Category: Engaging Our Culture

old vs. new covenant

What Is The Difference Between The Old And New Covenants In Our Lives?

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Understanding the differences between the Old and New Covenants helps us to grasp our roles on earth as we follow Jesus. There is a big difference between what God wanted his people to hope for in this life under the Old Covenant and what he wants us to hope for in this life under the New Covenant, which was established by the blood of Jesus on the Cross. As you read through the following list consider how it influences your life. New: forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God through the blood of Christ (vs Old: temporary forgiveness of sins through sacrifices at the temple.) New: God’s people not associated with any specific nation or ethnic group (vs Old: God’s people were part of the nation of Israel and the Jews; the Jews were evicted from Palestine in the early 2nd century.) New: No specific location of God’s abiding presence Continue Reading →

society in turmoil

When Society Is In Turmoil

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COVID-19 has plunged much of the world into turmoil. People are fearing for their lives, for their loved ones and for their financial situation. It feels like the 9/11 disaster happening over a 30-day period. The world is not going to be the same for a while. How does a follower of Jesus walk through this? Perhaps it would be good to begin with prayer. If we haven’t been keeping our focus on God then this is a good time to recommit to that. Let’s turn to God first and talk with him. Let this time lead you to more dependence on, and interaction with, God. And let our prayers be from the heart. In other words, let’s express what we are really feeling, not what we would express if we were already perfectly Christformed. The Psalms are a great guide to honestly pouring out our heart to God so Continue Reading →

social justice

How Should We Pursue Social Justice?

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All believers agree that Jesus calls us to help the needy and to be a positive influence on our society. However, believers disagree over the ways in which Christians should get involved in society. This post reflects on biblical principles related to our call to influence our society. Some believers mostly withdraw from society and believe that this is the Scriptural approach. They do not pursue the transformation of structural injustice in their society. One reason these people take this approach is that directives for organized political involvement are conspicuous by their absence in the New Testament as compared to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament God constantly challenged Jewish political leaders and the wealthy to form a just society, including laws to relieve human suffering. But there are no clear instructions to Christians in the New Testament to gain political influence and reform unjust systems. Of course, this Continue Reading →

Social justice

Pursuing Social Justice In Christ – Part 2:How Much Can We Transform Society?

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Last week we saw that pursuing social justice is our responsibility because it is part of the kingdom of God that Jesus brought. Will we be able to complete the fulfillment of the kingdom of God? No. We must wait for Jesus to return and execute a final defeat of evil. There is no passage in the New Testament directing believers to fully establish the kingdom of God in this age. Rather, people are invited into the partial kingdom that Jesus has already established. Jesus and his apostles speak of believers finding the kingdom, entering the kingdom and spreading the message of the kingdom so that others may enter. Jesus brought the kingdom so it is here now and people can choose whether to enter or not. But we can not complete it. Yet this lack of full establishment does not discourage us because he is using us to spread Continue Reading →

Social justice

Pursuing Social Justice In Christ – Part 1

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Anyone who longs to see justice and harmony in society should be ecstatic about Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God. Jesus’ goal is a perfectly just society. When we seek social justice in Christ we know that we will bear fruit, whether or not we change an entire society. When we give our lives to provide a better living for humanity our “success” does not depend on outcome. Whatever the results, our efforts to produce change display the light of the kingdom of God for anyone around us to see. The pressure to make sure we achieve our desired results is off of us. God does his part and we do our part and we trust God for the outcome. Ultimately, God will establish complete social justice. As we pursue social justice, what we seek and how we seek it shows others the goodness of God and gives them Continue Reading →