A question was raised during a sermon by Bethel pastor, Eric Johnson, that caused me to squirm a little. It simply hit a little too close to home. The question was, “When you notice sin in another person, does it provoke you to judgment or compassion?” I felt a distinct, …
About 2,000 years ago, a crowd of Jews were asked a question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Matt. 27:22 Incited by their religious leaders they screamed out in answer, “Crucify Him!” These are the scribes and Pharisees. These are the ones who knew the …
The Bible talks of leper colonies, but says nothing about them–what it was like to live in one, how they functioned, etc. Because of the nature of the disease and the way it spreads, it would not be too difficult to assume that families resided there. Because of the nature …
The disease of leprosy was one in which the body ceased to feel pain. It was also a disease that repelled people. There are those who are lepers emotionally. They have shut off their hearts from feeling pain. One of the unintentional consequences of this decision is the distance that …
Not long ago, I read a blog post in which the author was criticizing certain practices within churches because they weren’t found in the Bible. I’ve heard that criticism often and it is a valid concern. We want to be certain that our lives, our worship, our beliefs all line …