The question of why God allows deception is a challenging one that many believers wrestle with. At first glance, it may seem contradictory that a God who is perfectly good and true would permit lies, false teachings, and deception in the world He created. However, when we examine Scripture, we find that God has reasons for allowing deceit for a time, and that He uses even evil schemes to further His plans and purposes. First, the Bible makes it clear that deception originates from Satan, not from God. Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).…
Author: Richard Curi
The Bible tells us that Moses spoke with God “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). Yet later, in Exodus 33, God tells Moses that no one can see His face and live. This seems contradictory at first glance. However, a closer examination of the passages in context reveals that there are different senses in which Moses saw and did not see the face of God. First, let’s look at Exodus 33:11. This verse comes right after Moses pleaded with God not to destroy the Israelites after they worshipped the golden calf. God relented and…
Postmodern therapy is a broad term used to describe therapeutic approaches that reject modernist ideas such as absolute truth and objective reality. Instead, postmodern therapies emphasize subjective experience, social constructionism, and the idea that there are many different ways of understanding ourselves and the world. Some key features of postmodern therapy include: Rejection of universal truths: Postmodern therapists believe that there are no absolute or universal truths that apply to all people. Rather, truth is subjective and constructed through language and social processes. Focus on language: Therapists pay close attention to clients’ use of language, seeing it as shaping and…
A neologism is a relatively recent or isolated term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language. Neologisms are often created by combining existing words or phrases in new ways. They can also be completely new words coined to name new inventions, discoveries, or concepts that didn’t previously have a word to describe them. Here’s a more in-depth look at what neologisms are, where they come from, and how they become part of everyday language. Definitions of Neologism The word “neologism” itself is a…
Paul’s statement in Philippians 1:21 that “to live is Christ” is a profound and compact summary of what it means to be a Christian. Here are 9000 words unpacking the meaning and implications of this significant verse: The background context of Philippians 1:21 helps shed light on its meaning. Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned (Philippians 1:7, 13-14, 17) for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Despite his difficult circumstances, Paul had an eternal perspective and took joy in Christ. He told the Philippian believers that “to live is Christ” to encourage them to have the same eternal focus he…
Asherah was an ancient Near Eastern goddess who was worshipped by some of the Israelites in the Old Testament period. She was a fertility goddess associated with trees and wooden poles. There are differing views among scholars about how prominently Asherah was worshipped by the Israelites and what relationship she may have had with the God of Israel. The name Asherah appears 40 times in the Hebrew Bible. In many passages, it refers specifically to wooden poles or images associated with the worship of the goddess Asherah. For example, Deuteronomy 16:21 instructs the Israelites: “You shall not plant any tree…
Homemaking from a biblical perspective centers around God’s design for marriage, family, and gender roles. The Bible provides guidance on how believing families can live out God’s calling in their homes in a way that honors Him and furthers His kingdom purposes. The Role of the Wife and Mother In Scripture, wives and mothers have a special calling to care for their families by nurturing, teaching, and managing the home (Titus 2:3-5). This includes duties like cooking, cleaning, hospitality, childcare, and more. God created women with natural abilities and talents suited for homemaking (Proverbs 31:10-31). By using her gifts in…
Acts 19:1-7 recounts Paul’s encounter with some disciples in Ephesus who had not received the Holy Spirit. This passage has puzzled many readers over the years, raising questions about how these disciples could be followers of Jesus and yet not have the Holy Spirit. A close examination of the text provides some helpful insights. The first thing to note is that these disciples were not ordinary Christians in Ephesus. Verse 1 says they were “disciples” – learners or followers of Jesus. Yet verse 2 indicates they had not even heard about the Holy Spirit, which suggests they became disciples sometime…
The Bible does contain some passages that could be interpreted as referring to people not being able to recognize the different seasons in the end times. However, it is not explicitly stated that this will happen. Some key verses to consider include: Matthew 24:32-33 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.” In this passage from the Olivet Discourse, Jesus refers to the ability to…
Bogomilism was a medieval Christian sect that arose in the Balkans in the 10th century and spread through Eastern Europe in the High Middle Ages. The name comes from the Bulgarian priest Bogomil, who preached a dualistic theology in the First Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Tsar Peter I (927-969). The Bogomils rejected the institutions and hierarchy of the official Orthodox Church and did not recognize the authority of the state. They saw the physical world as the creation of Satan, and therefore rejected the ecclesiastical hierarchy, sacraments, relics, and icons of mainstream Christianity. Here is an overview of…