Self-harm, also known as self-mutilation or cutting, is the act of deliberately and intentionally injuring oneself as a coping mechanism for emotional distress. This can take many forms, including cutting, burning, head banging, interfering with wound healing, hair pulling, and ingesting toxic substances. It is frequently associated with mental illnesses such as borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. Self-harm can also occur alongside substance abuse problems. The Bible does not directly address self-harm, as this behavior was not specifically discussed in ancient times. However, the Bible has much to say about the causes, motivations and…
Author: Matt Primack
A “post-Christian” society refers to a culture that was once predominantly Christian in belief and practice but has now moved away from Christianity and its influence. There are several indicators that can suggest a society has entered a post-Christian phase: – Declining church attendance and religious affiliation. Surveys may show fewer people identifying as Christian or attending religious services regularly. – Christian morality and values play less of a role in public policy and discourse. Issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia which were once controversial from a Christian perspective become widely accepted. – Less knowledge of the Bible and Christian…
Jehovah’s Witnesses have some unique beliefs about the end times and eternal state that differ from mainstream Christian thought. Here is an overview of what Jehovah’s Witnesses teach based on their interpretation of the Bible: The Last Days and Great Tribulation Jehovah’s Witnesses believe we are living in the last days of this current world system. They believe the sign Jesus gave about the “last days” at Matthew 24:3-14 is being fulfilled now. This includes wars, food shortages, earthquakes, lawlessness and the preaching of the good news globally. They view the last days as a period leading up to the…
The Hebrew word “Hashem” literally means “the name” and is used by Jews to refer to God in a respectful way without actually saying the name of God. This practice comes from an interpretation of the third commandment in the Bible: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). Using Hashem instead of saying God’s actual name is seen as a way to avoid misusing or disrespecting the holy name of God. In the Bible, the personal name of God is represented by the four Hebrew letters YHWH, often referred to as the…
Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” This verse comes in the midst of a poetic passage describing the seasons and rhythms of life. The teacher of Ecclesiastes sees life as a series of opposites – joy and sorrow, birth and death, planting and uprooting. Each season has its place in God’s timing. So what does this mean? Let’s explore a few key points: 1. God appoints the seasons of life The phrase “a time to mourn and a time to dance”…
Isaiah 29:13 states: “And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.”” This verse comes in the context of Isaiah pronouncing woes and judgements upon Jerusalem and Judah for their lack of faithfulness to God. The key phrase we want to focus on is “their hearts are far from me.” What does this mean? At its core, this phrase is accusing the people of external religious observance without any genuine love or commitment…
Jesus’ famous statement “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” is found in John 8:7. This verse comes in the midst of an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees who brought to him a woman caught in adultery. They wanted to stone her, as the Mosaic Law commanded (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). Jesus’ statement “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” was a powerful challenge to those accusing the woman of adultery. So what exactly did Jesus mean by this? The Context of John 8:1-11 To properly understand the meaning of Jesus’ statement in…
Self-esteem is a concept that has gained widespread popularity and discussion in recent decades. For the Christian, navigating issues of self-esteem requires wisdom and discernment. What does the Bible teach about self-esteem? How should Christians think about themselves in light of God’s Word? First, it is important to define what we mean by self-esteem. Self-esteem refers to a person’s overall evaluation and opinion of themselves, including feelings of self-worth, self-confidence, and self-respect. High self-esteem means having a largely positive view of oneself. Low self-esteem means having a largely negative view of oneself. When approaching the issue of self-esteem from a…
Luck is often defined as success or failure that seems to happen by chance rather than through one’s own actions. The Bible does not use the word “luck” specifically, but it has a lot to say about the concepts of chance, fortune, and providence. Here is an overview of the biblical perspective on luck and related ideas: God is sovereign over all things The Bible clearly teaches that God is in control over all Creation and human history. Nothing happens outside of His sovereign will (Ephesians 1:11, Daniel 4:35, Romans 11:36). This means that from a biblical worldview, nothing happens…
John Chrysostom, also known as John of Antioch, was an important Early Church Father and bishop who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. He is known for his eloquent preaching and public speaking, which earned him the nickname “Chrysostom” meaning “golden-mouthed” in Greek. Here is an overview of John Chrysostom’s life and legacy according to what the Bible reveals: John’s Early Life John was born around 349 AD in Antioch, which was one of the major cities of the ancient Roman Empire located in modern-day Turkey. His family was wealthy and well-connected, but he shunned all worldly advantages…