A theocracy is a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. The laws of the land are based on or influenced by a religious scripture. The leaders claim divine guidance and are regarded as divinely appointed representatives of God on earth. In a pure theocracy, the leader is believed to speak for the divine and wields absolute religious and political authority. Many historical governments have been theocratic to some degree, ruling in the name of a particular god or church. The key characteristics of a theocracy include: God or a deity…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Raising children in the Christian faith and providing them with a Christian education is emphasized throughout the Bible as something of great importance for followers of Christ. There are many reasons why giving children a Christian upbringing and education is vital. Biblical Command to Raise Children in the Faith First and foremost, Scripture directly commands parents to raise their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. Passages such as Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 22:6, and Ephesians 6:4 all speak to the responsibility of parents to pass on their faith and teach their children about God. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And…
Consumerism is generally defined as the acquisition of goods and services in excess of one’s needs. In a consumerist society, people often buy things not because they need them, but because owning certain products and brands is seen as desirable. Consumerism is often driven by advertising and marketing campaigns that encourage people to purchase more and newer items, even if their current possessions are still functional. This constant drive to acquire more can lead people into debt, distract them from more important aspects of life, and damage the environment through overproduction and waste. But what does the Bible have to…
What is Christian Freedom? Christian freedom refers to the liberty believers have in Christ through faith in God’s grace. It is freedom from sin, guilt, and condemnation and freedom to serve God and love others. This important biblical doctrine emerged especially during the Protestant Reformation in response to perceived abuses and legalism in the medieval Catholic church. The essence of Christian freedom is that believers are justified and ransomed from sin solely by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works of the law (Romans 3:21-24, Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned. Faith…
In John 17:17, Jesus prays to God the Father saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” This verse comes in the context of Jesus’ high priestly prayer, where He prays for His disciples before going to the cross. By saying “your word is truth”, Jesus is affirming the absolute authority and truthfulness of God’s Word. Let’s explore the meaning and significance of this verse: 1. God’s Word is complete truth When Jesus states “your word is truth”, He is declaring that everything contained in Scripture comes directly from God and is completely true and authoritative. There is…
Jacob, Leah, and Rachel are key figures in the book of Genesis in the Bible. Their story contains many twists and turns, but ultimately reveals God’s faithfulness and sovereignty even in the midst of human failings. Jacob’s Background Jacob was one of two sons born to Isaac and Rebekah, the other being Esau. Even in the womb, Jacob and Esau struggled against each other, foreshadowing their contentious relationship (Genesis 25:22-26). Esau was the firstborn and therefore entitled to a double portion of inheritance and the blessing of the firstborn. However, through deception, Jacob managed to secure both Esau’s birthright and…
The Walk to Emmaus, also known as Emmaus Walk, is a spiritual retreat program intended to strengthen the faith and discipleship of Christians. It aims to renew believers’ understanding of God’s grace and their call to discipleship. The program originated within the Catholic Cursillo movement and is now affiliated with the Upper Room ministry of the United Methodist Church. The name “Walk to Emmaus” comes from the Gospel story in Luke 24, where Jesus appears to two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection. The retreat typically takes place over a three-day weekend at a retreat center…
Joab was an important military commander under King David in the Old Testament. He was the son of David’s sister Zeruiah and helped lead many of David’s battles. Joab served faithfully under David for many years, though he could also be ruthless and disobedient at times. Here is an overview of Joab’s life and role in the Bible: Joab’s Family Background Joab was the son of Zeruiah, who was David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2:16). This made him David’s nephew. Joab had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel, who also became part of David’s inner circle (2 Samuel 2:18). As a relative…
Unfortunately, Marcus Aurelius did not have a significant direct impact on Christian history, as he lived before the establishment of Christianity as a major religion. However, some key points about Marcus Aurelius and his indirect relationship to Christianity include: – Marcus Aurelius was Roman Emperor from 161-180 AD, during the time of the Roman Empire when Christianity was just emerging as a small religious sect. – He was a stoic philosopher and his Stoic beliefs led him to be tolerant of religious diversity in the Empire, although Christianity was still an illegal religion during his reign. – His personal philosophy…
The Greek word diakonia is translated as “ministry” or “service” in English Bibles. It refers to servant ministry done for God and His kingdom. Understanding the meaning and implications of diakonia is important for followers of Christ. The word diakonia appears over 30 times in the New Testament. It comes from the Greek root diako, meaning “to serve” or “to minister.” In ancient Greece, diakonia referred to voluntary service undertaken out of love, not obligation. This included serving guests at a feast or taking care of someone’s daily needs. In the New Testament, diakonia describes various services done for the…