Dr Paul Allen

Philemon (New Testament person) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Does Christian brotherly love really work, even in situations of extraordinary tension and difficulty? Will it work, for example, between a prominent slave owner and one of his runaway slaves? Paul had no doubt. The apostle writes a “postcard” to Philemon , his beloved brother and fellow worker, on behalf of Onesimus —a deserter, thief, and formerly worthless slave, but after his conversion in Rome , now Philemon’s brother in Christ . With much tact and tenderness, Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back with the same gentleness with which he would receive Paul himself. Ordinarily, a runaway slave would be treated harshly; but Paul carefully reminds Philemon that, in Christ, he is now a fellow heir to the grace of God. Any debt Onesimus owes, Paul promises to make good. Knowing Philemon well, Paul feels confident that brotherly love and forgiveness will carry the day. Philemon was likely one of Paul’s converts and ha

Un divorce, roman de Paul Bourget (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “What can I do?” when reconciliation with the offended partner is impossible. This, of course, begs the question, What have you done? which must be addressed before an adequate answer can be given. Indeed, in considering these questions, it is impossible to give specific answers to each case. Therefore, it is better to follow the way of Scripture and look for principles that will give guidance to those who ask, “What can I do that will honor God and make amends to one whom I have wronged?” The first problem concerns one’s relationships with God . The Scriptures are clear that the marriage of one man and one women until death is a divine arrangement (Gen. 2:23–24; Matt. 19:4–6; Eph. 5:31). Only God gives the offended party permission for divorce in certain circumstances ( Matt. 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:15). Marriage is God’s covenant ( Prov. 2:17), and the one who divorces unbiblically offends the honor of God. There are tw

Image via Wikipedia Yes there is a moral law against them because the Bible actually does condemn them. Jesus Himself said, “From the beginning it was not so…” He commands that marriage be between one man and one woman.  He notes also that the relative lax standards for divorce in the old covenant were the result of our “hardness of hearts.” (See Mark 10 for this discussion.) There is irony here. Most of the time we squirm over the harshness of the Old Testament and find the New kinder and gentler.  Here Jesus narrows radically those circumstances where divorce might be permitted, and in the process rules out polygamy and concubinage.  Which raises this question- what does Jesus mean by “because of the hardness of your hearts?” Why were these things seemingly permitted in the Old Covenant ? For all its radical calls toward complete holiness in our lives, the Bible also shows remarkable wisdom and grace in how it deals with our corporate sins. God , in the Old Covenan