“But all my friends have one!” Every parent of a teenager has heard these words. And every parent remembers being a teenager who said these words. God’s children – the Israelites – were just as whiny and just as driven to be like everyone else. God brought his children out… Read More
Archive Category: Theology
Stringing Pearls (Jesus & Justice Recap)
Ben Azzai was a renowned Jewish sage of the second century. Once, while he was teaching, mysterious flames appeared around him. I was linking up the words of the Torah with one another, and then the words of the Prophets, and the Prophets with the Writings, and the words rejoiced… Read More
Levites, Foreigners, Orphans, Widows, & The Poor (Jesus & Justice Part 7)
What’s so special about foreigners, orphans, widows, and the poor? Why are these groups of people mentioned so often in scriptures that deal with justice? It goes back to the early days of Israel. When it was one nation divided into twelve tribes, God gave every tribe a portion of… Read More
You’ve Heard It Said
Who said THAT? “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.” -Jesus (Matthew 5:43-45a) Who was going around in Jesus’… Read More
Do What I Did (Jesus & Justice Part 6)
For 430 years the descendants of Abraham were enslaved in Egypt. Their sons were killed, their backs whipped, their ankles shackled, and their prayers unanswered. But then God sent Moses to deliver them from Pharoah and, well, you know the story: the plagues, the blood applied on the door frames,… Read More
What God Says Is Due (Jesus & Justice Part 5)
Biblical Hebrew is a word-poor language with only a few thousand words – most words having several meanings like diamonds with many facets. Today we’ll look at just one facet of “mishpat.” When you hear the word justice you probably think of the legal system: a courtroom, a judge presiding,… Read More