TruthXchange

TruthXchange

read, reading, book, reader, education, library, girl, the books, literature, literacy, reader, education, literacy, literacy, literacy, literacy, literacy

More on the Loneliness of Life Without a Correctly Interpreted Bible

God provides “helpers,” “men able to judge” to aid Moses in the task to which he was called. Similarly, to provide an “appropriate helper” for Adam’s present ineffectiveness, God goes to the trouble of creating, not another human friend, but a whole new human female, a compliment to Adam, enabling Adam to do the specific job he was called to do, filling the earth with sons and daughters. Only Eve could allow Adam to fulfill the creation mandate to multiply. That demanded heterosexuality, not same-sex companionship.

Read MoreMore on the Loneliness of Life Without a Correctly Interpreted Bible
read, reading, book, reader, education, library, girl, the books, literature, literacy, reader, education, literacy, literacy, literacy, literacy, literacy

The Dreadful Loneliness of Life Without Scripture

One clear implication from Bell’s interpretation is that there is no place in inspired Scripture for singleness or celibacy, and that Jesus himself doubtless would have done better, speaking of “love,” “commitment” and sacrifice” with a companion to do the work he came to do. Moreover, Jesus was surely wrong in what he taught about the value of singleness (Matthew 19:11-12).

Read MoreThe Dreadful Loneliness of Life Without Scripture

The Cosmology of Killing—Part 3

The womb is thus the creator’s studio for sculpting the future. The Lord of life ordains life – that is the cosmology of the Bible. We worship and serve the creator when we honour God and his will (not ours) and serve his purpose for all creation. It is only when we have considered the womb as the mercy of God that we can begin to appreciate the full evil of abortion. Nothing sets forth that mercy more powerfully than the virgin birth and the reality of the incarnation.

Read MoreThe Cosmology of Killing—Part 3

The Cosmology of Killing

In a time when the ethical standards of Christianity are increasingly rejected, objections to the immorality of this scourge upon our culture are typically seen as mere moralising – the outdated values of social or political conservatives; little more than background noise. As such, Christian morality is often seen as judgmental, self-righteous, or even an expression of hatred. In such a context we need to re-learn to understand our faith and make our case as the early apologists did amongst the pagans – cosmologically, not simply pragmatically. Cosmology simply refers to order or structure. It is the way in which we look at and understand the order of our world. It considers the big picture of reality and the implications which flow from it. The one who ordered all reality, who called it into existence, hallowed the womb by his incarnation, and the implications which flow from this fact are profound indeed.

Read MoreThe Cosmology of Killing

Conversations with Small Creatures

One day on the walk home from school my son's 7-year-old buddy said, "Miss Mary -- WHY do people call animals 'creatures'? I just think that's so rude. I think it's mean to animals to call them creatures." I wasn't quite sure where this thought had come from. Up until that point the boys had been chatting about antics on the playground and a fort they were building in the bushes behind our condo. But he was intense with his delivery and I had a sense that somehow this topic mattered.

Read MoreConversations with Small Creatures

Suffering for Jesus

Uncivil war has been declared on Christians who, in loving humility, have boldly addressed issues of sin in order to announce the cleansing power of the Gospel. As public vitriol heats up, “The Final Solution” for some could well be to treat Christians as insects that must be squashed. Certainly, believers must defend their civic and legal rights and seek the well-being of the public square. But we go forward in the strength of this divine promise, that in suffering for Jesus there is blessing, and beyond the cross there is unimaginable glory. In the meantime, we beg God’s mercy on his church and our culture and seek to love our neighbors and promote their ultimate good.

Read MoreSuffering for Jesus