civil disobedience

What Jesus says about paying taxes and separation of church and state – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 3

In light of upcoming ballot measures in some states, is Matthew 22:18-21 actually arguing for a separation of church and state? Is it acceptable for a Christian to vote one way on a measure, not because they think it is biblical, but because they think it should be a function of government? Are there otherContinue reading “What Jesus says about paying taxes and separation of church and state – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 3”

Prayer as an instinct – Praying Together, Part 3

I visited my son, daughter-in-law, and two grandkids in Pittsburgh recently. Though my kids live in Lancaster, my granddaughter was born four hours away in Pittsburgh because she has a heart condition. So I got to meet her for the first time in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of UPMC Children’s Hospital. She was hookedContinue reading “Prayer as an instinct – Praying Together, Part 3”

You don’t have to be perfect! – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 4

Do you feel you need to be perfect? Do you look around your life, find it is less than perfect and feel like a failure? You’re not alone. For many of us, life feels like this, even if a little bit. And I’m right there with you. I see various ways my house or propertyContinue reading “You don’t have to be perfect! – Ecclesiastes 7:15-8:8, Part 4”

When to subject ourselves to the authorities, and when not to – Titus 3:1-8, Part 1

I recently heard what is reported to be a true story from a Sunday school teacher in Dublin, Ireland. She writes, “I was testing the children in my Sunday school class to see if they understood the concept of getting into Heaven. I asked them, ‘If I sold my house and my car and had aContinue reading “When to subject ourselves to the authorities, and when not to – Titus 3:1-8, Part 1”

Maybe you had to read Thoreau’s paper on Civil Disobedience in high school or college. It is a transcendentalist classic work of American literature. Here is a brief summary. Have you ever practiced civil disobedience? I’ve heard of people who rationalize not paying taxes. I’ve heard of people who try to pay their electric billContinue reading “Civil Disobedience”