I will be turning 68 this year. Which means I have lived almost 25,000 days on this crazy planet. Yet only three of those days had an impact so profound that everything changed. They were decades apart. All three contained what I like to call “moments of clarity.” You know the phenomenon when the world seems to just pause, and everything around you fades. Then something spiritual happens…be it good or bad. It’s like a “time out” when God has your full attention. Why do I believe in God? Because of three unique days. The first one came when I was only 8 years old. Day 1: When I Met The Skinny, Dirty, Dead Jesus. I hated kneeling on the old, worn kneelers in St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church. The pews were wooden, rock-hard, and well-worn. Because I attended their school as a child, my khaki uniform pants frequently found themselves looking for a spot that still had padding left. I was small. The back of the pew hit just below my chin. My folded hands assumed the prayer position and rested on the hymnal slots. The priest went through the familiar ritual of a Catholic mass: stand up in this part, sit down in this part, and say the right words at the right time in unison. That’s when I noticed Jesus for the first time. Behind the altar hung a giant crucifix. Hanging on the cross was a weak, frail, battered, and bloody Jesus. His head, adorned with a crown of thorns, hung forward because he had been killed. His ribs showed. He had no muscles. He was naked except for a loincloth. Blood poured out of his side. And nails were driven through his hands and feet. His eyes were closed, but his face looked sad. Defeated. The singing and chanting somehow faded that day. There was no smell of incense or flickering rows of lit candles. There was only his face. I stared at it for what seemed like an eternity. I couldn’t stop looking at that melancholy expression carved out of wood. I wished he would look up and see me…notice me. But he didn’t. He just hung there. That’s when it hit me: no wonder he couldn’t protect me and my sisters from child sex predators. He was too tiny, too frail, and too powerless to do anything about it. Every week, a black car with an older man would pick us up from a home daycare where my single working mother left us. He would take us to a location where they would do despicable things to other children and us. They would film it. They broke us in ways I thought could never be fixed. When the car showed up, my sister and I would try to hide in the bushes on the side of the house in terror. We asked God to save us. But he didn’t. I couldn’t understand why? I was only five. My sisters were seven and ten. We did everything they told us to do in Catholic school. We were being good. I occasionally asked my mom for a dollar so I could light a candle. Surely Jesus would help us if I lit a candle. But he didn’t. What was happening? I finally understood that day in the only way an eight-year-old could. Jesus didn’t let that happen because he hated or ignored us. He couldn’t stop it. He was weak, powerless, and dead. He was like me: a victim of powerful evil abusers who did whatever they wanted to whomever they wanted to abuse. Nuns told us Jesus was a glorious, powerful King of Kings. But he looked just like me: a person broken beyond repair. I didn’t hate Jesus. I wasn’t angry or bitter. He became real to me that day in a very dysfunctional and misunderstood way. We had something in common. I wouldn’t walk away from Christianity looking back in disgust. Instead, I would look forward, seeking the “real power” in this world. The dark lord behind the abuse. The hidden god who had the power to hurt children and kill Jesus. And years later, I would be indoctrinated into the church of Wicca. Day 2: It Was A Good Day To Die I was a genius. I had been quietly planning my own demise for quite a while. How could I make the pain stop and leave this world with my wife and kids well provided for? My insurance policy would leave them quite a nest egg. But there was a clear “suiclde clause” included. And I needed to beat the system to ensure a payout. Gunshot? Nope. Too traumatic and messy. Poison? Nah. Hanging? Too dramatic. And then I hatched the perfect plan. Note: I didn’t really want to die. I just wanted the pain to stop. I had an addiction that wouldn’t cease regardless of how many 12-step meetings I attended or “Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse” sessions I joined. I kissed my wife and kids goodbye. And hopped a flight from Texas to Denver. I drove to Winter Park to spend the night. In the morning, I would search for the exact spot to “accidentally” drive off the side of a mountain and plunge to my death. It was the perfect plan: a dumb Texan going too fast on a winding road without a guardrail in Rocky Mountain National Park. All I had to do was leave skid marks, so it looked like I tried to stop. This is when the day started getting weird. I woke before the sun came up and had my last breakfast. As I was standing by my rental car preparing to leave, the sun broke over the top of a mountain to the east. A single beam of light hit me in the face. Nothing else around me was lit up, just my face. How did the sun “just happen” to rise between two mountain peaks and hit my face like a spotlight? I closed my eyes and basked in the warmth for a minute. I felt a peace like I never felt before. And that was my sign. Above 10,000 feet, the trees disappear. It is called a tundra. I found the ideal mountain with an S-shaped curve without a guard rail. I stood at the edge. The drop was at least a thousand feet. Perfect! I backed the car up to get a running start. I needed enough speed to make it look like I was out of control. I put the car in drive, about to mash the gas pedal. That’s when a voice so strong, so powerful, the kind that could speak the stars into existence, spoke to me. He said, “Stop!” I put the car into park, opened the door, and walked up to the top of that mountain. It wasn’t far. I sat there weeping and angry. I wanted to die. Why did Jesus stop me? Does he like to see me suffer for decades? I didn’t understand. I bought this jacket in the Ski Shop of the Viking Inn. I wanted to look good when they found my body. It is still referred to as the “Suiclde Jacket”. I keep it so I never forget what God did for me. I sat on the ground. There was a quietness I had never experienced before. It was a spooky, deafening quietness. And then Jesus showed up. It sounded like a gust of wind that I could hear far away heading my way from my right. I could see for miles. But I saw nothing. The rushing sound was out of place, like it didn’t belong. It was getting louder as it approached closer and closer. It seemed like it was going to go right past me, like hearing a motorcycle or car approach and head off in the other direction. But it suddenly stopped right in front of me. I didn’t see anything. It was dead quiet. But I knew someone was standing there. Was it God? Jesus? Some angel? I don’t know. I anticipated it was going to speak to me in a soft, comforting voice. Maybe say something like “I know what you’ve been through”, and then cuddle me with comfort. I was wrong. The voice was angry. Clear. And had an authority I can’t describe. It could have brought that mountain down flat or boiled the ocean with a single word. “Who are you to think you can take your own life?” He thundered. I was shocked. I’ll spare you the details of the life-changing dialogue. He finished with: “Now go down, go home, and live!” Then suddenly the sound of the wind departed to the left and traveled until it disappeared over the horizon. I stayed for a long-time crying. When I got down to the car, I forgot that I had left the engine running and the driver’s door open. A couple was at my car looking to solve the mystery of the missing driver. As I approached, the woman looked at me, really looked me in the face, the kind of look I longed for at eight. She asked, “Are you OK?” For the first time in my life, I answered truthfully, “Yes, I’ll be OK." I went home and hugged my family. I couldn’t stop kissing my young children. I was freed to love fully. Day 3: The Day I Insulted Jesus, And He Left. It’s been more than 10 years since I attended a weekend retreat for men called “Tres Dias”. It’s three days with no phones or outside contact, lots of prayer, praise, and Bible study. The weekend is broken down into sessions, each with a theme. Saturday morning was a session on “Study.” I sat there with my well-worn Bible as a seasoned Bible teacher, thinking I would “phone this one in” because I already had a consistent and disciplined study life. I knew things. If there was one session I DIDN’T need, it was this one. I also had a secret p0rn addiction that was well hidden from my external Christian life. Study? I’m good, bro. But that’s when Jesus showed up. I couldn’t see him. But I knew he was six feet from me, right beside me. He spoke by quoting a partial scripture: “Study to show yourself approved unto God.” It comes from 2 Tim 2:15. And then he said the first of two life-changing statements. “You are already approved." Wait, what? Again, “You are already approved." He addressed an emotional flaw that was buried deep in my heart. Why did I believe? Why did I study so much? Why did I do any of the things I do in Christianity? And then he nailed me. “Even if you never read another Bible verse again, you are approved. You are already approved.” My Christian life was nothing more than trying to win God’s approval. It was work-based and not a real, deep, intimate relationship. Maybe a massive amount of good works could motivate Him to keep the bad people away. My eight-year-old self had never completely healed. Then he said the most stunning thing I could ever imagine. “I am so proud of your service. But now I’m asking you to be my friend." My reply was instant. I’m not sure if the words came out of my mouth. Or if somehow, I spoke it spiritually. But I said, “Jesus, if you really knew me, you wouldn’t ask me to be your friend.” Then suddenly, he was gone. A million miles away. In an instant. I don’t know if you have ever been in the presence of God, and then suddenly not. But it’s a horrible feeling. It’s like a panic. A terror. It’s something I never want to experience ever again. I thought I chased Jesus away. I would have wept openly. But I was in a room full of men. So, I quietly died inside. That night, I went down to the shore of the lake. I was alone under the myriads of twinkling stars. And said out loud: “Jesus, I accept your offer to be friends”. He showed up for me just like he did for Peter when he cooked Peter breakfast on the shore of a lake. His friendship offer was never rescinded. He had been patiently waiting for me. My restoration was complete that day. Jesus and I Both Had a Three-Day Process. Jesus stayed in the tomb three days. And then everything for all creation was different. I, too, had three days for my emotional and spiritual resurrection to be complete. I learned in three days why he didn’t send in the death angel to kill pedophiles and rescue children. Instead, he stayed with us through the valley of death to make sure we lived. He hated every minute of what I went through. And held me by the hand. I learned in three days that every time I wanted a wooden Jesus to look at me, the real Jesus already was. He knew me. He knew my name. And he had seen my face. He watched me sleep and sang over me when I felt afraid. He watched me serve the kingdom of darkness for a while, jealously waiting for me to leave the pig pen and make the journey home. He ran to meet me. I learned in three days that he kept me alive when I wanted to check out. Yes, he had to tough-love me. But that’s what friends do. They say a friend will stab you in the front. Or maybe meet you on a Colorado mountain. He rode upon the wind. And commanded me to live. As if to say, “Let there be life." I learned in three days that there is an intimate relationship that is better than the master/servant dynamic. It’s friendship. It’s why John called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” while he lay his head on Jesus’ chest. I bet Jesus stroked his hair. I still struggle with being friends with the One who calms the storms. But I’m getting there. Why Do I Believe? I tried not to. I really did. But Jesus did what any Good Shephard does: he left the ninety-nine people in a “spiritually good place” and sought out the one, lost, broken, sad, and hurting sheep. Me. And He loved me back to health. “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 He was always there, with me. At the side of that evil house. Kneeling with me in a Catholic church. In a beam of light in Winter Park, Colorado. By a lake at a men’s retreat. Somehow, I’m still in the game. Why? Because he has plans for me. Beloved reader, do you need anything/everything to change? If so, do you have three days? © 2026 I.M Koen.

“Faith is not denying the existence of your giant. It’s choosing to believe God is bigger than it.” Christine Caine Have you discovered that life has a way of handing you giants? Of course, you have. So have I. But, they’re not nine-foot-tall men with spears, but bills stacking higher than our bank account, diagnoses we didn’t see coming, relationships that feel too broken to fix. Giants show up when we least expect them, and they always look bigger than us. What I’ve found to be true, they specialize in intimidation. They roar loud. They flaunt their size. They whisper that you’re too small, too weak, too late. Doesn’t that about sum it up? The Script Flipper But the Bible flips the script. David’s story in 1 Samuel 17 isn’t really about the size of the boy or the size of the giant. It’s about the size of God. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…” (1 Samuel 17:45) David knew the math. The giant was bigger than David. But David + God is bigger than the giant. Fear Magnifies, Faith Shrinks Psalm 27:1 puts it in plain words: “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” Fear makes the shadow of the big giant look even bigger. However, faith does the opposite, it shrinks the giant. David wasn’t fearless because he had better armor (he didn’t). He wasn’t fearless because he had more experience (he didn’t). He was fearless because he had the right perspective. The giant wasn’t standing against him. The giant was standing against God. That changes everything. Giants Often Fall in Unexpected Ways Notice how David fought. He didn’t grab a sword or shield. He picked up a sling and five smooth stones. A teenager’s weapon. Something no one else would have chosen. That’s how God works. He delights in using small, ordinary things to take down oversized problems. A mustard seed. A shepherd’s staff. Five loaves and two fish. Even a Roman cross. When you feel small, don’t forget, you’re in the perfect position for God to show His power. The battle isn’t about your size. It’s about His strength. What If God Is Already Fighting for You? Paul put it bluntly in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Read that again. Slowly. “Since God is for me, who can be against me?” Important Note: The Greek word translated “if” is what scholars call a ‘first-class condition.' It assumes the premise for the sake of argument: “If (and we all know it’s true) God is for us…” In English, that sense is often captured better with “since.” Not “maybe God is for us.” Not “if you try harder, He’ll be for you.” Since God is for us, right now, in that trial, in your weakness, who can possibly stand against you? Assumption: NOBODY and NO THING. It doesn’t mean giants won’t show up. They will. But it does mean they won’t win. Our Giants vs. God’s Power Let’s bring this down to ground level. Giant of financial stress: God still owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Giant of anxiety: God offers peace that passes understanding. Giant of loneliness: God promises never to leave you or forsake you. Giant of failure: God redeems and rebuilds what feels lost. Your Giant. Your giant may look unbeatable. But remember, David didn’t fight for victory. He fought from victory not for it. The outcome was already decided because the Lord was with him. The Giants Talk Loud, But God Speaks Louder Goliath taunted Israel for forty days. He had one message: You can’t win. Sound familiar? Giants today have the same script. “You’re not good enough.” “You’ll never get through this.” “You should just give up.” But God’s voice is steady, strong, and unshakable. “You are mine.” “You are loved.” “You are never alone.” When you speak God’s promises, the giants lose their power. Facing Your Giant Today So let me ask you: what giant are you facing right now? What’s standing in your path, flexing its muscles, daring you to try? Don’t measure the giant against yourself. Measure the giant against your God. David didn’t see a monster too big to fight. He saw a target too big to miss. That shift in perspective is everything. A Closing Word of Hope You don’t have to be the strongest in the room. You don’t need the fanciest weapons or the loudest voice. The Lord is your light and salvation. The Lord is your defender. The Lord is bigger than any giant you will ever face. So step forward with your sling. Name the giant. Trust God to aim the stone. And when the giant (trial) falls, because it will, give Him the glory. The battle isn’t about your size. It’s about His power. Reflection Questions: What giant in your life feels bigger than you right now? How might your perspective shift if you measured it against God’s power instead of your own weakness? © Gary L. Ellis (1944–2026) You might also like: 🗡️ How Jesus Breaks the Fear of Death ~ Every fear you face traces back to one root fear, and Jesus already broke its power. 🗡️ Stepping Out in Faith: Courage to Answer God's Call ~ Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's choosing to move forward anyway.

My experiences with this and no your faith is not flawed. “You must not have real faith in God, or He’d have fixed you by now.” I used to secretly worry about this and doubt myself all the time. Was I truly not “faithful enough,” or did I not “pray enough” because I still had intrusive thoughts? I’m here to tell you that’s BS. It's about the biggest pile you could find. For those unsure of what the complexity of intrusive thoughts are I recommend reading this first, Advancing Health. I have dealt with intrusive thoughts since I was a child, it straight-up sucks. What's even more exhausting is the judgment I’ve gotten from people over the years, and to be completely honest — it’s one thing to get ignorant comments from a nonbeliever, but it’s a completely different story getting ignorant comments of any kind from a Christian when you too are a Christian. Here’s the truth. You are, in fact, still a Christian, and your faith and trust are not in question by me or God because you have intrusive thoughts or struggle with any mental health condition. Your faith is not flawed, and your salvation is not on the line. It took me years of self-sabotage and misery to realize that sometimes, people should just keep their opinions to themselves. Well-meaning Christians or not, they should not be passing any judgment on your mental health. I want you to think of it this way: Would they say, “Well, you're just not praying enough” if you had diabetes? There’s a pretty good chance the answer is going to be no. (Minus the few fringe Christians who would say yes, but we’re going to ignore those.) Don’t let their voices become more intrusive thoughts. We already have enough to deal with when we get hit out of nowhere, we don’t need their voices mingled in there. We only need two voices, ours and God’s. (I'd better clarify this right away — if you're on meds, stay on them. If you need help, go and get help. God gave us medicine for a reason, there’s nothing wrong with medication for our mental health. I am on medication, and it doesn’t diminish my faith or demonstrate a lack of faith because I’m taking something.) Back to two voices: Now that I clarified that, let’s get back to the only voices that should matter when mental health things are happening to you because no one has the right to subtitle your relationship with God. I debated how to approach this next part. Basic suggestions or I could be real. I’m going with real. We already know it's exhausting when our brain literally isn’t working right. But don’t sit there and pick apart where your faith “went wrong.” You have done nothing wrong; it’s something you have, not something you did. It’s how you handle it that’s the key. By the way, I use these strategies not just for when I get hit with intrusive thoughts but also for my anxiety, PTSD, and when I’m overwhelmed. Acknowledge that it's happening, and don’t try and hide it from yourself or others. If you have safe people you can talk to about what’s going on. Most people will “mask,” to some degree. I’m guilty of this myself, I just learned over time not to have that mask on so tight that God couldn’t come in. This can be both the easiest and the hardest thing to do next, talk to Jesus. He is our counselor, literally, that is one of His roles for us. Notice how I say “talk to Him” and not pray; there is a reason for that. While prayer is a must in our lives, it was a game-changer for me when I realized out that I could just talk to Him like I'd talk to you in person. (Which is also prayer btw if your wondering, it's the mental shift that's key in certain situations.) It took me from praying for something to having this two-way conversation where I felt cared for and secure and could express myself in ways I had never done before. If you haven’t tried this yet, I would highly suggest it. When I am struggling, I absolutely need to get what’s in my head out of there. I have to talk through those thoughts and talk them out of me, if I don’t, things get worse. Jesus offers this outlet to us with no judgment, rejection, or hourly fee. I take as much time as I need and just talk to Jesus. Sometimes out loud, sometimes in my head, but either way, I open up and start clearing the clutter out, and I don’t hold back. He knows that we all need to talk sometimes and that keeping things in without a release valve is not good; we all know this. He is willingly offering His ear and heart to us for this reason. If all of us who struggle weren’t “faithful” enough, then why would one of God’s descriptions for His son be “Wonderful Counselor?” It’s an honest question to ask of those who would use the Bible in such a way against anyone who deals with any mental health diagnosis, It is also something to consider if you struggle in secret and doubt yourself. God does not love us any less if we are struggling, and it absolutely does not mean our faith is lacking in any way. Even if you have never received the type of criticism I and others have received and simply internally wonder and doubt yourself, you are not at fault for something you did not ask for. It takes more strength and grit to go to God in your worst moments and demonstrate your faith than you realize. If you are up to reading something else, please read 6 People in the Bible Who Struggled With Their Mental Health. I want to emphasize that I am not against therapy, doctors, treatments, or medication ever. I do/have done all three willingly. I am not directing anyone to stop any treatments. I encourage you to reach out and get help if you are struggling. You don’t have to do this alone and without help. I’m just sharing what I experienced and learned to do when I’m in a period of struggle and want to pass it on. © Jane Isley First published in Know Thyself, Heal Thyself on Medium.

Early Questions & Childhood Faith “Why do you believe in Jesus?” someone may ask. I’ll give you a very simple answer. Because I’ve never had all the answers. It may sound silly, but I’m going to take you along with me through my own walk of life. Belief, or awareness of something beyond me, has always been something I’ve been drawn to for a very long time. As someone who has experienced tragedy and suffering (even at my age of 21), I’ve always tried to make sense of the brokenness and pain we continue to go through in this lifetime. And my mind is designed to be analytical, to make meaning. And I had heard the cliché answers long enough : “We live in a broken world.” “Purpose is found in suffering.” “We’re human; there’s a lot beyond us.” Or on the other extreme. “We were created with only one purpose: to know God.” “We are spiritual beings having a temporary earthly experience.” “When we die, we go to heaven.” None of these truly answered the question burning in my heart: “Why am I alive?” And so began the process of a small question that slowly grew into something much bigger. For me, there was no one clear answer that sat right with my heart. To put it into context, I grew up in a Christian home (and still do), a regular church attendee from a child, but more out of family tradition than personal conviction. I knew the jargon. I had an understanding of what was taught as the gospel of Christ. I knew what salvation meant. I knew that every time I ate a meal, I had to pray, “Father, bless this food, in Jesus name we pray, Amen!” As if, if I didn’t remember God before eating the food I needed to live, something bad was going to happen. “Eating with the devil,” people called it. And for better or for worse, religion was handed down to me, and brilliantly at that. Don’t lie. Don’t steal. If you lie, you go to hell. Be good. Don’t be bad. You either go to heaven or go to hell. It all seemed good. Every time I looked in the mirror, I knew I was alive, but never knew why. I knew there was something greater beyond what I saw physically, but I never had an answer for it. But heaven and hell? It sounded plausible enough. Challenges and Confusion By the time I reached primary school, what we commonly call “just life experiences growing up” started to teach me a few things. I’ve always been a deep thinker with a strong mind, but a big heart, and glimpses of the world’s imbalance began to appear. People would bully, mock, and reject me. They would make fun of others and do questionable things in the eyes of others, and get away with it. Whereas “good people” like me had to learn how to suffer early. The idea that there was an eternal reward for being a “good person” waiting for me in heaven — where the angels are, and the streets are apparently made of gold, and that bad people go to hell — was enough for little me to feel justified, believing I was good and others were bad. Because I thought that if I was good, that was enough. And so I knew I was enough. And kept pushing. I kept going. When I arrived at secondary school, another layer of intelligence was peeled away, and understanding unfolded. I went to a Roman Catholic secondary school, so regular mass, prayers in lessons, and a background of Catholicism should have been enough to silently confirm my values. But those values were challenged the moment I looked around at my peers: curiosity, false freedom, adventurous children — much like I could have been — believing they were free to explore attraction and life. Often, when we see older people living enjoyable lives, we try to live the same way, just to taste the freedom we believe we once lacked. It looked good, so it must be good, right? And I, in holding to what I’d been taught as a child, kept repeating the same narrative that kept me from indulging in the same life: “They’re bad people. I’m a good person. I’m going to heaven.” But silently, jealousy grew within my heart. These people were virtually doing whatever they wanted, and I had to uphold the commandments I firmly believed in as a child. On top of that, people grew into the same life I envied to have, only with no conviction! Yet even thinking about walking in that life filled me with fear and guilt. I worried that I would be a bad person and go to hell. And as I progressed through secondary school, the less I saw the present rewards of upholding what I believed in. The questions then became: “How are they doing this and getting away with it?” and “Why do I have to wait for heaven to be blessed by God?” At this point, you’d expect me to question my faith. But the security of what I knew, coupled with living in a Christian home, gave me a false sense of safety. Instead of examining my beliefs, I began to participate in the ‘bad life’ I had sworn I wouldn’t live. “If they’re doing it, I can do it too.” My Christian upbringing prevented me from crossing a few lines. But rest assured, I tried to avoid getting caught. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you live a life you’re comfortable with. And the God you solemnly swear is “watching you” remains quiet on your life. I had an idea that God was watching, and an idea of what sin was, but never personally felt that He indeed was watching me, let alone aware of my sins. Searching for God at University Problems and tragedies increased in my personal life, but I either dismissed them, tackled them, or numbed myself. As long as I could indulge in many comforts and return to habits that soothed the pain, nothing seemed to matter. From betrayal by close friends to eroded trust in relationships, the pain was numbed through coping mechanisms and self-soothing. Diversions happened. Doors closed on me. Opportunities were snatched away. By the time I reached sixth form, I learned to mask depression through random activity and private habits. Again, I had an idea I was sinning, and that God knew, but never felt as if He was watching me, let alone aware of my sin. After finishing A Levels, awaiting results, I prayed to God for good results and to open the door to go to the university of my hopes, although this was blind, not born in faith, but in fear. I attached clauses to it: “Lord, if you give me this, I’ll actually take you seriously in uni.” “I’ll go to church and try.” “I’ll follow you for real this time if I get it.” Surely enough, the door opened, and relief came. Yet I still had not experienced God knowing me, or me knowing Him. He had only answered my prayer. I did not approach Him again until I arrived at university, the stark answer to my prayers staring me in the face. And with a small grumble and envy for others living unchecked lives, I said to myself, “Let’s try this Jesus thing out.” I still remained jealous of my peers and wanted to live recklessly and experience all the freedoms they had, but I felt I had to uphold the promises I made to God. I didn’t know better at the time; I was just afraid He would take everything away if I didn’t follow Him. Crisis of Faith and a Tangible Encounter And so I went to work on it. I decided to stop my private habits and intentionally stop sinning. I avoided a lot of social activity. I went to church and tried to do better for God, thinking that if I physically did more in church and became a good person out of my own strength, I’d please God. I even took on the role of a prayer leader, discovering my gifts and pursuing them in serving people and serving the church, all to appear as a godly person in white garments. But that was far from the truth. Funnily enough, I went deeper into prayer. Like an entry into a cave where mysteries lie, so was I, being pulled deeper into a covenant I knew nothing of, nor did I particularly plan for, but I knew one thing: I wanted to know more of God. Of course, I didn’t want to admit that I just wanted to understand the Bible more and the mechanics of praying to a distant God (to me) so that I could say I knew God. I intended to become more spiritual… because deep inside, I knew I hadn’t truly encountered God. I wanted Him to be real to others, even if He was barely real to me. What was I to tell the people..........Ideas? It wasn’t enough. I did know the Bible, and deeply at that. I grasped His knowledge, but had nothing to tangibly hold my faith in. And upon stumbling upon a few passages, the message of heaven and hell became less and less convincing for me. I began to believe less in an afterlife, and the Bible honestly read like a record of a spiritual reality that once existed, not a God we could know today. My entire childhood understanding crumbled at that point. I failed to believe that the heaven I had once sworn to enter even existed. At that point, my faith became entirely intellectual as I tried to logically prove something beyond all logic. The idea of God faltered before my eyes. I was a walking atheist, again — never admitting it to myself, but living it in practice. Nothing mattered. Heaven or hell wasn’t real to me. So why not just live however I wanted? And once I found enough logic to muzzle my doubts, I sought knowledge again, still trying to show others a living God who was dead to me. Preaching, praying, and prophesying about a God who was merely a summary of my thoughts seemed enough to get by, and the cross seemed like just a complex Bible story I could analyze. But the others who listened seemed to understand it, and that became validation enough for me to continue. Until not too long ago, when my lack of faith began to show in the push and pull of life and relationships. What seemed real enough to others began to fracture before my eyes once again. I didn’t see His hand at work. I failed to recognize His goodness in daily life. And I’d be lying if I said I praised or thanked God for waking up every day. The simplicity of routine life clashed with the massive God I had in mind. With all the knowledge I had of God, my life shouldn’t have turned out the way it did. Why me? One day, with frustrations piling up, I simply said to myself, “Lord, I’m done,” and went to bed. I had a silent hope that He would hear my prayer of giving up on Him, but I refused to have anything to do with Him… Until the next morning, when I was reading Revelation 6. It was a morning devotion that I was only half paying attention to, expecting nothing more than history, information, and possibly a bit of myth. Without warning, a presence moved from the door opening to where I was, tangibly resting and flowing around my head. Placing my iPad down, I engaged properly, using my willpower to push the presence away. “Encounters” could be imagined, but this? I couldn’t shake off. A quick 10-second wrestle with my willpower showed me that this presence did not want to go anywhere. And while I remained in my room, the presence stood. To test if this was just my imagination, I did the only thing I knew to do in the presence of a King: Speak I said, “Lord, I want to know your Word. If this is you, I honour you, for you’ve shown me heaven. I want to know and understand you better, and take you for who you really are, IF this is You.” The second I said that, a portion of that same presence entered my heart. And truly, I had never been so happy and peaceful in my life, both at the same time. Rejoicing, yet still. Overwhelmed, yet perfectly controlled. Peace filled me… and a Person who knew that I had been looking for Him all my life. And as I fully accepted this Presence, a warm hug touched my heart. At this point, I truly knew a Person held me dearly. I had to leave to be with my family. Upon leaving this encounter, I said, “Thank you, Lord.” Much to my amazement, He simply… left, awaiting our next heartfelt conversation together. Transformation & Testimony From that day, everything I had been taught, prayed, and proclaimed became alive to me in a pure well of the water of life. I knew truly that He does watch me. I knew truly that my heart of sin makes me unconscious of His presence, and that being honest before Him in a heart of repentance allows me to encounter Him in ways I simply can’t describe, let alone imagine. At 21, I have just begun adult life as we know it, and the journey is long despite my vast knowledge of Him. I cannot say I have any answers at all, but I can testify that there is a God in heaven who knows secrets and reveals Himself to those willing to seek Him. He has mercy on those whom He has mercy, and compassion on those whom He has compassion. This is why I believe. And this is what I’ve seen. © 2026 Jason Degraft-Quansah

Christians and Politics Have Become To Entangled Everywhere I turn, it feels like Christians are being forced to pick a side, or a side is assumed on their behalf. And somehow, if you refuse to choose, you’re seen as weak, secretive, naive, or that you don't care for this country. The pressure isn’t just political; it’s spiritual. "Allegiance to a party has quietly become its own religion," and all the while, the words Jesus spoke keep echoing fainter and fainter in the distance: “Follow Me." It’s easy to see how this happened. Churches have failed His flock, the news has amplified division, social media reels punish neutrality, and political leaders demand loyalty. But Scripture shows us of a different path. Jesus wasn't a politician. He didn’t campaign and He didn’t promise worldly power. He came to do something unprecedented: to save us, to offer forgiveness, and to reconcile people with God through His death and resurrection. Also, He gave us this nugget to chew on: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 Somewhere along the way this was somehow forgotten, or conveniently placed aside. Politics vs. Unity in Christ The truth is that Christians are more divided than ever before, and instead of standing united against what is wrong and evil, too often I see people pitted against one another instead. In marriage, there is a common phrase "it's us against the issue, not us against each other." We should be applying this in all things, and be united as the Body of Christ, despite differences. Denomination against denomination. Red against blue. Right against left. This is not how this should be. Christians should be walking together in faith yet are tearing each other apart over something that should never have separated us from the beginning. While the real issues, the broken systems, the lack of accountability, the moral decay, remain unchallenged because of these divisions. Satan Thrives In This chaos He doesn’t need to create more evil. He only needs to keep people busy fighting among themselves to get that job done, while sitting back with proverbial popcorn and laughing in glee, because we are creating and feeding the evil. Division is easier than the truth, and distraction is more effective than repentance. The call of Christ is simple: “Follow Me.” No party line, no political litmus test, no hashtag loyalty. Just faithful, obedient discipleship. It feels to me like people are in this strange mad frenzy to control this country, without coming to realize that 1) they don't and 2) they need to surrender all to God and let Him lead. Here is the simplest truth: if you follow Him first, everything else falls into place. There Is No Such Thing As A Lesser Evil I hear this one all the time: “We have to pick the lesser of two evils.” Every time I hear it, I feel sick. Why should I have to choose any evil at all? That makes no sense to me. Scripture doesn’t call us to settle for what’s “okay enough.” We have the right to vote, but if we feel convicted not to, or to vote in a way others wouldn’t expect, that is also our right. And if anyone tells you otherwise, especially a Christian, tell them to take it up with God, because if he does do that to you, it going to take a lot a of deep and trusting faith to step back and let Him take the lead. We participate in many ways that keep this country running, following laws, paying taxes (and tax on our taxes), volunteering at shelters, mentoring youth, supporting schools, donating to community programs, working hard at our jobs, caring for neighbors, and helping raise the next generation. These everyday actions give us the right to have a voice and form our own opinions, no matter what anyone says. Voting is one option, but listening to God when convicted is just as valid. True power comes from standing with Christ, which is more important than any marked ballot. We are not required to choose between two evils. Our country got to this point because the mindset “We have to pick the lesser of two evils” has become an acceptable excuse and a convenient write-off to avoid moral responsibility. This nation created the mess it is in and built a political system with leaders who are not good for this country. Choosing rightly by God's direction, even if that means abstaining, is an act of faith in God to provide, not apathy. Please come to understand that God is stronger than any vote, party, ideology, or leader. Step back, and center yourself in Christ first, and the rest will follow. I have always believed Jesus is mightier than any system or government, so where did that faith go in this country? Campaign Promises vs. Reality Another phrase I hear often is: “You should vote for this party because they protect life.” That statement has become almost automatic; people say it like that means they just sorted out your faith for you. That phrase gets repeated so often that I honestly feel it has replaced a much deeper, required process, seeking God’s guidance first and letting Him shape your convictions about how you engage with this country. The reality is, protecting all life has not happened. Sure, some measures were taken in recent years, but life is still not fully protected. So why should I pledge allegiance to any party based on that platform? Neither party has succeeded in protecting the most innocent among us. True Colors Now, we have files and stories that can't be ignored or excused coming out showing some pretty vivid true colors. Faithful prayer and following Christ could have prevented much of this horror from happening if people had put Him first and let Him guide the country when choosing leaders. It’s painfully clear that many leaders are not the good people once imagined. And because this country has leaned so heavily on political leaders for its moral direction instead of God, we’ve invited this mess into our own backyard. I feel deeply convicted that following any party or person just because of a single issue, concern, or belief is both stupid and fundamentally opposed to Christ’s command: “Follow Me.” Politics has succeeded in shaping faith in this country. We are no longer a country of the faithful. We are a country of political bullet points. The Path Forward The path forward is crystal clear, in fact, it couldn't be any clearer. "Follow Me." Not follow red, blue, right, or left. If we return to our identity in Christ, everything else, the brokenness, the hurt, the divisions, will be held in the light of His truth. And maybe then, the world will see what it looks like when His people stand together, not against each other, but for Him. © Jane Isley Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Culture & Faith. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

This one is going to have an unexpected turn towards the end. We know God created animals; they are an integral part of the creation process, put here first before man and woman, and established as a needed part of nature. God undoubtedly had an absolute blast with animals. There are just so many, every possible color known to man, shapes, sizes, squishiblity factor, functions, and quirks so unique that science is still scratching its head. Ever watch swans? Did you know they mate for life and are monogamous? They show that to their mates with beautiful synchronized dances and intertwining their necks to make a heart shape. God May Have “Pets” Now, for this, I’m bordering on a wee touch of speculation here because of how we define a pet versus how God might for Himself in heaven. But all of this does go to my main point; I’m just entertaining you with some fun ideas first. In Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 10, Revelation 4, Revelation 6, Revelation 19, and possibly Isaiah 6, although I’m not sure on that one yet, that’s only there because of the wings part. There are creatures in heaven. Now, I’m not saying they are like our Dukes or Jaspers here on Earth, but they definitely have animal features and are plainly described looking like lions, eagles, horses, ox and there are, of course, lots of wings involved. Why wouldn’t God have some kind of creatures in heaven? We have guard animals here on Earth that we love; we have all kinds of different roles animals play here on Earth. We have all sorts of creatures here, granted, not quite as described in heaven, but that also makes sense. Heaven is very different from Earth; these creatures currently exist in a dimension, like angels and demons, that we do not inhabit. We don’t have a clue on how to begin to think about the dimension they live in. Also, I do not find the Biblical descriptions from the writers weird, odd, or implausible in any way, never have, and I don’t believe the descriptions are “metaphorical” or “poetic.” Have you seen some of the animals on this planet and what they can do? watchmojo.com (check out the guy at 2 min, 50 sec) Why Is There Heartbreak In This? First, I will firmly state that in no way am I taking away from Abel’s death and the tragedy and grief God felt when that happened. What I am doing is adding context that many have never thought about. The first death was one of His other creations, an animal. Not only did He feel the break from humanity from Himself and felt the full weight they brought on themselves, but He had to sacrifice one of His creations so that Adam and Eve could be clothed. God can grieve, just like we do; that wide variety of emotions we feel came from Him because we are created in HIS image. Imagine your creation (humans) willingly choosing to separate themselves from God. We know what our Heavenly reward is, we strive for it, we wait for it, we pray for it, we trust in it, and Adam and Eve walked away from what we know and want that is waiting for us. That had to crush God’s heart. God hurts and grieves just like we do. He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. Isaiah 63:8–10 Then, imagine that He had to make atonement for what they did, He had to look at His creation, choose one, and end its life so they could be clothed and atoned for. Our Father Feels Everything There is no planned-out theological ending to this article. This is more of a reflective piece. This is more of a think about this moment article. What we feel, our happiness, our sadness, our love, our body-shattering grief — that all came from God because He also feels these things. I think too often we forget that He is our literal Father in Heaven, with a substance-type presence, with possible “pets” in heaven, and with a heart because He is love itself. Adam and Eve broke His heart, and then, to pour salt into the wound, it forced Him to make the first atonement and end the life of a completely innocent animal. He regretted creating humanity by chapter six in Genesis. “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” Genesis 6:6 “Troubled” here means: To grieve, to hurt, to pain, to vex And I don’t blame Him. As a mother, I understand the complexities that come with a child and that whole range of constant emotions. And God. He does that for EVERYONE. And not just everyone now, but everyone in the past and everyone yet to be born. We often forget that God, in some ways, is just like us, heck Jesus joined us down here in an era of no toilet paper or refrigerators for about 30 years. He gets us, He understands more than we can possibly know or more than we give Him credit for. Each time we sin, or each time a person hardens their heart against Him and blots out their name in the book of life, God grieves, and yes, that is a choice to have your name blotted; your name was written in that book before you were a twinkle in someone's eye. I have no idea if there are physical tears in the current Heaven that God sheds, but Jesus shed tears. He knows what pain is. Let's not cause Him more grief than He already has; let us go out and make disciples, let us crowd our new Heaven as full as we can. We know what our reward is, we know that death is not the end, but only the beginning. I wasn't kidding when I said this was going to go in an unexpected way. But you know what, I think this world needs a lot more of that and this kind of thinking and writing, because the old stuff doesn't seem to be doing the trick anymore. Also, I don't know for sure if there will be pets (ours) or animals in heaven, but I consider these: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In Ecclesiastes 3:20–22, Solomon also asks the clearest question on this matter in the Bible, “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” Then we have Romans 8:19–21, Isaiah 11:6–9, and Matthew 10:29. We get new bodies, so why is it not possible that animals won’t? He loves them also. © 2026 Jane Isley Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save.

If you’ve stepped outside or ventured onto the internet in the past week, you’ll likely have noticed that the world gets much more colorful this time of year. Why is that? A Growing Movement Well, if you live in the US, France, Ireland or parts of New Zealand, June has been a month designated to celebrating Pride for more than 50 years (though it wasn’t federally recognized in the US until 1999) and has evolved worldwide in its inclusion of various LGBT+ groups over the years (1). In Canada, there’s even an entire season dedicated to Pride each year, stretching from June to September. It seems to me that every year, the various festivals, celebrations and marches grow in number and reach. Many companies don rainbow colors in their logos and merchandise in support of all those affiliated with the various LGBT+ communities. Even MonopolyGo has added Pride flags in its app (screenshot below). I can’t help but wonder, though, what does this mean for Christians? What should our position or place be in all of this? That’s what I want to look at today. Navigating Turbulent Waters For many years, it was relatively easy to avoid the focus of this month altogether. It wasn’t as loud and, well, proud, for lack of a better word. Up until somewhat recently, there were laws in place preventing some of the LGBT+ activities that various groups aspired to participate in, such as same-sex marriage. I’m not saying Christians avoided sharing their beliefs on the matter completely, but some laws spoke for us on different issues, so we could hide behind them, in a sense. Though tensions were always present, they were fairly calm waters for believers. From 1999 to 2014, numerous states and courts pushed and debated the legality of same-sex marriages, with some making attempts to legalize them (2). At this point, the waters were becoming agitated, but manageable, for Christians, as we still had federal law in agreement with us. Then, in 2015, the storm hit. We had officially entered turbulent waters. On June 26, 2015 (during Pride month, interestingly enough), in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the US Supreme Court ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional, effectively legalizing them (3). I say this is when we entered turbulent waters, because we’d officially reached a point where Christ followers were faced with the decision to stay firm in their beliefs and ride the waves that came with standing against what our government deemed legal, or “jump ship,” per se. This monumental shift stands out in my mind because I remember thinking, at the time, that this was going to reveal a lot of hearts. And reveal hearts it did. What is Love In the months (and years) that followed the Supreme Court ruling, I watched as both sides of the issue dripped with hate. Some who professed to be Christians expressed their outrage in hateful ways, and some individuals in the LGBT+ community engaged similarly towards Christians. It was like watching a tennis match between two people who deeply loathed each other. It was, and still is, ugly. So who truly celebrates love? Is it the one who spews insults and says hateful things about the other group? Or is it the one who is seeking acceptance and equality? I’d say neither. Love is not yelling at someone until they agree with you. And it’s not telling someone to do whatever they want because it makes them happy. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ~ 1 John 4:16 What exactly is the love God has for us? In this specific verse, the word for “love” is agapé in the Greek, which means “charity, affection, or benevolence.” This word for “love” is found 116 times in the New Testament. It’s not romantic love, but rather a holy, selfless affection toward someone. It originates from God, is beautifully displayed in Jesus, and lives inside every believer, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (4). We love because He first loved us. ~1 John 4:19 God’s love is eternal. It initiates. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~Romans 12:9 God’s love speaks truth, and it’s active. It doesn’t sit on the sidelines and watch. God’s love is the reason believers shine a light on His design for marriage and relationships, as reflected in Scripture. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ~ Luke 6:32 God’s love perseveres, even when it’s returned with hatred. His love empowers believers to speak up and protect what He calls holy — not because of an arbitrary rule, but for the benefit of His creation. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ~ Ephesians 5:1–2 So again, what should the believer’s response be right now, while the world is celebrating Pride? We should be out in the world, speaking the truth in love to everyone, because all humans were created in God’s image, whether they follow Christ or not. In our homes, we should be teaching our children that God created marriage for one man and one woman for one lifetime. Our place is lovingly running after those who are separated from God, because we care more about their eternal salvation than our temporary, earthly comfort. © 2026 Stephanie M. First published in Rooted in Reason June 8th, 2026. Thanks for reading! My heart is truly to see others dive deeper into Scripture and reason through things biblically. These are wild times, but together we can chase clarity in a confused world! If that sounds like something you want to do, please consider following Rooted in Reason so you’ll be notified when there’s a new post. Press on, friends! 🫶🏼 Sources: Pride Month History Same-Sex Marriage and the Law Obergefell v. Hodges Topical Greek Lexicon- Bible Hub Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Photo by Chaozzy Lin on Unsplash Introduction I don’t usually watch “R-rated” movies, but I made an exception to watch this one because I was intrigued by its plot of rebellion, revenge, and justice. If you plan to watch this movie, you will need to use VidAngel (a streaming service linked to other platforms like Netflix that allows you to filter content) to block profanity and be aware that there is quite a bit of violence, especially at the end. Let’s examine how this movie parallels today’s social and political issues. Background This movie was released in 2006. The first scene shows an audience of townspeople staring at a man about to be hanged on the gallows. It turns out he is Guy Fawkes, a co-conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot who was caught trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London on November 5th, 1605. I learned about the Gunpowder Plot after watching the movie because I wanted to understand the historical context it was based on. It was a conspiracy led by English Roman Catholics who tried to assassinate King James I and restore Catholic rule in England. The failure of the plot is still celebrated today with bonfires and fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night. “V” is a masked vigilante whose own quest for vengeance against the oppressive “Norsefire” regime was inspired by the Gunpowder Plot, which was an attempt to bring down a tyrannical government. Just as Guy Fawkes became a symbol of defiance against oppression, “V” represents the oppressed masses and their suffering under the current government’s harsh rule. He was tortured at Larkhill, a concentration camp where people were experimented on in a secret program to create a weaponized virus. He escaped when a fire destroyed the premises, disfiguring him permanently, and instilling in him a broiling vendetta to bring down the government that experimented on him. A Foreshadowing of Christian Persecution Today This movie powerfully depicts what happens when a society abandons truth, rejects God’s authority, and replaces moral conviction with state-controlled ideology. Many believers see in the film a symbolic warning about how persecution can grow in a culture based on Humanism that drifts away from biblical foundations. The totalitarian regime “Norsefire” attempted to shape every aspect of its citizens’ lives, their thoughts, speech, morality, and identity. In Scripture, any authority that seeks to replace God ultimately becomes oppressive (see Daniel 3; Acts 5:29). Some Christians see a parallel in today’s governments. When governments or institutions claim the right to redefine morality, biblical conviction becomes countercultural, unpopular, unwelcome, even hated. People who spoke the truth were mocked, censored, or imprisoned. Jesus warned His followers that the world would reject truth and hate those who bear witness to it (John 15:18–20). For many believers, the movie echoes the growing cultural pressure to remain silent about biblical teachings on sin, righteousness, and salvation. The government redefined morality to fit its cultural ideology. They determined what was “acceptable” and punished anything that contradicted their narrative. They maintained power by weaponizing fear, fear of disease, terrorism, social instability, and “the other.” The state manufactured crises and then positioned itself as the sole source of safety. (Doesn’t this sound familiar?) Isaiah 5:20 warns of a time when people will call evil good and good evil. Moral disagreement turned into moral condemnation in this film. This should be a wake-up call to Christians not to let fear rule them (2 Timothy 1:7) nor let it suppress their faith. The film’s central question, which remains deeply relevant today, is: How much freedom are citizens willing to trade for the promise of safety? Religious conviction was targeted, and religious groups were quietly removed, marginalized, or criminalized. This reflects a spiritual truth: wherever Christ’s lordship is rejected, hostility toward His people tends to follow (2 Timothy 3:12). While full persecution varies by country, the film reminds believers that spiritual opposition often begins not with violence but with subtle exclusion. Tactics of Control In the film, the media was manipulated and controlled through the government’s propaganda network, “The BTN”. Stories were rewritten to suppress dissent, and citizens received information designed to distract or deceive. In today’s culture, the struggle over truth has intensified, especially with the Humanist battle cry, “Truth is Relative.” The government used surveillance technology to track individuals and collect data to stave off dissent. These tactics parallel current technologies, which continue to erode individual privacy. Today’s digital systems provide unprecedented data about individuals: location tracking, biometric databases, predictive policing algorithms, and AI-driven monitoring. Governments and corporations alike possess capabilities that far exceed what the film imagined in 2006. The film contains an element of romance in the character of Evey, a young woman rescued by “V” from thugs at the beginning of the movie. She learns through her relationship with “V” that apathy and fear enable tyranny. She sees ordinary citizens tolerating government abuse because they feel that resistance would be dangerous or futile. Conclusion Nearly two decades later, the film’s themes feel uncomfortably familiar. In this film, we see how fear is used to maintain government control, and the question of trading security for freedom is posed. V for Vendetta doesn’t predict the future, but it reflects a biblical pattern: when truth is suppressed, when power replaces God, and when fear governs a culture, persecution is never far behind. This film inspires me to stand firm, speak truth in love, and remain faithful to the Gospel, even in a world that may grow increasingly hostile to it. © Debra Hodges

Looking at the New Testament Today In part one, which you can read here, I looked at the word abomination starting with Leviticus, and went through definitions, Jewish sources, and cultural background. Today, I am picking up right where I left off with what the New Testament tells us regarding abomination. Many would like to use a very common comeback to my previous article, which is: Why didn’t Jesus talk about this topic then? Actually, He did; people just don’t like to hear His answer. (It’s the whole cherry-picking theme all over again.) “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10: 6–9 What’s unique about this verse is that Jesus’s statement here was a double emphasis that I didn’t even know about till looking into it. “Jesus’s basic point is simple enough. In marriage, God unites two to become one, and no human should seek to separate what God has joined together. To support his case, he quotes Genesis 2:24, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh’. It’s this concept of the two becoming one flesh that Jesus is drawing on to support his position on divorce. But Genesis 2:24 isn’t the only part of the creation narratives that Jesus quotes here. He also quotes Genesis 1:27, ‘God made them male and female’. Strictly speaking, as far as I can see, Jesus didn’t need to include that quote. His point about not separating what God has joined is rooted in Genesis 2:24, and Genesis 1:27 has nothing to add on that point. In formal terms, Jesus’s use of Genesis 1:27 in this conversation is redundant. And yet, for us, the inclusion of this additional Genesis verse is vitally important. By quoting these words, Jesus gives us an insight into his perspective on two of the biggest debates of our day.” (6) He was very clear when He said, “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.” (this is recorded twice btw, Matthew 19: 4–5) You can read the original Greek Mark passage here, and the original Matthew passage here, showing the words “a man” and “wife.” Jesus has been around since the beginning of creation, and He was born a dude. I am fairly confident that He knew the difference between a man and a woman when he said this. (I’ve run into that flimsy argument before for a few different arguments.) Some, probably many, will now go the route of saying Jesus accepted all sinners because He sat with them, therefore, this behavior is also accepted. No, He sat with sinners to show His love for them, no matter their sin, to tell them the truth, to offer open forgiveness, and to bring them to repentance. “While Jesus sat at supper in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:10–13 Let me end with a Greek translation. “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 Abominable | Bdelussomai | βδελύσσομαι “Definition: To abhor, detest, loathe Meaning: I abhor, detest, loathe. Usage: The Greek verb “bdelussomai” conveys a strong sense of disgust or revulsion. It is used to describe an intense aversion or repulsion towards something considered vile or abominable. In the New Testament, it often refers to moral or spiritual abhorrence, particularly in the context of idolatry or practices that are detestable to God.” Believe what you wish, behave how you want, I am not stopping you. But the Bible is clear on what an abomination is and, more importantly, what it tells you about your relationship with Him. Do with this information what you choose, but remember we can’t rewrite the Bible or write our feelings and opinions into it. © 2025 Jane Isley Sources: (1) Abomination | Jewish Virtual Library (2) Jewish Encyclopedia ABOMINATION By: H. Pereira Mendes M.D., D.D. President of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of the United States and Canada; Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, New York City. (3) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: ’ā·wen (wicked) (4) It Is Abomination: A study of the Hebrew word “toebah” in Scripture (5) TheGospelLight.com: What is the Difference Between a Sin and an Abomination? (6) Jesus on Same-Sex Marriage By: Andrew Bunt (7) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: bdelussomai (having become abominable)

Looking at the Old Testament Today Over time, and especially with the current drastic social changes happening in the world, the word abomination in the Bible has gone through a lot of reinterpretations and redefinitions. Let's look at what abomination means in the Old Testament and how God feels about it. Leviticus 18:22, where abomination (toebah, tō-w-‘ê-ḇāh, toʿevah) is used for the first time. “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” Most Bibles translate it as “detestable,” while other translations say, “That is an evil thing to do.” “That is abhorrent.” “It is a sinful thing.” “it is repulsive.” I will begin with Biblehub.com’s information on the word “abomination” from the book of Leviticus. I immediately see issues for those who would try to twist this word or re-explain it. “Definition: Abomination, detestable thing. Meaning: something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol Word Origin: Derived from the root תָּעַב (ta’ab), meaning “to abhor” or “to detest.” “Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: — G946 (bdelugma): Often translated as “abomination” in the New Testament, used in contexts such as idolatry and moral corruption (e.g., Revelation 17:4–5).” “The word conveys a strong sense of moral and spiritual repulsion.” I see the words “detest,” “abhor,” “repulsion,” “moral corruption,” and “disgusting” in relation to this word. But this is just one source. We all know sources aren’t always right, so let’s look at more sources and see what we find. I headed straight for some Jewish sources since it is their language, after all. “Three Hebrew words connote abomination: תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah), שֶׁקֶץ (shekeẓ, sheqeẓ) or שִׁקּוּץ (shikkuẓ, shiqquẓ), and פִּגּוּל (piggul); toʿevah is the most important of this group. It appears in the Bible 116 times as a noun and 23 times as a verb and has a wide variety of applications, ranging from food prohibitions (Deut. 14:3), idolatrous practices (Deut. 12:31; 13:15), and magic (Deut. 18:12) to sex offenses (Lev. 18:22 ff.) and ethical wrongs (Deut. 25:14–16; Prov. 6:16–19). Common to all these usages is the notion of irregularity, that which offends the accepted order, ritual, or moral.” (1) “Furthermore, Egyptian has a precise equivalent to toʿevah, and it occurs in similar contexts, e.g., “Thus arose the abomination of the swine for Horus’ sake” (for a Canaanite-Phoenician parallel, note tʿbt ʿštrt — Tabnit of Sidon (third century B.C.E.) — in Pritchard, Texts, 505). Thus the sapiential background of the term in the ancient Near East is fully attested.” (1) Here is another Jewish source. “Sexual transgression is particularly denounced as an Abomination (to’ebah) (Deut. xxii. 5, xxiii. 19 [18, A. V.], xxiv. 4); especially incest and unnatural offenses (Lev. xviii. and xx.): “For all these abominations have the men of the land done who were before you, and the land became defiled; lest the land vomit you out also when ye defile it” (2) “But the word to’ebah also assumes a higher spiritual meaning and is applied also to moral iniquities:” Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. . . For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God” (2) “These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, seven things are an abomination to him: haughty eyes; a lying tongue; hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that be swift in running to mischief; a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” Proverbs 6:16–19 (2) Now we’re going to pause for a second and look specifically at Proverbs 18, because I know what some will attempt with this verse, since sexual immorality isn’t explicitly mentioned. biblehub.com We’re looking at the word wicked. “Definition: Iniquity, trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry, vanity Meaning: strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught)” “Usage: The Hebrew word “aven” is often used in the Old Testament to denote iniquity or wickedness, particularly in the context of moral and spiritual corruption. It can also refer to the trouble or sorrow that results from such iniquity. […] “Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of “aven” was deeply tied to the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Israelites were called to live in obedience to God’s laws, and “aven” represented a breach of this covenant through acts of sin and idolatry.” (3) “The Israelites were called to live in obedience to God’s laws, and “aven” represented a breach of this covenant through acts of sin and idolatry.” Just wanted to clear that up. Let’s move on. And another source. “One of the common arguments brought against the traditional understanding of Leviticus 18:22 is the claim that the Hebrew word “toebah” (abomination) only refers to pagan temple practices and not things that are revolting in and of themselves.” “[…] I took the time to look up every occurrence of the word “toebah” in the Bible. I found that the above claim cannot be supported by the facts and that the English term “abomination” is an accurate translation of the word “toebah.” “These passages and many more reveal to us that the Hebrew word “toebah” does not refer to pagan temple practices as many defenders of homosexuality claim. It is true that many of the uses of “toebah” in the Bible occur within the context of pagan temple practices, but that is because many of these practices (such as tossing living children into a fire to be burned to death) are repugnant and disgusting in and of themselves. The association with paganism is incidental to the revulsion.” “The claim that it refers to pagan temple practices is merely an ad hoc response from the modern homosexual movement to passages describing homosexual intercourse as “toebah.” In reality, these passages are claiming that such intercourse is revolting, and so it is.” (4) And yet, another source. “All abominations are sins, but not every single sin (some of which are unintentional), rises to the level of being an abomination.” “Committing abominations elicits much stronger anger, fiercer judgments, and more striking punishments from the Almighty than are seen for other forms of sin.” “An abomination in the Biblical sense is an attitude, behavior, or lifestyle that is particularly evil and detestable in the sight of God. In fact, abominations are considered by God to be so detestable that in in order for God to maintain true righteousness, they incur His wrath and violent punishment. Abominations are attitudes, behaviors, or lifestyles that are so evil and detestable in the sight of God that they incite Him to great anger.” (Michael Lankford)” “We can reason that the more angry He becomes, the less likely He will be to extend mercy to the violator.” (5) End of Part 1 — Part 2 will be going into the New Testament, what Jesus said, and a few other things. © 2025 Jane Isley Sources: (1) Abomination | Jewish Virtual Library (2) Jewish Encyclopedia ABOMINATION By: H. Pereira Mendes M.D., D.D. President of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of the United States and Canada; Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, New York City. (3) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: ’ā·wen (wicked) (4) It Is Abomination: A study of the Hebrew word “toebah” in Scripture (5) TheGospelLight.com: What is the Difference Between a Sin and an Abomination? (6) Jesus on Same-Sex Marriage By: Andrew Bunt (7) Biblehub.com Strong’s Lexicon: bdelussomai (having become abominable)