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Tag: Matthew

Mourning Rituals —

The ancient practice of bemoaning the human condition before God.

Mourning Rituals —

The ancient practice of bemoaning the human condition before God.

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The Bible is very consistent in its portrayal of ancient Israelite mourning. People grieving the loss of loved ones, tragedy in the community, offenses against God, devastating warfare, and the like are described as putting on sackcloth, tearing or rending their clothes, taking off shoes, sitting on dust and ashes,
Importance of Salt —

On the usefulness and harvesting of a precious ancient commodity.

Importance of Salt —

On the usefulness and harvesting of a precious ancient commodity.

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It is a commonly known truth in ancient Near Eastern studies that salt was an important staple of everyday life. Salt enhances the flavour of food increasing the enjoyment of the meal, and it had many other practical uses. Salt enabled the preservation of fish and other meats as well
Rest Assured. —

Why Christians must rest in Christ and not on Sabbath. Working out God's Edenic purpose of grace through Sabbatical soteriology.

Rest Assured. —

Why Christians must rest in Christ and not on Sabbath. Working out God's Edenic purpose of grace through Sabbatical soteriology.

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Must Christians observe Sabbath? To no one’s surprise is yet another very heated debate in the greater Christian community, particularly among Protestants and doctrinally dubious off-shoots. Throughout Christian history, Sunday was the newly appointed day of rest known as “the Lord’s Day”. As of the nineteenth century however, the technological
Against Formlessness and Our Vocation Toward Visible Holiness —

On sacred art, rituals, gestures, and visual patterns of devotion in God's holy kingdom.

Against Formlessness and Our Vocation Toward Visible Holiness —

On sacred art, rituals, gestures, and visual patterns of devotion in God's holy kingdom.

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Before meat suits were fashionable and Gnosticism was the new black, before Baptism was reduced to works righteousness and Communion was trivialized to a game of Simon Says, and long before our world was particles and plastic, the visible world augmented divine intentionality. The physical stuff we universally share and
‘Twas the Night Before Council —

And other legendarium of Saint Nicholas and the Christmas season.

‘Twas the Night Before Council —

And other legendarium of Saint Nicholas and the Christmas season.

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It was a cold winter’s night in Nicaea when a sudden blizzard enclosed the known world. Unprecedented as it was, bishops trudged across Christendom by hoof and foot to assemble in what was to be the first real effort to obtain a sacred consensus—the First Ecumenical Council. More than three
Reflections on the Necessity of Baptism —

Thoughts on its necessity, symbolism, and the consequences for rejecting it.

Reflections on the Necessity of Baptism —

Thoughts on its necessity, symbolism, and the consequences for rejecting it.

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Is water baptism necessary for salvation? Honestly, I’ve come to loathe this question. It’s too philosophical for everyone’s own good, and it causes nothing but confusion. What do we mean by necessary? For starters, everyone agrees that God is not bound by the water used in baptism to save someone.
Resurrection vs. Resuscitation —

What sets Christ’s bodily resurrection apart from other bodily raisings in the Bible?

Resurrection vs. Resuscitation —

What sets Christ’s bodily resurrection apart from other bodily raisings in the Bible?

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Within the Biblical record are at least nine instances of specific individuals being raised from the dead. Three of these are found in the Old Testament and include the raising up of a widow’s son by Elijah in 1 Kings 17, the raising up of a Shunammite woman’s son by