Controversy

R.C. Sproul:

Jesus’ life was a storm of controversy. The apostles, like the prophets before them, could hardly go a day without controversy. Paul said that he debated daily in the marketplace. To avoid controversy is to avoid Christ. We can have peace, but it is a servile and carnal peace where truth is slain in the streets.

Jesus and John the Baptist

John the Baptist was Jesus’ second cousin. Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Elisabeth (the mother of John) were cousins (Luke 1:36). John was about 6 months older than Jesus was (Luke 1:36). In John, Chapter 1, when John the Baptist declares Jesus as the Lamb of God (v. 36) this is probably not the first time they met. They were likely together often as children and young men growing up.

Imagine a Nation of True Christians

I was reading Louis Cardinal Pie’s Christmas homily (1871) a few days ago and was inspired to rewrite a part of it to broaden the application. Therefore, the theme is Pie’s and the words are mine as written below:

Imagine a nation of true Christians. Such a nation would have the grand advantage of possessing many strong Christian men and women. However, in a nation where Christianity is on the decline, strong men and women of character begin to disappear. Such nations sink into perversion and chaos. There are no strong men and women where moral principles are ignored. When Christianity becomes just one of many ways to heaven, there are no strong men and women to take a stand on the doctrines of the Christian faith. Strong men and women are the product of worshiping God in spirit and in truth. Without truth, the people and nation perish. (Hosea 4:6 and Proverbs 29:18 ESV)