by Drew Smith | Nov 12, 2008 | Opinion
Jesus does not command us to forgive others as an act to which we begrudgingly submit. Rather, Jesus understands the power of forgiveness to transform enemies into friends. What do the words Jesus gives us to pray mean? Is forgiveness really demanded of all followers...
by Drew Smith | Nov 4, 2008 | Opinion
Jesus will break bread in the eschatological banquet and share with those oppressed by the social structures of the world. First, we need to understand that bread was a staple of the first-century diet, and calling on God to provide bread each day was an expression of...
by Drew Smith | Oct 23, 2008 | Opinion
The Lord’s Prayer calls us to venerate the name of God in our discipleship. But the practice also demonstrates the extent to which ancient Hebrews went in making sure that references to God were reverent and worshipful. Indeed, even in contemporary usage, many...
by Drew Smith | Sep 22, 2008 | Opinion
There is no doubt that Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies. Moreover, there is no room for negotiation with Jesus on this point. No intelligent person can present a persuasive argument against taking his command seriously. Indeed, while we attempt to...
by Drew Smith | Sep 9, 2008 | Opinion
A few years ago, as I was teaching on Jesus’ command to love our enemies, a very perceptive young man asked me, “How far should we go to love our enemies?” Not only was this a thought-provoking question, it was one I had never seriously considered...
