Author: kevingdrendel

I am sixtiesh, an English Literature major in college and an attorney by profession. Faith informs my life, and this blog is about my faith journey.

Why I Cannot Identify as a Gay Christian

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This article that appears below has caught me up like few articles really have. Consider your own identity, what you think makes you tick. Consider something you were born with and is part of you like your hand. Now, think about giving that identity up; think about walking away from that thing that makes you tick; think about cutting off your hand. I am re-blogging this article without any intention to address the controversial issue that resides inside. Consider the example as it might relate to any particular thing that might stand in the way of a closer relationship with Christ: riches, comfort, eating, career, popularity…. The Bible is pretty clear on the things that separate us from God – the things that we are tempted to pursue, embrace and hold on to. Consider that 1 Thessalonians 5:22 urges us to “abstain from evil”; and consider that the word, “abstain”, in the Greek means “to have one thing by separating from (letting go of) another”. We hold fast to Christ, by letting go of all that is not of Christ – that letting go includes our very selves.

timstephansen's avatarliberum servus.

So lately God has been on a roll with dropping little bombs filled with exactly what I need to hear, exactly when I need to hear it.

“Woe unto you when all men speak well of you.” – Luke 6:26

This was one of those bombs. I came across it innocently enough while reading an article online, and it annoyed me enough that I needed to look up the context.

Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you…

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Different Roads: Islam & Christianity

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There are many more Muslims who are moderate than the extremist Muslims in the world. Some say that Islam is really a religion of peace, and ISIS, al Qaeda and [you name the group] are just aberrations; they are not really Islamic. If that is the case, then it appears they have hijacked the religion and millions are jumping on board.

Current news reports of terrorism at the hands of Muslim jihadists all around the world have prompted me to learn more about Islam, its history, its scripture (the Qur’an), its quasi-scripture (the Hadith and Sunnah), and its two main flavors, Sunni and Shiite – both of which have spawned terror.

Many people carry the notion that all roads lead to the top of the mountain, that Islam and Christianity (and Buddhism, Hindu, Shinto, Animism, Paganism and you name the ism) are all paths to God. If that is so, we should be able to compare and find some common threads.

In this article, I explore a comparison of Islam to Christianity in several different aspects. Others have done more comprehensive comparisons, but here are things that strike me. Continue reading “Different Roads: Islam & Christianity” →

Generosity

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I spent a couple of hours today handing out candy for donations for the local Lion’s Club. It was a glorious fall day. I got a little exercise; and I raised some money for a good cause. The Lion’s Club provides hearing aids and glasses for those who cannot afford them and gives to local causes.

I am a multi-tasker, so every time I walked the line of cars before the light turned green, I picked up bits of litter on the way back. It did not take long to clear my little section of the world of litter, so I began to observe and think about the people who gave and the people who did not. Continue reading “Generosity” →

Sealed with the Holy Spirit

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lightstock_108943_xsmall_user_7997290In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul says that we have been “sealed in God with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of inheritance”.

We might be tempted to read this simply as flowery, but dogmatic language. I believe nothing could be further from the truth. Paul is talking about an act of God by which HE puts His stamp on US in a real, personal way, and even more than that….

Christians often talk about the promises of God that are in the Bible, but Paul talks about the “Holy Spirit of promise”. Continue reading “Sealed with the Holy Spirit” →

How Do We Present The Gospel?

As Christians, are we going to be like Peter, lopping off the centurion’s ear with a sword?

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“Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one’s first feeling, `Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,’ or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies as bad as possible? If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head, later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as black. Finally, we shall insist on seeing everything – God and our friends and ourselves included – as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred.” – C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

We need to be very careful how we present the Gospel to the world. Please read this editorial. See the Gospel Coalition’s August article on Whether ISIS is Beheading Children. Back in August, there was some question whether the beheadings were really happening. It seems to be accepted as fact now, but the point of the article is important. We need to avoid being carried away with emotion and fleshy anger.

In that light this article is a must read! (A Christian Response to ISIS) This is an extreme example, but what of those who are “enemies” of Christ in culture, politics, whatever? What would Jesus do? How would Jesus respond? We need to think and pray about that.

Continue reading “How Do We Present The Gospel?” →