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Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

Like Smoke, They Will Fade Away

On my journey with Christ, there have been quite a few things I have given up, and frankly, there have been times when I miss those things. While we should not be envious of one another, sometimes it is difficult to see a world that can be so unrepentantly carefree. The temptations of the flesh do effect us all equally, after all. However, Psalm 37 addresses these feelings, and in the process it challenges what is considered to be the traditional Christian view of Hell. Is there any reason that we should envy those who will be rewarded with destruction?

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

Sin Is Not My Oracle

What is our conscience? We all understand how to express what a conscience is; it is a sort of inner voice that we use to determine what is good or bad, but what is it really? While that is a question science struggles to answer, one theory is that it is the emotional response created when we think about our future/past actions. This allows us to reflect on the consequences of our previous actions in order to determine whether our future actions are good or bad. But there is another inner voice, one which contests the verdict of our conscience. A voice with only our self interests at heart.

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

Evil Will Slay The Wicked

Evil will slay the wicked. This is such an interesting thought from Psalm 34, it honestly sounds like an oxymoron. Why would evil slay itself? Shouldn't it be focused on stopping the good in the world? Ultimately, this psalm is about God's good and loving nature, but a true definition of evil is required in order to fully praise Him. How can we understand evil? Only by truly understanding what is good. Let’s read through the psalm and explore this concept some more.

Apologetics/Theology

The Joy Of Forgiveness

This psalm opens by setting the stage for why the rest of the psalm is important. We are blessed because the Lord will forgive our sins, and for those that seek forgiveness, there is nothing that will provide more joy. Have you ever asked for forgiveness from someone in your life? If you were truly sorry, do you remember the wave of relief that came once you were forgiven? This is a feeling that cannot be replicated, it is a feeling of relief like no other, and when the Lord grants us forgiveness, this feeling of relief comes with an intensity that cannot be forgotten.

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Pride And (Internet) Prejudice

Why is it that when we see something on the internet and feel like we disagree with it, we immediately tell the person posting the content that they are wrong? Shouldn't we at least assume that we may not fully understand their position? And if we make that assumption, shouldn't we proceed by asking them to elaborate on why they hold that position rather than our own? Perhaps I am naive, but it seems that this one simple step would dramatically change how we view and interact with on another.

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

The Heavens Declare His Glory

Have you ever found yourself staring at an orange sunset, or looking up at the starry night sky and thinking that God simply had to have made this? I know I certainly have. Psalm 19 captures this moment, and transitions to a train of thought that sometimes follows it.

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

His Holy Mountain

Psalm 15 takes on the task of summarizing the righteous, who are allowed to dwell with God, as opposed to the fool, covered in Psalm 14. The general message of the psalm is one of love, which should be of no surprise to those who follow the words of Jesus. Although it should be noted that the Old Testament is often unfairly ridiculed for its violence, while portions like this are easily forgotten by those who do not study fervently. If the path of the righteous can be summarized in love, why is this passage referred to as a wisdom psalm? Perhaps, loving one another is not as easy at it may seem.

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

A Warning On The Doctrine Of Creation

There is no doubt that the doctrine of creation is one of the most disputed aspects of Christianity today, particularly among Christians. This debate drives division among Christian culture, and has even elevated to the point of hostility on occasion, while terms like "heretic" are loosely thrown around in anger. As Christians, can we seriously justify this level of divisiveness over the details of such a doctrine?

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

Folly Of The Fool

Psalm 14 is unique in that it is the first time we are introduced to the biblical definition of the word fool. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." This Psalm goes on to speak about the results of rampant disbelief and laments those that have rejected God. This is the basic impression that one gets from a casual reading of the text, but there is far more laying beneath the surface here.

Apologetics/Philosophy/Theology

Glory Above The Heavens

Humanity lives on a 196 million square foot rock that is hurtling through space at 67,000 miles per hour inside of a galaxy that is 100,000 light years long, among a pool of roughly 200 billion galaxies. Humanity is either the epitome of insignificance, or blessed beyond imagination by a loving Creator. The mere fact that we have been able to not only exist, but flourish, should be an indication of the latter. Psalm 8 really draws our attention to both or insignificance, and our blessings.