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Orthodoxy Drift: How Semantics, Euphemisms, & Coined Phrases Influence the Church–Part III
This week, I'm picking up where we left off in the last post and forging ahead to the word "works" and how the semantics behind this word has caused a wide rift between Catholic and Protestant faith traditions and also seems to be shifting to what it was never meant to define, and, therefore, twisting God's truth. As for myself, the tension between Paul and James had left me feeling very confused at one time, because my whole heart was to please the Lord, but it felt like if I "worked," or served the Lord in any way, I would displease Him, and if I did nothing, that would displease…
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Worthy Is the Lamb
You know, Jesus said some really tough things to people when He walked the dusty roads of Judea. For example:
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Orthodoxy Drift: How Semantics, Euphemisms, & Coined Phrases Influence the Church–Part I
I am going to attempt in a series of posts, relying fully on the Lord's help, to point out that many words used by the inspired authors of the bible and coined phrases in use now have experienced or are experiencing a semantic shift in today's culture, words like grace, works, freedom, and unconditional love. A semantic shift occurs when a word takes on a different connotation and meaning over time. For example, the term "gay," back in the thirteenth century, meant "lighthearted or joyful, but in the fourteenth century also took on the connotation of "bright and showy." The term "the gay '90s" refers to the 1890s period of…
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Are Christians Supposed to Make the World a Better Place?
I've often heard people, well-meaning believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, say things like: "We need to make a difference in our world, in our country, in our community, and in our homes." Or, "Let's get out there and change the world." Should we? Or do we, ever so subtly, even by something seemingly good, get sidetracked from our vocation as Christians? I often have felt a check in my spirit when I hear things like this. Up until maybe 4 or so years ago, statements like this confused and weighted me down. I would ask the Lord, "What do you want me to do? Should I start a charity…
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Are You in God’s Way?
I have often struggled with the fact that the Church of our unchanging God and Savior, Jesus Christ, has become so worldly in its methods and judgement. For example, we meld worldly ideas into our mainstream churches as easily as a new fad, as if trying them on like the latest fashion trend. Remember platform shoes? If you were "in," you wore these silly creations and were accepted, viewed as conforming to the current standard of beauty. But the eyes of the world are fickle. Beauty fades with the latest "new" thing, not because it is actually new, but because we are tired of the old. We need a change.…
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“Can’t Tip Someone Who Doesn’t Love Jesus.” Check, Please!
Neo-Nazis. Antifa. The Right. The Left. The Liberals. The Conservatives. Muslims. Blacks. Gays. I can feel the hate. What is fake news, and what is responsible journalism? Where is truth? Then I read the above note quoted in my title, scribbled on a restaurant bill to a lesbian waitress, and my first thought was: have Christians actually forgot that their goal in life is to help lead others to Jesus, to WANT to see them go to heaven? I've read quite a few comments posted in response to this, and many common-sense opinions offered. I wanted to add my own, but decided to pray about it first. I find that…
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Who is Your Enemy?
While it is always good to ask ourselves the question, "Who is my neighbor?," now is the time to ask ourselves, "Who is my enemy?" With all that is going on in the world today, I can’t help but think this quote is timely. In this country, we are a dynamic group of people with disparate viewpoints. Our weakness can be wanting to fight for those beliefs so strongly for our own particular group, that we forget who the true enemy is.
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Are You Looking for Purpose In Life?
Jesus' call is always a call to die to self...self-love, self-direction, self-fulfillment--self-anything--and live to God.
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Turning Points
The bible often tells us to repent. What does that mean? Let's did a little deeper into this Greek word and the contexts in which it is used to better understand the Lord's heart in this matter.
