Apostasy
“‘The house of Israel and the house of Judah dealt very treacherously with Me,’ says the Lord. They lied to their own Lord, and said, ‘These things are not so. Evil will not come upon us; nor shall we see sword or famine.’” [Jeremiah 5:11-12]…Such assertions are either delusion or impudence…Sadly, we hear such statements uttered by people who enjoy parish camaraderie, the aesthetic beauty of the liturgy, and the grandeur of the Church’s hymnody and music. However, when faced
Sober and Sobriety
“Just as Saint Paul calls us to live in purity, he also calls us to be watchful, for those “who are of the day” should live soberly (1 Thessalonians 5:8). In modern times, any talk of sobriety raises the specter of substance abuse, for this widespread health issue affects marriages, destroys productivity and health, and corrupts every aspect of one’s physical, social, and spiritual life. No doubt addiction and drunkenness were as prevalent in first-century Greco-Roman society
Spiritual Warfare and Standing Fast
“Who among us has not faltered and taken a wrong step? How often do we let pain or troubles steal our peace in Christ?...a multitude of forces assault us, distract us, and rudely separate us from the Lord’s path. The question is how, then, are we to stand fast in the grace of God?” First and foremost, we stand by faith (1 Thes 3:6-7)… Second, we reframe our understanding of the tribulations that come to every Christian…“we are appointed to” trials (1 Thes 3:3)…by our Lord Jes