The Offensive Cross
It started out as a business meeting, but it quickly turned personal when the businessman saw the cross around my neck. I was wearing a brass pendant, the “Peace Cross” – the peace sign with a cross on top of it. It’s the logo of
Category Archives: Faith & Witness
Even the Demons Believe!
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.” — James 2:18-20 [NRSV] “Even the demons believe!” That’s the refrain of countless numbers of letters that I receive as editor of this magazine. The critics are responding to
The Effects of Belief: Exile and Holiness
As soon as we believe in Christ, we are no longer the same. In fact, we cannot encounter Christ and continue to remain as we were, for both the entire world looks different to us, and we have an entirely different relationship to it. Therefore,
Is Faith Enough?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 The above two verses of Scripture make it crystal clear that our faith in Christ
Believing Is a State of Mind
What does it mean to believe? “Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” I always took issue with the position that believing in Jesus, accepting him as your personal savior, which I assume means acknowledging that he is who he says
Believing Is Seeing
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. — John 3:16 This is still the best of all the Christian credos ever written. It cuts away customs and
What Does It Mean To Believe?
In the gospel of John there is a shift, as I see it, from how the word belief is understood and used as compared with the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke. These two contrasting uses of the word belief are: 1) Belief in
By Our Love
I have noticed that many people who are Christians seem preoccupied with making sure that everyone knows. You know what I’m talking about: “Christian” music; “Christian” schools, “Christian” bookstores, and the like. The person who, upon first meeting, emphatically states, “I am a Christian” as
Inclusivity and Religion
Inclusivity and religion, in this day and age, are often diametrically opposed ideas. Creeds and belief systems of every sort and type compete for the souls of humankind, and often the competition results in building high fences and excluding those of other creeds. It’s almost
Why Do We Even Bother with Religion?
Religion. Why do we even bother? So much evil has been perpetrated in the name of religion. Humans have an amazing capability of ascribing to God all their worst impulses. In the Middle East, peace is just a dream as Palestinians and Jews alike use