Category: Digging in Deeper

Digging in Deeper: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (Part 1)

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“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler–not even to eat with such a one.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

This is tough stuff!  Let’s just lay bear what Paul is saying here: If someone insists on claiming the name of Christ, but is also incorrigibly committed to a lifestyle of sin, we are to kick them out of the church and not even be willing to fellowship with them.  Can you imagine anything that would so fly in the face of our culture or be so inviting of a lawsuit today?  Why would Paul call us to such a thing?   Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

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“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

If we are going to be in a relationship with God, it is going to be on His terms, not ours.  In spite of our sinful nature, we naturally recognize that there is something wrong with the world; something wrong with us.  This is the result of our being created in God’s image along with the echoes of eternity still ringing in our hearts.   Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: 1 Chronicles 13:10

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“And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.”  (ESV – read the chapter)

This is another of those hard verses in the Old Testament that we struggle to understand.  Why would God strike Uzzah down like this?  What exactly did he do that was so wrong it justified an immediate death sentence?  It sure seems like all he did was touch the ark.  Why was that such a big deal?

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Digging in Deeper: Romans 13:1

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“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  (ESV)

This is one of the harder things Paul wrote.  The relationship of Christians to the authority of the state has been a stubborn knot to untangle since the beginning.  What does it look like to be subject to governing authorities as one who is chiefly subject to the authority of Christ?  If there is no authority except what has been instituted by God, what do we do about authorities that do not in any way seem to be godly?  Surely there have been authorities in place over the centuries that were not instituted by God…right?   Read the rest…