When someone violates me, what do I do? When we grow up in a Christian environment, we are commonly taught two easy things. The first is inward examination. What am I doing that ticked that person off? The second tactic is to be angry and tell the other person how you feel. Both these common tactics easily veer down unsafe pathways. First, let’s look at inward examination. Are you responsible for someone…
For years I puzzled over the meaning of worship. My church wasn’t big on catechism at all, but one year we had catechism in school. One of the questions was, “What is worship? Answer: Worship is that attitude in the heart that finds expression in outward acts of prayer and praise and service.” Growing up religious can almost cause a person to ignore thinking seriously about it. When one hears words…
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:43-45, NIV). Nonviolence in the face of evil is often understood in…