From Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:33-37 "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” When Jesus addressed the issue of making oaths in His ..read more

From Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'You SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into ..read more

From Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:21-24 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offer ..read more

From Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men., You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” During recent meditations on Chri ..read more

Genesis 11:4a They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name…” There’s no better place on earth than an airport to get a feel for the culture. Right before Christmas, I traveled via air to the East Coast to see my parents. I did not think it would be possible for humans to become more addicted to their smartphones, but I was mistaken. As I was checking in with security at the airport, the young lady in line ahead of me was transfixed with TikTok, and she was holding up the line behind her. Finally, a TSA ..read more

Matthew 5:10-12 ”Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The following is the final of a four part musing on the Beatitudes. Today, cultural Christianity exhibits a phobia of suffering, especially for the name of Christ. American inclinations of Christianity are paved with prosper ..read more

In this third blog in a series on the Beatitudes, I am reflecting on blessedness connected to mercy, purity, and peacemaking. Our Lord has given us a clear picture of the fruits generated by the Holy Spirit. May we see and comprehend with open hearts. Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Giving mercy to others is not a worldly principle. On the contrary, looking out for one’s own interests above the needs of others is often viewed as a virtue. But Jesus points us to yet another truth that contradicts human notions. We love because God loved us first (1 John 4 ..read more

Matthew 5:3-6 ,Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ,Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. ,Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. In a continued review of Christ’s Beatitudes, I’ll focus on a blessedness that is connected to vocabulary such as poor, mourn, gentle, hunger, and thirst. From a secular standpoint, linking such words is outright foolishness. How can any well-being be connected to deep humility? Even in cultural Christianity ..read more

As Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount, He initiated His discourse with the Beatitudes. These teachings are the antithesis of what the secular world defines as “winning” and superficial happiness. The Beatitudes describe a blessed state that is foreign to society. The Greek word blessed means “happy, blissful, or to be enlarged.” But Christ’s application of the word goes well beyond these meanings. Blessed, as Christ uses, articulates a spiritual wellness that is divinely generated by the Holy Spirit. It is a condition of the faithful, and one that will generate eternal rewards. A blessed ..read more

Deism-a movement or system of thought advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, and in the 18th century denying the interference of the Creator with the laws of the universe. Age of Enlightenment- Primary themes of Enlightenment thought on religion centered on the notions of anti-supernaturalism, deism, and, as it relates to Christianity, biblical criticism. Deism was embraced by many who held Enlightenment beliefs. Unitarianism-Whereas Trinitarianism teaches that God is three in one (triune), Unitarianism teaches that God is simply one (unity). Unitarianism rejects the doctrines of ..read more