I was told self-defense is never allowed and is considered murder by a pastor. Challenge accepted. I was involved in a discussion where the topic of self-defense was brought up in a Bible study. It was recently brought to my attention again by someone else who was there about what happened that night. It wasn’t pretty, for several reasons and I realize in hindsight that I am still in disbelief over the conversation and how we all were treated and talked to. [I’ll do my best to paraphrase what happened] We were told that self-defense of any kind for any reason was absolutely against the Bible. (so is being in the military, but that’s for another day) A few of us put out in the conversation this question. If someone broke into your house and your wife or child were being attacked or raped, you wouldn’t fight back at all? The answer was no. Then he made an off-hand comment about giving a cloak to someone in need. I wish I was joking and could properly convey this pastor’s attitude toward us. According to him, we do not defend ourselves, at all for any reason, and if the worst happened it would always be murder if we protected ourselves, never self-defense. That’s where the discussion ended — in fact, he ended it, quickly, swiftly and like a bully. There was no allowance for further discussion from those who understood the language better to offer additional Biblical information to the discussion. It was his opinion and his alone that was correct. That, readers, is a serious red flag in any church and I’m going to break down his arguments, explain why it is unbiblical, and address his attitude in a two-part article. His first justification When Jesus was betrayed, Peter sliced off the ear of the servant of the high priest and Jesus chastised the disciple for doing what he did. This event is recorded in all four gospels, Matthew 26:47–55, Mark 14:47–50, Luke 22:49–51, and John 18:10. On the surface, this may appear to be a valid and solid argument against self-defense because Jesus chastised Peter. If you don’t study further. There are two details we need to examine with this situation. 1. A servant of the high priest was the one injured. This individual would have been made to come with the high priest despite what he felt on the matter. I read and view this person as the innocent bystander in this particular situation because he would not have been given a choice in accompanying the high priest. The reason for my belief? — The word δοῦλον (doulon). It was used in all four gospels to describe this particular individual. (I do think it’s relevant that all four gospels used the same word.) It comes from doulos which means “ Servant, Slave, Bondservant.” This was a person who was owned in some way by the high priest. “Doulos emphasizes who you belong to. You don’t get to make independent choices about your life, because you belong to someone else.” ~ Ezra Project The very word itself is synonymous with slave. 2. Peter did not use wisdom in this situation, he responded emotionally. While this was undoubtedly a tense and volatile situation. Jesus had forewarned his disciples that he would be betrayed, and it would end in His crucifixion. Peter reacted emotionally and impulsively and attacked the man without probable cause. Peter did not exercise wisdom, which is why what Peter did was wrong. Some other things to consider. “And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, whoever has no sword is to sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was counted with wrongdoers’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” Luke 22:36–38 * Why instruct them to buy swords if self-defense was never allowed? This was straight from Jesus; even to the end, He was still using what was happening around Him to teach us by example. Yes, absolutely, Peter messed up; that is not in question. But it is in this situation that we learn a significant difference between self-defense and murder. * Defense and self-defense are not new concepts in the Bible. The Israelites went to war and defended themselves a lot in the Bible; the Book of Esther is a good example. She requested that her people be allowed to defend themselves against attack, and God created a way for them to defend themselves, legally, I would like to point out. Also note that after they defended themselves, they did not take any spoils; it was not greed that motivated them, it was living. * Exodus 22:2–3 is also an example of self-defense and does require more than a precursory glance through. There have been varying questions asked regarding what is meant by the night vs day aspect for a long time, but ultimately, these verses are about self-defense. Blogger James Pate has an excellent article that takes you through various breakdowns and interpretations of this verse. I believe it would be very helpful to read as you explore this topic. * Jesus taught us to endure the insults that will come our way. He taught us to think before taking any action against someone who would hurt us and not to be vengeful. He taught us to forgive, show mercy, and be gentle and encouraged us to seek peace first and love our enemies. However, He did not command us to sit by and be violated either. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us He came to fulfill the law. What does that mean specifically? It means He came to promote the authority of God. He clarified, expanded, and taught us what we needed to know, how to act, give, pray, and many other things. He also confirmed that the law would remain until the second coming and called out those who would change the law in any way. That’s why the next section is really, really important regarding that so-called “conversation” I was a witness to. See, in Matthew 5:21–23, Jesus directly addresses Exodus 20:13 for us. “You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court." In both instances the word murder is derived from the Greek word φονεύς, our transliteration is Phoneuó which means “To murder, to kill." This Greek verb literally means “to commit murder or to kill unlawfully. It is used in the New Testament to describe the act of taking another person’s life with intent and malice.” (Biblehub.com) And yes, Jesus expands on that for us, He discusses the dangers of anger in ourselves and what that means for us. But Jesus never made a statement against our right to self-defense. That would have been the prime moment to clarify this subject, but He did not. He clarified that law for us in a personal manner, He did not change it. In fact Jesus NEVER took away our right to defend ourselves anywhere. To change this is what we define as heresy. Jesus gave them the necessary framework needed in how to behave and to go out in the world to spread the gospel. But never as target dummies. There’s also this. We have the Cities of Refuge in the Bible God told Moses and Joshua to provide for foreigners and anyone who took a life unintentionally or in self-defense. These cities were strategically placed for people to be able to get to them quickly and the roads were well maintained. Numbers 35:13–15 and Joshua 20:5–9 talk about these cities and what they were provided for. 2 Samuel 3:26–28 also confirms these cities were for situations of self-defense. “He who strikes someone so that he dies shall certainly be put to death. Yet if he did not lie in wait for him, but God caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If, however, someone is enraged against his neighbor, so as to kill him in a cunning way, you are to take him even from My altar, to be put to death.” Exodus 21:12–14 www.blueletterbible.org Self-defense had been acknowledged by God as something that would inevitably occur. Protective measures were set in place by God and never stopped by Jesus to protect the innocent. God’s law on murder was strict, and these cities provided people safety. Self-defense is the use of wisdom, knowledge, experience, tact, and common sense. © 2025 Jane Isley Part 2 is here. I will be going through the differences between kill and murder, how they are two different words, and my personal reflections on this conversation.

The word “church” bugs me to no end, not churches themselves per se, just the word because people have no idea what they're missing out on and just how badly it’s messed things up. Some time ago, there was a word edit during a translation and “congregation” formally became “church.” What was originally a word describing a group of people who followed Christ gathering together became a building to attend. What I’ve Seen I personally don’t like my worship being scripted, I want the freedom to talk, ask questions, get excited, and feel the Holy Spirit. Not have to look at the church pamphlet to know when I’m allowed to sing praises, say hello to my pew partner or when I’m expected to stand next. Worship shouldn’t be hard-core scripted; it cripples our growth. This doesn’t mean I’m opposed to an order of events to have it go smoothly, just that in a lot of my experiences with different churches I saw and felt a weight because of the rigid timetable set up for attendees. It felt more like a performance, with everyone stifling yawns and checking their watches because they wanted to get out of there, pastors included. How is the Holy Spirit supposed to work with that? I believe when the word “ekklésia” was formally instituted as “church” instead of “congregation” everything changed. A new definition started to take hold and our perspective of what it meant to gather followers together was altered into what we have now. Kings & Their Authority Issues You can ultimately blame King James for being the one who put this in motion. It started with his version of the Bible in 1611. Sorry ahead of time for those who are KJV-only readers, but the proof is in the pudding. Edict #3 King James clamped down hard on that word; he needed it to support what he was doing and wanted to continue to do, and that was to keep his authority over the Church of England. He created this edict because he had no authority or jurisdiction over a congregation (assembly of people). His authority was only over buildings, hence the need for the word tweaked to “church.” He wanted people in those buildings for control, he didn’t want them holding praise and prayer meetings in their homes. By forcing the word “church” into his translation and pushing his definition of it on the masses, he redefined what it meant to gather and worship in His name. Paul’s letters are the best example of what gathering together with others used to mean. Mentally, many are stuck on how “church” is defined now. We need to step back in time before there were thick walls and lines of pews standing in the way of worship. People used to meet in homes during Paul’s time, usually around a table with food and fellowship. People would bring prayers and songs to share with everyone, and people sat around a table enjoying good food and fellowship face-to-face with each other. It's that friendship, open acceptance despite class or color, and excitement of gathering that the Holy Spirit could really do some amazing things with. They moved around, and they went out into the world and spread the Gospel. They weren’t held in place by brick walls; the Holy Spirit can do a lot when people aren’t afraid to leave the safety of their pews. Some think I’m always harping churches, and well, yes, I kind of do, but only because I’m tired of what I see going on. It doesn’t mean that I believe people shouldn’t go to church or look for Bible studies or that all churches are “bad” for lack of a better term. I just think most could be doing a whole lot better than they are now. When I have gone to as many churches as I have and only found one that hits the mark of what my article is about, there’s a problem. I can’t help but wonder what would happen to the Christian faith if more understood the difference between “church” and “congregation.” Just imagine the possibilities. © Jane Isley First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

Just three words in English. “It is finished.” This wasn’t a defeat. It was a shout of victory. John records Jesus’ last cry in Greek: tetelestai. A single word, but one packed with such significance for all of us. So, what did that one word mean? In the marketplace, it meant: paid in full. Stamped across receipts when debts were cleared. In the military, it meant: mission accomplished. A soldier’s way of saying their assignment was done. In the temple, priests used it when a sacrifice was flawless. The lamb met every requirement. So when Jesus cried tetelestai, He was announcing: the debt is paid, the mission is complete, the sacrifice is perfect. How the Jewish Crowd Heard It Passover weekend. Jerusalem is packed with pilgrims. Lambs being led to the temple. Sacrifices prepared. The Jewish people lived under the rhythm of endless rituals. Every year, the lamb was slain. Every year, the blood flowed. Every year the cycle repeats. When Jesus shouted It is finished, He declared that the cycle had ended. One sacrifice, once for all. The Lamb of God had done what no lamb in Israel’s history could do — close the gap between God and humanity forever. How the Romans Heard It The Roman soldiers had their own take. To them, crucifixion was the empire’s exclamation mark: This man is finished. It was Rome’s way of saying, “Your story ends here. Don’t cross us.” So when Jesus cried out, they probably smirked. Another failed revolutionary, gasping his last. Rome thought it was silencing Him — when in fact, the cross was silencing every kind of death, itself. What Was Finished Let’s make it plain: Debt: Paid in full. No more IOUs hanging over humanity. Law: Fulfilled. Centuries of prophecy and ritual met their goal. Separation: Torn down. The temple curtain ripped top to bottom, access to God is wide open. Death’s Reign: Broken. The grave could not hold Him, and because of that, it can’t hold us either. Why It Matters for Us Fast-forward to today. Our world is full of things that never feel finished. The inbox refills. The bills stack up. The laundry multiplies. The work never seems done. But Jesus’ cry slices through the noise. It is finished means there is one thing that will never be undone: your acceptance before God. You don’t have to keep hustling to earn His love. You don’t have to carry shame like luggage you can’t set down. You don’t have to wonder if you’ve done enough, you haven’t, and you don’t need to. In a culture of exhaustion, It is finished is oxygen. It means the most important thing, the one thing that actually matters, is already settled. Hearing It Today The Jewish listener heard that there was now freedom from endless sacrifices. It was the triumph of love. And you? You can hear it as the end of striving, the canceling of debt, the freedom cry that still echoes two thousand years later. It is finished. Not as in “Jesus gave up.” But as in “Your chains are broken. Your debt is canceled. Your freedom is real.” Here’s a creative cover of “It Was Finished On the Cross” recorded during the 2021 lockdown. Check it out: © Gary L Ellis (1944–2026)

Imagine Sunday morning. The organ swells, the piano keys ring out, and a congregation rises to its feet. Voices, some strong, some trembling, some barely above a whisper, begin to sing. And then the word that gathers every voice into one: Hallelujah. Praise fills the sanctuary. It rises past the rafters. It has been sung in cathedrals and country churches, in hospital rooms and on front porches, for over three thousand years. What does this ancient word truly mean? Hallelujah is the one Hebrew word that has never been translated. It sounds the same on every continent, in every language on earth. It appears twenty-four times in the Book of Psalms and four times in Revelation chapter 19. It is the first word of worship and the last. And for those of us in the seasoned years of life who have sung it through decades of joy and sorrow alike, it is worth pausing to discover why it still matters so deeply. Hallelujah is a transliteration of the Hebrew הַלְלוּ־יָהּ (pronounced hal-le-lu-Yah). It is not one word but two, joined together into a single cry of worship. The first word is Hallelu (הַלְלוּ), comes from the Hebrew root halal (הָלַל), meaning to shine, to praise, to boast in, to celebrate. Hallelu is a direct command that means, “All of you, praise!” It is a holy command addressed to the entire community of faith. It is worth noting that from this same root halal we also get the word tehillah (תְּהִלָּה), meaning “a song of praise.” The Hebrew title for the Book of Psalms is Tehillim — “Praises.” Every time we open the Psalms, we open a book whose very name is born from this word. The second word, Yah (יָהּ) is the shortened, intimate form of God’s covenant name YHWH (יהוה, Yahweh). This is related to the Hebrew verb hayah, meaning “to be, to exist.” This is the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14–15). Yah is not merely a title. It is God’s personal, revealed identity. And this sacred name is woven throughout Scripture, even into the names of God’s servants: Elijah (Eli-Yah, “my God is Yah”), Isaiah (Yesha-Yahu), Jeremiah (Yirme-Yahu). Put them together, Hallelu + Yah, and you have a breathtaking declaration: “All of you, praise the LORD!” It is communal. It is commanded. It is personal. It is worship directed to the covenant God by name. With that understanding in our hearts, let us walk through the Scriptures and hear this word ring out. Consider Psalm 150, the great final psalm, known as the crescendo of the entire Psalter: “Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness!”~ Psalm 150:1–2 And then the psalm closes with this sweeping invitation: “Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!”~ Psalm 150:6 What an amazing psalm to end the entire book of Psalms. The focus returns to the eternal Creator, the One who deserves all the glory, praise, and worship! Notice how this single psalm answers every question about worship. Where do we praise? In His sanctuary and in the heavens. Why do we praise? For His mighty acts and His excellent greatness. How do we praise? With every instrument and every expression we can muster. And who praises? Everything that has breath. If you are breathing, you are called to praise. Psalm 146, the psalmist makes praise a lifetime vow: “Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul. While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.”~ Psalm 146:1–2 Do you hear the commitment? Praise is not seasonal. It is not reserved for when we feel well or when life is easy. It is the posture of a lifetime that is for “as long as I exist.” In the final book of the Bible, the word Hallelujah thunders once more. In Revelation 19, it appears four times, which is the only four occurrences in the entire New Testament, and it builds into this climactic moment: “I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!’”~ Revelation 19:6 A great multitude. Many waters. Mighty thunders. This is the sound of heaven itself as every Hallelujah we speak on earth joins that chorus. Our praise here is not separate from the worship of heaven; it is part of it. For my senior adults who offer praise: our Hallelujah carries a weight and a beauty that only years can give. First, remember that praise belongs in every season. Whether you are in good health or facing physical limitations, whether you are surrounded by family or sitting quietly alone, praise is your calling. A Hallelujah life is not dependent on circumstances. It is anchored in who God is: the great I AM who does not change. Second, praise with your whole story. You carry decades of witnessing God’s faithfulness: answered prayers, unexpected provisions, comfort in grief, strength in weakness. Your testimony of His “mighty acts” is a living Hallelujah. Share your story with the younger generation. It is worship. Third, remember that Hallelu is plural. Worship was never meant to be a solo act. Gather with your church family, your Bible study group, your neighbors. The fellowship of praise renews the soul in ways nothing else can. And finally, take comfort in this: Revelation 19 shows us that our praise here joins a chorus already ringing in heaven. Every Hallelujah spoken on earth reverberates in glory. You are not singing alone, you are singing with the saints of every age, and one day you will join that thunderous multitude face to face. As long as you have breath, you have a calling. May your life be a living Hallelujah, from now until you join the heavenly chorus. Hallelujah ~ Praise Yah! © 2026 Randy DeVaul, MA. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), public domain. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I’m currently working my way through a couple of books, and some online research, and a thought popped into my head, related to what I’m currently reading. The Root of the Problem I do this; we all do this. When we see a conflict, fight, disagreement, discord, etc., we are looking for the reason(s). I can look at an issue and list all sorts of reasons that either led to it or contributed to it, which causes it to be one giant, entangled snowball. The example I will be using for this article is technology in the classroom, since it is the least likely to cause a public outcry. Consistent use of technology and reliance on technology in schools has taken a massive hit on our students. This isn’t a post covid rant either; this trend has been going on for quite some time, but really ramped up in recent years. A 2025 article from ABC News uses the title “US students’ reading and math scores at historic lows: ‘Devastating trend’” to sum it up in a nutshell. The Reasons That Get Blamed If you read about the drop in reading, writing, and math skills, you will run into a lot of different reasons that are blamed. Technology is the leading contender, both what students use and work with in the class itself, as well as cell phones being allowed in schools. Other reasons that have been blamed over the years are things like a lack of money in districts, one-parent homes, unmotivated students, bad teachers, good study habits not being taught, mental health, and chronic absenteeism, just to name a few. But I find this next article's title to be the most telling and will ultimately go right to the point I am about to make, and that point isn’t just about education either. It just happens to be the safest example I can use. “Test scores are down, but experts don’t know exactly why.” I Know Why People are so busy chasing reasons that ignore miss the cause. Sin The example reasons I listed are not root causes; they are the fruit, and the fruit will never change until the root cause is addressed. The experts keep trying to treat the fruit. But nobody wants to face the root. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33 © 2026 Jane Isley.

Why were some animals considered unclean? Questions like this are what make the Bible so gloriously fun to me. Understanding why were some animals unclean in the Bible begins with recognizing the practical and symbolic purposes behind God’s distinctions. While digging for answers, you end up learning all sorts of unexpected things along the way. There’s definitely more going on here than just clean versus unclean animals. It all begins in Genesis, but let’s start in Leviticus instead. If you have ever read Leviticus 11, it can be overwhelming at first, and I’m definitely not going to quote the whole thing here or every single animal. I’m just shooting for the specifications and examples. Clean “divided hoof and that chews the cud.” “you may eat any that have fins and scales.” “some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.” And birds, we get by process of elimination. Unclean Here, I’m shooting for a basic list: Pigs, Camels, Thumper, Tom and Jerry, Dogs, Horses, Felines, Shellfish, Lizards, Bear, Squidward, Monkeys, Vultures, believe me, I could go on for quite a bit. The Obvious Question What did unclean animals have in common? It was because of their questionable eating habits. Such as eating already dead animals, eating decayed matter, hunting the weakest (usually the sickest or weakest) of the herd, meat eaters in general, or even yummier to think about are the ones that eat poo, whether their own or others. The common theme is that the stuff being eaten would make a human sick. Here is a fun nugget to check out, this is a great educational point if a nonbeliever tries to use this to prove the Bible is in error. (Had this happen to me years ago, got caught with my drawers down and completely blew it, so now you’ll be made wiser because of my mistake) Verse 6  ~  Rabbits “The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.” It’s not that “divided hoof” part that gets attention. It’s the “chews the cud” part that gets zeroed in on, because technically, they don’t chew cud like a cow, so therefore it's a full-blown Bible error according to nonbelievers, and yes, unfortunately, some will die on that hill. Without turning this into a 30-minute article. Have you ever watched a rabbit eat and then watched, say, a cow eat? Looks just like chewing cud, especially if they haven’t recently just finished a meal, but you see them doing it, that’ll make sense in a minute. So while they don’t have the same internal mechanics that a cow does, they do have to re-ingest partially digested food for the same process, the digestion of food. Basically, they eat one of two types of their own poo to finish their meal. Also, remember that Leviticus was written in Hebrew, not English. There’s more nuance in the original wording than a surface reading in translation might suggest. You can read about it here at Got Questions, because they nailed that. Back To Unclean Animals At the start of this article, I mentioned this all started back in Genesis. I know that probably doesn’t make sense, but there's a really neat layer going on here. “Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate,” Genesis 7:2 Noah was pre-Leviticus, yet clean and unclean animals were already established. Think about that for a second. Then consider this: Cain and Abel also both knew about sacrifices, way before Noah. “Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering — fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.” Genesis 4:3–4 Now, while yes, both are acceptable as offerings to God, and we know God didn’t care for Cain’s, but that’s not my point here. My point is that they both knew what was acceptable and what was not. There has always been some contention among people that God just sorta left people to figure things out on their own after Eden’s doors were closed, and that’s why things went so bad. But both Cain and Abel’s sacrifices, then Abel’s being described as “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock,” (which is very specific) along with Noah’s instructions from God and then his sacrifice of some clean animals and birds right after the flood, disprove that and prove a very direct interaction with mankind from the beginning. God has always told people what was what from the beginning. He didn’t just drop and walk on anyone. The world pre-flood was absolutely communicated with and made aware of what was acceptable to God and what was not. Giant Leap To The New Testament Now After Jesus died, all sorts of amazing stuff happened, and one of those was a very surprised Peter. Imagine over 400 years of dietary restrictions being lifted all of a sudden. There were practical and symbolic reasons for the restrictions. On the practical side, it was to keep the Israelites/Jews healthy; on the symbolic side, it was meant to set them apart from the rest of the world for a greater purpose. Mind you, that’s just a basic gist for the purposes of this article. So, back to Peter, in Acts 10, we get to see God basically set up one heck of a cool scenario. First, He blows Peter's complete sense of what is acceptable and not right out the window, and then, being brilliant as He is, God already had a plan in motion for Peter to go to a Gentile's place where he ate with them. There’s a bit more to that whole situation, where Peter got called out by Paul for being a hypocrite because he stopped out of fear of getting in trouble with other Jews. You can read Galatians 2 for that full story. My point with all this is, Jesus declared everything clean. “It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” and “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:12,15 Then Peter made a powerful connection: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism,” Acts 10:34 The message wasn’t just about food, it was about people, everything was made clean so all could come to God’s table and eat. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 © 2026 Jane Isley Sources & Recommended reads: Genesis 4, Genesis 7, Acts 10, Galatians 2 A Closer Look At The Bible’s Most Misunderstood Villain Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

False teaching is not new but the speed at which it travels is. This article gives you something practical and Biblically grounded to work with — worth reading slowly. As a Christian, I make it a point to be watchful in my walk of faith. By this, I mean that I am watchful of Satan’s deceptions — of false teachings, and especially cultish tactics. As I’ve grown in my faith with Christ, I have come across many concerning ‘Christian’ posts, sermons, or ideas that do not align with Jesus and His Word. And it has come to my attention through the Holy Spirit and the communications classes that I am taking that Christians need to do a better job of verifying the information they are coming across. We must remember to follow Jesus above all the lies, especially in the current communication climate we are in right now. Therefore, I am going to give some practical and Biblical tips for Christians, and possibly non-Christians, for this confusing time we are in. In my Foundations of Communications class, I learned about a helpful tool that allows one to carefully think about the information they are presented with at any time. This tool was formed by Karl Wallace, and it is called the ‘Moralities of Ethical Communication.’ (PDF) I will go through each of these moralities, and with each, there is a Bible verse that relates to its main idea. Without further ado, please enjoy Wallace’s Moralities of Ethical Communication. Habit of Search: The ethical practice of researching and verifying information before communicating, ensuring claims are accurate and well-informed. When we come across any post online, any sermon on a livestream, or in a church, we must be able to back up what is being said with Scripture. And while some false teachers use Bible verses to verify their claims, they only use a portion of a verse that solidifies their words, rather than seeing the actual context behind the whole verse. We must be scrutinizing the words behind every church sermon, every video, and every post we see. This doesn’t mean that you must be crazily suspicious and on high alert at every moment, but the habit of search encourages us all not to blindly follow anyone without proper verification. This past week, I was at a Bible study with other women at my college, and we came across a verse in Romans that perfectly encapsulates this ethical morality. “I urge you, my brothers: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people’s faith and go against the teachings which you have received. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people” (Romans 16:17–18). Many of the false teachers out there know what people want to hear, so they say it in a deceptively pleasing way to gain more followers. Just because someone’s speech is flattering does not mean that what they are saying is Spirit-led and accurate. Many acts of sin also feel pleasing in the moment, but afterwards, there is a realization of the evil done. And if you are a teacher yourself, I urge you to research your words– read the Bible more in depth, and engage with the history of Jesus Christ before communicating anything. 2. Habit of Justice: The ethical practice of distinguishing between fact and opinion fairly– avoid overly emotional reactions. When we come across these false teachings, we must be able to discern between facts and lies. Thankfully, we have the Bible to verify every single sermon, post, and video we see. And when the teachings we come across are false, we have a duty to let others know that what they are seeing/hearing is a lie. We must help others not fall into the trap of deception, and instead point them towards Scripture. Additionally, as humans, we obviously are going to form opinions– that’s just natural. However, we must remember to avoid overly emotional reactions (such as blind faith or hatred) to any opinion and stay rooted in the Truth. I think we often forget the term ‘patience’ and instead are inclined towards impulsivity. As I said, just because a person says something that makes you feel good or supports your opinions, it doesn’t always mean their words are correct. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that emotions are blessings and are wonderful aspects of life. But as with everything a part of human life, we must learn to have self-control and not go overboard. Going overboard leads to sin, and with sin, we harm ourselves and others. Instead, we must get into the habit of praying patiently for God’s guidance instead of jumping to conclusions. After all, Jesus endured the cross for us. We can endure the time it takes to verify and pray for guidance on a specific issue. As Proverbs 4 says, “Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don’t hang your head in shame. Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way” (24–27). “Don’t pervert justice. Don’t show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right” (Leviticus 19:15). As Christians, we are called to carefully think about our words and actions– especially because they play a larger role in how we conduct ourselves and treat others. So, if anyone comes across false teachings, avoid overly emotional reactions and patiently distinguish between fact and opinion. 3. Habit of Public vs. Private Motivations: The ethical practice of communicating with the public in mind, not for private motivations. Whether we come across a false teaching or we are about to teach something ourselves, we must remember to keep the general good of the public in mind. Rather than communicating for selfish desires, we must remember that Christ’s salvation extends to all, not just ourselves. I’ll admit, I catch myself being selfish pretty frequently. I think others can agree to this, too. It’s not easy living for Christ in a world that lives for itself. But when we remember that Christ suffered and died for all of us, we can learn to be more humble and loving towards one another. “We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body” (Romans 12:4–5). “Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another’s interests, not just your own” (Philippians 2:3–4). “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and do good” (Hebrews 10:24). Christians are called to have fellowship and work together for the common good– spreading the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. It is important when you are doing anything involved in communication that you are keeping the general good of all in mind, rather than following selfish motivations that lead to hurt and disarray. This is a common danger that is prevalent in the new age community. Many new age and cultish teachings lead to isolation and complete independence, which tricks people into thinking that they are better off without community or that they are better off with a select few people. I once fell into this rabbit hole, and it actually led me further away from my friends and constantly had me detaching myself from relationships if they weren’t going exactly where I wanted them to. I’m still struggling with the repercussions to this day, and am praying to God for healing. Additionally, when you are watching a post or a sermon that is clearly not keeping the public in mind, I urge you to remember the habit of justice and hold those people (the false teachers) accountable. Fellowship is a gift from God, and it is to be cherished and held with respect– not to simply be seen as an option. 4. Habit of Respect for Dissent: The ethical practice of fostering a culture where challenging perspectives are welcomed as opportunities for growth, rather than seen as personal attacks. Among all of the other habits, this one leaves a strong, finishing impact. As Christians, we will constantly run into posts that are filled with false teachings. However, we will also run into people and posts that disagree with Christianity or completely tarnish His image. Although these are discouraging to run into, they are inevitable. And while they are disrespectful to Christ, we must remember to still respect others, even if they don’t respect us. We must not shy away from challenging perspectives. On the contrary, we should welcome them and use them as opportunities to spread the Word. As I mentioned, if a false teaching is spread through a sermon or post, I encourage you to hold those teachers accountable and respectfully engage in debate with them. With people/posts attempting to challenge Christ, I encourage you to learn more about why that person may have those beliefs and listen to their point of view. If the opportunity arises, share your testimony and why exactly you believe in Jesus. Instead of seeing these moments as personal attacks or moments of weakness, use them as ways to grow in your faith. Use these moments as ways to point others to Jesus. For holding believers accountable: “Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father” (1 Timothy 5:1). For engaging in discussion, not arguments with nonbelievers: “Welcome the person who is weak in faith, but do not argue with him about his personal opinions. One person’s faith allows him to eat anything, but the person who is weak in the faith eats only vegetables. The person who will eat anything is not to despise the one who doesn’t; while the one who eats only vegetables is not to pass judgment on the one who will eat anything; for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of someone else? It is his own Master who will decide whether he succeeds or fails. And he will succeed, because the Lord is able to make him succeed” (Romans 14:1–4). Through all the worldly lies, we can be assured that Jesus is with us every step of the way. By keeping Scripture nearby and having a dose of patience, we are able to be better communicators as Christians. Through this, we not only will be stronger in our faith, but we also will be pointing observers to Jesus Christ (because you never know who might be paying attention to you!) I hope you all enjoyed this article, and I encourage you to research more about Karl Wallace and his four Moralities of Ethical Communication! OTHER VERSES THAT RELATE “Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend” (Proverbs 7:4). “To the man with insight, it is all clear; to the well-informed, it is all plain” (Proverbs 8:9). “What you think is the right road may lead to death” (Proverbs 14:12). “Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you” (Romans 12:3). “And God, our source of peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20). “Whoever thinks is standing firm had better be careful that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). “By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God’s servants– by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and defend ourselves” (2 Corinthians 6:6–7). “The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons, but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). © 2026 Sienna Krieg. 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It was refreshing to get genuine questions from a reader who made sure I knew right away he wasn’t out for a fight, and they are genuine questions that are well worth the time to answer. I also knew I could not answer them to the best of my ability in a comment section. So we are here now, to do my best to answer and hopefully not confuddle anything. Here are this gentleman's questions in response to my article “He died for all sinners.” The straight-laced, non-answer answer to the first part as to why die for our sins would be to retort back and say something along the lines of “Well, He died so we could go to Heaven.” Like I said, a non-answer answer and doesn’t necessarily clarify anything if you are a non-believer, the curious, or a believer scratching your head trying to understand it. Wanting to know the reason behind the reason is perfectly normal; we don’t go to a car dealership and not pop the hood and ask a million questions first before we decide to buy the car. The Reason Behind The Reason  So why would God, the creator of everything, need or want to do this? Why choose death for sins instead of something else? I’ll be completely honest, entire books are dedicated to this one question, so there is stuff I will not be able to cover completely or even touch on. I’m just going to do this how I would in person, and take out the jargon and be human, because I, too, asked these same questions once. I wanted a teacher, not a preacher. To begin, it ultimately boils down to two starting points, from how I see it in my brain. (Others have different starting points, and that doesn’t mean any of us are wrong, just different.) Sin became a part of our lives. God cannot tolerate sin because He is just, and sin needs to be punished. Sin can not and should not be tolerated; if God tolerated sin of any kind, He would have to tolerate all sin. If He did that, then good would no longer exist, sin would take over, and our understanding of good and bad would cease to exist completely and become a constant state of grey. It had to stay black and white. If there were no firm line drawn between to two, I couldn’t even imagine what that world would begin to look like. He outright refuses to tolerate sin, and for good reason, sin leads to death. We are told this from the beginning in Genesis. A death that is beyond just our heartbeat stopping, a death that results in all of us never being able to be within His presence again. A Gap We Cannot Bridge On Our Own. First, we need to recognize that God didn’t want puppets. I mean, what’s the point of a real relationship if you are in control of every aspect of it, including their thinking? There is no point, we get to choose of our own accord and will, always. He created something beautiful and perfect that He wanted to share, then sin entered. (Oh, and yes, lots could be written on that topic, and I’d barely scratch the surface because of the complexity, super in-depth is best left to the pros who have spent their lives diving into that subject, I’m nowhere near that yet.) If sin had not entered our world, God wouldn’t have been put into the position He was put into. He easily could have snuffed Adam and Eve out and started over — or some like to think at least. See, God connected with us through the breath of life, which was exclusive and unique to us. He made a point of setting us apart from the animals He created by giving us a soul, that connection and purity allowed Adam and Eve to be in His presence. We are given a hint of this perfection in Genesis 3:8. If sin had not entered the world, we’d still be in Eden, walking and talking with God in His presence, like nothing happened; we would be in paradise without a moment's worry. What kind of God would He be if He had snuffed Adam and Eve out? And this includes us, btw, because from the very beginning He knew us, He knit us together, and appointed us. That's an intimate gesture towards us. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 Would He have just left their souls, which are connected to Him, floating out there for all eternity, feeling the weight of sin with no possible way to be redeemed, no possible way to be reconciled, and no possible way to ask forgiveness? — I’m not even going to pretend that I fully understand the “why did things have to go down the way they did in Eden?” My thought on that matter is maybe it had to play out that way so the ones who chose God are truly, completely, and willingly with God as individuals and not puppets? Probably an unpopular thought, but it’s what I got, I don’t know the why, and that’s ok. It happened, now we have to deal. This is where those harder questions come in: Why send Himself to suffer and die for us? Why was death needed? Couldn’t He have done something else? This is epically one of the hardest concepts to wrap the brain around, trust me, I’ve been there. So, here we are now with sin in the world that separates us from God. For us to even enter Heaven, we have to be resurrected and transformed with new bodies. Also important to note, we actually get a new Heaven and Earth (2); we need new bodies to be in our new Heaven and Earth. God will create a new environment free from sin for believers so we can once again be in His presence. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” Now, sin has to go somewhere; sin is a transgression against God’s law. The sin in the world has to be conquered and separated from us, so that we are no longer separated from God. That black and white situation I talked about earlier. To explain it as best I can, sin is a debt, a debt we can not pay on our own. Sin is too heavy, too dark, too unholy for a person (human) to carry to Heaven. Jesus (the Son of God) came to literally carry that debt; He took it upon Himself, into Himself, so that we are free of it when we die and meet Him in Heaven because He was the perfect “vessel” for lack of a better word, to take all sin, carry it, and destroy it. This Was An Act Of Mercy We are not left hanging, trying to carry our sins with us for eternity, constantly separated from God. Sin strangles our soul with its weight. We now have the chance to be free of our sins and be with Him once again — if we so choose. (more on that later) “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 Did you catch that? “In His Body.” He carried the full weight of every sin in Himself. Our death (the worst then heart-stopping kind of death) had to be defeated by His death. He paid that price (atonement) for us because sin has to be paid for, but the system was flawed; it is a transgression against God’s law, and God provided a way for us to be with Him again. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1 Now, What About Hitler? First, we have no idea what Hitler was thinking when he killed himself, so I’m not going to theorize on that. But what we can know for sure is that he was a sinner. A sinner like you and me. As hard and unfathomable as it is, we do not have the right to deny God and His forgiveness to anyone. I’m sure if the victims of the holocaust knew Hitler repented, as in truly and completely repented, some would have an extremely hard time with that. How could God forgive a man like that, though? Simple, the same way He did for you and me. Here’s the catch, though, Hitler wouldn’t be able to just mouth the words “God forgive me for my sins and I give you mine and my wife’s life because I don’t deserve to live?” and expect to be in Heaven. Doesn’t work like that for anyone. You want salvation? You have to mean it; otherwise, God will not recognize you on judgment day. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:20–23 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32–33 Repentance is the only way anyone is getting into Heaven. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Act 3:19 Jesus’s death wasn’t some blanket atonement packet for everybody to get into Heaven; you have to repent, you have to want to follow Him, you have to want to change, you have to have faith in Him, His death, His resurrection, and His atonement for believers. We want God to forgive us for our sins, and cherish knowing we will see Him on judgment day and hear, “I Know You.” We may not like it, but we have no right to deny this to anyone if they have chosen Him. We are also told to forgive those who have sinned against us. Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 6:12, and Luke 17:3–4. As well as told “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” 1 John 3:15. This can be hard, even painful to accept, and many will turn away just because of this last section alone. But we truly do not have any right to deny salvation to anyone. If you believe you deserve it, so do they. We have no right to point fingers at someone else’s sin and deem it as worse than ours, and therefore, they are to be denied Heaven because it’s what we want and what we believe. Salvation doesn’t play favorites, and neither does God when someone turns and comes to Him. We don’t have to like it, but you do have someone who can help you come to accept this, and that He loves us all. ☝ I hope I have done as well as I can in answering and didn’t go too squirrely. There is no way to cover the vast points that could still be included, but I hope this helps at least answer a few questions and get you in the right direction for further study. © Jane Isley Sources: (1) simplybible.com (2) In God’s presence once again — Revelation 21 Got Questions: What is the meaning of atonement? Soul and womb — Psalm 139:13–16 We must confess our sins — 1 John 1:9 No one comes to the Father except through me. — John 14:6 “But made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 New bodies: Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15:42–44, & 2 Corinthians 5:1–4

Most neuroscientists support the idea that the mind arises from brain activity. They believe the mind is what the brain does, much like digestion is what the stomach does. However, this view doesn’t answer the bigger question of where consciousness comes from. [1] Is the mind entirely dependent on the brain or not? What about the soul? Is there any scientific evidence that it exists? Background Dr. Michael Egnor, professor of neurosurgery at Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York, and science writer Denyse O’Leary discuss these profound questions in their excellent book, The Immortal Mind. [2] They argue that research in neuroscience, near-death experiences, and philosophy reveals that the mind demonstrates qualities that transcend physical explanations. Split Brain, EEGs, Conjoined Twins, and NDE Experiments In the late 1980s, Dr. Egnor had to perform a corpus callosotomy procedure(splitting the brain in half) on a young man suffering from severe seizures. He was wondering if his patient would have two centers of consciousness after the procedure. What he discovered after the surgery was that his patient was free from seizures and still a single, unified person, normal in every respect. [3] The Penfield experiments (1930s-50s) were conducted by neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield. He mapped many areas of the brain by stimulating sections of patients’ brains under local anesthesia and recording their responses to questions about what they saw, felt, or remembered. He was unable to stimulate the patient’s brain to produce abstract thought, such as reasoning and free will, and finally admitted in 1975 that the brain had not fully explained the mind. [4] In Chapter 4 of The Immortal Mind, Dr. Egnor shared the story of the Hogan twins, Krista and Tatiana, born in 2006 in British Columbia, Canada. They were conjoined twins who shared extensive brain tissue, yet researchers found that despite sharing many sensations and motor control, they did not share abstract reasoning, showing that each twin retained their own mind and personhood. [5] Dr. Egnor examined near-death experiences (NDEs) in Chapter 5 of his book. His research identified four consistent features of NDEs that have no materialist explanations. These features reported by his patients include clear, organized thinking, verifiable observations, encounters with deceased people, and life-changing transformations following the experience. They provide powerful evidence that consciousness exists independently of the body and is best explained by the soul’s continuity beyond death. [6] Dr. Egnor also noted Michael Sabom’s research (author of Light & Death) into NDEs. In these experiments, Sabom documented patients making conscious choices during NDEs, such as moving toward a light or deciding when to return to life. His research supports the idea that free will is not entirely bound to material processes, since the ability to choose was evident even when the brain was clinically inactive. [7] The Immortal Soul and Free Will In Chapters 7 and 8 of his book, Dr. Egnor discussed the reality of the soul and free will. He explained that everything mortal about a human being disintegrates after death, but everything immaterial about the person, such as their choices, continues on. Their choices are a unity, just like justice, mercy, and love are a unity. He made the point that the soul has no location apart from the body, since only through the body’s behavior can aspects of the soul be known. [8] He also illustrated how free will denial is self-refuting by nature. He said that the laws of physics that govern the arrangement of Scrabble pieces as they fall to the floor have no intrinsic “truth value”. Therefore, if our thoughts are based entirely on the laws of physics, then our thinking has no “truth value” either. [9] Dr. Egnor provided evidence from neuroscience and physics to support the existence of free will, citing the work of Aspect, Clauser, and Zeilinger (2022 Nobel Prize winners), who showed that nature is governed by probabilities rather than certainties. [10] In chapter 9, Dr. Egnor wrote extensively on different models of the mind, including behaviorism, identity theory, functionalism, and eliminative materialism. He also discussed the limitations of the materialist’s view of consciousness, concluding that, rather than thinking itself, consciousness is the ability to think. Chapter 10 was extremely interesting, providing evidence that the mind has no history. Dr. Egnor argued that the phenomenon of abstract thinking in human beings could not have evolved through natural selection. He pointed out that there is no DNA for abstract thinking, and what is missing from animal minds is abstract thinking. He also said that no evidence of earlier animal minds has been discovered. [11] Philosophical Implications of an Immortal Soul I’ve rarely read a book that left such a strong impression on me. I found myself marking page after page because of the depth and insight it offered into the human experience. What is remarkable is how logical Dr. Egnor’s conclusions seem after surveying all the evidence. I now see why abstract reasoning and free will don’t arise from the brain itself in the same way that movement, memory, and emotions do. In the latter part of the book, Dr. Egnor examined Aristotle’s understanding of reality in terms of substances and form, and his approach to philosophy in relation to three types of souls (vegetative, sensitive, and rational). He brought up Thomas Aquinas’ approach to philosophy in relation to Christianity and the reality of the human spirit. Dr. Egnor said that human beings are actually hybrids, consisting of spirit and matter, connecting the spiritual and material worlds. [12] Next, Dr. Egnor explored the relationship between human survival and belief in God, offering logical and scientific reasons to believe in a mind behind the universe. He went over five ways to know that God exists, including arguments for design and morality. I really loved Chapter 13, “Does AI Really Change Everything? Anything? His analysis of how AI really works comforted me immensely and eased my fears. He showed that computers lack creativity or common sense because everything they do boils down to processing 1s and 0s. In his conclusion, Dr. Egnor discussed the truths that matter most (the chapter’s title). In it, he reiterated the fact that since we have souls, and since our souls are spiritual, they are destined for eternity, and this is the most important thing about us. He said our souls were made in the image of God, so we have the responsibility to treat every person with dignity, regardless of whether they are still in the womb, are handicapped, elderly, or of a different race or religion. Conclusion In The Immortal Mind, Dr. Egnor and Denyse O’Leary provide scientific evidence for the fact that human beings are both body and soul. We see in this book that the immaterial nature of the mind, the persistence of consciousness beyond brain function, and the moral and rational capacities of humanity all testify to the divine image within us. This knowledge reminds us that we are only capable of knowing truth, beauty, and love because we were created by an infinite, personal, immaterial God. © 2026 Debra Hodges. References 1. Parshall, A. (2026, January 20). Where does consciousness come from? Two neuroscience theories go head-to-head. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-does-consciousness-come-from-two-neuroscience-theories-go-head-to-head/ 2. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025.See also: “Michael Egnor: Science Offers Evidence of an Immaterial Mind,” Mind Matters, May 31, 2025. https://mindmatters.ai/2025/05/michael-egnor-science-offers-evidence-of-an-immaterial-mind/ 3. Egnor, M. (2025, June 2). Brain split, not mind. Science and Culture Today. https://scienceandculture.com/2025/06/new-book-the-immortal-mind-out-today-the-brain-can-be-split-but-not-the-mind/ 4. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 28–31). The Brain Can Be Split, but Not the Mind 5. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 75–83). When Two Minds Mush Share Body Parts. 6. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 93–101). The Human Mind Beyond Death. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1052005/m2/1/high_res_d/vol1-no1-44.pdf 7. Sabom, M. B. (1982). Light & Death: One Doctor’s Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experience. New York: William Morrow & Company. 8. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 124–125). Immortality of the Soul Is a Reasonable Belief. 9. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 139–140). Free Will Is a Real and Intrinsic Part of the Soul. 10. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (p 141). Free Will Is a Real and Intrinsic Part of the Soul. 11. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 168–180). Free Will Is a Real and Intrinsic Part of the Soul. 12. Egnor, Michael, and Denyse O’Leary. The Immortal Mind. Worthy Publishing, 2025 (pp. 188–190). What Does It All Mean? Neuroscience Meets Philosophy.

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” ~Exodus 20:17 Whenever I come across a “you must not” or “do not” in the Bible, something in me immediately asks: okay, but what can I do? What’s the alternative? What’s on the other side of this prohibition? It’s just my curiosity, and honestly, it’s led me to some of the richest discoveries in the Word. The tenth commandment is one of them. When God says don’t covet, I hear two things underneath it: be content with what you have, and stop measuring your life against everyone else’s. Simple enough to say. Genuinely difficult to live. A Word I Had to Look Up My first language isn’t English. And while I’d come across the word “covet” before, something nudged me recently to actually stop and look it up properly. I was reading through Deuteronomy in my new NLT study Bible, a gift from my mother and sister, when I hit the word in chapter 7:25. I paused. Checked the dictionary. Google defines it as: “to yearn to possess or have something.” A deep desire. A craving. An obsession. That definition opened something up for me. Because coveting isn’t just mild envy. It’s an ache. It’s Achan in Joshua 7:21 saying, “I wanted them so much that I took them.” That craving cost Israel their first defeat at Ai. One man’s internal obsession became a national disaster! So the question worth sitting with is: what actually drives someone to covet in the first place? The First Murder Was a Comparison Problem Genesis 4. Cain and Abel. God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. And instead of asking why, or seeking help, or simply trying again differently, Cain’s face fell. He scowled and anger took root. God even warned him directly: sin is crouching at your door. You need to overcome it. Cain didn’t listen. And the first murder in human history happened between two brothers. Not strangers. Brothers! What drove him there? Comparison. Jealousy. The unbearable feeling that his brother had something he didn’t, something God had approved of, and he hadn’t. This is, if you think about it, the earliest recorded example of “comparison is the thief of joy.” And it ended in death. 1 Corinthians 13:4 says: “Love is not jealous or conceited or proud.” Cain didn’t love Abel. He envied him. And envy, left unchecked, goes to places we never imagined we’d go. It’s Not Just an Old Testament Problem The elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Remember him? His younger brother had wasted everything, come crawling back, and their father threw a party. And the elder brother, the one who had stayed and worked faithfully all those years, stood outside fuming. He told his father: “All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.” Luke 15:28–30. One comparison. One brief moment of measuring himself against his brother’s sudden celebration. And it ignited resentment in a man who had every reason to be at peace. Even the disciples weren’t immune. When James and John asked Jesus if they could sit on either side of His throne, the other ten were not pleased. Mark 10:41. They wanted the same thing. They felt the pull immediately. Nobody is above this. It’s wired into human nature. Proverbs 14:30 puts it bluntly: “Peace of mind makes a body healthy, but jealousy is like cancer.” Cancer. That’s not a mild word. Sandra Stanley, in one of her devotionals on comparison, makes an observation that stuck with me: when we feel we don’t measure up to others, envy and jealousy take root. But when comparison seems to favour us, pride and arrogance move in instead. And the most dangerous version, she says, is when we quietly take pleasure in someone else’s failure or misfortune. There are people who feel a small, secret satisfaction when a friend’s relationship breaks down or a colleague misses a promotion. Comparison has no winners. Only different kinds of losers. So What Do We Actually Do? Recognise that you’re unique. No two people on this planet share the same fingerprints. Think about that for a second. Out of eight billion people, not one has the same pattern on their fingertips as you do. God told Jeremiah: “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born, I selected you.” Jeremiah 1:4. That wasn’t just for Jeremiah. Every one of us has been personally selected for something. A purpose that fits us specifically. We’re not meant to spend our brief time here trying to be like someone else or doing it better than the person next to us. Ephesians 2:10 says: “God made us what we are…for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.” Already prepared. Already assigned. Before you even knew what you were good at. Cultivate genuine gratitude. When comparison creeps in, gratitude is one of the few things that actually pushes back against it. Not forced positivity. Real, specific gratitude for what’s actually in your life. 1 Corinthians 10:26 says: “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.” Everything around you, even the ordinary things, carries His fingerprints. Hebrews 13:5 adds: “Be satisfied with what you have, for God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.’” And Paul in 1 Timothy 6:6: “Religion does make a person rich, if he is satisfied with what he has.” Contentment isn’t settling. It’s a spiritual discipline. And it’s one the enemy hates, because a contented person is very hard to manipulate. Learn to genuinely celebrate others. Romans 12:10 says: “Be eager to show respect for one another.” Not polite, surface-level congratulations. Actual, intentional celebration of the people around you. Their wins, their milestones, their answered prayers. Hebrews 12:14 says: “Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.” We all have different gifts. Different timings. Different assignments. When someone around you gets the thing you’ve been waiting for: that’s not evidence that God forgot you. It’s evidence that He’s moving. Your turn is in His hands. God didn’t include “do not covet” in the Ten Commandments arbitrarily. It sits at the end of the list because it’s the root of so much that comes before it: stealing, adultery, greed, discord, discontentment. James 3:16 says: “For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” One commandment. One quiet, internal attitude. And it touches almost everything. Stay in your lane. Count your blessings. Celebrate others. And trust that the One who selected you before you were born hasn’t forgotten what He put you here to do. If this reflection encouraged you, you can support my writing or future reflections here. Your support simply helps me continue sharing thoughtful pieces like this. Thanks for reading! © 2026 Dr. Anudeep Manne. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.