1. Introduction: The Paradox of Devotion We often speak of religious devotion as a climb toward the light, a series of steps that surely lead to peace. But for a young girl growing up in a devout home in Iran, the climb felt more like a descent. A Muslim encounter with the supernatural often starts with a search for purity, but for her, the rituals offered no refuge from her past. Having survived sexual assault by a relative at a tender age, she carried a “defilement” she felt she could never outrun. Driven by this internal agony, she threw herself into the heart of her faith, wearing the chador and performing rituals with frantic precision, only to find that the more she prayed, the more a specific darkness seemed to answer. 2. The “Empty Drum” of Ritualistic Performance The narrator’s transition into deep religiosity was marked by what she calls… read more
spiritual warfare
The phrase “a house divided” is a staple of modern discourse, often invoked during times of political friction or social upheaval. We treat it as a self-evident truth—a warning that a lack of cooperation leads to inevitable failure. However, the depth of this concept goes far beyond the polished rhetoric of a campaign trail. To understand the true weight of this warning, we must look at how it has been used across biblical history and contemporary social conflicts. It is not merely a call for teamwork; it is a diagnostic tool for identifying the internal rot that causes structures to collapse. By examining the evolution of this phrase, we discover that “division” is less about a difference of opinion and more about the fundamental stability of our lives. The Metric of Standing: When A House Divided Falls The most recognized version of this warning appears in the Synoptic Gospels. In… read more
Part One. Not so random thoughts on Ephesians 4:7-8 Can I just say that the message of the Bible is not tame? It is wilder and more wonderful than most of us dare to imagine. Meek and mild men are always seeking to soften it. Case in point? The multilayered message of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. One might begin to tease apart the manifold layers of timeless truth by employing prepositions: What I mean to do by drawing attention to “God for you” is to highlight the ultimate plan/cosmic warfare aspect of the epistle. Paul strives to do much more than create a cozy little life for the Ephesian believers; He means to draw them into the eternal plan and overarching purpose of God. That purpose and plan are playing out right now as a hyper-galactic spiritual battle that stretches from one corner of creation to the other—but finds its focus on the earth.