In 1 Corinthians 14:24, Paul starts out, “if all of you are prophesying… .” Let me stop right there. Paul’s very statement there is significant, because he makes the assumption that it is possible for everyone to prophesy . . . Paul directly assumes that everyone can prophesy, and it implies that it is a normal part of the gathering together process.
As Christians in the twenty-first century in the Western world, we see the commercialization of Christmas and how St. Nicholas was changed to a secular magical figure. But the lessons we learn from the life of St. Nicholas can remind us how we ought to live each day.
One thing that was becoming obvious, even then, to many in the Kingdom of God, was that the traditional church system was not a scriptural model, and was already suffering from increasing corruption, and had become a top heavy hierarchical monstrosity that would not survive if it was part of a business. And therein was much of the issue, too, that the church looked more like corporate business pedaling religion than the intimate redeemed community that was set up by Jesus and His apostles.
I know the feeling. You’ve had enough! It was the last straw! Whatever the problem is, you’re not going back. You’re not alone. People are leaving the institutional churches in droves.
Instead, I found that my faith was grounded in the revealed nature of the omnipotent God, who had the world, and the universe, in His hands and at His command. I no longer had to search for the perfect verse to “get me through the day.” Instead, I found a foundation of assurance and strength that I could confidently stand on in all situations.
If you had an active father in your life growing up, you probably didn’t realize how important that was. I can’t help but think that that is the way it is supposed to be—it should be the norm. No father… Read More ›
Growing up, my father and I became rather close, at least I thought so at the time. I certainly wanted to be close to my dad. My mother had passed when I was only two, so he was all I… Read More ›
Beyond Traditon 