Tag: Christian living

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Religion

Missing the Point

dartboard with a couple of darts stuck in it, but not in the bullseye

Content warning: This post contains a photograph from a Westboro Baptist protest which is used as an example of what not to do. It contains language which is offensive.

Over a decade ago, while I yet called myself a Christian, I was onto something good: a realization that homophobic protests and otherwise aggressive “evangelism” were no way to properly show forth the power, love, and, frankly, appeal of Jesus Christ to the world around me.

Borne out of honest and open readings of the Gospels, I came to understand better what Jesus wanted out of his followers, and what I saw didn’t look much like the religion which I had been taught, despite the best intentions of my church leaders and friends.

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This post was originally published on 2007-12-07. It has been updated for republication. Comments below may reflect the original version of this content.

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Religion

Bible Verse that Says God Will Never Give Us More Than We Can Handle

A painting by Josef Untersberger of Jesus depicted as the good shepherd. He is knocking at a door while holding a lamb, with twelve sheep at his side.

Over the past thirteen years, I have learned that some things will always remain a constant fact of life: taxes, the overwhelming loudness of toxic members of my fandoms, and the fact that the most overwhelmingly popular way for people to end up on this site via a search engine is by searching for “god never gives us more than we can handle” or “god doesn’t give us more than we can handle.”

I can’t imagine that there aren’t many websites which address that phrase better than I ever could, but if you’ve reached this point, it’s because according to your search results and your choices made regarding them, there aren’t. I’m glad to have you here!

But… There is no such Bible verse! Disappointed?

I hope not.

But if you are? Look, I get it. You hear the phrase a lot, such as when things are getting rough in life. “Cheer up, sister. God isn’t going to give you more than you can handle.” It’s repeated so often by so many people that it not only rings true in the ears of Christians but seems like it could easily be a paraphrased Bible verse.

On the contrary, the phrase has become a platitude, a Christian meme which lacks in both substance and originality.

And on top of that, it doesn’t reflect what the Bible teaches about Christian living.

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This post was originally published on 2006-09-06. It has been updated for republication. Comments below may reflect the original version of this content.

Categories
Religion

Holy Polygamy: Men of the Bible with Multiple Wives

“The Wise and Foolish Virgins” by Peter von Cornelius

Biblical polygyny is a hot topic — and by that I mean, people tend to get passionate about it on either side of the debate. If you’d like to share what you think about it, come join our freshly launched (May 2020) polygyny forum!

When you think of polygamy, what do you think of? The Mormons? Islam or Muhammad? Maybe you think of Big Love or the Yearning for Zion Ranch?

If you are a Christian, though, I want to give you something else to think of when the subject of polygamy comes up. You see, a Christian’s mind shouldn’t instinctively be drawn to the world, other faiths, or entertainment.

Instead, the Christian’s thoughts should gravitate to the Scriptures, to those men throughout the history of Judeo-christianity who lived out their lives with multiple wives, some with two or three, others with wives numbering in the hundreds.

I want to introduce you to these men.

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Religion

If The Bible Was Like a Cell Phone

Working in retail, I see many people each day, and a great deal of them have cell phones, are playing with their cell phones, or are talking on their cell phones. (That I can recall, I’ve yet to notice anyone taking pictures with their cell phones, surprisingly.) This is adapted from an email forward I received from my friend Glen.

I wonder what would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our cell
phone?

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