-
WEALTH AND POVERTY
We typically think of wealth and poverty strictly in terms of money. But James Clear outlines 4 types of wealth: And then gives this warning: “Be wary of jobs that lure you in with 1 and 2, but rob you of 3 and 4.” I would add “Relational Wealth” (friendship) to his list. And if there are these 5 types of wealth, then there are also 5 types of poverty. And although most Americans do not suffer true financial poverty, to one extent or another, we do suffer relational poverty, time poverty, and physical poverty. And the funny thing is, we’re…
-
FIRST FAMILY
As Genesis 3 ends, the final image is of cherubim with flaming swords guarding the entry back into Eden so that Adam and Eve cannot get back to the Tree of Life. Isn’t it interesting that the very first human action recorded as happening outside Eden is Adam and Eve having sex? And it’s not shameful or negative in any way. In fact, it’s an act in obedience to God’s will. They are following through with their original commission from God to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Gen 1:28). The act is successful toward that end – Eve is…
-
THE CALVINIST DICTIONARY
One of the things that fascinates me about Calvinism is how its adherents and preachers seem to possess their own dictionary. Several terms found in the Bible get new definitions. “Sovereignty” doesn’t mean that God is in ultimate control (like a king). Rather, it means that he ordains every single thing that happens. The “Elect” are not those chosen by God to serve Him in some way; they are chosen strictly for salvation. “Predestination” also only relates to salvation. “All” doesn’t mean “without exception”; it only means “all kinds”. And if Calvinists affirm “free will”, it is definitely not what most…
-
CAIN AND ABEL
Coming fast on the heels of the creation account, the serpent’s temptation, and Adam and Eve’s forced exit from the Garden of Eden, Genesis 4 introduces some notable firsts: Another notable aspect of the story is what is NOT there. New Testament authors fill in a couple of the gaps: Interestingly, Jesus implies that Abel was a prophet in some sense, although that word does not appear in Genesis 4. In rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus said, Luke 11:47 Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. 48 So you are witnesses…
-
WORD OF THE DAY
A few weeks ago I signed up for a “Word of the Day” email newsletter. It’s occasionally enlightening but mostly useless. Most of the featured words are so obscure that if you used them, you would sound either idiotic (like you had just made up a word or used the wrong one) or pretentious (like you’re trying to sound smart by pretending this word is part of your working vocabulary). Here’s a great example from the other day: “Crepitate” means “to make a crackling sound”. These emails always give a few examples of how to use the word properly. For…
-
POLITICAL CARTOONS AND PARTY LOYALTY
One of my more liberal friends posted this on his Instagram account: It all boils down to “It’s right when my side does it”. And when it comes to politics, that sentiment is not the least bit original. Or all that humorous.
-
3 PROBLEMS WITH 1 SOLUTION
During this past Easter I was looking into various theories of the atonement of Christ which theologians have floated over the centuries. And by atonement theory we mean our best guess as to how Christ’s life, death, and resurrection accomplished His goal of opening a path to salvation for humanity. I found that most theologians agree that our best understanding of the atonement lies in a combination of two or more of these theories. Since I have been looking at Genesis 3, it seems to me that the terrible day which resulted in Adam and Eve’s [and Satan’s] expulsion from…
-
THE OLD IS IN THE NEW
When reading in the New Testament, it’s important to keep in mind that its authors were steeped in the Old. Their reference point for all spiritual truth was the Hebrew Bible, the only Scriptures they had. The Apostle Paul’s closing admonitions in his letter to the Romans is a good example. If you read it without recognizing the connections to Genesis 3, you’ll miss important aspects of his point: Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. 18…
-
UNDER FOOT
Today this verse from Romans 16 struck me as really funny: 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The contrast between “God of PEACE” and “CRUSHING Satan under foot” (meaning stomping/destroying/killing) feels wonderfully oxymoronic. It’s like Satan represents everything that is wrong with the world and so the only path to true peace is to obliterate him. Violently. On a side note, it is curious that God will be the actor – He will be doing the crushing – but He will use the feet of believers as His means. We will get to help…
-
ASSEMBLING THE PUZZLE
As I have been restudying the first chapters of Genesis, I feel like I have found a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the gospel. The image that came to mind this morning was assembling a puzzle. First step: Open the box and dump all the pieces. Second step: Flip all the pieces so that you can see the image on each properly. At first glance, each piece is a mix of lines and colors. No individual piece is fully comprehensible by itself – only when it is connected to others. Third step: Find all the edge pieces. They’re easy to…