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In Bible Study, Blog, Ephesians on
September 14, 2020

Our Real Enemy

Our country is very divided right now, perhaps the most divided it’s been since the Civil War era. We’re constantly arguing and bickering with those we disagree with, and it seems like there is nothing we can all agree on. I feel like this is the most evident on Twitter. Twitter can often seem like a cesspool full of angry, bitter people who think that what they believe is right and anyone who disagrees with is them is a terrible, horrible, awful person. Now, this surely doesn’t describe everyone on Twitter. I’m on Twitter, and I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as angry and bitter ;). But there have been many, many times in recent months that I see a tweet that I think is completely wrong, and it takes a lot of self-control and restraint not to reply, or at least not reply in a way that is not Christ-like.

These days we can often see the people we disagree with on Twitter, on Facebook, or even in real life as our enemies. They believe in things that are completely antithetical to our beliefs and convictions, so we distance ourselves from these perceived enemies as much as possible. Scripture argues, though, that these people are not our enemies, but that we do have a very real enemy who is at work in this world.

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In Blog, Salvation, Theology on
September 7, 2020

The Great Debate

During the Protestant Reformation, there were five phrases that were popularized and used to describe the key teachings of protestants, and they all began with the word sola, which is Latin for “only” – solo Christo (Christ alone), sola scriptura (scripture alone), soli Deo gloria (to the glory of God alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and sola fide (faith alone).[1]

These phrases may already seem familiar to you, especially if you have read some of Paul’s letters. Nearly everyone who has been in church for a significant amount of time knows Ephesians 2:8-9 by heart –

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV

But if you turn a few more pages in your Bible to the book of James, you’ll find a very different message-

“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” James 2:24

So, which is it? Are we saved by grace through faith, or are we saved by our works?

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In Blog, Book Reviews, Womanhood on
August 31, 2020

(A)Typical Woman

I am very thankful for the first-wave feminists. I’m thankful for women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott who fought hard for women’s rights in America, especially the right to vote.[1]Without their efforts, who knows what living in America as a woman would be like.

Sadly, the feminism movement has morphed into something that is completely different and ungodly. If you were to attend a feminist march or rally today, you are likely to hear women celebrating abortion, worshipping themselves, trashing men, and affirming both lesbianism and transgenderism. And these ideas are not just at the rallies. They’ve become present on social media, in the news, and even in the books of some “Christian” teachers. With all these ungodly and unbiblical ideals being thrown at us all the time, how are we to know what it really means to be woman?

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In Attributes of God, Blog, Theology on
August 24, 2020

He is Holy

“Holy Priceless Collection of Etruscan Snoods, Batman!” 

This is just one of the hundreds of odd “holy” exclamations made by Robin (Burt Ward) on the 1960s Batman TV series.[1] Though we may not exclaim phrases quite so random as this one, people in our culture do exclaim other “holy” phrases when they are surprised, astonished, or in disbelief such as Holy CowHoly MoleyHoly GuacamoleHoly MackerelHoly Smokes, and other less savory exclamations. The word “holy” is also used in an exclamation in the Bible-

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In Bible Study, Blog, Job on
August 17, 2020

My Redeemer Lives

Many would say that the past five months have been the worst five months of their lives. They’ve been furloughed or fired from their jobs. They’ve been trying to scrape enough money together to pay their bills and put food on the table. They’ve had to figure out how to work full time at home while also homeschooling and taking care of their kids. Their businesses have been destroyed or gone bankrupt. Their cities have burned. They’ve been unable to go to churches, weddings, and funerals. They’ve been unable to get medical treatments or procedures done. They’ve been struggling with severe anxiety and depression. They’ve lost loved ones to suicide or disease, and they weren’t even able to say goodbye to them. Throughout this pandemic and time of division, things have seemed to get worse and worse and worse.

If any of this rings true in your life, you could probably relate to Job.

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