Tension between justice and mercy regarding forgiveness

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  -Luke 15:21-22, NIV Lately, I have … Continue reading “Tension between justice and mercy regarding forgiveness”

Unhelpful price for Christian “support”

Hate evil and love what is good;     turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies     will have mercy on the remnant of his people. -Amos 5:15, NLT Divorce Minister: Taking Adultery Seriously is an online community where I do not blame the victims of adultery. Too often, I … Continue reading “Unhelpful price for Christian “support””

No seductive lamb in that story!

4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come … Continue reading “No seductive lamb in that story!”

No, God does not expect us to be “friends.”

The righteous choose their friends carefully,     but the way of the wicked leads them astray. -Proverbs 12:26, NIV The beauty of friendship is that we get to CHOOSE who we have as friends! I encourage you to choose friends who behave like friends. And I encourage you to jettison those who refuse to choose between … Continue reading “No, God does not expect us to be “friends.””

Can someone be forgiven without repentance? No.

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” -Matthew 3:1-2, NIV Can someone be forgiven without repentance? I do not think so. If it was otherwise, why did John the Baptist need to preach a message of repentance to prepare the way … Continue reading “Can someone be forgiven without repentance? No.”

Spiritual Abuse and Cheating

  “What Is Spiritual Abuse? Any attempt to exert power and control over someone using religion, faith, or beliefs can be spiritual abuse.” –WebMD   7 “The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 8 But you … Continue reading “Spiritual Abuse and Cheating”