In 1879, Mary Baker Eddy began the Christian Science movement when she established her first congregation in Boston, Massachusetts (The First Church of Christ, Scientist). Eddy taught her followers to deny the reality of matter. Men and women, she believed, reflect the perfection of God and are therefore perfect themselves. The cause of sickness is…
One Saturday I tuned the radio to an ESPN station, hoping to hear some talk about a game to be played later in the day. That morning the host of the live program was irate over an email from a listener offended by the show’s affiliation with a liquor company. “Don’t write us again,” the…
Paul urges his readers to “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). He is following the Lord so closely that the Corinthians would benefit from imitating his good conduct. That is, following Paul would make the church stronger and more mature. Would the Seagoville congregation benefit from following my example?…
On Halloween a small boy tramps the streets dressed as ugly as mom will allow. A hideous zombie mask is particularly appealing. But a little girl wants to dress up like a princess. Deep in her heart is a longing to be beautiful. Grown women want to be beautiful too, and there’s no shame in…
Good education includes testing. Teachers regularly give exams covering the material presented in class. Occasionally, they distribute standardized tests measuring overall academic progress. God has an examination of his own. The final test is to be given on the day of judgment. In anticipation of that great event, we are wise to prepare, to ask…
On the eve of the crucifixion, Jesus eats a meal with his disciples. Fixing a troubled gaze on these 12 close friends, the Lord says, “One of you will betray me” (John 13:21). Filled with anxiety, the disciples begin to ask themselves who could do such a thing. Following Peter’s signaled suggestion, John quietly asks,…
In Christ Jesus we are “a new creation; the old has passed away” (2 Cor. 5:17). We are forgiven fully. The Lord even wants us to be free of the guilty feelings that may haunt us. Why, then, must a Christian give an account of himself on the day of judgment? Paul says that “we…
TV commercials promising easy money are amusing. These advertisements assure gullible viewers that they can earn a comfortable living while sitting on their hands: “To learn more, just call the toll-free number at the bottom of your screen.” Call that number, and you may be duped into buying a “starter’s kit” costing only $495.95. Yes,…
God gave our first parents freedom of choice. In the tropical paradise of Eden, they were permitted to decide for themselves whether to heed the divine warning concerning the forbidden tree. This freedom to choose between right and wrong has come down to all the children of Adam and Eve. Some choices, though, lie beyond…
The Old Testament depicts a seemingly endless enmity between the Israelites and the Philistines. For instance, the book of Judges tells of Shamgar, a man who delivers Israel by killing “six hundred of the Philistines with an oxgoad” (3:31). The far more familiar story of Samson’s struggle with the Philistines is recorded in the same…