The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 3: Do not judge each other (Rom. 14:13) One of the hot-button topics of modern cultural discourse is diversity, aka inclusivity, aka identity politics. What you call it probably somewhat depends on what you think of it. My own opinion is that there’s quite a...... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 2C: Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (1Pet. 5:5b) Over the past couple of weeks, I have, perhaps rashly, taken a plunge into the vast sea of the virtue that the New Testament calls tapeinophrosúne, aka humility. After two blog posts, I still feel no...... Read More

The “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament, Part 2b: Phil. 2:3 – In humility esteem one another as surpassing yourselves. Today – Friday March 30 – the great majority of Christians in the world reflect on the events of the first of the three most important days in history, the three days encompassing Jesus’...... Read More

Faith working through love (Gal. 5:6): An introduction to the “alleylon” (one another) passages in the New Testament In his letter to some unnamed group of disciples, James, the brother of Jesus, makes the familiar and formerly controversial statement that “faith without works is dead.” I don’t know that James’ comment is particularly divisive in...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Last Part: What Have We Learned about Being Happy? Someone once said that if we can’t attain to virtue, at least we can admire it. OK, maybe I made that up, which is something that others, especially Joanne (my wife) have accused me of doing. But that doesn’t make the saying...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 10: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God. To this point, every Beatitude that we have considered has opened for us a plethora of questions of lesser or greater complexity. This week’s verse is no different, except that I’m...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 9b: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Once upon a time there was a stunningly lame song, the chorus of which began, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” I am profoundly sorry to any of you who now...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 9a: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. In my years as a hipster, I and my long-haired friends were fond of the saying, “Peace is not the destination, peace is the way.” Never mind that we didn’t really have any idea what that meant;...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 8a: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. As a young boy I generally and genuinely enjoyed going to church and Sunday school. Besides being attracted to the weekly Scripture readings, I was also fascinated by some of the illustrations of theological, anthropological, and soteriological issues...... Read More

Thoughts on the Beatitudes, Part 7b: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Last week we considered the fact that, when God answers the question, “Who are You?” his self-descriptive disclosure is this: The Lord, the Lord; God gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness … From...... Read More