The truth will set you free! This is a much-used phrase. You find it in Martin Luther Kingās speeches, inscribed on the headquarters wall of the CIA, and it was used in one of the most recent Marvel movie franchises. I would suggest that this scripture should not be read as superficially. We often hear it used in the sense that knowledge is power, or we can set somebody loose from their bondage if we can enlighten them of their false notions and correct them. … [Read more...] about The Truth Will Set You Free?
Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding
Surrendering the “Old Man”
God has given humanity a purpose, and He has provided us insight and a roadmap on how to accomplish His purpose for each of us. Simply put, we are to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, in this case, to God the Father and Jesus Christ. You are to āā¦put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 … [Read more...] about Surrendering the “Old Man”
8 Hindrances of Unity
Why unity? The idea of unity is a very important concept. Paul especially stresses the importance of unity to the Church in Ephesus: āI, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 … [Read more...] about 8 Hindrances of Unity
Christmas: Does It Matter?
In a popular 1965 Broadway musical set in tsarist Russia, the main character insisted that tradition provided balance in the villagersā lives and that, without traditions, their lives would be āas shaky as a fiddler on the roof.ā Traditions are indeed comfortable and somehow reassuring. If we leave the security of the customs we have grown up with, we feel shaken and a bit unstable, as Tevye so eloquently said. Tradition plays a powerful role in the customs that various cultures embrace. … [Read more...] about Christmas: Does It Matter?
Avoiding Simple-Mindedness
I want to begin with a clearer understanding of simple-mindedness with a quote from Signs of Being Simple-Minded: "Understanding what it means to be simple-minded involves recognizing certain characteristics and their implications for how individuals perceive, process information, and interact with the world. While the term āsimple-mindedā can carry different connotations depending on context, it generally refers to a style of thinking characterized by a lack of complexity, or depth in oneās … [Read more...] about Avoiding Simple-Mindedness
Purpose of the Law
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). The word āvisionā 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 how to get there, we are not going to "get there". Knowing where we are going and our purpose, our intent, is extremely important. God gives humanity a purpose, a destination, and He gives us a way to get there. The Bible is a complete … [Read more...] about Purpose of the Law
The Age of Depravity
In observing developments and trends, I am always drawn to the state of the human mind. I am constantly amazed these days at what the human mind is capable of. On the one hand what the mind can achieve in the area of technology is almost beyond belief. But the area of the mind's activity that comes up more often these days is in the area of depravity. A secular definition of depravity is simply defined as āmoral corruption and wickednessā. The Bible also emphasizes the aspect of … [Read more...] about The Age of Depravity