One key element of modern Christianity is the concept of salvation. It is often at the center of endless theological debates—salvation by works versus salvation by faith, the question of whether one can lose salvation, or the doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved.’ These debates ultimately narrow down to a singular, anxiety-laden question: Are you saved? This approach often feeds off fear—the fear of judgment, the fear of what happens after death, and the fear of being excluded from God’s … [Read more...] about Salvation: Who’s In and Who’s Out
Noah
Agape Love
I would like to consider an approach to the fourth commandment, around the concept of Godly love, stemming from the Greek word “agape." Within religious communities, there are stark differences. Christians often reject the fourth commandment as it is stated in the Bible, whereas observant Jews often adhere to it with Pharisaical strictness. Yet God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing to humanity, a day of rest, a break from all the weekly responsibilities so we would remain connected to … [Read more...] about Agape Love
A Story of New Beginnings
God uses a pattern of "new beginnings" throughout the Bible. These patterns reveal God's persistent love for mankind even when man is rejecting His way of life. In the beginning, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good . . ." (Genesis 1:31 NIV). Gensis 1:27 says this included the creation of the first man and woman. From scripture we understand God’s purpose is to create a family, the God family beginning with Adam and Eve. Every physical thing that God created, … [Read more...] about A Story of New Beginnings