The ancient Greeks had four distinct words for love: Agapé (the love of God), Phileo (brotherly love), Storge (family love), and Eros (sexual love). Interestingly, while the Bible—both the New Testament and the Greek translation of the Old Testament—uses agapé, phileo, and storge, it never uses eros. Why? Because sex is NOT love. Despite the popular phrase “making love” and …
How does the Bible guide us in loving others while disagreeing with their beliefs or lifestyles?
Matthew 5:44 – “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” As Christians, we are called to love our enemies, which certainly includes those who simply disagree with our beliefs and way of life. True love is …
Does the concept of forgiveness require Christians to overlook justice in cases of wrongdoing?
To answer this question, we must turn to the Bible, which is the ultimate source of truth. It is essential to define key terms—justice, wrongdoing, and forgiveness—so that we can fully understand the relationship between them. First, the term “justice” reflects God’s divine order and righteousness. Scripture consistently emphasizes the importance of justice, as seen in passages such as Deuteronomy …
How can Christians balance living in a secular world while staying true to their biblical convictions?
Christians undoubtedly reside in a secular world, but they also hold another, far greater citizenship—the heavenly realm. Philippians 3:20 – “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Just as an American living abroad remains an American, Christians, whose true citizenship is in heaven, are merely living “abroad” in this …
Pentecost: E Unum Pluribus
You may recognize the Latin words, E Pluribus Unum, which are the traditional motto of our United States of America. They mean, “Out of many, One.” As you know, Jesus Christ changed A LOT of things, and on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the newly appointed Lord reversed the last two words and made his motto, “From ONE, …