Verses such as Proverbs 29:7 remind us to "consider the cause of the poor". As Christians, we are under a Biblical mandate to help relieve the suffering of the poor. However, this does not extend to persons who refuse to work to provide for themselves. In II Thes 3:10-12 we are commanded to work to provide… Continue reading Properly Helping the Poor
Author: Larry Foster
I am the Editor of the Conservative Christian Apologist. I have been a Christian for almost 60 years since my youth.
Honor Everyone
I Peter 2:17 instructs us to "honor everyone". This includes honoring with our submission to the king and governors (our governmental leaders) - verse 13-14; our masters (employers) - verse 18; wifes to husbands - Ephesians 5:22; the church to Christ - Ephesians 5:24; to one another - Ephesians 5:21; and to our Father and Mother… Continue reading Honor Everyone
Blessed Are the Meek
One of the most important traits that a Christian can possess is meekness or humbleness. Mathew 5:5 states that "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Titus 3:2 - "to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." Proverbs 16:19 - "It is better to… Continue reading Blessed Are the Meek
Subjects of the Higher Powers
Romans 13: 1-2 states "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers (governments/rulers). For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." It is interesting that Paul wrote… Continue reading Subjects of the Higher Powers
Lying Tongues
Lately we have seen much dishonesty documented by many of our country's leaders and even by members of the news media. This dishonesty is not unique in our history for our establishment leaders but it never ceases to be disturbing to a God-fearing person. Proverbs 6:16 reminds us that God hates a lying tongue. Psalm 5:6… Continue reading Lying Tongues
Be of Good Cheer
In reading the Bonhoeffer biography by Eric Metaxas, I was struck by how Bonhoeffer maintained his joy and basic Christian goodness even in the midst of persecution while in prison. Like Joseph in the Bible, even the prison authorities were drawn to him, finding him genuinely kind and generous - even those guards who were despised… Continue reading Be of Good Cheer
Innocent Wise and Sophisticated Foolish
Matthew 10:16 instructs us to be “wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.” Romans 16:19 instructs us to be “wise unto that which is good, and innocent concerning evil.” Ephesians 5:12 instructs us that "it is shameful even to mention what is done (by the wicked) in secret." It is certainly not fashionable today to… Continue reading Innocent Wise and Sophisticated Foolish
The Correct Position
I was recently reading Daniel 3:16-18 which tells the story about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They told King Nebuchadnezzar that they would not bow down and worship his golden image and further that they had a God who could save them from the furnace of fire - which was the penalty for refusal. They went… Continue reading The Correct Position
Ghosts in Hell
C. S. Lewis stated in his book Mere Christianity that "Each day we are becoming a creature of splendid glory or one of unthinkable horror." In his book Perelandra Lewis describes how the Garden of Eden scene might have played out on another planet. A character in the book, Professor Weston, becomes demon possessed and thereafter… Continue reading Ghosts in Hell
A Quiet Life
There are a number of verses in the Bible that command us to lead a quiet life, to provide for ourselves and to mind our own business. I Thes 4:11 encourages a Christian to lead a quiet life, to mind their own business, and to work with their own hands. II Thes 3:12 commands a… Continue reading A Quiet Life
A Prisoner of God
The following passage from the Bonhoeffer biography by Eric Metaxas really spoke to me. Hitler had just came to power (by popular election no less) but had not as yet gained complete power and had to use persuasion to accomplish what he later accomplished by decree. He was attempting to get the Church to come… Continue reading A Prisoner of God
Praying Without Ceasing
I Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us that we are to "pray without ceasing". But how is this to be accomplished as we go along in our daily lives? The great confederate general and devout christian Stonewall Jackson once explained how he implemented this in his life after a friend complained about the difficulty of obeying this… Continue reading Praying Without Ceasing
Brokenhearted Sinner
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is known for his opposition to Hitler ending in his martyrdom and also for great works he published including "Costs of Discipleship". However, before these events, right after he obtained his doctorate and became eligible for the ministry, he accepted a position in Barcelona Spain for one year. There he had opportunity… Continue reading Brokenhearted Sinner
Reaching the Lost
In Mark 10:17-27 we see the story of the Rich Young Ruler which is instructive as to the proper way to reach out to the lost. We must make it clear that a person has to accept God on his terms. Also, once the terms are presented, in this case the demand to sell all… Continue reading Reaching the Lost
The Unman
I have often imagined Satan as a super intelligent being perhaps only a little less intelligent than God himself. However, in the fiction story told in the book, Perelandra, written by C. S. Lewis the being representative of Satan is described as more like “an imbecile or a monkey or a very nasty child”. Perelandra… Continue reading The Unman
An Ordinary Life
I was recently reading about the life of Bronson Alcott, Father of the author of "Little Women" and prominent Unitarian. The book contained a quote from his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous author and leading Unitarian minister of his day, disdaining the life of the common man. He found great consternation in his observation… Continue reading An Ordinary Life
A Famine in the Land
Amos 8:11 – “Hear this! The days are coming – this is the declaration of the Lord God – when I will send a famine through the land: not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Like the Israelites in the Prophet Amos’s day America… Continue reading A Famine in the Land
