Life's Inanities and Ironies

 ​For the faithful believer, life is not governed by cultural custom, fleeting sentiment, or the perceived harmlessness of a holiday, but solely by the revealed and eternal Word of God.1 The core mandate for every action we take is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 : "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God".23 This command serves as the only litmus test: If an activity, in its nature, origins, or prevailing themes, fails to bring glory to the Holy God, it must be rejected. The definitive instruction governing our response to questionable practice is the concise command from 1 Thessalonians 5:22 : "Abstain from every form of evil". The Greek word translated as "form" (eidos) means we must withdraw not only from the substance of evil but also from its outward appearance or visual likeness. Therefore, the commitment required of the Christian is to permanently terminate contact with anything that even remotely resembles the act...

In a world increasingly marked by chaos—wars raging in distant lands, natural disasters striking without warning, and a growing hostility toward the Gospel—it's more important than ever to anchor our faith in the unchanging Word of God. As fundamentalist Christians , we stand on the inerrancy of Scripture , interpreting it literally where it demands and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through its prophecies. Today, I want to expand on a powerful homily drawn from Luke 21:5-19 , where Jesus Himself outlines the signs of the end times and calls us to endurance. This passage isn't just ancient history; it's a living blueprint for our lives today, reconciled with the broader biblical teaching on the rapture and the Great Tribulation . Let's begin by revisiting the text itself, as recorded in the English Standard Version (ESV) for clarity: > While some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, "As for these thin...

In the rugged wilderness of Judea, a voice echoed with unyielding urgency: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" This wasn't the polished sermon of a temple priest, but the raw proclamation of John the Baptist, a man dressed in camel's hair, cinched with a leather belt, surviving on a diet of locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:1-5). To the casual observer, John seemed utterly strange—an outlier in a world that prized conformity and comfort. Yet, God chose him to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of a voice crying in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3). As fundamentalist Christians who hold the Bible as the inerrant, inspired Word of God, we often find ourselves at odds with modern culture. But Scripture is full of "strange" preachers—men whose lives and methods defied human norms yet powerfully advanced God's kingdom. Drawing from Matthew 3 and other biblical accounts, let's explore seven such figures. Their stories...

 In an age where truth is often bent to fit personal agendas, the Epistle of Jude stands as a beacon for those who hold fast to the unchanging Word of God. As a fundamentalist Christian, I've always found Jude's urgent call to "contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3, NKJV) both convicting and empowering. This blog post expands on a recent homily I delivered to our congregation, drawing deeply from Jude while weaving in insights from other Scriptures. It's a reminder that our faith isn't a casual pursuit—it's a battleground where eternal truths are defended against subtle deceptions. The Call to Contend: A Divine Imperative Jude didn't set out to write a warning; he wanted to celebrate "our common salvation" (Jude 3). But necessity compelled him: false teachers had infiltrated the church, perverting grace into license for sin and denying Christ's lordship (Jude 4). This isn't ancient history—it's today's headlines. Think of c...

 In the quiet pages of the Old Testament lies a story that resonates deeply with believers today—the tale of Ruth and Naomi . Drawing from Ruth 1:6-18 , this narrative isn't just ancient history; it's a blueprint for faithfulness amid hardship. As we unpack this passage, we'll see how it mirrors God's redemptive plan, weaving in truths from across Scripture to illuminate its timeless lessons. The Call to Return: God's Providence in Famine Naomi's journey begins in despair. Famine had driven her family from Bethlehem to Moab , a land of strangers and false gods. But upon hearing that " the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread " (Ruth 1:6, KJV), she arises to return home. This echoes God's recurring call throughout the Bible: a summons back to Him when we've wandered. Consider the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 . Like Naomi, the son faces famine—not of bread, but of soul—in a far country. He too hears of abundance at home and return...