Steve Ebersole

Our discussion began when my seat mate commented that he had observed my wife across the aisle. In observing her modest attire, he had questions about our identity. This opened the door for me to feel free to ask him questions about his faith. He seemed happy to inform me that he was a devout Catholic.

Editor’s Note: As part 1 of a 2 part article this is focused on man’s view of sin. Look for teaching on a Biblical viewpoint in the next article.

What does the Bible teach about sin? What should our doctrine and practice be?
First, let us always remember, “All unrighteousness is sin” (1Jn 5:17). We dare not treat disobedience to God in a light manner. Jesus did not die on the cross so we could have a light or careless attitude toward sin. In fact, His death should make us feel our sins even more deeply.

I hadn’t thought much about my seat mate as we buckled up to take off. She was frazzled and middle-aged and certainly didn’t look like the talkative type. “It’ll probably be a very quiet ride,” I mused to myself. However, when the stewardess asked her what she wanted to drink, her answer stirred my interest.
“May I please have two vodka’s and a tomato juice?” she said. “I’d like to make myself a Bloody Mary.”
Breathing a prayer I ventured, “May I ask you, what does drinking an alcoholic beverage do for you?”

Editor’s Note: Last month we looked at the impairment psychotropic meds create to the brain. This month we cover a different “treatment” for emotional needs and why it needs to be viewed differently than physical conditions.
Isn’t it right to treat emotional suffering like physical suffering?
This is a question that is often asked.

It is far too easy for us to lose sight of the sovereignty of God when we find ourselves in stressful situations. When God is forgotten we fall prey to temptation to try control the situation by various human means. Deliberate or unintentional, with God out of the picture we come through with fixes that only make our problem only worse.

We read in the Bible, “No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

What can that mean? Does this even have an application? I am not a murderer; I’m not even tempted to be one. No one I know carries sinister thoughts of killing. We cringe at the thought of taking the life of an animal. Murder my brother? Surely the Bible missed it this time!

But wait, is there something more practical here the Book is speaking to in my life?

Oppositional defiant disorder. This is a newly diagnosed disorder, defined by experts in psychology as existing among children. It is characterized by negative, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward adults and authority figures. It is not to be confused with CD, or conduct disorder. Conduct disorder is recognized when a child violates the basic rights of others and expresses “antisocial behaviors.”

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Ge 1:27)

One of the predominate drives that motivates the actions of mankind is the tension of male/female attraction. From youth, we begin to understand there is a longing deep within our core being that proposes to be fulfilled only through significant interchange with a mate, someone with whom we can have social and physical intimacy. For the woman it wears the face of romantic daydreams. For the man it’s presentation is in the form of fantasies and sexual appetite.

Let us picture an imaginary scene. You are along with your congregation witnessing in downtown Bluffton, and you encounter a middle aged woman. She has an interest in a better way of life, and is drawn to the simple lifestyle expressed by your group. After an extended discussion related to salvation you finally ask, “Are you married?”

“Well... I’m not sure how to answer that,” she replies. “I have been married several times but my last husband and I divorced three years ago. Right now I live with a man, but we aren’t married.”