LOVE. It’s a common word—perhaps so common that we have forgotten the depth of its meaning and all that it signifies. Certainly its meaning can vary from one individual to another. Most likely to most people in our society, the word connotes nothing more than a tidal wave of romantic affection that floods the soul, sweeping one off one’s feet. Indeed, the culture abounds with this meaning of love and even reinforces it. Continue reading
What is sanctification? Most of the time the word is used, it refers to growth in Christlikeness, an increase in Christian character throughout the course of a believer’s life. The Bible does not teach only that our lives should bear fruit; it also teaches that our spiritual fruit should increase.
Strangely, though, some object when you admonish them to strive for an increase in Christlike character in their lives. Continue reading
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. (Mark 12:13-17, NIV)
Jesus seemed to seize any opportunity he could to teach a spiritual truth or give an important exhortation. This exchange with the Pharisees and Herodians seems no different. Trying to trap Jesus in his words, undoubtedly they were hoping he would answer their question in a way that would make him appear as a rebel against Roman authority. They were hoping he would say, “NO! Don’t give a single farthing to those ruthless, wicked oppressors,” so they could then report him to the Roman authorities for insurrection. His answer, however, was quite different. It is noteworthy that while Jesus answered their question directly, he added an exhortation to it that is just as true for us as it was for his enemies back then: Give to God what belongs to God.
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In my ongoing study of the Gospel of Mark with a friend, I came across the very interesting—and for some perplexing—account of Jesus’ causing the fruitless fig tree to wither. If we had attempted to interpret the passage on its own apart from the context, we would have been confused and would have misconstrued the text. Continue reading
It cannot be denied that this time of year holds a special place in most people’s hearts. The tinsel, glitter, Christmas trees, gift wrap, exchange of presents, good food, and everything else that our culture has made the indispensable ingredients of the holiday fill our hearts with positive feelings of peace on earth and good will toward men. What is odd, however, is the overemphasis that is placed on these aspects year after year.
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The handshake. The warm greeting. “It’s good to see you.” The single invitation to have lunch.
What do all these have in common? They are all the typical first experiences of a visitor to an American church.
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There are different schools of thought in Christian circles about how evangelism should be conducted. Some of these schools of thought are biblical, whereas others simply leave me scratching my head and wondering what bible inspired them. Continue reading
About the Author
The author of this blog, Jeremy (Jehanne), is a Catholic who strives to think God's thoughts after Him and obey Christ's exhortation to take up the cross daily and follow Him on the way to Golgotha. He likes reading theology, evangelizing, and, of course, writing.
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