Follower of Christ | Theology & Philosophy | Software Developer Medium Want to read more from Mikiyas? Here are a few places to start: The Holy Art of Losing Your Mind Why the Ephesians Burned Five Million Dollars in Books One Question That Finally Made the Gospel Click

After nearly three decades of stiff-arming God, He opened my eyes to see who He truly is. His love, mercy, and grace have sustained me through unimaginable trials, which He has called me to vulnerably share through writing. When Hubby and I vowed, "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health," we had no idea the roller coaster ride we had just stepped on. Through these ups and downs, Jesus has been with me in the boat. When I panic because everything is sinking, He gently reminds me that He's got this. It's all part of His divine plan. The sanctification process is often painful, but the fires purify and make me look more like Him. When I'm not writing, you will find me walking while praying with Hubby, being a mom to our four adult kiddos, tapping a pencil for 65 weekly piano students, peacefully playing a Chopin Nocturne, or relaxing with my nose in a book. For hours of reading pleasure, visit Pursuing Perfection at tessalind.substack.com, or search Tessa Lind's name here to explore all her work on our site. Want to read more from Tessa? Here are a few places to start: Marrying an Unbeliever: A Mother’s Reflection Just Smile: When Faith, Science, and Healing Meet Walking Through the Valley: Reflections on Psalm 23

Once an apatheist, he was redeemed later in life and now walks as a New Testament saint, without being “Torahfied.” He holds no formal theological qualifications, but he put it's beautifully "by the Grace of God, I had been taught to read by the time primary school was finished. Again by the Grace of God, I had graduated from University before they became factories of social manipulation." His professional life was spent in risk-based engineering design, an unforgiving environment that demanded clarity, precision, and critical thinking. Today, he applies those same principles to the study of Scripture. And his greatest take away: "God can tolerate rigorous Engineering scrutiny." Medium Want to read more from Brad? Here are a few places to start: When Everything Fell Apart, God Showed Up Does Paul Really Contradict Jesus? Clearing Up the Confusion Does John 1:1 tell us that Jesus is God or a god?

What Scripture Says Before You Go Looking People are always on the hunt for the next big secret and exciting insight, anything that promises to unlock some hidden cosmic truth or gives them an edge up in their spiritual life. This can show up in many ways, from books claiming to be “new revelations,” old texts presented as supplements to the Bible, social media posts with prophetic messages, new doctrines, emerging religious sects, or secret rituals promising special favor. But this pull toward these other sources reflects a deficiency in the heart, not a problem with the Bible itself. “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14–15 Desire > Temptation > Sin > Spiritual Death. Grand stories of cosmic battles, golden plates, secret teachings, and lost revelations create a sense of excitement. They make the person feel like they have discovered something special and exclusive. These often satisfy a deeper desire for distinction and knowledge, giving the thrill of “I know what others don’t.” But this impulse is not from God; it comes from the flesh, and satan capitalizes on it. People like to attach their sense of worth to what makes them different from others. Flirting with a belief system slightly or completely outside of the Bible allows a person to feel unique without openly rejecting Christianity. They think they can still claim loyalty to Scripture while quietly shifting their focus elsewhere to something that “expands upon” or “explains more.” These deviations create an illusion that one can pick and choose spiritual truths while still claiming faith in God, even when those choices contradict His Word. The Power of Mythic Imagination Human beings are story-driven. Dramatic imagery, mystical symbolism, and cosmic narratives naturally capture attention. Many writings, doctrines, and teachings lean heavily into this kind of advertising. Scripture does not lack depth or richness in this. Rather, it reveals a weakness in human obedience and shows that the battle for the knowledge of good and evil is still as powerful and relevant today as it was in the garden. The mind can easily be drawn toward spectacle even when the substance is shallow. In other words, the sensational often overshadows the truthful. Avoiding Moral Confrontation Another factor is the avoidance of moral confrontation. The Bible speaks plainly about sin, judgment, repentance, and obedience. It directs the reader to focus inward, to ask difficult questions about the state of their heart. Any material or teaching elevated to the level of the Bible, above it, or used to “complete” or “complement” it, despite not holding up to Scripture, diverts attention from the personal responsibility to confront the flesh and instead emphasizes speculative topics. The focus moves from “What does God require of me?” to “What hidden knowledge might exist that I don’t know about?” And now, curiosity has replaced conviction. Humans instinctively associate restriction with importance. If something is rumored to have been hidden and now revealed, people assume it must contain some powerful truth. Ironically, this skepticism is often applied very selectively. Scripture is intensely scrutinized, while questionable or historically disputed material or teachings are accepted with far less criticism. The Ongoing Pull People often treat what happened in the garden as a one-and-done deal, as if satan’s work just stopped with Adam and Eve. But Scripture makes this clear: he has never stopped. We need to recognize this crucial truth, and that it is happening to this day because missing it leaves a person open to desire, and desire is all he needs to get in to distort, distract, and draw us away from what God. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 People, come on, we are not warned continually throughout Scripture for no reason. Satan has refined his tactics for every age of humanity, shaping desires, stirring curiosity, and exploiting weaknesses. Recognizing that this is an ongoing battle helps you to remain watchful and discerning. Ground yourself in Scripture rather than deceptive knowledge that tempts the flesh and distracts from God’s truth. © Jane Isley Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Salvation Series (Chapter 3) By Guest Writer: Dr. Samuel Shamaun The cross is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. For some, it represents faith. For others, sacrifice. But for Christians, the cross holds a deeper, life-changing meaning — it is the place where love met justice, where hope rose out of suffering, and where redemption was secured once and for all. At the center of the cross stands Jesus Christ, whose death was not an accident of history but a divine act of love that continues to transform lives today. Why the Cross Matters To truly understand Christianity, we must understand the cross. Jesus’ death was not merely a tragic end to a good man’s life — it was the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. From the earliest pages of Scripture, humanity’s struggle with sin created a separation between God and people. The cross became the bridge over that separation. Sin carries a cost, and throughout biblical history, sacrifice was required for forgiveness. Yet those sacrifices were temporary. The cross changed everything. Jesus became the final and perfect sacrifice — once and for all. Redemption Through Sacrifice Redemption means being bought back, restored, and made new. On the cross, Jesus willingly took upon Himself the weight of humanity’s sin — past, present, and future. His death paid a debt we could never repay on our own. This is what makes the cross so powerful: ● It turns guilt into grace. ● It transforms shame into forgiveness. ● It replaces fear with freedom. Jesus did not die to condemn the world, but to save it. His sacrifice was motivated by love — pure, unconditional, and sacrificial love. Love Displayed in Its Purest Form The cross shows us what real love looks like. Not love based on performance or perfection, but love rooted in grace. Jesus endured betrayal, rejection, pain, and death — not because we deserved it, but because we needed it. In a world that often measures worth by success, status, or failure, the cross declares something radically different: you are worth dying for. This truth brings healing to broken hearts and hope to weary souls. No matter how far someone feels from God, the cross stands as an open invitation to return home. Victory Through Apparent Defeat At first glance, the cross looks like defeat. Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crucified. Yet what seemed like a loss was actually the greatest victory in history. Through His death: ● Sin lost its power ● Death lost its final word. ● Darkness was overcome by light. The cross reminds us that God often works through what looks weak to accomplish what is eternally strong. Even in moments of suffering and uncertainty, redemption is at work. What the Cross Means for Us Today The power of the cross is not limited to the past — it is alive and active today. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can experience: ● Forgiveness without earning it ● Grace without fear ● A restored relationship with God The cross invites us to lay down our burdens and receive new life. It calls us to live differently — not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and love. A Call to Personal Transformation Accepting the power of the cross is more than agreeing with a belief; it’s embracing a transformed life. When we truly understand what Jesus did, it reshapes how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. We are called to extend the same grace we have received — to forgive, to love sacrificially, and to walk in humility. The cross becomes not only something we believe in, but something we live out daily. Hope Anchored in the Cross In times of uncertainty, suffering, or doubt, the cross remains an unshakable anchor. It reminds us that God is not distant from pain — He entered it. He understands loss, grief, and sorrow, and He meets us there with compassion. The power of the cross assures us that no broken story is beyond redemption. What God began at the cross continues through resurrection and new life. Final Reflection The cross stands at the heart of the Christian faith because it reveals who God is and how deeply He loves humanity. Jesus’ death was not the end — it was the beginning of redemption, restoration, and eternal hope. As we reflect on the power of the cross, may we never lose sight of its message: love won, grace prevailed, and redemption is available to all. © Dr. Samuel Shamaun

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. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. 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.

I've often heard the expression, "When in doubt, pray." It makes sense. It's not customary to pray when we're not doubting, yet it's important that we do. Something that illustrates this clearly is the story of Joshua and the leaders of Israel when they met the people of Gibeon. They listened, looked, and believed the evidence of their eyes only to find that they were deceived (Joshua 9:3-21). I can relate. I have lost count of how many times I have been deceived by my own logic and what I could see. Not everything is as it seems. "The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn’t ask God about it. So Joshua made peace with them and formalized it with a covenant to guarantee their lives. The leaders of the congregation swore to it." (Joshua 9:14-15) Joshua went against God's command concerning the inhabitants of the promised land when he entered into a covenant with the Gibeonites. One could expect God to be angry with him, yet God was merciful and this covenant with Gibeon led to one of the greatest miracles ever recorded. Joshua had to honor his covenant with Gibeon and fight against their enemies. This is when Joshua commanded the sun to stand still and the moon to stay in its place. God heard, and acted accordingly. There has never been a day like this before or since. Moreover, God sent hail that killed more of the enemy than died in the battle (Joshua 10:9-15). Our failures and hasty decisions don't have to be the end of the story when God is involved. He can redeem them, sometimes in dramatic ways we could never orchestrate ourselves. I have seen this many times in my own life. I have, on numerous occasions, trusted in my own judgment and wisdom. I weighed all the evidence and carefully considered every angle only to find that I had been duped. Time and again, I suffered hurt, disappointment, and loss. More often than not, the losses negatively impacted my finances. Other times I pressed to get my own way and in the end found that I had grabbed handfuls of air. I had nothing but disappointment to show for it. The Bible clearly tells me to acknowledge God in all my ways. He will direct my steps and cause my plans to succeed (Proverbs 3:5-6). Despite this, I tend to jump in with both feet when it looks right to me. Fortunately, God's grace and mercy never run out. Just as He had been with Joshua and turned things around for his good, He did for me. No, I didn't get off scot-free. I had to live with the consequences of my actions, but what could have destroyed me was turned around for my good. God often used these adverse circumstances in my life to do miracles for me. However, this only happens once I humble myself, pray, and acknowledge my own stupidity and inability to do anything about the situation I created for myself. At other times I argued with God about the direction in which He led me. I thought I knew better and told God how mistaken He was and how much trouble His plans would create. One such instance was when I met my husband. I didn't want a relationship and only saw problems, yet God insisted and today I'm blessed with the most wonderful husband I could have wished for, and I wouldn't exchange him for the world. He is the greatest blessing I've ever had. Thank God for knowing so much better than I do. Yes, His thoughts are higher than mine, and His ways are different from my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). I have often stumbled following my own way, but have never gone wrong following His way. Jesus Himself said that if we follow Him we will walk in the light, but if we don't we will stumble in the dark. Somehow, I often have to stumble first before I turn to the light. Proverbs says that pride will come to a fall (Proverbs 16:18). What pride is greater than thinking we know better than God? I wonder how long it will take me to learn this lesson. I seem to enjoy falling over obstacles I have erected myself. Note to myself: When in doubt, pray. When not in doubt, pray harder. Don't be wise in your own eyes. © 2026 Rina Schultz. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Knowing God.

This one’s a bit longer than usual, about 8 minutes, but stick with it. Grab your coffee, find a comfy chair, and let’s sit with this together. With everything happening in the world today, a few minutes of thoughtful reflection can make all the difference. Why Jesus Chose an Unpredictable Metaphor If there is one thing I’ve learned from studying the Bible, it’s that certain words or phrases are very deliberate to paint a visual picture, and when you really sit down and think about that image, things start to make more sense. Today, I'm discussing “These are the beginning of birth pains,” from the New Testament. At first, I wondered why Jesus used that phrase in Mark and Matthew. Then it hit me. Labor is not a cut-and-dry process. Most people think labor works like this: your water breaks, you rush to the hospital, and 24–48 hours later, you’ve got a screaming, pooping bundle of joy. I wish. As a mother who went high-risk overnight with one child, and lost two others, absolutely nothing about pregnancy and labor is predictable. And that’s exactly why Jesus said “the beginning of birth pains.” What People Think Labor Is Culturally, we’ve been conditioned to think of labor as one single, continuous, happy event. But labor is actually a highly individualized process, with unpredictable timelines, and the media almost always misrepresents the whole process and reality of labor, which shapes unrealistic expectations. Thank you, Hollywood. What Labor Actually Is Latent (early) labor is different from active labor, and that is different from the final transition phase of labor. To make that more complicated, each of these stages have their own different phases, and that's just the bare basics. Here is a quick breakdown without all the intimate details for some readers. Water breaking first is not always a thing. Latent (early) labor can last hours to days, especially for first-time mothers. Contractions can slow down or just start and stop altogether. Active labor can vary from an hour to 12 hours; note that some people have gone beyond this. Prodromal Labor (pre-labor), which can happen in the final weeks of pregnancy and last 24–72 hours to weeks, because it is consistent contractions that don’t cause significant cervical dilation. It’s the body getting ready and the baby into position, and it often stops and starts. The final phase of labor can vary from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Back labor, don’t forget that one. That can throw extreme pain into the mix you weren’t planning for. Breech births, while on the rare side, are more dangerous, painful, and tiring, and can take longer than a normal delivery. False labor (Braxton Hicks) can start weeks to months in advance, and these help tone and prepare the body for birth; they can come and go as they please. Not to mention a host of other symptoms, pains, and surprises that come along during the labor process in general. I’ll spare those details, but they should be kept in mind too. So when Jesus says, “These are the beginning of birth pains,” He’s describing a a full blown, unpredictable process. A process that can vary significantly. Not A Single Quick Event He’s giving a metaphor that makes perfect sense if you understand what labor is. That is why His phrase needs to be understood from a medical perspective to fully digest what He is explaining to us. Apologies to anyone who just learned more than they bargained for, but it is relevant to what Jesus is saying to us. Both Gospels show Jesus explaining a process, a painful and drawn-out process, that literally has an unpredictable nature. We are living in a time with many rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famines, earthquakes, and people coming in His name to deceive many. But much like labor, these events can not truly be predicted. We could be in any stage or phase of these labor pains; we simply have no way of knowing just yet. Scripture is bluntly showing us that our constant guesses, fixations, and predictions about His return are about as good as our predictions of when the baby will crown, and our time here could be better spent doing more important things, like spreading the Gospel. Like pregnancy, we know it’s going to have to come out at some point, but in the meantime lets not fear that and prepare a good home. We have to be patient and endure through all the various pains. We also should not be assuming or proclaiming timelines based on one contraction the world is having, when we know labor can decide to slow, be mild, or completely stop for a while. We can not confidently predict a timeline when there is no timeline to follow. Like snowflakes, no two deliveries are the same. I’m not saying don’t read and study the Bible and end-time prophecies, or not watch current events, and keep an eye on the world; we do need to do that. What I am saying is we can not predict these labor pains, and we shouldn’t be attempting to either. At least not so concretely that we build a whole fixated way of living around just that. To confidently say we are in on stage or phase shifts a person from being Christ-centered and doing His work to focused only on His end game and bypassing all souls yet to be invited to His table. Watch Out That No One Decieves You Jesus was asked, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” in verse 3. But look how Jesus responds to that question: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4–5 These things have already happened, in fact, many different times throughout all known history, in all manner of combinations. Many have truly thought they were entering the “birth pains” or “end-times” phase. It’s Jesus’s very first sentence in His response that is the most overlooked, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” That prominent warning is often missed. He led His signs with a warning first, not last. This was for them, meaning us, believers. Not some future dark figured boogy man in the dark. We are very capable and have historically proven that those in Christianity can be our own worst enemy by trying to overanalyze, overpredict, and overstate the world around us. The birth pains He spoke of are unpredictable for a reason. We do not know when they started, or, truthfully, if they have started yet, or how long the stages of labor will be for the world. History shows us a long line of groups that believed and focused on Jesus’s description in Matthew and Mark to their folly. Now, do I personally think we are possibly starting to enter this phase of labor that He is telling us about? Yes, we may be. I can definitely feel something is happening in the spiritual realm that we can not see. But I am also not the only person to have ever felt or thought that, either in their generation. But I am not going to overpredict, overanalyze, or overstate the world that I live in. Also, I live in America, where I am a woman who has the freedom of speech to even talk about this in the first place and put it on the internet. In other countries, you can be executed for a lot less. Think twice before you cry persecution. Yes, we may not be liked by some now, but we are not being handed over to be persecuted and waiting for our death sentences as described in this passage. I think Christians in this country have done a massive disservice to themselves by believing America is the whole world Jesus was talking about in these verses. No, we are just one of many countries. One That Is Free Go across the Atlantic right now and ask them what they are thinking and feeling right now. They, along with many others in the past, have suffered much more for believing, and it was they who were handed over to others for their belief. You can’t remove their history and then make a prediction/assumption on the world as a whole regarding these labor pains. You just can not. People are too laser-focused on this country to look at the world as a whole. God doesn’t see it that way, and we can not either. Is America on its way to silencing believers in the future? Who knows? But in other places, it’s freer than it ever has been. I will not predict God’s timing, only state what I’m seeing and feeling, and write what I am led to write. What Scripture is describing in Matthew and Mark is an unmistakable, pivotal turning point for all Christians around the world. This, I believe, can be described accurately as entering that active phase of labor. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” When you are in active labor, you know it; everyone in your family knows it, trust me. There is no feasible way to deny those contractions. But we are not fully there just yet. America and many countries have unprecedented religious freedoms that are constantly taken for granted, misused at every corner, and frankly just wasted, even if we are in the beginning stages. And this leads me to the next phrase overlooked in this passage: “but see to it that you are not alarmed.” Why Did Jesus Say That? Because to over fixate on something that is undeniably unpredictable, especially when we do not know the date of conception, is the wrong path forward and the wrong state of mind to be in. Our commission is to go forth and spread the Gospel, not to sit in dark rooms and attempt to predict God’s timing. To be laser-focused on that and nothing else is to miss the point of the freedom we have now, and that is: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19 I Could Go On and On My point is, while yes, it is important to pay attention to what the world is up to and the prophecies in the Bible to help us understand. It is vitally more important to do what God commands us to do and let Him sort out our labor pains. For all we know, we are just in the Braxton Hicks phase of this, or tomorrow we’ll be in full-blown bear-down labor, and all believers alive will feel it and see prophecy unfold before our eyes in ways we can not miss. And some events may have happened/happen without us even realizing they’re part of the process, because we can not see everything all at once. My Takeaway Birth pains are not linear, predictable, or uniform, and neither is the spiritual “labor” of the world. What matters is our commission, our readiness and awareness, not hyper-fixating on exact timing. We have greater things to be doing right now, like protecting our children. We watch, we pray, we plant seeds, and we live faithfully through the waves of intensity and pauses, knowing the process is unfolding as it should and not to fear. © Jane Isley

"You will tell them whatever I tell you to say, whether they listen or not…I saw a hand stretched out towards me, and it was holding a scroll…and I saw that there was writing on both sides — cries of grief were written there, and wails and groans. God said, “Mortal man, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel” Ezekiel 2:7,9,10; 3:1 (GNT). As the prosperity gospel gained popularity, there have been more efforts within the evangelical community to make preaching less confrontational and more comforting. The practice of appealing to people’s desires, feeding them what they want to hear so they return again and again has become more common in churches. The trend toward large megachurches has led to a pattern of catering to congregants' desires, often delivering messages that suit their preferences. In the past, the prophet Ezekiel was told to read from the scroll only messages of lamentation, mourning, and woe, and he was instructed to deliver these words to Israel. He was not told to consider the preferences of his audience or to soften the message, as his integrity relied on his faithfulness to the word. This has always been the role of a Bible teacher or preacher, including those of us who share what we learn or discern from God’s Word here on Medium. “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.” -D. L. Moody. God’s Word has both sweet and bitter elements. It tells us, “all have sinned,” but it also declares, “God so loved the world.” One message cannot be presented without the other. We cannot highlight God’s love by ignoring human sinfulness; We cannot focus on God’s gentleness by downplaying His wrath; We cannot speak about heaven by avoiding the reality of hell; We cannot emphasize God’s closeness by hiding His transcendent holiness. We cannot simply make disciples of Jesus without explaining what it takes to become one, what must be done, and the consequences of following Him. Apostle Paul was bold enough to say, “I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). This divine purpose includes justification, sanctification, and glorification. Yet, modern Christianity has created a gap in the full counsel of God to make the message more agreeable and less unsettling for listeners. God’s Word is a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), yet many have turned it into a bouquet of flowers. Biblical preaching is meant to comfort the grieving, offer hope to the lost and the hurting, and also to challenge, reprove, and make us examine our lives. It is a ‘both-and’ task, and only in this way is the fullness of God’s message preserved. This is true today just as it was during Ezekiel’s time. May we never compromise our loyalty and faithfulness to our awesome God while we share the Truth. For if we do, we must remember that we cannot please Him with our lives (Proverbs 3:3,4). 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! © Dr. Anudeep Manne

By Guest Writer Disciple of Christ Revelation is the only book in the Bible Christians can’t even agree how to read. Where the Gospels speak in stories, Revelation erupts in symbols: beasts, plagues, judgment, and cosmic violence. Even Christians committed to biblical authority approach it cautiously, divided over how it should be read. So when critics claim that Revelation didn’t make it into the Bible because it was true, but because it was useful, the argument lands with force. It sounds responsible. Scholarly. Grounded in real history and real discomfort. But plausibility is not the same thing as accuracy. When we slow down and actually follow the evidence, the story that Revelation was canonized as a fear weapon begins to collapse under its own weight. Revelation Was Controversial ~ But Not for the Reason You’re Told The argument usually begins with a simple observation: Revelation was disputed. Early Christian communities were divided. Some churches in the East rejected it outright. Influential theologians questioned its authorship. Even Martin Luther later expressed doubts about whether it belonged in the canon. That much is true. What’s often left out is why it was controversial. The objections were not that Revelation was politically inconvenient or insufficiently useful. They were that it was difficult to interpret, symbolically dense, and theologically unsettling. In other words, Revelation wasn’t resisted because it scared people; it was resisted because it confused them. That distinction matters. If Revelation had been embraced as a convenient tool for control, we would expect church leaders to rally around it quickly. Instead, what we find is prolonged hesitation, regional disagreement, and reluctant inclusion. That is not how propaganda behaves. The Other Revelations and Why They Didn’t Last Critics also point out, correctly, that Revelation had competition. Early Christianity produced several apocalyptic texts. Some were widely read. Some were loved. Some even circulated longer than Revelation in certain regions. If Revelation wasn’t unique, why privilege this one? This is where the argument usually sharpens: perhaps the Church simply chose the version that best served its interests. But the historical record tells a different story. Take The Shepherd of Hermas. It was immensely popular, especially in Rome. It offered moral instruction, calls to repentance, and symbolic visions that many Christians found spiritually helpful. Its problem wasn’t usefulness or tone, it was timing. Hermas was written too late to plausibly come from the apostolic generation and reflected a church already shaped by post-apostolic structures. Early Christians distinguished between texts that were edifying and texts that were foundational. The Apocalypse of Peter fails for nearly the opposite reason. Far from being excluded because it wasn’t frightening enough, it was rejected because it was too graphic and theologically unstable. Its lurid depictions of hell — often cited today as evidence that Revelation was chosen for fear — were precisely what made many leaders uneasy. The punishments appeared arbitrary, the imagery excessive, and the theology disconnected from the broader biblical story. Later apocalypses attributed to Paul or regional prophets fared worse still. They emerged centuries after the apostles, borrowed heavily from earlier material, and lacked any credible link to communities that could verify their origins. Even sympathetic scholars acknowledge that many read less like preserved revelation and more like devotional expansion. As Elaine Pagels herself notes, often more cautiously than popular retellings suggest, these texts were not rejected because they threatened power, but because early Christians struggled to locate them within the Jewish and apostolic framework that anchored Christian theology. If fear were the deciding factor, the scarier books would have won. They didn’t. What distinguished Revelation was not shock value, but its perceived apostolic grounding, its coherence with Israel’s prophetic tradition, and its widespread use across multiple regions. That doesn’t look like manipulation. It looks like discernment under tension. Editing Does Not Mean Corruption Another charge is that Revelation was edited to make it more acceptable, or more effective. Its manuscript history is undeniably complex. Scholars note frequent scribal variations, clarifications, and harmonizations. Even the final chapter shows differences across manuscripts. But complexity does not imply corruption. Across all surviving textual variants, the central content of Revelation remains intact. The visions remain. The judgments remain. The theology remains. No version removes the beasts. No version eliminates divine judgment. No version transforms the Lamb into something more palatable. Even critics like Bart Ehrman readily acknowledge that no Christian doctrine rises or falls on Revelation’s textual variants. Editing refined expression, not meaning. If Revelation were engineered as a fear device, we would expect the opposite: strategic consistency, not chaotic transmission. Political Context Is Not the Same as Propaganda The strongest criticism is that Revelation is deeply rooted in first-century Roman oppression. That historical setting is not in serious dispute. Revelation speaks to a first-century crisis. Babylon symbolizes Rome. The Beast reflects imperial power. The book is not predicting barcodes or modern geopolitics. But this is where a crucial category mistake occurs. A text can be historically situated without being historically exhausted. Apocalyptic literature has always used present oppression to express enduring claims: that evil appears powerful but is temporary; that injustice will be judged; that empire is not ultimate reality. Those themes are not propaganda. They are moral theology expressed symbolically. Reducing Revelation to “ancient fanfiction” doesn’t follow from historical context. It’s a rhetorical downgrade, not a scholarly conclusion. Fear Was Not the Selection Mechanism Perhaps the most ironic claim is that Revelation survived because fear sells. The irony is that Revelation condemns nearly every structure that would later misuse it. It denounces empire, wealth, violence, and political idolatry. It offers comfort to persecuted communities, not marching orders to rulers. This is precisely why many leaders were uncomfortable with it. If church authorities wanted obedience literature, Revelation was a risky choice. And the timeline makes the charge even weaker. Revelation circulated for centuries while Christianity was marginalized, persecuted, and powerless. It was preserved by communities who had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Fear can be weaponized, but not by people being hunted. One detail often overlooked is Ethiopia. Ethiopian Christianity developed largely outside Roman ecclesiastical control, was never shaped by medieval papal authority, and preserved the faith apart from European power structures altogether. And yet, the Ethiopian Church retained the Book of Revelation anyway. If Revelation were merely a Western instrument of fear or institutional control, its survival in one of the least Romanized Christian traditions in history is difficult to explain, and it quietly undercuts the weaponization narrative. Why Revelation Endured Revelation did not enter the canon because it was easy. It endured because, despite sustained resistance, Christians across generations recognized something in it they could not dismiss. It fit the larger biblical story, echoed Israel’s prophets, and was plausibly linked to the apostolic witness of John. Whatever debates surrounded its interpretation, the book spoke with an authority the early church hesitated to discard because it spoke truthfully about suffering, judgment, and hope, even when those truths were uncomfortable. That is not how weapons are chosen. That is how difficult texts endure. You don’t have to like Revelation. You don’t have to read it literally. You don’t have to excuse its misuse across history. But the claim that it was canonized because fear is profitable says more about modern cynicism than ancient Christianity. Revelation survived not because it frightened people into obedience, but because, against expectations, it refused to disappear. And that’s a very different story. © 2026 Disciple of Christ Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. 🔔 Join and contribute to Truth in Love for thoughtful Christian engagement with faith and culture — without sacrificing truth or love. 🔗 Related Articles in This Series: The Real Legacy of Christianity — 10 Sick Things, Reconsidered Jesus Said What?! Misquoting the Messiah, One Verse at a Time Yahweh Was “Just One of Many Gods”? The Bible’s Biggest Secret… That Actually isn’t a Secret The Bible’s Sexual Scandals Aren’t a Mistake. They’re the Point. The Bible Says What!? What If the Bible Was Never Trying to Hide Paganism? ✉️ Like what you read? If this made you laugh, think, or pray — consider following my Medium page for more responses like this. I publish rebuttals to modern theology and address Christianity at the cultural level. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.