Paul famously wrote that, for the Christian, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Due to that statement, some Christians struggle with days like today, where our nation celebrates a national holiday. May Christians participate in these patriotic acts? The answer is found in the concept of balance. First of all, I would suggest that Christians need to keep their priorities in check. In other words, it is possible for a nation–or, to word it another way, civic pride–to become an idol. If I am more proud to be an American (or a citizen of any nation on earth) than I am of being a Christian, then I have a…

I entitled this article with the intention of getting the highest volume of readers possible. I wanted it to be an open question that was balanced and that did not from the get-go seem to be slanted in any direction whatsoever. Because this is what I want to consider – should we be policing or should we be preaching? From a congregational standpoint, God organized individual autonomous congregations to have elders who would shepherd their own flocks. Church discipline was never practiced arbitrarily but only according to the doctrine that was communicated by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. In other words, there are divine directives for how and…

I have no trouble imagining the outcry if the following “rules” or “dress code” would appear in the bulletin of some church and/or was read by one of the elders of a congregation. I can imagine that some people would actually leave that congregation in search of an atmosphere that would be much more accepting and less restrictive. Racerback with a mock or regular collar are allowed (no collar = no racerback). Plunging necklines are NOT allowed. Leggings, unless under a skort or shorts, are NOT allowed. Length of skirt, skort, and shorts MUST be long enough to not see your bottom area (even if covered by under shorts) at any time, standing or bent…

I guess I thought it was a good idea at the time. I really don’t know. It has been a long time ago. All I know about the timing of the event is that I’ve seen a picture of me as a very young boy that shows the evidence of my decision/action.  The photographer apparently thought that it would be a good idea to let the little guy pose with a ball in his hands. If you look at his hands, you can easily see the evidence of that decision I’d made earlier. There is a very visible scar on the index finger of his left hand.  That evidence is still there, but it is…