“Why should I be discouraged? I’m a Christian. It’s just a brain tumour.”
– Jeff Smith (17 May 2013)
Next from Jeff: “What Else Can I Do?”
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“Just a Brain Tumour”
The Death Penalty — Civic Purposes
As we’ve seen in previous posts, the Bible has a lot to say about the death penalty, and not only in the Old Testament. Many Christians are understandably uncomfortable with the death penalty, and I’ll say more about that later. One reason, though, is that some may not understand the purposes for the death penalty.
I’d like to look at those purposes now. In this post, I’ll look at the civic purposes of the death penalty, related to justice and society’s responsibilities. In the next, I’ll look at the redemptive purpose.
Posted in Rightly Dividing
Tagged capital punishment, death penalty, deterrent, justice, punishment
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Trust Me? Me? Really? Follow Scripture!
People in our church, readers of my blog, should not trust me or take my word. Everyone must study Scripture for themselves. Why follow me? I’m just some guy.
- If what I say is true to Scripture, follow Scripture.
- If what I say isn’t true to Scripture, follow Scripture.
- If you aren’t sure if what I say is true to Scripture, follow Scripture in what you know for sure. Leave the rest until the Lord makes it clear — but keep reading the Bible so He can teach you.
The Haircut
OK, the only spiritual benefit to this post is that God tells us laughter is a good thing. So go to Kenny’s blog and read The Haircut.
Posted in Just for Fun
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It’s Not Crazy if It’s True
Quick thought from yesterday’s sermon. If you time-travel back a few years, it’s crazy that:
- A machine big enough to carry people could fly.
- Flipping a switch could light up a room.
- You talk into something, and people thousands of miles away hear your voice.
- Carriages travel at 60 mph — everyone knows horses can’t pull a carriage that fast!
- Men could walk on the moon.
- I move around a piece of equipment called a mouse (???), push a button, and another machine (to which it isn’t even attached by a wire) does something.
- Because I pushed a button in Scotland, people on perhaps every continent will read these words.
It’s not crazy if it’s true. Just because a thing is outside your own experience does not make it impossible or crazy. Why be so narrow-minded as to rule out as impossible anything which is outside your experience and understanding?
Act 26:8, 24-25
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
…
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
If there is a God, a real God, it would be incredible if He didn’t raise the dead, if He made it so that this life is all there is.
Jesus rose from the dead. It’s not crazy if it’s true. Many people are like Festus — if they haven’t seen it or don’t understand how it could happen, then you must be mad. It’s a pity. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything, bringing hope, joy, and peace with God, and they are missing out.
Peace — the Human View, the Divine View
To be at peace with ourselves we need to know ourselves.
– Caitlin MatthewsAnd this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
– Jesus Christ (John 17:3)Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
– Paul (Romans 5:1)
The Death Penalty — God Requires It to be Just
We’ve looked at the fact that the death penalty is commanded by God throughout the Bible (Old and New Testaments), and that the story of the woman taken in idolatry does not undermine capital punishment, but in fact supports it. We’ve also seen that our Saviour’s teachings in Matthew 5 (the Sermon on the Mount) are not talking about a governmental penal system, and so do not contradict the Biblical instructions.
In this post, I’d like to look at some of the safeguards God told His people to use to protect against abuses and injustice. Along the way, we’ll look at some examples of injustice in recent years, and how following God’s safeguards would have affected those cases.
Posted in Rightly Dividing
Tagged capital punishment, death penalty, perjury, safeguards, witnesses
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Mind Renewers 