When someone says something contrary to current cultural preferences, they are deemed worthy of being silenced. The practice of boycotting a person or business because of a contrary opinion is a popular tactic to win an argument or establish a viewpoint. Instead of engaging an idea and debating it with facts, shaming a person out of the public square is, unfortunately, the preferred method. It is easier to shame a person into silence and obscurity than to converse and debate ideological differences.
Read MoreThe justice of God’s kingdom should inspire us to influence public policies and legislation that create a just society. By identifying social structures that allow oppression and inequality to persist, we can rectify existing broken systems. While some actively perpetuate abuse, others may unknowingly receive privileges from unfair social structures. We have to ask ourselves sincerely, do we actively or passively commit injustice?
Read MoreWe live in a world where skin colour, language, and religion have been used as a basis for systematic discrimination and brutality. Eliminating racial prejudices in ourselves and our society is not easy and demands introspection and effort. We need to reject any racial tendencies as well as engage and educate those who propagate racial insensitivity and bigotry. God hates racial prejudice. Every human being is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). We diminish God and question his creation when we elevate one group of people above another. Racism is a serious sin because it produces hatred and conflict which can lead to oppression, violence and murder. It is also an attempt to thwart God’s ultimate purpose of reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:17). The Christian vocation is to serve the world as God’s representatives (image-bearers), reflecting his love to all humanity.
Read MoreThe Covid-19 pandemic has not only spread a virus throughout the world, it has also spread fear and uncertainty. Infection and death rates are exponentially increasing. The stock market has seen some of the largest declines in history. Economists fear that we are possibly on the verge of a Great Depression. Professional sporting events, conferences, concerts are canceled, and schools have shifted their teaching online. Travel bans and social distancing have become a part of life. Grocery stores are filled with people panic-buying. Hospitals don’t have sufficient protective gear and medical equipment to manage the influx of patients. And healthcare workers are facing exhaustion as they risk their lives to treat the sick. Over a million people and counting worldwide have been infected with the virus and tens of thousands have died.
It appears that things are getting out of control. There are a lot of questions and fewer answers. In these unprecedented times navigating through a pandemic like this is difficult for elected officials, community leaders, and parents. So, what do we do? What can we do?
Read MoreThe disciples ask Jesus if the man’s blindness is the result of his or his parents’ sins (John 9:2). Jesus replies, neither, because his blindness is designed to display the works of God. One may wonder, is God the author of sickness? Can all physical deformities or defects at birth be used for God’s glory? Why are some people healed and others not? Jesus’ response does not focus on the origin of the blindness but points to what it will lead towards.
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