Saturday, November 11, 2017

"Thoughts and Prayers"

What does the Bible say about 'sending out' our 'thoughts and prayers'?

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:14-26

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Childhood Spirituality

In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, we tend to think of children and their religious and spiritual beliefs as add-ons to their parents' beliefs. Consequently, even in religious homes, we often neglect their spiritual development. The consequences are the basis of this interesting article.

The upshot? Higher education is not turning young adults away from religion. Religious ideas and identities, whether to believe or not believe, form while we are children and teens. Moving to a campus gives a young person the opportunity to live out their lives without parental monitoring. Those who don't want to go, don't go. The answer isn't to continue monitoring them to greater and greater ages. Rather, we need to remember that conversion starts in the home. Don't take your children's salvation for granted. Don't assume that they will just become whatever you have become. Treat their questions and concerns seriously, and encourage them just as you would anyone else you're attempting to win for Christ.