When Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth,'” he is quoting Leviticus 24:20 of the Old Testament. This phrase is sandwiched in between Leviticus 24:17, “Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.” and Leviticus 24:21b, which repeats the line. This is the Old Testament command for the death penalty. Jesus then says but I tell you, and goes on to give a new command that is the exact opposite of the death penalty. You can read it for yourself above.
Ep. 36: Interview with David Swanson on Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity
Noah interviews Pastor David Swanson on his book Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity.
David W. Swanson is the pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. He helps lead New Community Outreach, a nonprofit that collaborates with the community to reduce sources of trauma, and speaks around the country on the topics of racial justice and reconciliation.
All Lives Matter vs. Black Lives Matter
It prompted me to write this post about what Black Lives Matter (or “black lives matter”) means and doesn’t mean, looking at the values of Black Lives Matter & All Lives Matter and say-it-ain’t-so, actually finds some common ground between the two.
Ep. 33: How to Talk About Politics and Polarizing Issues (Part 2)
Noah continues the conversation started in Episode 32’s interview with Preston Sprinkle on how to talk about politics and polarizing issues in this divided cultural climate we find ourselves in.
Why Jesus & John the Baptist got to call people names and you don’t (especially your government officials)
Most people have been in agreement and very supportive. A few were distracted by my analogy of “How would you like it if you were doing the best you could at your job and people were belittling and insulting you for it?”… saying that our government officials are not doing the best they can (therefore we can insult them). I wasn’t expected that distraction to be there, as it’s obviously not the point of the post, but decided to keep it in after people started commenting. But what really got me thinking was the few commenters who referred to Jesus and John the Baptist calling 1st century religious leaders a “brood of vipers.” Saying that since Jesus and John set this example, then we by all means can do that to our government officials today.
I Treated Sex Like a Vending Machine: Pastor Noah’s Story (Part 2)
When I got married on June 19, 2004, I thought my sexual purity problems were in the rearview mirror for good.
I had been porn-free for over two years, was leading sexual purity small groups, and had regular accountability. I was also reading Christian sexual purity books that told me if I starved my eyes from lustful looks and images, there would be a “sexual payoff” in my marriage. My wife and I were both virgins when we got married, and I was ready for this payoff.