Should a Christian be a radical? This is a complex question that requires nuance. At its core, it depends on how we define “radical” and what parts of the Christian faith we emphasize. On the one hand, Jesus and the early Christians were quite radical in many respects. Jesus challenged social norms and confronted religious hypocrisy. He associated with outcasts and sinners when the religious elites avoided them. The early church shared possessions, rejected status, and loved enemies. So in this sense, a radical lifestyle flows from the values of the kingdom of God. However, Jesus was also realistic and…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental health condition characterized by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. People with BPD struggle to regulate their emotions, often experiencing intense and rapidly shifting moods. They may engage in impulsive or risky behaviors like substance abuse, reckless driving, or unsafe sex. Interpersonal relationships are also turbulent, with cycles of intense idealization and devaluation of others. A person with BPD fears abandonment and may make frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined rejection. The causes of BPD are complex. Research suggests that genetics, brain structure and function, and childhood experiences like abuse or neglect…
Carnival is a festive season that occurs before the Christian fasting season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, depending on the date of Easter. Carnival typically involves public celebrations, including parades, parties, masquerade balls, and other festivities. The celebrations often showcase extravagant costumes and masks. The term “Carnival” comes from the Late Latin expression “carne levare”, meaning “to remove meat”. This refers to the Christian tradition of giving up meat and other indulgences during the Lenten season. Since Carnival represents the last opportunity to eat meat and participate in other festivities before Lent begins,…
The concept of a “remnant” is an important biblical theme that emerges throughout Scripture. In general, a remnant refers to a small group of people who remain faithful to God while the majority turns away. God preserves this faithful remnant to carry out His purposes. Understanding the remnant helps us grasp God’s faithfulness, His judgment, and His salvation plan. Old Testament Remnant The Old Testament introduces the remnant concept, often referring to a preserved group of Israelites through whom God continued His plan. For example, even though most Israelites worshiped idols, God set apart 7,000 who had not bowed to…
Cao Dai is a religion that originated in Vietnam in the 1920s. The name Cao Dai literally means “High Tower” or “High Palace” and is the name of the supreme deity in the religion. Cao Dai draws elements from other faiths including Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam. Adherents of Cao Dai believe that these various religions communicate the same divine truth. The origins of Cao Dai can be traced to séances conducted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1919-1920. The séances were attended by civil servant Ngo Van Chieu and French citizen Le Van Trung, and the techniques of spiritism…
If God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, why did He create them? This is a profound question that has been pondered by many throughout history. To properly address it, we must first understand some key points about God, His nature and attributes, and His purposes. God’s Omniscience The Bible teaches that God is omniscient, meaning He possesses perfect knowledge and wisdom (Psalm 139:1-6, Hebrews 4:13). He knows all things past, present, and future. Nothing takes Him by surprise. This includes knowing ahead of time that Adam and Eve would choose to sin in the Garden of Eden. “Great…
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment that categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types based on their preferences in four domains: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving. The MBTI has become immensely popular in workplaces, schools, churches, and among individuals seeking self-understanding. As Christians, how should we think about personality tests like the MBTI? A Brief Overview of the MBTI The MBTI was developed in the 1940s by mother-daughter duo Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs based on the psychological theories of Carl Jung. Jung believed individuals have innate preferences for how they focus their attention, take in…
Finding a good local church that aligns with your values and beliefs as a Christian can feel like a daunting task. With so many options available, it’s important to pray and carefully consider several factors in your search process. Here are some biblical insights on what makes a church commendable, and key aspects to evaluate when looking for a suitable faith community. Sound Biblical Teaching and Theology One of the most vital factors is that the church adheres to biblical truths and sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable…
The Sephardic Jews are the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Spain and Portugal) for centuries before the 1492 expulsion of Jews from Spain. The word “Sephardic” comes from the Hebrew word for Spain, “Sepharad.” Sephardic Jews developed a distinctive liturgy and way of life that reflected the blend of Jewish and Spanish cultures. Today, the term “Sephardic” refers more broadly to Jews who follow the customs and religious practices of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. Some key facts about Sephardic Jews: Before 1492, Sephardic Jewish communities thrived in Spain and Portugal for centuries, tracing their…
The Bible does not explicitly discuss “human rights” as we understand them today, since the concept of universal human rights is a relatively modern idea. However, the Bible does provide principles about how human beings should treat one another, and many of these align with modern ideas about human rights. At the heart of a biblical view of human rights is the idea that all people are created in the image of God and thus have inherent value and dignity. Genesis 1:27 states: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male…