Tolerance once meant a free and open discussion in search for the truth. Modern science is based on searching for the truth. Tolerance used to be a respectful discourse open to “all points of view”. In Western culture today it has become the god of liberal elitists and ultimately it leads to chaos and loss […]
We all have desires. Our God-given instincts include food and shelter. As parents we desire to help our children succeed in life. We desire loving spouses, a good job, compassionate employers, effective employees, quality healthcare, reliable transportation, and healthy recreation. So when do our desires become covetousness? Coveting—an intense desire for something that belongs to […]
The Ninth Commandment, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16), is a clear two-part moral directive. One, God wants people to tell the truth. Two, God wants people to NOT harm their neighbors. So the question about lying should be pretty easy, but it isn’t. First, we must remember that the […]
In the name of social justice, some modern scholars say that stealing is okay if it is addressing a social inequity. After all, they contend, people who have gotten “ahead” in this world did so by taking advantage of others. But that is not what God says. Four thousand years ago, God carved in stone […]
At a time when failed marriages, broken homes, spousal abuse, and neglect affect way too many households, the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” presents a real challenge for millions of children. That wasn’t as big an issue when I was growing up, as all of my friends and neighbors lived in two-parent […]
More than 3000 years ago, God gave Moses a collection of commandments to help guide the family of Israel as they moved from captivity in Egypt to the promised land comprising present-day Israel and adjacent lands. After commanding the people to serve the one, true God and forsake all idols, God commanded that they should […]
When I was a kid, I thought that if I didn’t curse, I wouldn’t be breaking the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” As I have studied scripture and gotten to know God better, I realize that keeping this command is impossible. Yes, we should always […]
In the years immediately following the death and resurrection of Jesus, believers began engaging in a time of focus on their sin and God’s forgiveness of that sin in advance of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Over time, the church standardized 40 days (not counting Sundays) as a period of reflection and called it Fortieth […]
While Western society may have moved away from creating physical idols like those worshiped by millions around the world today, the essence of the second commandment—directing worship and devotion to God alone—remains significant. When Moses led the Israelite nation out of captivity from Egypt, he had an encounter with God during which he was directed […]
The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me,” is a profound declaration of monotheism and a call to exclusive worship. It sets the tone for devotion to one God—the creator of the universe and everything in it including men and women. This commandment calls for a life centered around the worship […]
Answers to Life’s Greatest Questions is provided by Living Dialog Ministries. Visit our website at LivingDialog.org where you’ll see the wide range of books and booklets to help you go deeper in the study of God’s Word.
