I believe it was Martin Luther who said, “go and sin boldly.” The point is not that we are to intentionally sin, but that we cannot allow fear of sin to inhibit us from living life.
No man, Lord – Reflections on John 8
John 8 teaches us that the memory of our own sins should be a sufficient deterrent against judgment of others. If it is not, we better start remembering before we start casting stones.
Thankful for the rumble strips
Rumble strips on the road assist us in arriving at our destination and keep us out of the ditch. Scripture provides warnings that function as spiritual rumble strips. One is found in Galatians 5 and is the subject of this post.
On rationalization of sin
Perhaps the story of Achan in the book of Joshua makes us uncomfortable because we share in this sin. It is only by grace that we do not end up under a heap of stones.
Chesterton on original sin
Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved.
Truth – the antidote to shame
Christians are to be followers of the Truth. Truth dispels shame and as a result, shame should not be a part of any church culture.
The sin of silence and what to do about it
Recently, a friend handed me a CD on which were written the words “The in of silence.” When he gave it to me, he informed me that it was a sermon and that I would be challenged by it. Perhaps he identified the speaker on the CD when he gave it to me. If so, […]
The blessing of mourning – Matthew 5:4
#5 in the Sermon on the Mount Series Jesus said this about mourning: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NIV) In the introduction to his book The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis writes: “When Mr. Ashley Sampson suggested to me the writing of this book, I asked leave […]
An Unholy Alliance: Pharisees and Herodians
An Unholy Alliance We are moving toward a presidential election year in the United States. As a result, the political pundits are ramping up their efforts to develop a market for their predictions. With this backdrop, when I read Mark this morning, Mark 3:6 grabbed my attention. In this verse there is a simple statement […]
The Illusion of Security Apart from Christ
Security is Elusive It is in the best interest of politicians and merchants to maintain the illusion of security. They tell us that if we elect the right person or party into office, if we invest properly, if we follow the prescribed diet, if, if, if . . . then we will experience security. […]