Administering justice is a major theme of the Bible. King David administered justice to all his people (2 Samuel 8:15). Indeed, God expects His people to administer justice: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" (1 Corinthians 6.2-3). So that is the question: Do you and I practice justice … [Read more...] about Godly Justice
Commandments
Social Justice vs Biblical Justice
In recent years we hear of a growing concern about "social justice." What is meant by that phrase, however, varies widely among those who use and promote it. Dr. Voddie Baucham began as a Baptist pastor in Texas and is now serving as Dean of the School of the Divinity at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. This diversity allows him to address the topic of social justice from “within” and from “without.” What is too often missing - even in the calls for "social justice" coming … [Read more...] about Social Justice vs Biblical Justice
The Liberal Mind
From the Romans to the Biden era, the word “liberal” has taken on many meanings. It is one of those “it all depends” words. Yet, it has not always had a negative connotation as it does today in political/social circles. The cradle of its development, which impacts us today, was in 18th and 19th century Europe. It was a response to absolute monarchical rule. Liberal was the idea of individual freedom and liberty, through limiting the powers of government. Government was expected to protect … [Read more...] about The Liberal Mind
Purpose Of Law: The Image of God
Today, I want to think about law and its purpose. But first, Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." The word “vision” in this scripture is used in a prophetic sense, a revealed understanding of a future reality. It says that if we lack a purpose and a clear direction of where we are going, and what we are trying to get to, we are not going to get there. Knowing where we are going and our purpose, our intent, is important. God gives us purpose, He gives a destination, … [Read more...] about Purpose Of Law: The Image of God
Sabbath Sanctity
Most of the 10 commandments are reasonably accepted as part of a civil society and the concepts have been built into the rule of law of Western society. But the Sabbath is a law that gets in the way. The prophet Amos brings that attitude to our attention. “Saying: when will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat?” (Amos 8:5). The Sabbath got in the way of their all-important personal activities. The seventh day needs to be important to God’s … [Read more...] about Sabbath Sanctity
Conversion Is a Process
Can reading just one scripture save your neck? It sounds outlandish, but King Henry II of England, crowned in 1154, issued a decree that ultimately allowed certain English prisoners to do just that. King Henry issued a law that stated, “A person subject to the death penalty could appeal for the benefit of clergy.” A minister or cleric assigned to the prison would then be called in to stipulate a passage of the Bible that the prisoner would have to read aloud. The accepted passage came to be … [Read more...] about Conversion Is a Process
God’s Law Has Consequences
How are you processing the unfolding events – both worldwide and locally? By processing, I mean taking the individual components and analyzing them to reach a wise conclusion. It is important that God’s people use the “sound mind” He has given us to assess the developments around us which impact us by degrees. We would do well to keep in mind that God’s law has consequences. Those consequences can be good or bad depending on whether the law is applied or rejected. Sin is the cause of our … [Read more...] about God’s Law Has Consequences