Love Archives - Page 3 of 8

In Attributes of God, Blog, Theology on

June 12, 2022

God the Father

Father’s Day has always been a good day for me. It’s a day when I can intentionally remember, appreciate, and celebrate my own father. My dad has always been there for me, always encouraged me, and always provided for me. All my life, I’ve known that I can trust him and rely on him. But I know for many of you, this has not been the case. Father’s Day has always been a difficult day for you. It’s impossible for you to remember, appreciate, and celebrate a man who abused you, who abandoned you, who ignored you, who disappointed you. He wasn’t there for you, and he didn’t protect you as he should have. He was a man who could not be trusted or relied on.

If you’ve dealt with this kind of experience in your life, it may seem strange to you when God is described as a Father in Scripture (Isaiah 63:16, Jeremiah 3:4, 2 Corinthians 6:18). It may even cause you to question God’s character. Will God abandon me? What if God doesn’t come through? Can God really be trusted? It’s understandable that we may have the feelings, thoughts, and questions when our only reference of a “father” is our sinful, earthly ones. What does the Bible mean when it calls God our Father? It means He does six key things.

Tristany

In 1 Corinthians, Bible Study, Blog on

June 6, 2022

Was “Homosexuality” Added to the Bible?

One of the biggest arguments in the Church today surrounds the topic of homosexuality. Is it a sinful practice that ought to be repented of? Is it an innate identity that ought to be celebrated? Christians on both sides of the aisle passionately fight for what they believe is right, and the debates about this topic can get pretty heated.

As Christians, we should be getting our cues on cultural issues from the Bible, not from some activist or ideologue on Twitter or TikTok. And the Bible seems pretty clear and straightforward on where it stands. However, many “gay-affirming Christians” claim that the Bible does not prohibit homosexuality. In fact, they argue that the word “homosexuality” was actually added into Scripture. Is this true? Was “homosexuality” added to the Bible?

Tristany

2 Comments

In Blog, Salvation, Theology on

May 16, 2022

Just As If I’d Never Sinned

One Sunday when I was in middle school or early high school, my pastor was teaching about the difference between the three parts of the salvation process: justification, sanctification, and glorification. As he was describing justification, he said “When I am justified, it’s just as if I’d never sinned.” This play on words has always stuck with me and reminded me of what being justified means.

But even this helpful phrase may leave you wondering—What exactly is justification? How is justification possible, and how can I know if I’ve been justified? What happens to me when I’m justified? If you’ve ever considered these questions, keep reading because this post is for you!

Tristany

In Blog, Prayer, Theology on

April 17, 2022

Prayer Basics

Without communication, a relationship will never survive. I’ve had many friendships fade away because I just lost contact with them. And the same is true with other kinds of relationships, too. Marriages that lack communication often end in divorce. Miscommunication between bosses and employees tend to result in missed deadlines and uncompleted tasks. Parents who never communicate or cultivate relationships with their children are often estranged from them later in life.

Our relationship with God is no different. While a lack of communion with God won’t end in divorce or loss of relationship, forsaking practices like prayer and Bible reading can hinder one’s fellowship with God, making them feel like God is far away from them. Bible reading is a fairly straightforward discipline, and it’s rather easy to recognize how God speaks to us through His Word. But many Christians struggle with prayer. Who do we pray to? When should we pray? What should we pray for? Even people who have been believers for years are asking these questions, and all of them and more will be answered in this Prayer Basics post!

Tristany

1 Comment

In Bible Study, Blog, John on

April 10, 2022

Washing Feet

Take a moment and think of the person you would consider your worst enemy. The person you hate (or at least strongly dislike) with every fiber of your being. Perhaps this is someone who has betrayed you in the past. Perhaps this is someone who gets on your nerves and pushes all your buttons. Perhaps this is someone who is meanspirited and rude or condescending and arrogant.

You got that person in your head? Good. Now imagine doing something really nice for them. Like REALLY nice. Like shoveling snow from their driveway in the middle of winter. Like buying them a fancy dinner from their favorite restaurant of all time. Like giving them a genuine compliment on their appearance or their work.

Could you do it? Could you actually sacrifice your time, effort, money, and/or pride to do a nice thing for someone who wouldn’t think twice about turning on you and throwing you under the bus? If most of us are being honest with ourselves, we wouldn’t go through with it. We wouldn’t want to waste our time and resources on someone who will never show us any kindness or respect in return.

Thankfully, Jesus is a lot more humble and loving than we naturally are.

Tristany