Righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment

 Acts 24:25 says:

"As Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, 'Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.'" (ESV)

This verse provides a concise summary of Paul's gospel message to a Roman governor. These three themes appear repeatedly throughout his letters.

1. Righteousness
Paul consistently teaches that true righteousness comes from God through faith in Christ and results in a transformed life.

Supporting passages:

• Romans 1:16-17, "The righteous shall live by faith."
• Romans 3:21-26, God's righteousness revealed through Jesus Christ.
• Romans 5:1, "Since we have been justified by faith..."
• Romans 6:13, Present yourselves as instruments of righteousness.
• Romans 10:3-4, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21, We become the righteousness of God in Christ.
• Philippians 3:8-9, A righteousness that comes through faith, not the Law.
• Titus 3:5-7, Saved not because of righteous works but by God's mercy.

Key idea:
Paul never separates being declared righteous before God from growing in righteous living.

2. Self-control
Self-control is evidence of the Holy Spirit's work and essential for holy living.

Supporting passages:

• Romans 6:11-14, Do not let sin reign in your body.
• Romans 8:12-14, Live by the Spirit, not the flesh.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12, "I will not be mastered by anything."
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul disciplines his body like an athlete.
• Galatians 5:22-23, Self-control is fruit of the Spirit.
• Ephesians 4:22-24, Put off the old self and put on the new.
• Colossians 3:5-17, Put to death earthly passions and clothe yourselves with Christ.
• Titus 2:11-14, Grace trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.

Key idea:
Self-control is not mere willpower. It is the Spirit empowering believers to submit every area of life to Christ.

3. The Coming Judgment
Paul consistently reminds believers and unbelievers that everyone will stand before Christ.

Supporting passages:

• Romans 2:5-11, God will judge each person according to truth.
• Romans 14:10-12, We will all stand before God's judgment seat.
• 2 Corinthians 5:10-11, Everyone must appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Christ returns in judgment and glory.
• 2 Timothy 4:1, Christ will judge the living and the dead.

Key idea:
Future judgment gives urgency to repentance, faith, and holy living.

The Gospel Pattern in Paul's Ministry

Acts 24:25 reflects Paul's consistent approach:

1. God's righteousness reveals our need.
2. Self-control exposes our inability to overcome sin apart from Christ.
3. Coming judgment reveals our accountability before God.
4. Christ provides forgiveness, righteousness, and new life through faith.

This same progression appears throughout Romans:

• Romans 1 to 3: Humanity's guilt before a righteous God.
• Romans 3 to 5: Justification by faith.
• Romans 6 to 8: Sanctification through the Spirit.
• Romans 12 to 15: Practical righteous living.
• Romans 14: Accountability before God's judgment.

Related themes throughout Paul's letters

• Repentance: Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.
• Faith in Christ: Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16.
• New creation: 2 Corinthians 5:17.
• Holiness: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.
• Living worthy of the gospel: Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27.
• Hope of Christ's return: Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Acts 24:25 is therefore not an isolated sermon outline. It is a concise summary of Paul's theology: God calls people to receive His righteousness through Christ, live Spirit-empowered lives marked by self-control, and prepare for the day when everyone will give an account before the righteous Judge.

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Magisterium vs Sola Scriptura

Magisterium is an interesting idea that is a source of confusion between Catholic and Protestant faiths. I say confusion because I think history shows Martin Luther was correct at the Diet of Worms (1521). Martin Luther argued that the Catholic Magisterium (the Pope and church councils) did not have ultimate authority over sacred scripture, declaring instead that Scripture is its own supreme interpreter and that church authorities could and did err. However in the New Testament, "pastor" and "elder" refer to the same office of church leadership. An elder (presbyteros) is the title of the office, while pastor (poimen, meaning "shepherd") describes the function. Both terms are used interchangeably with "overseer" (episkopos) to denote the spiritual leaders of a congregation. So we still have fallible people in charge. The idea of sola Scriptura is not to add or take away what that means and was understood from the first generation church. Most born-again Catholics and protestants agree with this today. (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Acts 20:17,28)

Passages Catholics cite for Magisterial authority:

• Matthew 16:18-19 — Peter given the "keys of the kingdom" and power to "bind and loose"
• Matthew 18:18 — same binding/loosing authority extended to the apostles collectively
• Luke 10:16 — "whoever listens to you listens to me"
• John 16:13 — the Spirit will guide "you" (the apostles) "into all truth"
• Matthew 28:19-20 — the Great Commission, with Christ promising to be with the church's teaching mission "always"
• Acts 15 — the Council of Jerusalem resolves doctrinal dispute with binding authority ("it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us")
• 1 Timothy 3:15 — the church called "the pillar and bulwark of truth"
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15 — believers told to "hold to the traditions" taught "either by word of mouth or by letter"
• 2 Timothy 2:2 — Paul instructs Timothy to entrust apostolic teaching to faithful men who will teach others

Passages Luther and Protestants cite for sola scriptura:

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable... that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work"
• Acts 17:11 — the Bereans praised for testing Paul's preaching against Scripture
• Isaiah 8:20 — "To the teaching and to the testimony!"
• Mark 7:8-9, 13 — Jesus condemns the Pharisees for "making void the word of God" through human tradition
• Galatians 1:8 — even an angel preaching a contrary gospel is "accursed"
• Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32 and Revelation 22:18-19 — warnings against adding to or subtracting from God's word
• John 17:17 — "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth"

The core exegetical dispute is how to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 1 Timothy 3:15 against each other: Protestants read "complete, equipped for every good work" as Scripture being materially sufficient on its own, while Catholics read "pillar and bulwark of truth" as implying Scripture needs a living, authoritative interpreter (the church) to function as intended, and point to 2 Thessalonians 2:15 as evidence apostolic teaching wasn't confined to what got written down. Neither side disputes the texts themselves — the disagreement is about what authority, if any, stands over their interpretation. 

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The heart of the craftsman above the work itself

Since embarking on tri-bible.ai several friends have pointed out John Piper's sermon "against" AI. John Piper's argument actually reinforces many of the biblical themes about craftsmanship and tools. His distinction is not between "good tools" and "bad tools." It is between tools and worshipers. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly uses tools, materials, and skilled craftsmanship, but He always values the heart of the craftsman above the work itself. The Bible consistently presents craftsmanship as a gift from God that is meant to reveal His character, bless others, enable worship, and steward creation. Work with excellence is not merely practical. It is an act of worship when offered to God. 

In Alpha Series we learn about Christopher Wren and the classic parable of the Three Bricklayers. It illustrates how having a sense of purpose changes your perspective. When asked what they are doing, the first man says he is "laying bricks," the second says he is "building a wall," and the third proudly says he is "building a cathedral."

Christopher Wren By Godfrey Kneller 

Here are the major biblical themes with representative references.

Theme	Key References	Summary
God is the first craftsman	Genesis 1:1-31, Psalm 19:1, Hebrews 11:3	God creates the universe with wisdom, order, beauty, and purpose. Human craftsmanship reflects His creative nature.
Humans created to cultivate	Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15	Humanity is commissioned to rule, cultivate, build, and care for creation. Work is part of God's original design before the Fall.
Skill is a gift from God	Exodus 31:1-11, Exodus 35:30-35	God personally fills craftsmen with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and skill for sacred work.
Excellence honors God	Ecclesiastes 9:10, Proverbs 22:29, Colossians 3:23-24	Whatever our hands find to do should be done wholeheartedly as service to the Lord.
Beauty matters in worship	Exodus 25-40, 1 Kings 6-7, Psalm 27:4	The Tabernacle and Temple demonstrate that beauty, design, and craftsmanship are part of worship.
Many gifts, one purpose	Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Ephesians 4:11-16	God distributes different skills so His people can build one another up.
Building wisely	Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 14:28-30, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15	Construction becomes a metaphor for wisdom, discipleship, and ministry.
Stewardship of resources	Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 16:10	Gifts, talents, tools, and opportunities are entrusted by God to be multiplied faithfully.
Ordinary work is holy	Acts 18:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12	Paul made tents while preaching. Everyday work has dignity and witness.
Eternal craftsmanship	Revelation 21-22, Isaiah 60	The New Jerusalem is described with extraordinary architecture, precious materials, and artistic beauty.

Major craftsmen in Scripture

• Bezalel: The first person explicitly said to be "filled with the Spirit of God." Scripture: Exodus 31:1-11, Exodus 35:30-35, Exodus 36-38. Skills: goldsmithing, silversmithing, bronze work, stone cutting, woodworking, engraving, artistic design, leadership of craftsmen.
• Oholiab: Bezalel's assistant, gifted by God to teach and collaborate with other artisans in building the Tabernacle. Scripture: Exodus 31:6, Exodus 35:34-35, Exodus 38. Skills: teaching, embroidery, weaving, fine linen work, artistic craftsmanship, collaboration.
• Huram-Abi (Hiram): Master craftsman commissioned by Solomon to create the Temple's bronze works and decorative elements. Scripture: 1 Kings 7:13-47, 2 Chronicles 2:13-14, 2 Chronicles 4:11-22. Skills: bronze casting, metalworking, engraving, architecture, decorative design, engineering.
• Noah: Faithfully built the ark exactly according to God's specifications, demonstrating obedience through skilled construction. Scripture: Genesis 6:13-22, Genesis 7:1-5, Hebrews 11:7. Skills: shipbuilding, woodworking, large-scale construction, project execution, obedience.
• Solomon: Directed the construction of the Temple, organizing thousands of workers and artisans while overseeing one of Israel's greatest building projects. Scripture: 1 Kings 5-8, 2 Chronicles 2-7. Skills: architecture, project leadership, administration, procurement, construction management, design oversight.
• Joseph: Designed and administered Egypt's food storage system that preserved nations during famine. Scripture: Genesis 41:33-57. Skills: strategic planning, systems design, logistics, administration, resource management, leadership.
• David: Though best known as a shepherd and king, he was also a skilled musician, poet, military strategist, and designer who prepared extensively for the Temple. Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:14-23, 1 Chronicles 22:2-5, 1 Chronicles 28:11-19, Psalm titles. Skills: music, poetry, worship leadership, military strategy, leadership, architectural planning.
• Ezra: A skilled scribe devoted to studying, teaching, and preserving God's Law after the exile. Scripture: Ezra 7:6-10, Nehemiah 8:1-8. Skills: writing, copying manuscripts, teaching, scholarship, interpretation, leadership.
• Luke: Carefully researched and compiled an orderly historical account of the life of Christ and the early church. Scripture: Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-3. Skills: historical research, writing, editing, interviewing, documentation, medicine.
• Paul: Supported his ministry through tentmaking while producing letters that continue to shape the Church. Scripture: Acts 18:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9. Skills: tentmaking, leatherworking, teaching, writing, church planting, leadership.

Tools mentioned in the Bible

• Construction: Hammer, chisel, axe, saw, adze, measuring line, plumb line, square, level (conceptually), rope. References: Isaiah 44:13, Amos 7:7-8, Zechariah 4:10, Isaiah 28:17.
• Metalworking: Furnace, bellows, anvil, tongs, mold, crucible. References: Isaiah 44:12, Jeremiah 6:29, Proverbs 17:3, Malachi 3:2-3.
• Agriculture: Plow, ox yoke, sickle, winnowing fork, pruning hook. References: Isaiah 2:4, Luke 9:62, John 15:1-8, Matthew 3:12.
• Shepherding: Staff, rod, sling. References: Psalm 23, 1 Samuel 17, Ezekiel 34.
• Writing: Reed pen, scroll, ink, stylus, seal ring. References: Jeremiah 36, Ezekiel 9:2, Revelation 5.

Powerful biblical metaphors involving craftsmanship

• Potter and clay (Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:1-6, Romans 9:20-21)
• Refiner of silver and gold (Malachi 3:2-3, Proverbs 17:3)
• Vine dresser (John 15:1-8)
• Builder and cornerstone (Psalm 118:22, Ephesians 2:20)
• Body being built together (Ephesians 2:21-22)
• Living stones (1 Peter 2:4-5)
• Master builder (1 Corinthians 3:10)
• Sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17)

Key theological principles

1. Skill originates with God. God gives wisdom, creativity, and technical ability (Exodus 31:3).
2. The Holy Spirit empowers practical work. The Spirit's work includes craftsmanship, not only preaching or prophecy (Exodus 31:3-5).
3. Beauty glorifies God. Artistic excellence reflects God's character and serves worship (Exodus 35-40).
4. Work is worship. All honest labor can be offered to God (Colossians 3:23-24).
5. Craftsmanship serves people. Skill is given to bless the community rather than elevate the individual (Ephesians 4:11-16).
6. God is preparing an eternal masterpiece. Individual believers, the church, and the New Creation are described as God's workmanship and building (Ephesians 2:10; Revelation 21).

A verse that brings these themes together is Ephesians 2:10:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

The Greek word translated "workmanship" is ποίημα (poiēma), from which the English word poem is derived. Paul presents believers themselves as God's masterwork, created to reflect the skill, beauty, and purpose of the divine Craftsman.

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What has God made known to us?

I was looking at Eph 6:19, the greek word made known

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should (Eph 6:18-20)

The Mystery of God's Redemptive Plan — this is by far the dominant subject, especially in Paul's letters. Ephesians alone hits it four times: the mystery of God's will (Eph 1:9), the mystery revealed by revelation (Eph 3:3), the mystery hidden from prior generations (Eph 3:5), and the mystery of the gospel (Eph 6:19). Colossians 1:27 ties it to "Christ in you, the hope of glory," and Romans 16:26 describes the mystery now disclosed to all nations.

God's Own Attributes — His power and wrath (Rom 9:22–23), the riches of His glory (Rom 9:23), His grace (2 Cor 8:1), and His manifold wisdom made known to heavenly rulers through the church (Eph 3:10).

The Father's Name and Character — Jesus declares in John 17:26 that he has made the Father's name known and will continue to do so, connecting to John 15:15 where he says he's disclosed everything from the Father to the disciples.

The Gospel itself — 1 Cor 15:1 and Gal 1:11 use gnōrizō for the gospel's content and origin (not from human beings).

Christ's power and coming — 2 Pet 1:16, explicitly distinguishing eyewitness proclamation from myth.

Mundane/practical uses — Tychicus making Paul's circumstances known (Eph 6:21, Col 4:7, 4:9), requests made known to God (Phil 4:6), and Paul saying he doesn't know which to choose (Phil 1:22).

The theological weight of the word clearly falls on divine disclosure of what was previously hidden — particularly "the mystery," a technical term in Paul for God's plan to unite Jews and Gentiles in Christ, kept secret for ages but now actively being revealed through proclamation.

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Themes of Psalm 119, God's Word is praised from A to Z

Enjoying Psalm 119:1-8, Intimacy, submission, and wholeheartedly seeking God 

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible — 176 verses organized into 22 stanzas of 8 verses each, one for every letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Every verse in each stanza begins with that letter. This is called an acrostic poem (אָקְרוֹסְטִיכוֹן).

The structure is deliberate theology: the Word of God is praised from aleph to taw — A to Z, the whole of existence. Here is each letter with its name, pictograph meaning, and stanza theme:

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The 22 Letters

#	Letter	Name	Pictograph Meaning	Stanza Theme in Ps. 119
1	א	Aleph	Ox / Strength / Leader	The blessed life of walking in Torah
2	ב	Beth	House / Tent / Dwelling	Hiding God's Word in the heart
3	ג	Gimel	Camel / Lifting up / Reward	Longing for God's commands despite reproach
4	ד	Daleth	Door / Pathway	The soul cleaving to the dust; needing reviving
5	ה	He	Window / Behold / Breath	Crying out for understanding and keeping
6	ו	Vav	Nail / Hook / Connection	Trusting God's Word in shame and reproach
7	ז	Zayin	Weapon / Sword / Cut	Remembering God's Word in affliction
8	ח	Cheth	Fence / Boundary / Protection	God is the psalmist's portion; keeping statutes
9	ט	Teth	Serpent / Twist / Good	Affliction as good — the discipline that teaches
10	י	Yod	Hand / Work / Deed	The hands of God forming the psalmist
11	כ	Kaph	Open Palm / Bend / Allow	The soul fainting for salvation
12	ל	Lamed	Ox Goad / Teach / Toward	Eternal foundation of God's Word in heaven
13	מ	Mem	Water / Chaos / Mighty	Meditation and wisdom from the Word
14	נ	Nun	Fish / Activity / Life	The Word as a lamp to the feet
15	ס	Samech	Prop / Support / Uphold	God sustains; the double-minded are rejected
16	ע	Ayin	Eye / See / Experience	Crying out with the eye toward God
17	פ	Pe	Mouth / Speak / Open	The opening of God's Word gives light
18	צ	Tsade	Fish Hook / Righteous / Desire	God's righteousness and the psalmist's persecution
19	ק	Qoph	Back of Head / Sun on Horizon / Call	Crying out at dawn; reviving by the Word
20	ר	Resh	Head / Person / First	Pleading for God's judgment against persecutors
21	ש	Shin	Teeth / Consume / Devour	Princes persecute, but the Word is the source of peace
22	ת	Taw	Cross / Mark / Covenant	Final cry — lost sheep returning; seeking the servant

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Why This Matters Theologically

1. Completeness. Using all 22 letters signals totality — the psalmist's devotion to God's Word is exhaustive, covering everything from A to Z. Nothing is withheld.

2. Order within chaos. The acrostic imposes discipline on suffering. Many stanzas describe persecution, affliction, and anguish — but the form itself declares that God's Word brings order to the disorder of life.

3. Pictographic depth. The ancient pictographs carry latent meaning. For example:

• Nun (נ) = fish / life in motion → "Your word is a lamp to my feet" (v. 105) — life-giving light for movement
• Taw (ת) = cross / covenant mark → The final stanza ends with "I have gone astray like a lost sheep" — the covenant mark pointing toward the ultimate redemption yet to come
• Aleph (א) = ox / strength → Opens with "Blessed are those whose way is blameless" — strength and leadership through the Word

4. Memorization tool. For a culture that memorized Torah, the acrostic made the longest psalm learnable — discipline modeled in the very structure of the poem.

5. Every stanza uses multiple synonyms for God's Word: law (torah), testimony, precepts, statutes, commandments, rules, word, promise — at least one appearing in almost every verse. The alphabet + synonyms together create a multi-dimensional praise of Scripture.

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Hidden in God is our true Self (Gal 4:9)

So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? - Galatians 4:9

This past week of medical issue with my mom has brought an unexpected blessing of connecting with my sister and having a friend from church over the weekend talk about Communion brought me to reflect on secular ideas vs Biblical ideas. Reflecting on the idea of "evidence based alternatives to self help" and one of my favorite authors Jo Bailey. I asked Claude "what philosophy or religious ideas does the term true Self come from?"

The term "true Self" (or "True Self") draws from several distinct philosophical and religious traditions. The traditions don't agree on what the true Self is. Vedanta says it's eternal and divine. Buddhism says it's empty of inherent existence. Christianity says it's relational, defined by union with God, not by intrinsic divinity. That distinction matters enormously theologically. Jo Bailey's path looks like it follows through this path:

Neoplatonism

Plotinus taught that the soul has a higher aspect — the nous (divine intellect) — that remains in contact with the One, untouched by the material world. The "lower self" is caught in matter; the true self participates in the eternal.

Gnosticism

Gnostics distinguished the pneuma (divine spark within) from the psyche and body. The true self is a fragment of divine light trapped in matter, awaiting liberation through gnosis (knowledge).

Christian Mysticism

Figures like Meister Eckhart, Thomas à Kempis, and later Thomas Merton used the language of true self vs. false self. For Merton especially, the false self is the ego built on illusion and sin; the true self is the self hidden in God — who we are in Christ, known only through contemplative surrender. This is distinctly Christian but borrows Neoplatonic framing.

Jungian Psychology

Carl Jung secularized the concept as the Self (capitalized) — the archetypal center of the psyche, the totality of conscious and unconscious. Individuation is the lifelong process of becoming one's true Self, distinct from the ego-persona.

Modern Therapeutic / New Age Usage

Largely derived from Jung and watered-down Vedanta, the popular "true self" idea (authenticity, inner wisdom, etc.) circulates widely in self-help culture — often stripped of its metaphysical grounding.

Scripture doesn't use the phrase "true Self" directly. The concept has to be assembled from several overlapping themes:

Identity Hidden in God

Colossians 3:3–4 is the clearest anchor:

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory."

The true self is hidden — not yet fully revealed, secured in Christ. This directly parallels Merton's framework.

Psalm 139:13–16 — God knows and forms the self before it performs anything. Identity is given, not constructed.

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The New Self / New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 — "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come." The new self isn't an improved ego; it's a new ontological reality.

Ephesians 4:22–24 — puts it in direct contrast language: "put off the old self... put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." The false self/true self distinction is practically explicit here.

Galatians 2:20 — "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." The ego-self is displaced; the true self is constituted by indwelling.

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Knowing and Being Known

1 Corinthians 13:12 — "Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." True selfhood is eschatological — we become who we truly are as we are fully known by God.

Galatians 4:9 — "Now that you know God — or rather are known by God." Paul corrects himself: being known precedes knowing. Identity flows from God's prior knowledge of us.

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New Name / True Name

Revelation 2:17 — "I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." The true self has a name only God knows — suggesting a particularity and depth of identity not accessible to the ego.

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Sonship and Adoption

Romans 8:14–17 — identity as sons of God, crying "Abba, Father." The Spirit witnesses to who we truly are, beyond what flesh and performance can claim.

1 John 3:1–2 — "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!... what we will be has not yet been made known." True identity is both present and still being revealed.

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The Glory Awaiting Disclosure

Romans 8:18–19 — "the glory that will be revealed in us... the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." The true self is not yet fully manifest — even creation is waiting for it.

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Key Theological Frame

What makes the Christian "true Self" distinct from Vedanta or Jung is this:

• It is relational, not intrinsic — constituted by union with Christ, not by inner divinity
• It is eschatological — not fully realized yet, but secured and being unveiled
• It is received, not discovered — you don't excavate it; you die and are raised into it
• It is particular — God knows you by name, not as an undifferentiated spark of the divine

This makes Colossians 3:3–4, Galatians 2:20, and Revelation 2:17 your strongest triad for teaching this concept with real theological precision.

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Holocaust Survivor Testimony at my work (CHAI)

This is the testimony of Janet Applefield (born Gustava/"Giga"), a Jewish child survivor from Kraków, Poland, one of only 11 children to survive a specific camp. She was 4 when the war began and was eventually given away by her parents to save her life.

Story Highlights

• The family's world before the war A warm, multi-generational Jewish family. Janet was pampered as the first grandchild. Her "Aryan appearance" (blonde, green eyes) would become a survival tool.
• The invasion and flight (1939) German bombing began September 1. The family fled east toward Russia, dodging low flying aircraft (German strafen ("to punish")), crossing rivers on foot. Her father found them through a newspaper ad.
• Russia two tragedies Two uncles were lured to a "town hall for jobs," marched to a ravine, and shot. Her grandparents, who refused to return to Poland, were deported to Siberian slave labor.
• Return to Nazi-occupied Poland Her father was arrested as a suspected communist. Jews were forced to wear armbands. Gestapo raided homes for valuables. The family tried to escape by train.
• The escape attempt that failed August 1942 a moonlit night, a horse and wagon, and Polish "blue police" who beat the family with clubs until they bled. No place to hide.
• The agonizing decision Her parents separated to improve the odds of one surviving. They gave Janet to Maria, a cousin's nanny. Her last words from her parents: "Be good, be strong, be brave we will be reunited soon." ("Be strong and courageous")
• Bełżec death camp Approximately 12,000 people were assembled in an open field. Men selected for slave labor. Elderly and children shot into mass graves. The remaining 53 boxcars traveled 5 days to Bełżec. 600,000 murdered in 6 months. Janet's mother, grandmother, aunt, and 3-year-old cousin Anushka were among them.
• Hidden with cousin Lala / false Catholic identity Janet became "Krisha" (Christina Antoshevich) — identity taken from the birth certificate of a dead Catholic girl, obtained from a Catholic priest. Lala was cruel, beating Janet with a fireplace poker and telling her "Your mother is dead, she's never coming back."
• Abandoned in Kraków Left alone in a church at 7 years old when Lala was arrested by the Gestapo. A woman found her weeping on the street and sheltered her. She was eventually placed on a Catholic Church-owned farm.
• Survival through performance When the blue police arrived at the farm, Janet instinctively sang and danced to distract them. They laughed, drank vodka, and left.
• Plaszów concentration camp / reunion with father Her father survived a gunshot wound to the face with no medical treatment. After liberation, they reunited. They eventually emigrated to the U.S. via Paris.
• Legacy Janet earned a BA and master's degree, raised three children, lost her oldest son David six years ago. She testified before the Massachusetts legislature, which then mandated Holocaust education. She authored Becoming Janet, with her grandson designing the cover.

Christian Concepts That Were Ignored or Violated

These are the theological failures the testimony exposes — many perpetrated by people who identified as Christian.

1. Imago Dei — Every person bears God's image Genesis 1:26–27 is foundational. The Nazi ideology systematically stripped Jews of human dignity — armbands, ghetto walls, boxcars, mass graves. To dehumanize is to deny the image of God in another person. Many perpetrators were baptized Christians.

2. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) Jesus called this the second greatest commandment. The "blue police" — Polish, nominally Christian — beat a bleeding father and his terrified family with clubs for trying to survive. Collaboration with evil is not neutrality; it is a direct violation of this command.

3. "Do not murder" (Exodus 20:13 / Matthew 5:21–22) Jesus expanded this to include contempt and hatred. Six million Jews were murdered. The command was not merely broken — it was institutionalized.

4. Protection of the vulnerable (Psalm 82:3–4; Isaiah 1:17) "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." Janet was a 7-year-old child wandering alone, weeping on a Kraków street. Most walked past. The biblical call to protect the vulnerable was culturally abandoned.

5. Hospitality to strangers (Hebrews 13:2; Leviticus 19:34) "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers." The Jewish people were strangers in occupied lands — and were hunted rather than sheltered. Hebrews 13:2 echoes the angelic hospitality theme that runs through all of Scripture.

6. Silence in the face of injustice (Proverbs 31:8–9; Ezekiel 3:18) "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves." Many European churches were silent. Pope Pius XII's silence remains one of the most contested failures of institutional Christianity in the 20th century. Silence, biblically, is complicity.

7. Bearing false witness / propaganda (Exodus 20:16) Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda was the engine of genocide. Dehumanizing lies — that Jews were vermin, communists, sub-human — were spread through a society with deep Christian roots. Falsehood in service of hatred violates the 9th commandment at a civilizational scale.

8. Antisemitism rooted in theological distortion Replacement theology, misapplied "Christ-killer" rhetoric, and centuries of church-sanctioned anti-Jewish prejudice created the cultural soil in which genocide grew. This is a painful indictment. Malachi 3:6 — "I the LORD do not change; so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed" — stands as God's own covenant fidelity against any theology that writes Israel off.

Where Christian Conscience DID Appear

The testimony is not without grace. Several people acted on what Christian conscience demands:

Person	Act
Alicia Goa	Sheltered a weeping, abandoned 7-year-old stranger at great personal risk
The Catholic farm administrator	Hid Janet on church-owned land
The Catholic priest	Provided a birth certificate that became a survival document
The unknown woman under the cape	The woman who pulled Janet close in the street, the most Christlike act in the story
The German foreman	Slipped Janet's father extra bread in the concentration camp

These are echoes of the Righteous Among the Nations people who, at risk of death, chose the costly path of obedience. Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it "the view from below." Janet's testimony is ultimately a call back to that standard.

Janet's own conclusion: "The smallest acts of kindness have a ripple effect... I am the voice of all those people whose voices were so brutally taken from them."

That is, at its core, a profoundly biblical statement and a rebuke to every generation that forgets it.

Immigration, foreigners' and natives from the perspective of Holiness and Love (Lev 19, Matt 22:37-39, 2 Chron 7)

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Let God show you the path of life today (Psalm 16:11, John 14:6)

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. — Psalm 16:11

My friend and prayer partner Gloria sends me a text message every morning. She always encourages me and builds up my soul. We get to pray every Thursday with my mom, Robb, Tony, Russ and Karen. It's awesome. It helps me to pray for all the things in ministry, our church, our community and world. It started as Alpha Prayer for twin cities and five state area. Then morphed into Alpha at Teen Challenge Campuses. Here's today's message.

 Good morning!!

 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

  There are times I realize  that I miss out on certain things because I'm not fully focused on the present. I am asking Jesus to help me be aware of all that He brings to my life each day.

  My desire is to be fully present, basking in the pleasures of Jesus as He guides me through out my life.

  Jesus loves you and so do I 

David wrote Psalm 16:11 from a place of deep trust. He knew that God was not a distant guide pointing from afar, but a close companion walking beside him every step. Jesus made this same promise when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He does not just show us the path. He is the path.

There are times when life moves fast and our minds race ahead to tomorrow, or drift back to yesterday. In those moments, we miss what God is doing right now. Moses learned this at the burning bush. He had to stop, turn aside, and look before God spoke (Exodus 3:3-4). Presence requires attention.

Jesus modeled this beautifully. He stopped for blind Bartimaeus when the crowd pressed on (Mark 10:49). He paused for the woman who touched His robe (Luke 8:45). He noticed. He was fully present. And He invites us into that same awareness.

Paul reminds us, "This is the day the Lord has made" (Psalm 118:24), and that we should "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude is one of the greatest tools for staying present. When we say thank you for what is in front of us, we stop rushing past it.

The promise of Psalm 16:11 is not just for heaven. Fullness of joy is available today, in His presence, on this ordinary morning. As we walk with Jesus, He fills each moment with meaning, with beauty, and with Himself.

"The Lord your God is with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9

• Psalm 23:3 — "He leads me in paths of righteousness" — a companion to Psalm 16:11 on guidance
• John 10:10 — "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" — the fullness Jesus brings
• Philippians 4:11 — Paul learning contentment in the present, whatever the circumstance
• Matthew 6:34 — Jesus' direct teaching on not borrowing anxiety from tomorrow

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Christ Brought Peace, Unity, and Reconciliation Through the Cross

Celebrating Good Friday today. We had our first "Fath in the Workplace" with SALT network yesterday, lots of great testimonies and sharing. Jesus did not die merely to save isolated individuals. He died to reconcile enemies to God and to one another, creating one new people through His blood.

The cross:

• brought peace with God
• destroyed hostility between people
• formed one body
• and calls us to live in that peace

Christ Himself is our peace. Through His body on the cross, He reconciled us to God, broke down the walls that divided us, and formed one new people who now live under the rule of His peace.

• “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”
• Ephesians 2:14 (NLT)
• “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

At the cross, Jesus did far more than forgive individual sin. He created a new humanity. He removed the barriers of alienation between God and man, and between people and one another. The cross is not only the place of pardon. It is the place of peace, reconciliation, and unity.

1) Christ Himself is our peace

Paul does not merely say Jesus gives peace. He says Christ Himself is our peace. Peace is found in a Person before it is experienced as a feeling.

• Isaiah 9:6 – “And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
• John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”
• Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This means biblical peace is not just the absence of conflict. It is restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Before peace can rule in our hearts, it must first be purchased by His blood.

2) The cross reconciled us to God

Humanity’s deepest problem was not social division first. It was separation from God because of sin. Jesus solved that at the cross.

• Colossians 1:19–20 – “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things... by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 – “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ... that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.”
• Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son...”
• 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.”

The cross ended the hostility between holy God and sinful man for all who believe. Peace with one another begins with peace with God.

3) Jesus broke down the wall of hostility between people

Paul’s language in Ephesians 2 is especially powerful because he is talking about one of the deepest divisions in the ancient world: Jew and Gentile. In Christ, that hostility was dismantled.

• Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
• Romans 10:12 – “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”
• Acts 10:34–35 – “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
• James 2:1 – “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The gospel does not erase human distinction, but it does destroy human superiority. At the foot of the cross, pride dies, boasting dies, and division loses its right to rule.

4) Jesus created one new people in Himself

Christ did not merely make peace between two hostile groups. He created something entirely new: one body, one family, one household of God.

• Ephesians 2:15–16 – “He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:13 – “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free.”
• Colossians 3:11 – “Here there is not Greek and Jew... but Christ is all, and in all.”
• Romans 12:5 – “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

The church is not a collection of like-minded individuals. It is a supernatural people formed by the blood of Jesus and filled by the Holy Spirit.

5) The blood of the cross is the basis of our unity

Christian unity is not built on personality, culture, politics, or preference. It is built on the finished work of Christ.

• Ephesians 2:13 – “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
• Hebrews 13:12 – “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”
• Revelation 5:9 – “For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
• 1 John 1:7 – “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

What race, class, tribe, language, and history could never accomplish, the blood of Jesus did. He brought near those who were far off and made them one.

6) Christ’s peace is meant to rule in the Church

The peace Jesus purchased is not just a doctrine to admire. It is a reality meant to govern our relationships.

• Colossians 3:15 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body.”
• Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
• Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
• Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

“Rule” in Colossians carries the idea of an umpire or deciding authority. Christ’s peace should settle disputes, restrain fleshly division, and shape how believers relate to one another.

7) Unity is both a gift and a calling

The cross created unity, but believers are also commanded to preserve it.

• Ephesians 4:1–3 – “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling... eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
• John 17:20–23 – Jesus prayed “that they may all be one... so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
• Philippians 2:1–4 – “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
• Psalm 133:1 – “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”

Unity is not maintained by ignoring truth. It is maintained by submitting together to Christ, walking in humility, and loving one another sacrificially.

8) The Church becomes a living witness of the cross

When hostile people become one family in Christ, the gospel becomes visible.

• John 13:34–35 – “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• Acts 2:42–47 – The early church displayed shared life, generosity, worship, and favor before others.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:13 – “Be at peace among yourselves.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Aim for restoration, comfort one another... live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

A divided church contradicts the message of the cross. A reconciled church displays its power.

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Darkness in the human condition

Enjoying Advent: The Word – Timothy Keller [Sermon]. Darkness in Scripture means both the brokenness around us and the blindness within us, and Jesus Christ is the only true Light who can heal both.

1) Darkness as evil, suffering, and the brokenness of the world

Darkness points to the tragic condition of life under sin. It includes violence, injustice, grief, oppression, fear, and death. The Christmas story itself is set against this backdrop, seen in the cruelty of Herod the Great and the sorrow surrounding Christ’s coming. Jesus entered a world that was not neutral, but deeply fractured.

Key Bible references:

• Matthew 2:16–18 – Herod’s slaughter of the children reveals the darkness surrounding Christ’s birth.
• Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”
• Psalm 82:5 – “All the foundations of the earth are shaken” when justice fails.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1 – oppression and tears characterize life in a fallen world.
• Romans 8:20–22 – creation groans under the effects of sin and decay.
• John 3:19 – people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
• Ephesians 5:8–11 – darkness is tied to sinful works and moral corruption.

Core idea:
Darkness is not merely “bad circumstances.” It reflects a world disordered by rebellion against God.

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2) Darkness as ignorance, blindness, and human inability

Darkness also describes humanity’s spiritual blindness. People do not naturally see God, themselves, or reality rightly. We are not only surrounded by darkness, we are also unable to overcome it by our own wisdom, morality, politics, or effort.

Key Bible references:

• Isaiah 59:9–10 – people grope like the blind because truth and justice are absent.
• Jeremiah 17:9 – the heart is deceitful and not self-correcting.
• Proverbs 14:12 – what seems right to man can still end in death.
• John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
• John 8:12 – Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:4–6 – unbelief is described as blindness, and only God can shine light into the heart.
• Ephesians 4:17–18 – fallen humanity is darkened in understanding and alienated from the life of God.
• Colossians 1:13 – believers are delivered from the domain of darkness.
• 1 Peter 2:9 – God calls His people “out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Core idea:
Humanity does not merely need better information. We need divine illumination and rescue.

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Big theological takeaway

The Bible presents darkness as both:

• the condition of the world (evil, suffering, injustice), and
• the condition of the human heart and mind (blindness, sin, inability).

That is why Christmas is such good news. Jesus did not come merely to inspire people in a dark world. He came to confront darkness, expose it, and overcome it.

Christ-centered conclusion

• Luke 1:78–79 – Jesus comes “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
• John 1:9 – He is the true Light coming into the world.
• John 12:46 – whoever believes in Him will not remain in darkness.

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Biblical Foundations for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

I had the honor of hosting a meeting with Paul Abney at my work for SALT, STRIVE, VETNET. He shared his story of trauma, recovery and advocacy for people to move from suffering to true healing. This morning my friend shared Trauma, Addiction and Recovery: Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Addiction which got me thinking about CBT and the Bible. 

CBT says our thoughts shape our emotions and behaviors. Scripture taught this long before modern psychology. The Bible presents a coherent model of the mind that mirrors CBT’s cognitive-behavioral architecture.

1. Change begins with the mind
Paul frames transformation as cognitive renewal.
Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Philippians 4:8 — Directing attention toward what is true.
Colossians 3:2 — “Set your minds on things above.”
This is cognitive restructuring in biblical language.

2. Identify and challenge distorted thoughts
CBT teaches monitoring and reframing automatic thoughts.
2 Corinthians 10:5 — “Take captive every thought.”
This is an active evaluation of internal narratives, not passive acceptance.
Applied to trauma: Scripture confronts harmful core beliefs (“I am damaged,” “I am unsafe”) rather than baptizing them.

3. Thought → emotion → behavior
Scripture treats the “heart” as the integrated center of thought, feeling, and action.
Proverbs 23:7 — “As he thinks… so is he.”
Proverbs 4:23 — “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Matthew 15:18-19 — Behavior originates in the inner thought-life.
This is the cognitive model stated plainly.

4. Action reinforces belief
CBT uses behavioral activation. Scripture does the same.
James 1:22 — “Do what it says.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8 — Spiritual maturity is trained, not felt.
Behavioral practice reshapes the inner life.

5. Exposure over avoidance
CBT teaches that avoidance feeds fear; courage rewires it.
2 Timothy 1:7 — A “sound mind” in fear-based situations.
Psalm 23:4 — Healing comes by walking through the valley, not around it.
This parallels trauma-focused exposure therapy.

6. Rumination and anxiety
Scripture addresses anticipatory fear and catastrophic thinking.
Matthew 6:34 — “Do not worry about tomorrow.”
Philippians 4:6-7 — Petition + thanksgiving produces cognitive peace.
1 Peter 5:6-7 — Anxiety is “cast” — a deliberate cognitive release.
This aligns with mindfulness-based CBT.

7. Identity reconstruction
CBT reshapes core beliefs. Scripture does too.
2 Corinthians 5:17 — A new identity redefines self-schema.
Ephesians 4:22-24 — Put off → renew the mind → put on.
A full cognitive-behavioral sequence is embedded here.

8. Community as change catalyst
CBT uses group reality-checking and accountability.
James 5:16 — Confession externalizes distorted beliefs.
Proverbs 27:17 — Others help correct our thinking.
Scripture embeds change in relational systems, not isolation.

Synthesis
Scripture and CBT converge on three truths:
• Thought is the driver of emotional and behavioral life (John 8:32).
• Truth dismantles distortion and brings freedom.
• Lasting change requires both renewed cognition and practiced obedience.

For clinicians or pastors working with believers, this alignment is not cosmetic. It gives CBT a deeper moral and theological backbone and offers clients meaning, hope, and a worldview that reinforces clinical progress.

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