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Topic Archive: Theology

The End of a Matter

  POSTED: June 12, 2022
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): history • Theology
 TAG(S): beginning • Ecclesiastes • end • Jesus Christ

There is a passage in the book of Ecclesiastes that has always fascinated me. It is Ecclesiastes 7:8, which says, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Specifically, the first clause … Continued

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Thoughts on the “Body of Christ” Metaphor

  POSTED: April 9, 2022
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Theology
 TAG(S): body of Christ • Church • metaphor • spiritual discipline

In numerous places in the New Testament the apostle Paul refers to the church using the metaphor of the “body of Christ.” For example, he addresses the church at Corinth saying, “you are the body of Christ, and each one … Continued

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The Stargazing Christian Leader

  POSTED: January 11, 2022
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Theology
 TAG(S): Ephesians • leadership • Plato • Republic • Theology

In his classic work The Republic, Plato uses the analogy of a shipmaster to illustrate some important points regarding leadership of a state. In order to properly steer a ship to its destination (in Plato’s day anyway), the shipmaster must … Continued

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Ho Ho No: Why the Santa Myth is Hazardous for Children

  POSTED: December 21, 2021
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Cultural Observations • Ethics • Theology
 TAG(S): Christmas • deception • God • kids • lie • Santa Claus

In American culture the Santa Claus story is generally considered to be a fun and entertaining aspect of the holiday season. Parents everywhere get a kick out of convincing their kids that Santa is real. This deception is, of course, … Continued

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The Starting Point of Sin

  POSTED: August 15, 2021
  AUTHOR: Amy Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Family • Theology
 TAG(S): repentance • sanctification • sin

Some of you may know that month Jim, the kids, and I moved to southern Indiana as a result of his accepting a new position as head of school for Lighthouse Christian Academy in Bloomington. While this is the third … Continued

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A Biblical Tension Regarding Cursing the Wicked

  POSTED: June 7, 2021
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Ethics • Theology
 TAG(S): blessing • curse • imprecatory • prayer • Psalms • wicked

One category of biblical psalms is the so-called “imprecatory psalm.” These are psalms which invoke God’s harsh judgment upon those who do evil or otherwise oppose the things of God. One of the most severe among these is Psalm 109, … Continued

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Lessons from the Road

  POSTED: May 12, 2021
  AUTHOR: Amy Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Family • Theology
 TAG(S): faithfulness • God • lessons

The past year has been a rough one for all of us. The pandemic has hit everyone in one way or another. Diminished freedom, closed businesses, canceled travel plans, school shutdowns and of course the deaths of loved ones. As … Continued

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The Temptations of Intellectual Pride

  POSTED: February 18, 2021
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Philosophy • Theology
 TAG(S): academics • intellect • pride • temptation • vice • virtue

Many times over the years people have asked me about the dangers and pitfalls of studying philosophy, particularly for a person of faith. Usually the questioner has worries about the subject matter of philosophy—the questions that philosophers ask and, especially, … Continued

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Why the Last Shall be First

  POSTED: January 29, 2021
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Theology
 TAG(S): first • humility • Jesus Christ • last • servant

A recurrent theme in Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels is the so-called “upside-down kingdom”—the idea that the stations of human beings in the next world will be the reverse of what they are in this world. For example, in Luke … Continued

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Unconditional Forgiveness

  POSTED: December 27, 2020
  AUTHOR: Jim Spiegel
  TOPIC(S): Ethics • Theology
 TAG(S): condemnation • forgiveness • grudge • Jesus Christ • judgment • resentment • sin

This Christmas we once again celebrated the arrival to earth of the Messiah, whose mission was to achieve forgiveness of the sins of humanity. Naturally, then, the Advent season should prompt us to reflect on our own sins as well … Continued

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  • Not All Conspiracy Theories Are Equal July 3, 2022
  • Being Pro-Choice June 26, 2022
  • The End of a Matter June 12, 2022
  • Thoughts on the “Body of Christ” Metaphor April 9, 2022
  • The Stargazing Christian Leader January 11, 2022
  • The Best and Worst of 2021 December 31, 2021
  • Ho Ho No: Why the Santa Myth is Hazardous for Children December 21, 2021
  • Running up the Score October 17, 2021
  • The Starting Point of Sin August 15, 2021
  • Resign to the Grind July 5, 2021

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