Tag: Ephesians 4

Should Catholics and Protestants be Friends?

contributor2 Comments

church
I know that a lot of people don’t like the idea of Catholics and Protestants hanging out with each other. Apparently, there’s supposed to be a huge fight between us. But the rift doesn’t end there. Even between different denominations there is a battle raging. Baptists don’t like Methodist; Methodist don’t like Anglicans and so on, and so on.

But what does the Bible say about all this?

Ephesians 4:1-6 says:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

When it all comes down to it: here is the question we must ask each other: Do you believe that Yeshua is the Christ? Do you serve God? Is the Holy Spirit living in you?

It’s easy to get caught up in different interpretations, but we don’t have time for dissension. There isn’t time for strife. There’s an African proverb that states: “Two men in a burning hut don’t have time to argue.” Church: THE HUT IS ON FIRE! And when I refer to the hut, I’m speaking metaphorically of the world. The world is dying. People are dying around us.

Christians don’t have time to argue about whether a passage means this or that. When we allow disunity in the body through scriptural confusion, we are allowing the enemy in – God is not the author of confusion or chaos.

I understand that the word ‘ecumenical’ raises red flags because sometimes this means that non-Christian doctrines are in a “Christian” church. I understand. I care about sound doctrine – and I think that every believer should often pray, “God if there is any doctrine in my life that is NOT sound, expose and remove it.” If you ask, God will remove false teaching from your life.

With that said, let’s not spend precious time fighting brothers and sisters in the faith. Let’s walk in love and focus more effort on reaching the lost.

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger

contributorLeave a comment
Via Unsplash
Via Unsplash

Many people believe that expressing anger serves no purpose, and it’s best left unexpressed. However, people with this perspective typically end up feeling resentful of their loved ones. They never express their anger, so it just simmers unproductively. The resentment builds, and the relationship deteriorates.

In some cases, anger is better left unexpressed. It’s wrong to express anger in a way that is physically or emotionally harmful towards the person with whom you are angry, but if you know how to communicate in a healthy manner, then expressing your anger can lead to a more fulfilling, honest and authentic relationship.

What many people don’t know is that the idea of not going to bed angry actually comes from the Bible. In Ephesians 4:26, it states; Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

Ephesians 4 is clear: resolve any conflict before drifting into REM.

Going to bed angry has a profound effect on your brain and subconscious. A study in the Journal of Neuroscience revealed that going to sleep after experiencing anger (or any negative emotion) helps the negative emotion to lodge permanently in the brain. The brain activity that occurs while we sleep “protects” the anger and permanently embeds it our emotions.

If you have a fight with your spouse, don’t sleep it off. Instead, talk it out and choose to resolve the conflict – even if you must agree to disagree, let go of the negative emotions so that you can rest.