Ham was one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Japheth, who were on the ark during the great Flood described in Genesis chapters 6-9. Ham’s story is told in Genesis 9 and 10. After the Flood ended and Noah’s family departed from the ark, Noah planted a vineyard and became drunk from the wine he made (Genesis 9:20-21). While Noah was passed out naked in his tent, Ham saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers about it outside. Shem and Japheth took a garment and walked backwards into the tent to cover their father’s…
Author: Tim Collings
Rastafarianism is a religious movement that began in Jamaica in the 1930s. The movement takes its name from Ras Tafari Makonnen, who was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia in 1930. His followers began to call him Jah (short for Jehovah) and came to see him as the messiah promised in the Bible to deliver his people to a promised land. Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie was the living God and that Ethiopia in Africa is the Promised Land. Rastafarians consider the exile of the black race from Ethiopia as captivity or slavery. They see themselves as the chosen…
The issue of reparations for slavery is a complex and controversial topic in American society today. As Christians seek to apply biblical principles to this issue, there are several key considerations: 1. The Bible affirms justice and making amends for wrongdoing In the Old Testament law, God commanded His people to make restitution when they had wronged someone: “If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep” (Exodus 22:1). The principle is that those who commit injustice should…
Rosicrucianism is a spiritual and philosophical movement that arose in Europe in the early 17th century. It is associated with secret societies, Hermeticism, and esoteric Christian theology. The movement is named after the symbol of the rose and cross, which is often used to represent it. The origins of Rosicrucianism are obscure, but the first manifestos associating the rose and cross with spiritual awakening appeared in the early 1600s in Germany. These anonymously published manifestos purported to be written by learned members of a secret society known as the Order of the Rose Cross, or Rosicrucians. According to the manifestos,…
The Swoon Theory is an alternative explanation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ that proposes he did not actually die on the cross, but merely fainted or swooned, and later recovered from his wounds. This theory suggests the accounts in the Gospels of Jesus resurrecting are inaccurate, and he simply appeared to have risen from the dead after reviving from unconsciousness in the tomb. The Swoon Theory first emerged in the late 18th century from German rationalists who sought naturalistic explanations for biblical miracles. Those who promote the Swoon Theory point to several key aspects of the crucifixion and resurrection…
As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we have an incredibly rich inheritance. The Bible teaches that when we put our trust in Christ, we become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). This means that all of the blessings and promises of God now belong to us through Christ. Here are some of the key aspects of our inheritance in Christ according to Scripture: Eternal Life One of the most fundamental parts of our inheritance is the gift of eternal life. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and…
The Bible clearly teaches that human life is sacred and made in the image of God. As followers of Christ, Christians are called to defend and protect all human life, including the unborn. Here are several biblical reasons why Christians should be pro-life: 1. Life begins at conception The Bible recognizes the unborn child as a human person. Passages like Jeremiah 1:5 state that God knows us even before we are born: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” Psalms 139:13-16 also speaks of how God created our inmost…
The topic of praying for the dead is one that is not directly or explicitly addressed in the Bible. There are varying perspectives among Christians on whether or not believers should pray for those who have died. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical passages and theological considerations related to this issue: Prayers for the Dead in the Old Testament There are a few examples in the Old Testament of prayers being offered up for dead people: In 2 Samuel 1, David composes a lament song for Saul and Jonathan after their deaths. In 2 Chronicles 21,…
Francis August Schaeffer was an influential American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He was born in 1912 in Germantown, Pennsylvania and passed away in 1984. Schaeffer played a major role in shaping Evangelical Christian beliefs and values during the late 20th century. Schaeffer’s early life was marked by agnostic beliefs as he studied at various universities. However, at age 17 he converted to Christianity after being influenced by works of Aquinas and Calvin. He went on to study at Westminster Theological Seminary, becoming influenced by Cornelius Van Til’s presuppositional apologetics. Schaeffer was ordained in the Bible Presbyterian Church…
The Judeo-Christian ethic refers to the moral principles and ethical values that are derived from the teachings of the Bible and Jewish and Christian traditions. At the core of the Judeo-Christian ethic is the belief that there are objective moral truths that have been revealed by God and that people have a responsibility to live according to these divine principles. Some of the key components of the Judeo-Christian ethic include: Human dignity and equality The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God and have inherent worth and dignity (Genesis 1:27). This forms the basis for…