“The elder son, in many ways, represents the legalistic approach to religion — the belief that salvation is to be earned and kept by good deeds, loyalty, and unwavering dedication. His resentment stems from the perception that he’s been righteous and done everything by the book, yet the return home of a sinner his father chooses to celebrate reveals his true colors.”
Bible
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The Lord’s Supper (aka communion), a solemn ceremony that echoes throughout Christian communities, has, over time, become an almost weighty and alien ritual, far removed from what’s described in the Jewish writings of the New Testament. I can’t speak for its observance elsewhere, but in Israel, this event often becomes…
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“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31). In our quest to comprehend the intricate subtleties of religious texts, we often grapple with abstract concepts that defy easy understanding. One such notion is the distinction between “good” and “perfect,” especially when considered within the…
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Christianity argues that God was fed up with Israel, revoked his covenant and replaced Israel with Christianity…Christians teach that God broke his covenant with Israel.(Rabbi Moshe Rat)[i] Have you ever strolled through a museum admiring paintings only to notice that Jesus and his disciples are depicted with distinctly European features?…
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Angry gods vs. A Loving Father: How Your View of God Affects Your Reading of Scriptures
by Dr. Eitan Bar 6 minutes readThe wrath of God can be allegorically likened to a loving father who sternly warns his child against touching a hot stove. The father’s prohibition is not borne out of anger or hatred but rather out of love and a desire to protect the child from harm. Yet, if the child disobeys and touches the stove, they inevitably get burned. This painful consequence is not a direct infliction by the father; rather, it’s a result of the child’s choice to ignore the father’s warning. The burn is not a symbol of the father’s wrath or anger but rather a natural consequence of the child’s disobedience. The father doesn’t delight in the child’s pain; instead, he takes this opportunity to help the child learn an important lesson. Similarly, God’s wrath is not about Him punishing us out of anger but about the natural consequences of our actions when we choose to ignore His guidance. He, like the loving father, hopes we learn and grow from these experiences, drawing closer to Him and understanding His will more fully.
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Once, I found myself seated in the pews of a Baptist church, absorbed in a sermon from the pastor who undertook the formidable task of elucidating the Book of Revelation. With words that carried an undercurrent of dread, he depicted apocalyptic visions of monstrous beasts about to rise up from the depths of the sea to wreak havoc and destruction on humanity. His vivid interpretation, while stirring a sense of imminent danger, seemed to serve a broader purpose — a call to moral rectification. The pastor stressed that every individual should strive to get their house in order, suggesting that such purification could serve as a shield against the beasts’ terror. His message implied a dire ultimatum: get your act together, or brace yourself for the foreboding consequences about to take place!
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Did God Make Man A Woman Servant Suitable for Him? (Genesis 2:18)
by Dr. Eitan Bar 4 minutes readGenesis 2:18 states that God created a “suitable someone” for Adam, yet many interpret it as “suitable server.” This article challenges the traditional interpretation and delves into the deeper meaning of this verse.
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What “Spares the Rod Hates His Son” (Proverbs 13:24) Really Means?
by Dr. Eitan Bar 4 minutes readMany Christians believe that “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24) means they can, or even should, hit their young children. But what if this verse actually means the opposite of what they think? This article challenges the common interpretation of the verse and offers a different perspective on how to raise children.