What is Righteousness?
In its original meaning, righteousness meant a right relationship with the covenant of God that led to loving others as oneself and doing good in order to lead others into the same right relationship with God.
Love
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Receiving Jesus—Becoming a Follower
We’ve prioritized intellectual doctrine over practical application, turning us into armchair theologians instead of disciples. We become experts at pointing out sin, but struggle to extend the kind of love Jesus modeled.
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Image of God and Loving Your Neighbor
We are created “in the image of God,” reflecting divine qualities like creativity, reason, and moral capacity. This “image” isn’t about physical resemblance but about our inherent value and the responsibility to care for creation. We are given dominion over the earth, not for exploitation, but for wise stewardship and compassionate care.
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The Power of Non-Violence
The results of this systematic analysis show that nonviolent resistance is more than twice as effective as violent approaches in achieving intended goals. Based on a large dataset spanning over a century, their study demonstrates that societies experiencing periods of violent conflict, even when successful, tend to suffer from increased social unrest and instability in the aftermath.
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Loving our Neighbor like a Good Samaritan
Then along came a Samaritan. In a shocking twist, it is this individual, a member of a community ostracized and despised by the Jews, who stops to offer aid. He doesn’t hesitate; he simply sees a fellow human being in dire need. He embodies radical empathy, transcending the rigid social boundaries that defined his society. And this Samaritan’s response is Jesus’ answer to the man’s question, “And who is my neighbor?”
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Helper – A Woman’s Role
The word “helper” used in Genesis 2:18 to describe Eve’s role in relation to Adam has often been misinterpreted as implying inferiority or subservience. However, a deeper look at the biblical context reveals a much more empowering and complementary picture.
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Divine Hiddenness Leads to Genuine Love
Because of His presence, power, and position as God, He is easily able to overpower us. It’s easy to love God because of what He can give us rather than who He is. If we look at the story of Israel in the Old Testament, we see that they often stray from God, only to experience dire calamities before turning back to God and being rescued. This process is then repeated.
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Avoiding a ‘Savior Complex’ while Serving
The first step in avoiding the ‘savior complex’ is to acknowledge our own brokenness. As individuals, we are flawed, imperfect, and prone to making mistakes. When we serve others who are in need of a physician (Luke 5:31), it is far more difficult to develop a ‘savior complex’ if we have a clear understanding that we, too, are also in need of the same physician.
