughts: Continue reading “What Our Church Needs!” →

“Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. ²⁵ Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden” (1 Timothy 5:24-25),

The premise of Paul’s words here is very simple, you can’t hide either your obedience or disobedience from God! “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’”…  “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:5-6,16). Continue reading “Clearly Evident” →

The problem of pride is one with which we all struggle. It ultimately causes all sin. We want what we want, and we decide to do what we want rather than what God wants us to do. It is a struggle for all of us, and so the righteous strive to heed God’s admonition, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). Continue reading “The Problem of Pride” →

I don’t think anyone would admit that he is God’s enemy.  We each want to consider ourselves “friend[s] of God”, like Abraham (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23).  Or one after God’s “own heart”, like David (1 Samuel 13:14). However, it can be safely said that most make themselves enemies of God because they embrace the world rather than righteousness.

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Continue reading “Are You an Enemy of God?” →

When we talk about the home as God would have it  be, there are numerous admonitions given: to the husband/father, to the wife/mother, and to the children. Let’s look at a few passages, and make a few observations about each. Continue reading “The Home as God Would Have It” →

It is commonly known that the 119th Psalm is a discourse on the greatness of God’s will, at that time encompassed by the Law of Moses. It is 176 verses long, and verse after verse reveals how wonderful God’s ways, statutes, commands, instructions, testimonies, precepts, etc., truly are. They are the directions of life that bring God’s blessings.  As such they are to be meditated upon and obeyed in order to please Him. Continue reading “My Soul Melts” →

There is a text in Galatians 6 that begins in verse two by saying, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Later in the same context, verse five, he said, “For each one shall bear his own load.”

Now it is obvious to anyone who accepts the inspiration of scripture that there must be a difference between a burden and a load. The Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself, and if the two are the same, the thought produced is nonsensical. There are two aspects of the writing that serve to give us the true sense of Paul’s teaching. The first is an understanding of the definitions of the two words. The second and most important is the context, both immediate and remote.  Let’s consider. Continue reading “Burdens and Loads” →