May 13

  • destroyideas
    destroyideas added a link contribution Romans 13:1-7 in context
    thomerica.com/reformanda/2008/05/r1321-text-in-context.html
    Paul’s letter to the Romans has been seen as, among other things, a systematic theological treatise on salvation by faith alone, a missionary support letter, an apology defending the righteousness/justice of God in his dealings with humanity, an apology to the Jews defending Paul’s gospel of Gentile inclusion, an apology to the Gentiles defending Israel’s continuing role in the story of salvation, and a pastoral letter seeking to reconcile divisions along Jew/Gentile lines within the Roman congr… Read more »

Apr 25

  • destroyideas
    destroyideas added a text contribution Love your enemy
    In Matthew 5 and Luke 6 we see that we are called to love our enemies. In 1 Corinthians 13 we're told what love is. Be patient to your enemy Be kind to your enemy Do not think yourself better than your enemy Do not be rude to your enemy Look out for your enemy's concerns Do not be easily angered by your enemies Hold no grudges against your enemy When your enemy suffers, find no pleasure in it When your enemy is joyous, share in that joy Protect your enemy Trust your enemy Have hope in… Read more »

Apr 16

  • destroyideas
    destroyideas added a text contribution The Absense of God
    There are times in life when we don't feel the presence of God in our lives. Sometimes it's a long while and sometimes a short period. The fact that we still seek God in spite of this is a good sign that his Spirit is actually still with us for we don't seek God when we are not living in the Spirit. Even Mother Theresa wrote about the absence of God. A dedicated servant of God living with the poor and dying of Calcutta. But she is far from the only saint who lived int he darkness… Read more »
  • destroyideas
    destroyideas added a text contribution A quick look through Ecclesiastes 3
    I think the key to the Ecclesiastes 3 passage is "time." If there really is a time for "everything" then there is a time for sin and a time for repentance. A time for rebellion and a time of service. This does not mean that it's right to do all of them, even in its time, does it? It's not giving us the "OK" to do as we will, but only points to time in which it is done. This passage is also in the middle of Solomon's pondering and shouldn't be ta… Read more »
  • destroyideas
    destroyideas added a text contribution Learn to hate: Romans 9:13 compared to Luke 14:26
    When it comes to hate in the Bible, a lot of people have a hard time discerning what it means. They feel surely that God does not hate, even though we have two passages in Scripture that clearly say he does (here in Romans 9:13 and also in Malachi 1:3). We're also troubled by Jesus' words in Luke 14:26 that we are to hate mother, father, sister and brother to be a disciple of Him. So what does it mean to hate? The common explanation comes from the likes of Bible commentators such as… Read more »