Contemptible Communication

“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 …

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 …

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 …