💡 THOUGHTS FROM ME
I. Just because Jesus doesn’t mention something doesn’t mean it’s permissible.
Sometimes people say, “Well, Jesus never said anything about abortion,” or, “Jesus didn’t mention gay marriage,” or, “Jesus never talked about that specific issue.” The implication is that if Jesus didn’t address something directly, it must be acceptable.
That is not how Scripture works. First, we do not know everything Jesus said. John tells us that if everything He did and taught were written down, the whole world could not contain the books (John 21:25).
Second, the Bible is not a quick-reference rulebook. It is wisdom literature meant to shape how we think and live. Instead of searching for a verse that speaks directly to every modern issue, we are meant to apply the wisdom and character of Jesus to whatever situation we face.
The goal then is not to find loopholes in what Jesus did not say so we can justify it. It is to live faithfully according to what He (and the rest of the Scriptures) did say. Just because the Bible does not mention something does not make it right.
Our aim is to honor Jesus with our whole lives, not to look for exceptions to His way.
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II. You can only be reconciled to God through Jesus.
In Colossians 1:19–20, Paul writes, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [that is, Jesus], and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
This means the only way you and I can be made right with God is through Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection.
On the cross, Jesus took the wrath of God that sin, evil, and darkness deserve, and in exchange, his righteousness is given to anyone who believes in him.
Being reconciled to God is not about being a better person, praying more prayers, or giving more money. Those things are not bad, but they don’t reconcile us to God.
It is about trusting in the one who came for you. Peace with God is not achieved by effort but received through faith in Jesus.
We can only be reconciled to God through Jesus.
📖 UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
In Revelation 21, John is writing about the new heavens and the new earth that will be established upon Christ’s return, and he says in verse one that in the new heaven and new earth, “the sea was no more.”
But this does not mean there will be no water (or no water-like substance).
In the ancient world, the sea symbolized chaos, danger, and evil. It is even described as such at the beginning of the creation story in Genesis 1.
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly shows his power by controlling or calming the waters. So when Revelation says the sea is gone, it means the chaos, fear, and separation caused by sin will be gone.
In God’s renewed world, there will be no more disorder or threat, only peace and complete life in his presence.
💬 1 HELPFUL QUOTE
I. Richard Sibbes on what a little faith in the right thing will do:
“A little thing in the hand of a giant will do great things. A little faith strengthened by Christ will work wonders.”
📚 1 BRIEF BOOK REVIEW
A quite fascinating and thought-provoking read about how Western culture has been shaped by WWII, though it is starting to see some cracks.
The author does a great job of describing how the world has become an anti-Nazi type of world (with the main things society is against), but being against something (i.e. genocide) leaves a lot of gaps because there is not a collective idea of what we are actually for.
In the first part of the book, the author talks about how the biggest story society referenced was the Christian/Jesus one, but after WWII, it became an anti-Nazi one. I will say his writing was overall helpful, but I disagree with him, as I think he doesn't fully appreciate the Christian story.
The same would go for the end of the book, where he shares a critique of the progressive and conservative worldviews and offers a way forward. Even then, as is common for non-Christians, he seems to view Christianity as something we should just pick and choose from. The things our world today likes (forgiveness, grace, repentance), while ignoring what is obviously "wrong" things Christianity teaches (like the biblical view of sexuality, abortion, and marriage).
While I have strong critiques of his understanding, namely that for Christians, Christianity isn't simply a nice worldview, but it is actually true, overall I really appreciated how much sense the book has made of the last 80 years of Western culture.
For that reason, I would recommend the book, even with some strong points of disagreement.
8/10
P.S. I believe in you, little plate…
