It is astonishing, when you think about it, how much hatred can be generated by religious beliefs. From the earliest times, Jews persecuted Christians; and when Christians came to power, they persecuted Jews. It is …
Christian Origins #22 - Corinthians
The last time the Christian church was perfectly joined together, of the same mind and of the same judgement was nearly 2,000 years ago on that Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on the church …
Christian Origins #23 - Corinthians
If a man sets out to convince an audience of the truth of his message, why would he not give it his best shot? Wouldn’t you normally think a man would pull out all the …
Christian Origins #24 - Corinthians
If there’s one thing that is clear when you study the New Testament with an eye to the origins of the Christian church, it is that the apostles were not princes of the church. Oh, …
Christian Origins #25 - Corinthians
It has to come as a surprise to find a Christian church—a Gentile Christian church—observing the Passover. The Passover is a Jewish festival, right? Then what is a gentile church like Corinth doing observing the …
Christian Origins #26 - Corinthians
The Bible is a very down-to-earth book. It is written for men and women who actually have to live every day in this world—who have to deal with human needs and human nature. High and …
Christian Origins #27 - Corinthians
Why do you suppose that Israelites, so very long ago, lived about as long as we do today with all our advances in science? The answer is pretty straightforward: Israel had a very down-to-earth law …
Christian Origins #28 - Corinthians
We all know that we are sinners. And we know that there is no combination of our own works, our own efforts, that can save us. But having been saved by the death and life …
Christian Origins #29 - Corinthians
Of all the ceremonies that are connected in our mind to the Christian faith, there is probably nothing more fundamental than that ceremony we call the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, or …
Christian Origins #30 - Corinthians
One of the truly sad things in the history of religion is the hostility that persists between Jews and Christians—sometimes it even becomes hatred. It’s very old, of course. It dates from the very beginning …
Christian Origins #31 - Corinthians
There is something truly seductive about any manifestation of the supernatural. Every human being experiences doubts once in a while. It is not so much a question of unbelief as it is a difficulty in …
Christian Origins #32 - Corinthians
If a man die, shall he live again? That is the question isn’t it? Is this all there is? We live out our lives, we return to the dust and oblivion forever. It was a …
Christian Origins #33 - Corinthians
Okay, so you already believe in the resurrection. You believe that man will be raised from the dead. That raises the most interesting question of all: What for? When man has finished out his miserable …
Christian Origins #34 - Corinthians
Take a look at your shoes. A little worn, are they? If they aren’t, they will be. And your favorite sweater—how long before the elbows come out? Shoes, clothes—all this stuff—wears out if we use …
Christian Origins #35 - Corinthians
Just how good do you have to be to avoid criticism? Do you have to be a saint? Is it even good enough to be a saint? Regrettably, no. The Apostle Paul, whom we affectionately …
Christian Origins #36 - Corinthians
Surely, no one would ever manipulate the Bible to his own ends, would he? Well, yes, I am afraid some do. I have heard some egregious manipulation of the scriptures by preachers who were trying …
Christian Origins #37 - Corinthians
How does it feel to walk up to someone, put out your hand and say, Hi, my name is Bob, only to have the other person simply turn his shoulder and walk away? It is …
Christian Origins #38 - Corinthians
When the time comes to give, how much is enough? When someone is taking up a collection to help poor refugees, and they have shown you heart-rending pictures of starving children, how much should you …
Christian Origins #39 - Corinthians
Looking back through 2,000 years at the apostle Paul, the man looks like a giant. He’s certainly a legend, but there’s no evidence from the New Testament that Paul was looked at that way by …
Christian Origins #40 - Corinthians
The Apostle Paul was steamed. He may have been a minister—gentle and kind—but don’t kid yourself, Paul got steamed. You can only take so much nitpicking, so much scratching around in your past, so much …