Life Jesus and Jordan Peterson

There's nothing more stirring than a 'fire and brimstone' sermon to scare the congregation back onto the straight and narrow path. I've seen preachers work up a sweat as their voices are raised to fever pitch as they command the congregation to 'repent or perish.' Others take a calmer (but just as intense) approach as they plead with their congregation to turn from their wicked ways, and to get back on the narrow path to salvation, because 'broad is the road that leads to destruction.' Such sincere pleading - sometimes with genuine tears streaming down the preacher's cheeks - are convincing, because surely someone so genuinely concerned for us, can't be wrong. And when we see how much someone cares about us and our ultimate salvation, it pierces our shell of disbelief, and strikes a chord of uncertainty, and we begin to worry if we're on the right path. They love to back up their powerful sermons by quoting one of the most famous passa

I keep hearing the word 'love' thrown around - God is love, love yourself, love your neighbour and John Lennon even wrote a song called 'All you need is love' - but it's not enough because the word 'love' is the most abused word of our times, and has become almost meaningless. But I didn't realise this until I got a wake up call when reading a passage about love in the bible. Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness c

I’m not a very good Christian, instead I’m a much better hypocrite, especially when it comes to forgiveness. I can even quote a couple of passages from the bible where we are clearly told to forgive such as: Matthew 6 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. or Epheisians 4 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. My problem is that intellectually I know forgiveness is the right thing to do, but I’m not sure I would be able to forgive in all instances, although I can think of at least two cases where I have forgiven someone, although it’s taken me many years, and it wasn’t planned. I’m talking about my high school nemesis, Simon Smith, who made life hell for my first two years of school, and I can still vividly picture that first day of class when the misery be