Clare De Graaf's Blog, page 3
July 13, 2020
The Law Gives Me the Right! (Moral Dilemma or Opportunity?)
Years ago, I led a Bible study at a large law firm. A number of the attorneys who attended were not yet Christians, or appeared to be Christians in name only.
What drew some of them was my topic for a few months, How to be sure being a Christian lawyer is not an oxymoron. A few of the senior partners were put off by that title and said so at the first meeting. I pointed out what I thought was obvious; there is a reason there are a million lawyer jokes. Attorneys in general have a reputation of bending the truth, or interpreting the law to benefit their client. My goal is to make sure that’s not said of the attorneys in this firm who call themselves Christians.
What drew some of them was my topic for a few months, How to be sure being a Christian lawyer is not an oxymoron. A few of the senior partners were put off by that title and said so at the first meeting. I pointed out what I thought was obvious; there is a reason there are a million lawyer jokes. Attorneys in general have a reputation of bending the truth, or interpreting the law to benefit their client. My goal is to make sure that’s not said of the attorneys in this firm who call themselves Christians.
July 6, 2020
Should Christians Obey Face Mask Laws in Church?
You only have to watch Fox News or CNN for a few hours to find out how strongly people feel about this issue. I decided to blog about it because of the diverse opinions even in my own family. So, even though I’m probably putting my fingers in the fan, here are my thoughts.
Let’s begin by narrowing the discussion down to the state or local laws that require or strongly urge the wearing of facemasks in church.
Let’s begin by narrowing the discussion down to the state or local law that requires the wearing of face masks in church.
Let’s begin by narrowing the discussion down to the state or local laws that require or strongly urge the wearing of facemasks in church.
Let’s begin by narrowing the discussion down to the state or local law that requires the wearing of face masks in church.
June 29, 2020
A Black Influencer Answers Nine Common Racism Questions
I don’t even pretend I understand racism, black culture or the black experience enough to write thoughtfully about what’s going on in our country right now and what to do about it. I jokingly tell people, I’m “legally white!” Clueless. But I ran across this wonderful blog written by Jehava Brown, an African-American Christian which […]
June 22, 2020
Can Believers Make-Up New Commands That God Expects To Be Obeyed?
A number of years back, I took four young men to Europe for ten days of teaching history and biblical worldview. One of the men was a new pastor at my church where I was an elder at the time.
We were sitting outdoors at a café in Paris our first night, about to order dinner. “Are you going to have a glass of wine?” asked the pastor. “I can’t,” I said, “the elders and staff at our church may not drink.” “Yes, but this is Paris! Lighten up!”
“Do you think it’s a sin to drink?” he asked. “Not for believers,” I answered, “But for you and me it would be.”
We were sitting outdoors at a café in Paris our first night, about to order dinner. “Are you going to have a glass of wine?” asked the pastor. “I can’t,” I said, “the elders and staff at our church may not drink.” “Yes, but this is Paris! Lighten up!”
“Do you think it’s a sin to drink?” he asked. “Not for believers,” I answered, “But for you and me it would be.”
June 15, 2020
Justice is What Love Looks Like in Public
In 2018 in Montgomery, Alabama, the “Lynching Museum” opened to the public. Formally called the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, it is dedicated to the memory of 4,400 black men and women who were lynched in the U.S. (https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/). (The photo above is from inside the Memorial, with 800 hanging columns, representing the counties of the U.S. where lynchings were held and the names of those murdered in that county. I hope to take our older grandchildren there someday, just as my wife and I plan to take them to the Holocaust Museum.
So they never forget.
So they never forget.
June 8, 2020
Can Christians Actually Hinder “the Kingdom From Coming?”
If you haven’t read last week’s blog, this won’t make sense.
Yes, Christians can actually hinder God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven. And here’s how;
Yes, Christians can actually hinder God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven. And here’s how;
June 1, 2020
Can Christians Actually Cause “The Kingdom to Come?”
“In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:3, 5
I’m ashamed to admit it, but until twenty years ago, I was clueless about the kingdom of God. Oh, I’d heard about it of course. How could I not? Jesus spoke about the kingdom more often than almost any other subject and he made it clear we had to be born again spiritually to enter it. But I thought the kingdom of God Jesus was always talking about was heaven. You know – when we die, we will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Well that’s true, but not the whole truth – not even half the truth!
I’m ashamed to admit it, but until twenty years ago, I was clueless about the kingdom of God. Oh, I’d heard about it of course. How could I not? Jesus spoke about the kingdom more often than almost any other subject and he made it clear we had to be born again spiritually to enter it. But I thought the kingdom of God Jesus was always talking about was heaven. You know – when we die, we will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Well that’s true, but not the whole truth – not even half the truth!
May 25, 2020
Perhaps God is Speaking Through Your “Donkey”
There’s an interesting story in Numbers 22:21-35. You really should read it now unless you’re very familiar with it. It’s the story of a prophet of God, Balaam, who was tempted to curse Israel. But on the way, an angel of the Lord stood in his way but only the donkey could see him. The donkey refused to move and Balaam beat that poor donkey, not understanding it was actually God’s means of preventing him from sin.
Finally, God opened Balaam’s eyes and he too saw the angel. Then we read this;
Finally, God opened Balaam’s eyes and he too saw the angel. Then we read this;
May 18, 2020
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
I received a call this week from the Director of Men’s Ministry at my church in Grand Rapids. This was his question;
“With families largely in self-isolation, what advice would you give parents to help their children spiritually?”
“With families largely in self-isolation, what advice would you give parents to help their children spiritually?”
May 11, 2020
What Martin Luther Can Teach Us About Coronavirus
Things are beginning to open up in the U.S. after several months of this current shut-down. But Dr. Anthony Fauci expects a second wave of infection and deaths later this summer and fall. So, Christians have time to thoughtfully consider how we might respond differently, if and when it does return. In the 16th century, […]
