Before Alexander

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 NASB Sound words – Systematic theology, so essential for doctrine, was simply impossible before Alexander the Great. Why? Because systematic theology requires a special kind of theological dualism, that is, the separation of mind from…

Angels and Demons

When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. Acts 25:18-19 NASB Religion – Did you see the Tom…

In the Name of

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, Ephesians 4:5 NASB One faith – “‘Religion’ comes from the Latin ligare, meaning to join or bind. Religion binds people within a group – Christian to Christian, Muslim to Muslin, Jew to Jew. More specifically, since some of the most bitter conflicts take place within a faith, it bonds…

A World Apart

You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3 ESV Before – “But it is only in the modern societies of the West that nonreligious man has developed fully. Modern nonreligious man assumes a new existential situation; he regards himself solely as the subject and agent of history, and he refuses all appeal to…

Starvation Dieting

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Deuteronomy 8:10 NASB Satisfied – What do you do when you’re hungry? You eat, and the hunger goes away. Hunger is the natural physical symptom accompanying the bodily need for nourishment. Hunger…

Fifty Years Too Late – Again

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Proverbs 19:20 NASB Be wise – I have recently been reading the early speeches of Abraham Heschel. Fifty years ago his prophetic insight into our culture sounded the warning. Fifty years later it seems as though we didn’t listen…

Fifty Years Too Late

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.  Proverbs 19:20  NASB Be wise – I have recently been reading the early speeches of Abraham Heschel.  Fifty years ago his prophetic insight into our culture sounded the warning.  Fifty years later it seems as though we didn’t listen…

Etymologically Impossible

This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.  James 1:27  NASB Religion – John Gager points out that the word “religion” did not exist before the Christian era.  The idea is worth investigation. …

True Religion (2)

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 ESV Rodney Baker has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Religious  – Now James provides the solution to the riddle. What is it to truly fear God?…