Religious

Archive for Religious

Jesus and Old Testament Prophesies

What outsiders may not realize is that the Old Testament really does contain passages that remarkably foreshadow Jesus’ ministry. As Jesus Himself says in Luke 24: 44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were […]

Free Will vs. Determinism

A lot of people really don’t like the idea (which is certainly in Calvinism but is present in varying degrees in all forms of Christianity) that you have free will and yet God is in control (or “sovereign”). Another way of seeing the tension is that God knew whether you were going to be saved […]

A Tip From Jesus’ Brother

I liked this verse so much I put it on a weekly repeat on my calendar. James 4:7: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Hello, My Name’s Bob and I’m a Hypocrite

[EDIT: I’m trying to confine my thoughts to the narrow question of Christians taking stands on what they believe are matters of conscience, even though they are sinners according to their own value system. I am deliberately setting aside the question of what state officials should do in regards to marriage licenses. My own view […]

Jeremiah Asks: Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?

Jeremiah asks an age-old question (I will omit block quotes to keep the formatting appealing): Jeremiah’s Question 12 Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? 2 You have planted […]

I Will Fear No Evil

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4 I’ve been reading a lot of Scott Alexander’s blog lately. It’s really refreshing, because instead of doing quick bursts of wit/snark/expertise (like […]

John 3:16

I’m sure many of you recognize this as being held up at sports events etc., but don’t know what it is. Here you go (in context): Jesus Teaches Nicodemus 3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night […]

Who Killed Jesus?

I was talking with my son about this (we had just read about Pontius Pilate infamously “washing his hands” of the affair) and thought it might be interesting to pass along… ==> At the most direct level, the Roman soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross (plus the one who speared Him) killed Jesus. ==> […]