by John Ellis Psalm 4:4 can be a difficult verse to navigate, especially in terms of application. Understanding a little something about Hebrew poetry goes a long way towards making the navigation less tricky. To that end, one of the primary literary (and rhetorical) devices of ancient Hebrew poetry is parallelism. So, in Psalm 4:4 … Continue reading Anxiety and Fear Are NOT Sinful
Tag: sin
The Fall’s (Sin and Sin’s Curse) Effect on Language and Relationships
by John Ellis Over the last few months, one of the questions/problems I’ve been thinking and working through is in reference to the Fall’s effect on language. At first blush, I think most Christians would agree that language didn’t escape unscathed from sin’s curse. But that acknowledgment is likely thin; largely, I believe, because we … Continue reading The Fall’s (Sin and Sin’s Curse) Effect on Language and Relationships
Demanding Obeisance to White Culture Is Racism: Code Switching, AAVE, and Double Consciousness
by John Ellis Growing up in the Deep South, I was surrounded by racism, including in my own heart, words, and actions. I was taught that Black people were “those people,” different and damaging to the fabric of our way of life if allowed free rein to be Black. It wasn’t stated in those words, … Continue reading Demanding Obeisance to White Culture Is Racism: Code Switching, AAVE, and Double Consciousness
Why Sex Outside of Marriage Is a Sin
by John Ellis Below in italics is my attempted re-creation of a story I haven’t read in at least three decades. No doubt, my blatant plagiarism contains some errors. My apologies to the author, whomever that might be. I’ve also attempted to remain true to the original story’s thematic tone and objective – a tone … Continue reading Why Sex Outside of Marriage Is a Sin
Death’s Unnatural Intrusion Into Childhood
(I wrote this in early 2016, and it remains one of my favorite articles that I've written.) by John Ellis Assuming normal physiology, humans don’t begin to taste deeply of physical death until sometime in their twenties. The day to day existence of children is punctuated by life. The brain is awakening – new sounds, … Continue reading Death’s Unnatural Intrusion Into Childhood
Practically Known Theology 