Thoughts on the Bible and Life
Les BridgemanViolence is universally condemned. Parents around the world teach their children not to punch, kick, and bite. Countries have laws against battery and abuse. And international organizations promote peace between nations. So what do we do with all the violence in Scripture? I find it helpful to step back and look at the whole biblical … Read more
One of the most influential Christian books of all time is The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, written in 1522-1524. The author, Ignatius of Loyola, was a Spanish soldier who was injured in battle by a cannonball. While recovering, Ignatius was deeply impressed by a couple of books—one on the lives of the saints and … Read more
I know that question may seem absurd. Jesus is world-famous for his teaching and example of nonviolence, sending shockwaves through our blood-soaked history, right down to Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. But was he completely nonviolent? Did he reject all forms of violence and all forms of violent rhetoric? Let’s begin with Christ’s teaching. … Read more
What should we think of reported UFO sightings? (The term UAP—Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon—is now used in place of UFO. I will use both terms interchangeably.) Are people really seeing incredible aircrafts maneuvering at impossible speeds? There are two easy options: (1) be completely gullible and believe all reports or (2) be completely skeptical and reject … Read more
Paul mentions “the rulers of this age,” but who are they? Are they evil spirits, sinister aliens, or some other dark force? Let’s briefly consider the following New Testament references to this mysterious group. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, . . .will be able to separate us … Read more