Archives For abuse

Biblical Submission in Cultural Context

May 7, 2013 — Leave a comment

yolo2In our study of 1 Peter, we’re doing a mini-series called YOLO – or – What will you do with the rest of your life? We began with the often misunderstood passage in 3:1-7. It can sound archaic and out of touch to modern ears, but when understood in context – it is revolutionary, then and now!  I invite you to compare the Christ Church sermon, The Cross Shaped Family, with this blog post from Rachel Held Evans.  I have recently started following her very thorough and studied blog and came across this post on our text in 1 Peter and related passages. It tracks perfectly with my own study and will give you more food for thought.

Here is the link to her post called: Submission in Context: Christ and the Greco-Roman Household Codes

Enjoy! Let’s help the world see true biblical submission and true servant leadership for the gifts that they are.

I’ll leave you with the question I asked our church community to consider:
Who is the person closest to you that God is calling you to serve sacrificially – in the way of Jesus ‘Cross-shaped love?’

In abuse, Christ and Culture, Christlikeness, Love Like Jesus, Marriage, The Jesus Way
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Penn State, Pederasty, and the Apostle Paul

July 26, 2012 — 1 Comment

What do the scandal at Penn State and the Apostle Paul have in common?

Though I graduated from URI, I would often tell people I went to Penn State (which I did for three years). Especially if we were talking football.  I followed the Nittany Lions over the years, but “Penn State Proud” has certainly taken a hit! Recently some of the worst penalties ever handed down by the NCAA were levied against the school for what is seen as the worst scandal ever in U.S. sports.  In announcing the sanctions, NCAA President Mark Emmert said:

Penn State was guilty of “an unprecedented failure of institutional integrity leading to a culture in which a football program was held in higher esteem than the values of the institution, the values of the NCAA, the values of higher education, and most disturbingly the values of human decency…“ (emphasis mine)

We’re not surprised that there is universal condemnation for the actions of Jerry Sandusky and for the inaction of Penn State officials to report and prevent sexual exploitation. They failed to reinforce a culture of uncompromising integrity. The issues are framed in terms of “the values of human decency” (the clear assumption being that there are values that all can and should agree upon.)  And rightly so!

But what does this have to do with the Apostle Paul?  Please read on. Continue Reading…

In abuse, Current Issues, Same-sex Attraction
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