Steve’s Books
Category Archives: Religion and Spirituality
Grace, not Works
Paul, who devoted his life to earning righteousness through the Mosaic law, found something that was foreign to him: grace. To clarify grace, he later wrote, if it is “by grace, it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is … Continue reading
“Why do we do that?”
John’s disciples came to Jesus with a question. They asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14-17). The implications of this question are relevant to us today. First, I can imagine … Continue reading
Attitudes of Faith
What does faith feel like? How do you know when you have it? As I was praying about my faith, several aspects of my faith over the years came to mind. I had demonstrated faith in different ways, but they … Continue reading
Why was Jesus against the Pharisees so much?
We don’t have very far to look to find out why Jesus and the Pharisees clashed; He pointed out their flaws repeatedly. Let’s look at a few, for the reasons He had against the Pharisees are the same general reasons … Continue reading
“I Am A Catholic!”
“I am a Baptist.” “I am a Presbyterian.” Perhaps when spiritual conversation ebbs and flows around you, at one point the tide may bring you in, and all you can say is that you are a member of a denomination, … Continue reading
Posted in Religion and Spirituality
Tagged denomination, forgiveness, judgment, obedience, religion
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Does God help those who help themselves?
I don’t know the origins of this phrase, but it sounds like an observation born out of experience, or possibly someone struggled with trying to make sense of the relationship between God’s work and man’s work, and he came up … Continue reading
Why is it that many people get into religion when they’re down on their luck and not when they’re happy and enjoying life?
People are more readily predisposed to get help when they have been devastated by some physical or emotional loss and are unsure of how to help themselves. In many cases, they will try to cope with their problem with drugs, … Continue reading
You defend your religion because you’re biased, right?
A bias is the same as having a particular view of the world. Everyone has a bias. The atheist’s religious bias is that there is no God. A Christian’s religious bias is that there is a God and he created … Continue reading
Posted in Religion and Spirituality, Society and Culture
Tagged assumptions, atheists, bias, Christians, worldview
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Why do you keep ramming religion down our throats?
This is the information age. We are constantly being bombarded with Twitter tweets, blogs, websites, Facebook or MySpace trivia, email spam, RSS feeds, television and cable/satellite programs, radio programs, DVDs and Netflix, MP3s, MPGs and YouTube, mobile phones, junk mail, … Continue reading
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Don’t people believe in God simply to find comfort?
There’s a problem with that assumption. Although it is true that the Bible offers comfort to Christians, it contains much that is hard to hear, too. The Old Testament is full of stories of human evil and depravity, and they … Continue reading
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I am an honest atheist, who doesn’t drink or do drugs, doesn’t sleep around, and I try to be helpful to people, so what changes to my life are necessary?
You lack the righteousness which comes by faith, which is required in God’s kingdom. If I were to move to another country, I would have to leave the Bill of Rights behind. I would need to familiarize myself regarding the … Continue reading
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Why shouldn’t we believe Nostradamus and his prophecies?
To believe the television documentaries and books, you would think that the predictions of Nostradamus in the 16th Century mentioned Adolf Hitler, America, French president Charles De Gaulle, the moon landing, submarines, airplanes, space station, nuclear war, and the invention … Continue reading
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Aren’t resurrection and reincarnation the same thing?
Several different religions have various teachings on reincarnation, including Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Taoism, among others. Their teachings differ slightly, but all of them are in opposition to the tenets of the Christian resurrection. Here are some of the similarities … Continue reading
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Why can’t I expect my good deeds to outweigh my bad deeds?
When it comes to being saved, good deeds do not matter – simply because no one is good enough. This verse tells us clearly that we are saved apart from any good deeds: “But to him that worketh not, but … Continue reading
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Is being spiritual different than being religious?
Many people would say that they are spiritual, but not religious. The way the world uses these terms, I would say that the “spiritual” person usually believes in a higher power, but doesn’t see the need to join a formal … Continue reading
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What is the meaning of life?
The many sales of self-help and spiritual-help books tells me that people are hungry to get more out of life. On the other hand, many people do not question their place in life. They are satisfied with the status quo. … Continue reading
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Isn’t it true that all the religions are worshiping the same God?
If you, a stranger, were to come up to me and tell me that your father and my father were the same person because both are human beings, should I immediately assume they were the same father? To see if … Continue reading
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If religions did not exist, wouldn’t there be peace on this planet?
You assume that the presence of religion the only reason we lack peace. The media is full of reports of people getting into trouble or suffering, and religion is seldom the issue. Are there not troubles based on money, sex, … Continue reading
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Isn’t it okay to judge a religion by its misguided followers?
I’ve read online blogs composed of former customers of a store who were disturbed by its salesmen. Based on one event, they would never shop at that store or buy their services again. How many people have had protracted trouble … Continue reading
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Since love is a higher form of motivation, isn’t it improper to be motivated by rewards?
We can answer this by examining how Jesus responded to Peter’s question. Peter wondered what he was going to get after leaving all to follow Jesus: “Then answered Peter and said unto him [Jesus], Behold, we have forsaken all, and … Continue reading
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Aren’t you dishonest in picking and choosing which laws in Leviticus to follow; for instance, regarding homosexuality, eating pork, and imposing capital punishment?
When God gave the laws to the Israelites, they were leaving Egypt. They were no longer under the laws of the Egyptians. So God gave them laws to help them see what a holy God they had, and through the … Continue reading
