Hyperbole and Divorce in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:31-32)
Jesus used hyperbole in his Sermon on the Mount, especially in Matt 5:17-48. We need to be aware of this rhetoric when interpreting his teaching on divorce.
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Category: Christian Living
A Critique of Wayne Grudem’s “Grounds for Divorce”
Wayne Grudem has changed his mind from thinking that only adultery and desertion were permissible reasons for divorce to now accepting that abuse is also a permissible reason. This is good news for some but Grudem’s approach is problematic.
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Partnering Together: Jesus and Women
At a time when women were regarded as odd and inferior by men, and were excluded from many aspects of society, Jesus was interested in the lives of women. He included them, taught them, and accepted their ministry.
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Partnering Together: Agents of Jesus
This post is an excerpt from a talk I gave in Melbourne at a camp for high-school girls about understanding and accepting our mission as agents of Jesus.
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Paul’s words on divorce, and leaving an abusive marriage
Someone recently asked me about Paul’s teaching on divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 and whether it allows for an abused spouse to leave their abuser. Here’s my response with some context to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7.
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A Gentle and Quiet Spirit is not just a Feminine Virtue
In this post, I show that the New Testament does not teach that a gentle and quiet spirit is an especially feminine virtue (cf. 1 Peter 3:4).
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Did Jesus address only men in Luke 14:25-27?
In Luke 14:25-27 Jesus said that his disciples have to hate their father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters. A reader asks, “Was Jesus speaking to only men here?”
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Jesus on Divorce, Remarriage and Adultery
Churches that misunderstand Jesus’ teaching on divorce increase the suffering and scandal of divorced members. What is the context of Jesus’ teaching on divorce? Did he teach that all second marriages, with a former spouse still living, are adulterous? I argue from scripture that he didn’t.
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God on Divorce (Malachi 2:16)
Here are some better translations of Malachi 2:16 that faithfully reflect the Hebrew grammar and do not have God saying, “I hate divorce.”
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A Communal Proclamation (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
I believe that there is more to the Lord’s Supper than what is offered in many churches today. In this 8 minute video, Danny Zacharias addresses some misunderstandings and shortcomings of our abbreviated Communion and Eucharist celebrations.
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John Piper and Emotional Blackmail
In this post, I express my concern about John Piper’s lack of propriety and wisdom in comments where he references Tozer’s widow. This quotation is posted several times on The Gospel Coalition’s website.
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What was the job description of Jesus’ apostles?
One subject that I keep mulling over is what it means to be a leader and have authority in the church. Did Jesus commission his first disciples to be church leaders? What was their job description?
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