The Crimson Thread - May I Gently Suggest?

History repeatedly shows that defense, no matter how stout, eventually loses. So it is with the Kingdom of God. If its citizens cease to press forward and take new territory, it will contract and wither under pressure from the enemy. That is what has been happening over the past 50 years in the United States.

The Eyes of the Lord are watching to answer the prayers of the righteous, but ignore those of the wicked. The world is a difficult place and there will be abundant opportunities for others to mistreat you. Here Peter reminds his readers of Christ's example; having been reviled and unjustly killed, He acted to forgive and did not curse. Peter also exhorts that we should always be ready to gently ex...

The cumulative effect of the news about the world situation is to throw a heavy, wet blanket over believers. The antidote for depression is hope. In this we have examples in Scripture written to communities undergoing severe trials. The advice given there is often practical, immediate and useful to us today.

Studying war in church may seem odd, but it is Biblical. God is called 'A Man of War' as is David. Victory requires skill as well as bravery, training as well as resources. We can see in the life of Christ how he used each of the principles of war to achieve His victory. So too we must study war to become effective in His army.

Writing to a minority Hebrew community within a gentile nation, Peter urges them to be respectful of the gentile government. He also urges respect for God's authority structures within their own community and within their families. This is very similar to Jeremiah's message to the exiles in Babylon - You're going to be there for a while, so seek the good of your hosts for your own benefit and peac...

Paul writes that covetousness is idolatry. In other words, we create idols to satisfy our greed. Historically, this happens when the stewards of an institution begin to run it for their benefit instead of for the reason it was created. In Israel, the priests turned the Temple into an idol by using it to enrich themselves. When this happened, God destroyed His own temple. Today, government has been...

Peter, writing to Hebrews reminds them that they are God's chosen people. As such, they have a duty to conduct themselves in a way befitting that status. This is especially true of Hebrews living in exile among the gentiles.

With the exile of Christianity from our culture, we are seeing the death of forgiveness and the rise of ritual shaming. Forgiveness is seen as letting our enemies 'get away with it.' This is wrong. Biblical forgiveness is how we are able to heal, both as individuals and as a nation.

Peter, writing to Hebrews in the diaspora, starts his letter by explaining that Y'shua is He whom the prophets predicted and that His resurrection is the guarantee of an imperishable inheritance for them. This inheritance is kept in heaven awaiting for revelation 'in the last time.'