The Pentecostal church is a denomination of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit and the direct experience of the presence of God by the believer. The name comes from the Christian holiday of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ as described in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Pentecostals trace their origins to the Holiness movement of the 19th century, which emphasized “sanctification,” or the second work of grace in a believer’s life to cleanse them from sin. Out of this movement, Christians in Topeka, Kansas,…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The Bible has a lot to say about caring for widows. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical principles regarding the treatment of widows: Defending and protecting widows God calls his people to defend and protect widows from harm and exploitation. The Bible contains commandments against mistreating or oppressing widows (Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 24:17-18, Isaiah 1:17). God promises to punish those who take advantage of widows (Malachi 3:5). Leaders are called to seek justice for widows (Deuteronomy 10:18). Pure religion is defined as looking after widows in their distress (James 1:27). Christians are exhorted to honor widows…
The Christian crusades were a series of religious wars undertaken by European Christians between the 11th and 13th centuries. The aim was to recover control of the Holy Land from Muslim rule. Crusaders saw themselves as fulfilling a religious duty by liberating Jerusalem and other Biblical sites in the Holy Land from Islamic control. There were multiple crusades over a period of nearly 200 years that resulted in mixed outcomes for the Christians. Here is an overview of the major crusades and their Biblical context: Background – Loss of the Holy Land By the 11th century, Muslim armies had conquered…
The Bible does not specifically mention gangs, as we understand them today, but it does speak to many issues relevant to gang involvement and activity. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles and passages that can inform our understanding of gangs from a Christian perspective: 1. The danger of idolatry and false belonging Gangs often provide a sense of identity, belonging, and brotherhood for their members. However, this can become an idolatrous substitute for our identity in Christ and belonging in the family of God (1 Peter 2:9-10). Gang membership often demands utmost loyalty, obscuring our higher loyalty…
Tirzah is mentioned several times in the Old Testament of the Bible. Here is an overview of the key things the Bible reveals about Tirzah: 1. Tirzah was an ancient Canaanite city Tirzah was one of the ancient Canaanite cities that existed in the Promised Land before the Israelites conquered and settled there. It’s exact location is uncertain, but it was likely located in the hill country of Ephraim north of Shechem (modern day Nablus). Tirzah is first mentioned in Joshua 12:24 as one of the cities whose kings were defeated by the Israelites under Joshua. 2. Tirzah was briefly…
Revivalism refers to the belief in experiencing personal spiritual renewal, as well as periods of religious revival in the life of the church. It emphasizes the need for believers to recommit themselves to God and strive for spiritual renewal. Throughout history, there have been various revival movements seeking to revitalize faith and bring individuals, churches, and societies back to a passionate relationship with God. Biblical Basis for Revivalism Though the term “revivalism” emerged in the 18th century during the First Great Awakening, the desire and expectation for renewal is rooted in Scripture. Several passages point to the need for revival:…
Deliverance is a major theme throughout the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about deliverance from the English Standard Version (ESV): Old Testament Verses About Deliverance In the Old Testament, God delivers his people from their enemies and from trouble time and again. Some examples include: – “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14) – God promises to deliver Israel from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. – “For I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 15:20) – God promises to deliver Jeremiah from…
The Christian fish symbol, commonly known as the Jesus fish or ichthys/ichthus, is one of the most recognizable symbols of Christianity. But what exactly does this curious-looking symbol mean and where did it come from? The ichthys or ichthus symbol consists of two intersecting arcs that resemble the outline of a fish. Within the fish shape are the Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthys). These letters form an acrostic meaning “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior”. Each of the letters has a special meaning as follows: Iota (Ι) = Iesous (Jesus) Chi (Χ) = Christos (Christ) Theta (Θ) = Theou (God’s) Upsilon (Υ)…
A cleric is a religious leader or minister in the Christian faith who is ordained to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The term “cleric” refers specifically to clergy members in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. Clerics have a vital role in teaching and leading the Christian church. According to the Bible, all Christians are called to ministry and service. However, some are specifically set apart or ordained as clerics. Their primary responsibilities include preaching, teaching, leading worship services, performing sacraments or ordinances, providing spiritual guidance to church members, and administering the local church or parish. The Catholic Church…
God is described in the Bible as having both communicable and incommunicable attributes. Communicable attributes are those that God shares or “communicates” with us. Incommunicable attributes are those that belong to God alone and make Him distinct from His creation. Some of God’s communicable attributes include: Love – God is loving, and He shares His love with us (1 John 4:8). Mercy – God is merciful, and He shows mercy to us (Ephesians 2:4). Wisdom – God is all-wise, and He gives wisdom to us (Proverbs 2:6). Justice – God is just, and He calls us to be just (Psalm…