President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan certainly has gotten people talking, especially on social media. Among this chatter many are using the Bible both to defend and to decry this policy, but I do not think this is the right approach. Let me begin by saying I am in favor of some form of student... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Enduring the Irritation
Scripture 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 CEB Brothers and sisters, I want you to be sure of the fact that our ancestors were all under the cloud and they all went through the sea. 2 All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 All ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same... Continue Reading →
Baptizing Political Beliefs
I saw recently Russell Moore wrote two pieces for Christianity Today on the relationship between evangelicalism and conservative politics, both are must reads (here & here). In these articles Moore provides evidence that the current wave of conservative faith-based is not in fact rooted in churches, but in those who have given up the much... Continue Reading →
Rejecting Scripture for the Spirit?
Twice in the last few weeks I have seen posts that pitted Scripture against the Holy Spirit. In both cases the statement was worded in such a way as to say that the individual was going to trust the moving of the Spirit over (and in one contrary to Scripture). These were posts I did... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Jesus’ Love or Cupid’s
1 Corinthians 10:23-33 “All things are permitted,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage but that of the other. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, for “the earth and... Continue Reading →
In the Beginning…
1:1 As God began to order the cosmos, 2 Earth was shrouded in confusion and chaos. Darkness obscured the surface of the abyss, yet God's Spirit soared above the waters. 3 God spoke "Light be" and light was! 4 God saw that the light was beneficial, God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Love does not Dishonor
1 Corinthians 7:32-38 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord, but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: on Being Puffed Up
1 Corinthians 4:6-9 I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us what “Not beyond what is written” means, so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What... Continue Reading →
Focusing on the World
One thing I have been concerned about recently is the number of people who are talking about being unlike the world. I understand that scripture tells us to be separate from the world and to live lives that are different from those around us. There is a frequent refrain within the New Testament of being... Continue Reading →
Text for the Week: Love Does Not Burn with Envy
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 And so, brothers and sisters,a I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the... Continue Reading →
Squinting in the Light 