Mental illness affects millions of people around the world. For Christians struggling with mental health challenges, the Bible can provide comfort, wisdom, and hope. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about dealing with mental illness: God cares about our suffering The Bible makes it clear that God cares deeply about human suffering, including mental anguish. Psalms 34:18 says “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God promises to be near to those who are suffering emotionally or mentally. He cares about our pain and wants to bring comfort and restoration. Ask…
Author: Tim Collings
The Bible has a lot to say about church discipline. At its core, church discipline is about maintaining purity and unity within the church. It involves correcting and rebuking members who are living in unrepentant sin, with the goals of bringing them to repentance and protecting the church from their influence. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles regarding church discipline: 1. Confronting sin The Bible teaches that sin should not be tolerated or ignored within the church. We are to gently confront and rebuke fellow believers who are caught in sin (Galatians 6:1). The purpose is to…
The Nation of Islam is an African American political and new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930. Its stated goals are to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African Americans. Its official newspaper is The Final Call. The Nation of Islam does not see itself as a traditional religion, but rather an advocacy group seeking self-improvement for African Americans. The organization adopts some Islamic practices and beliefs, though it also has differences from mainstream Islam. The Nation of Islam teaches that Allah appeared in the form of Wallace Fard…
Source criticism is the analysis and evaluation of the sources of information for a particular text or work. When applied to the Bible, source criticism seeks to understand the origins, authorship, date, purpose and reliability of the texts that make up the Bible. Here is an overview of what source criticism entails when examining the biblical texts: Identifying Sources The first step in source criticism of the Bible is identifying the different sources that contributed to the final form of the biblical texts. For example, scholars have identified four main sources that were combined together to create the first five…
The paschal mystery refers to the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is the central belief of Christianity that through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus redeemed humanity from sin and death. The word “paschal” comes from the Greek word “pascha” meaning Passover, linking Jesus’ sacrifice to the Jewish feast of Passover. Let’s explore the key events of the paschal mystery in more detail: The Passion of Christ The passion of Christ refers to His suffering and death on the cross. It begins with His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed before His arrest…
The rock referred to in Matthew 16:18 has been a source of much debate amongst Christians throughout history. In this verse, Jesus says to Peter, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The key question is, what or who does “this rock” refer to? There are several main interpretations: Peter as the rock The traditional Catholic view is that “this rock” refers to Peter himself. According to this perspective, Jesus is saying that He will build His church on Peter, implying…
Christian ministry refers to service and work done in the name of Jesus Christ and on behalf of the Christian church. The term encompasses a wide range of activities carried out by Christians to spread the gospel, provide care and support to people in need, and strengthen the faith and work of the church. At its core, Christian ministry is modeled on the life and work of Jesus Christ. As described in the Bible, Jesus’ entire life on earth was one of service to God and others (Mark 10:45). He proclaimed the gospel, taught people about God’s kingdom, healed the…
The phrase “the voice of one calling in the wilderness” refers to a prophetic voice proclaiming God’s message and preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. It is used in two key passages in the Bible – Isaiah 40:3 and John 1:23. Isaiah 40:3 In Isaiah 40:3, the verse says “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'” This passage speaks of a messenger who calls out in the wilderness to prepare the way for God’s coming, likely referring to the return of the…
The words “Well done, good and faithful servant” are found in Matthew 25:21, where Jesus tells the parable of the talents. In this parable, a master entrusts his servants with different amounts of money (talents) before going on a journey. When he returns, the servants who invested and multiplied the money are rewarded by hearing these words of affirmation. So what does it take for believers to hear “Well done” from Jesus when we reach heaven? Based on the parable and other Bible passages, a few key things emerge: Be faithful with what God has given you The servants in…
Saying grace or giving thanks before a meal is a tradition that goes back to biblical times. Though not an explicit command, Scripture provides insight into the meaning and purpose behind this practice. 1. It is an Expression of Gratitude Fundamentally, saying grace recognizes that all we have comes from God. When Jesus fed the 5,000, he gave thanks before breaking the bread (Matthew 14:19). By thanking God for our food, we acknowledge Him as the ultimate Provider. As James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” Food…