What can we do about the culture of hate?
The first thing we need to do is be sure we do not join it. Jesus talked about removing the plank from our eye before trying to remove the speck in someone else’s eye. The deeper understanding of this proverb is that the plank and the speck are made from the same substance. In modern […]
Why doesn’t God help all people who are suffering or in need?
There are people who are helping to alleviate suffering and to supply what is truly needed by others. We need to understand that the usual way to receive help is through other people. This does not take away from the divine nature of the help. We are called to be Christ’s hands and feet. We […]
How do I know if I have eternal life?
This is an age-old question that has been answered in many ways depending on one’s wants and fears. It seems the driving concern is actually more about punishment in the after-life as much as it is about a blissful eternity. Will the guilty be punished? Will there be an end to misery? Will there be […]
Is it okay that I want my family to enjoy Christmas without giving gifts?
Assuming you mean gifts as items or experiences we pay to obtain, usually wrapping it up in pretty paper to present at a family celebration, then I would say yes. It is certainly okay to want your family to enjoy Christmas without giving gifts. However, I do not think a family can actually enjoy Christmas […]
What does the Bible have to say about tattoos?
When I saw this question I was dismayed. It meant that somewhere there was a preacher or “Bible-believer” that was making tattoos a sin. People are suffering because of human arrogance, greed, rage and apathy. People are suffering because of violence, natural disasters, diseases and unjust institutions. Yet someone chooses to heap guilt and shame […]
Do we control our future or do we follow God’s plan?
Neither. I realize that is not a helpful answer when we are trying to make decisions. However, many factors beyond our control have an effect on our future. We cannot follow a plan when we do not know what the plan is. So, is there any help from our spiritual understandings when we need to […]