Biblical References
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Category Archives: judgment
How Some Misguided Christian Beliefs are Very Harmful
Christianity is a very broad group of more than 2.3 billion people throughout the world, and there is tremendous variation in doctrinal beliefs among us. What we have in common is that we all, in some way, recognize Jesus as … Continue reading
How Should We Respond to the Leading of the Spirit?
Sometimes when I read or think about something I get tremendous insights. I might make a strong connection between two things, see an angle I never saw before, or even think something completely original. I am sure you have had … Continue reading
Posted in authority, inerrancy, judgment
Tagged Holy Spirit, Insights, John 14, John 16, Pentecostal, revelations, Tongues
35 Comments
Judgment and Punishment in the Book of Enoch
Remember that Zoroastrianism contributed significant ideas to Jewish thought during the exilic and post-exilic periods that did not exist before in Judaism. Some of these ideas were current in Jesus’ day, such as: * A personalized adversary to God—Satan * … Continue reading
Posted in Enoch, God, hell, Jesus, judgment, Satan
Tagged 2 Peter 2, Book of Enoch, Book of Jude, Matthew 25, Michael, parable of sheep and goats, Raphael, Zoroastrianism
37 Comments
The Influence of Zoroastrianism on Jewish Thought in Jesus’ Time
In my first semester of college (1969) I wrote a term paper on Zoroastrianism. That paper affected my fundamentalist understanding of Satan and hell, though it did not come to fruition until several years later. It was clear to me … Continue reading
Posted in hell, Jesus, judgment, Satan
Tagged Ahura Mazda, Angra Mainyu, Babylonian Captivity, Chinvat Bridge, Demons, fallen angels, Zoroastrianism
49 Comments
Sheep, Goats, and the Bosom of Abraham
When I was a teenager, a guest minister preached on Sheol and hell pointing out that Sheol was transferred from where it was originally to somewhere else, and it was connected with the bosom of Abraham. He did not present … Continue reading
Posted in dispensationalism, hell, judgment
Tagged Bosom of Abraham, Luke 16, Matthew 25, parable, rich man and Lazarus, Sheep and Goats
121 Comments
Did God Pour Out His Wrath on Jesus During His Violent Death on the Cross?: Angry God Part 3
Many believers align with a God whom they think is angry, violent, and vindictive. Perhaps they identify with the angry god of Old Testament stories, or maybe they create God in their own image. I addressed each of these issues … Continue reading
Posted in God, Jesus, judgment, resurrection, uncategorized
Tagged angry God, Anselm, Christus Victor, crucifixion, Isaiah 53, Penal Substitution
36 Comments
We Often Become What We THINK God is Like: Angry God Part 1
Many people at some point decide to begin reading the Bible. But the Bible is a very large book; where should they begin? A large percentage begin at the beginning, of course—Genesis! Genesis is an interesting book: there are creation … Continue reading
Posted in fear, God, Jesus, judgment, love, Old Testament
Tagged angry God, Empathy compassion and care, the flood
118 Comments
How Elias Missed the Point about Thanksgiving – Don’t be Like Elias
This is Thanksgiving week in the United States, and I am sure you who are Americans are already prepared for this Thursday. Most of us will gather with friends and loved ones for a Thanksgiving meal. Many will reflect on … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, judgment, legalism, Pharisees
Tagged angry God, Luke 18, Thanksgiving, The Publican and the Pharisee, The Tax Collecter and the Pharisee
21 Comments
Does Jesus Demonstrate Threats and Violence?
Opinion is sharply divided among some believers on whether Jesus consistently promoted acceptance, peace, and love toward others or whether he sometimes demonstrated judgment, threats, and violence. This leads some to consistently support peace, love, and compassion while others accept … Continue reading
How Important are ‘Correct Beliefs’ to God?
Many believers think people who claim to be Christian but stray too far from ‘correct beliefs’ are not Christian at all. And the corollary is that they are going to hell—just for not getting their beliefs right! I used to … Continue reading
Posted in baggage, Jesus, judgment, love
Tagged Christian beliefs, communion, harmful beliefs, heretics
47 Comments
Does Jesus Tell Us to Judge People in Matthew 18?
Recently, I posted an article stating that it is not our job to judge other people. It is titled The Misguided Concept of ‘Loving the Sinner and Hating the Sin’, and in just a few days it became my #5 … Continue reading
The Misguided Concept of ‘Loving the Sinner and Hating the Sin’
Legalistic believers often feel it is their duty to confront sinners with their ‘sins’. This sometimes includes telling sinners how bad they are and urging them to accept Jesus. And they don’t stop there; they also confront fellow believers with … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, judgment, legalism, love, Paul, sin, sinners, the Good News
Tagged 1 Corinthians 4, Love the sinner; hate the sin, Matthew 7, Romans 14
55 Comments
Where Does the Blog Go from Here—Your Choice (a poll)
Hey Guys! We just completed a series on Jesus’ early work in Galilee and I would like to know your preferences for the next series. The new topic will begin the first of the year, with non-series posts between now … Continue reading
Posted in baggage, Jesus, judgment, polls
12 Comments
What Do We Learn from ‘Jesus Begins His Work’?
For the past few weeks we looked at the beginnings of Jesus’ work of teaching and healing in Galilee. This period closes just before Jesus chooses twelve apostles to help expand his work even further. While we witnessed many healings, … Continue reading
Jesus Calls a Fifth Follower—and What a Loser!
Sometimes I look at myself and all my faults and failures, and I don’t see how I was ever qualified to participate in expanding God’s will and his kingdom on earth; it’s just too much for me. Perhaps you feel … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, judgment, Pharisees, sinners
Tagged book of Matthew, Levi, Luke 5, Matthean Community, Matthew, Matthew 9, tax collectors
24 Comments
Does Jesus Disagree with John the Baptist’s Message of the Coming Judgment of God?
Have you ever been part of an exciting, dynamic group with wonderful experiences occurring every day, but then the group is disrupted never to be the same again? Jesus had this experience. He had become part of John the Baptist’s … Continue reading
Do Jesus’ Words and Actions Demonstrate Empathy — or Judgment?
A central proposal of this blog is that Jesus’ message and example are geared toward empathy, reconciliation, and acceptance rather than judgment and exclusion. For the past two-and-a-half years I have addressed selected harmful beliefs by comparing them to Jesus’ … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, judgment, legalism, love, the Good News
Tagged acceptance, book of Luke, book of Mark, book of Matthew, exclusion, synoptic gospels
11 Comments
Prayers for Bobby: a Movie Review
Based on a True Story from the Early 1980s Mary Griffith, a very religious, ‘Bible-believing’ mother (played by Sigourney Weaver) discovers that her 16-year-old son, Bobby, thinks he might be gay. Immediately, she begins to do everything she can to … Continue reading
How Legalism Stunts Our Spiritual Growth
When I was young I read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. It took place during the Jewish holocaust in Europe, and the Ten Boom family (who were Christians) protected Jews from the Germans by building a secret compartment … Continue reading
Posted in judgment, legalism, love
Tagged Corrie Ten Boom, Matthew 5, religious rules, sermon on the mount, spiritual growth, The Hiding Place
44 Comments
What Kind of ‘Sinners’ Feel Welcomed by Your Church?
REKNEW asks. ‘What kind of sinners feel welcomed by your church?’ “Perhaps the greatest indictment on evangelical churches today is that they are not generally known as refuge houses for sinners—places where hurting, wounded, sinful people can run and find … Continue reading
Jesus Without Baggage 