Halloween is the antithesis of Christianity. It is rooted in ancient pagan festivals like Samhain that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark season of winter. During this Celtic celebration, gods are believed to become visible and play dangerous tricks on humans stoking fear and unleashing demonic activity. These practices […]
Yes, and No. While Jesus commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19), he taught and demonstrated that it is God, not Christians, who does the converting. Christians are to be Jesus’ ambassadors to the world bringing the Good News of the Gospel that Jesus alone saves. God does all […]
The better question may be: “Can I ever out-give God?” Imagine what your community, our nation, the world, for that matter, might look like if every Christian were to give 10% or more of their income to the work of God…not the average of 3% it gives now. Tithing was instituted in God’s law as […]
As Labor Day approaches, most Americans prepare for a long weekend of rest, barbecues, and back-to-school sales. But beneath the surface of this secular celebration lies a profound question: Should Labor Day be a religious holiday? Could it be more than a civic nod to workers—perhaps a sacred moment to reflect on the divine dignity […]
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5:10 When we think of blessings, we tend to imagine peace, comfort, and abundance. But Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes flips that idea completely upside down. He shows us that true blessing often comes in the midst of […]
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounced a series of blessing statements known as the beatitudes. The seventh of these seems straightforward, but leaves us asking the question, what, exactly, is a peacemaker? A peacemaker is not just someone who […]
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — Matthew 5:8 This beatitude is one of the most profound and mysterious promises Jesus offers. It raises deep theological and existential questions: Is a pure heart even possible? Is purity the only way to see God? And what does it mean to “see” […]
When I read Matthew 5:7, I am perplexed. Jesus declares, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” I thought that the mercy that God showed to me was not dependent upon me being merciful to others. So I had to ask God to unpack this for me. Is this beatitude, nestled within […]
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” — Matthew 5:6 To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to crave—deeply and persistently—a life aligned with God’s will. Jesus uses visceral language here: hunger and thirst are primal, urgent needs. He’s not talking about a casual interest in being good; […]
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5 This beatitude, nestled in the heart of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, has stirred centuries of reflection, debate, and even discomfort. In a world that celebrates dominance, ambition, and assertiveness, the idea that the meek — often misunderstood as weak or passive […]
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