“Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” (Matthew 5:22 // The Message Bible) You’re nothing to me! You are worthless and beneath my consideration! This is …
Trump, the Bible Salesman
Have you seen the video of Donald Trump that racked up millions of views and depicts him as the vessel of God sent to save the nation? It begins with a Paul Harvey sound-alike bellowing out: "On June 14, 1946, God looked down on his planned paradise and said: 'I need a caretaker.' So God …
Love My Enemies. Any Way I Can Get Out of That?
If I could I’d invent a loophole to get me off the hook of loving my enemies, believe me I would––maybe something along the lines of pleading insanity. I’ve made a few failed attempts at the “unrealistic-for-postmodern-times” excuse for not following him in enemy-love. If nothing else, I could hide behind the popular alibi that …
Continue reading "Love My Enemies. Any Way I Can Get Out of That?"
Single-minded Seers
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” (Matthew 5:8 // The Message) Pure-hearted and clear-seeing are symbiotic. The pure in heart see God, and those who see God purify their hearts. They see him because their vision is not impaired by …