This is exactly the sort of passage that modern critics of Christianity like to cite, accusing us of unfair, patriarchal, and even brutal sexual ethics. It just doesn’t make any sense to modern sensibilities to put people to death for following their hearts and for giving in to what are,…

Why in the world would God tell His people to do such seemingly random things? Of course, there are some practical considerations involved – it’s hard to see how a huge ox and a tiny donkey could possibly pull a yoke with the same strength or at the same speed…

“I’m not a bad person! I don’t steal anyone’s things or hurt anyone else!” It’s easy for us to define holiness in such negative terms. But in today’s passage, Moses makes it clear that true holiness requires taking an active interest in the welfare of others. The last verse of…

To say that modern Americans have become desensitized to violence is a bit of an understatement. From the headlines in our newsfeeds to our movies and videogames, murder has become commonplace. We shake our heads with regret, but we are no longer shocked. Today’s passage should provide a helpful corrective….

Now, we know that God’s people are no longer called to advance the Kingdom of God by force. While we must resist sin with the same sort of vigor and determination that God’s Old Testament people fought against the residents of the Promised Land, violence must never be one of…

In our era of cellphones and social media, everyone has become a witness to everything. News travels fast, and sometimes in our mania to know everything that is happening right now, truth becomes a casualty. Reputations can be ruined for no good reason, and it’s hard to restore them once…

An increasing number of Americans identify themselves as “spiritual” but not religious. They seek to get in touch with a “higher power” simply by immersing themselves in the natural world, much as they imagine the ancient Druids or Native Americans did. In Moses’ time, this kind of thinking was quite…

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.” That’s what Lord Acton wrote in 1887, and his words have inspired…

How does the Bible say that God’s people should pursue justice among themselves? Well, 16:19 makes it clear that justice must be impartial, neither taking bribes to favor the rich, or giving preference to the poor, for that matter (see Exodus 22:2-3). And the best way to ensure that the…

Bible Reading for March 8 – Deuteronomy 12:32-13:5 What is the true source of pastoral authority? Some congregations insist on distinguished academic degrees, while others prefer spontaneity or sincerity in preaching. Some seek good singing voices while others require the ability to perform elegant liturgies. Some put a high priority…