Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
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In a church I served, two flags were prominently displayed in the chancel area. On one side, the Christian flag. On the other, that of the United States. Throughout my years there, this simple display generated interesting conversations. One was started by a gentleman who stated that we should display the American flag more prominently, …
There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:28 Sometimes you can tell how inspired a biblical text is by how people resist believing or following it. Paul’s famous verse from Galatians is pretty and idealistic. And church …
Human beings and animals share the same fate. One dies just like the other—both have the same life-breath. Humans are no better off than animals because everything is pointless. — Ecclesiastes 3:19 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. — …
Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots. — Matthew 13:5-6 When Jesus gave his parable of the sower, he must have just walked past my front …
If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. — 1 Corinthians 13:1 The heart of the famous “love chapter” of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, starts at verse 4, with “Love is patient, love is kind…” and if you’ve …
I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. — Jeremiah 29:11 This is one of the most hope-filled verses in the Bible. It speaks to all who see only dark and feel only fear. It’s …
Whoever comes to you who does not affirm this teaching should not be received nor welcomed into your home, because welcoming people like that is the same thing as sharing in their evil actions. — 2 John 10-11 The first time I read these verses, I was a bit shocked. Aren’t we supposed to be …
“Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.” — Matthew 7:21 Many Christians don’t take Jesus seriously enough. If we did, we wouldn’t live as if he never preached the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew …
We mention you constantly in our prayers. –1 Thessalonians 1:2b Sometimes hearing, “You’re in my thoughts and prayers,” sounds pretty feeble. It conveys that, while you say you care for the other person, you don’t care so much as to get directly involved. You’re thinking nice thoughts while standing on the sidelines. But in a …
Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The absolute worst understanding of the above Scripture is thinking that it says the Bible …