Jeremiah Z
Jeremiah's Articles
How to Talk with Others about Spiritual Matters
Suppose you are somewhere with a group of men or women from church, and one of them begins talking about Jesus Christ. What is your reaction? Can you join in the conversation, or do you get an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach and wish that the conversation would soon change subjects?
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The Pharisees—and What God Really Wants
Am I a Pharisee? I recently found myself asking this question while reading in the book of Matthew. No, I haven't rejected Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, as the Pharisees did. And I don't do good things so that other men will admire me. But, I noticed something in this passage that stood out to me – Jesus was warning the Pharisees that they were doing the little things, but yet they were omitting [not doing] the weightier matters of the law.
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The Coronavirus and Faith
As I'm writing this, we are experiencing world-wide panic regarding the Coronavirus. Some think it is blown way out of proportion (and it may be), while others are panicking and stocking up on aspirin, food, and enough household goods to last for several months.
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Work, Work, Work
Most Christians agree that the love of money is not a good thing. Yet for some reason, most of our conversation centers around work, and our worries and anxieties are often about work. But Scripture is clear—God already cares for us, provides for us, and even clothes us.
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Reading and Understanding the Bible
I’m certain you’ll agree with me that there is no other book anywhere near as important as the Bible. For thousands of years this book instructed, comforted, and helped mankind. People in countries were Christians are persecuted risk their lives to get a copy of this Book, or even just a fragment of it; and most Christian households in America have at least one copy and read it more than any other book.
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What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? (Part 3)
This is part three of a three-part article on the beliefs of the religious group that refers to itself as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? (Part 2)
This is part two of a three-part article on the beliefs of the religious group that refers to itself as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? (Part 1)
This is part one of a three-part article on the beliefs of the religious group that refers to itself as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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Abuse and Pornography, By MY
First of all, I will say that the article on abuse probably has some value (“Relating to Perpetrators and Relating to Victims,” by Ann Detweiler). It is very, very sad that God’s people have to deal with such things, and obvious sins start from what man thinks.
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If I'm Deceived, How Am I Going to Know It?, By MP
Hello. Someone gave me the Amish Voice, and I thought there were some good articles in there. I really appreciated the last article that I read, “Living in the Stronghold of Deception.” It’s so easy, I think. If I’m deceived, how am I going to know it? You know, because a deceived person thinks he’s right. And you can’t just walk up to somebody and say, “You’re deceived” because it would never work that way.
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Love for the Lord Jesus
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so.
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Follow Me
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20).
Imagine with me that you are in Galilee and you are a fisherman by trade. You are Jewish and know the Old Testament very well, likely having committed most or even all of it to memory. From your studies, you know that God is going to send a Savior into the world, and you know from reading the Old Testament prophets that He will be showing up someday soon.
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Love for the Lord Jesus
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22)
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so. If you are in business and you demonstrate that you genuinely love your customers, they will be loyal to your business. If you show love to your children, they will readily want to listen to you and obey you – little convincing with a stick will be needed. If you genuinely love your spouse, he or she will be delighted to be in your presence, and will be your best friend forever.
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Let Us Keep Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus
Yes, we do need that saving faith and understanding that we are washed in the blood and have our sins forgiven through our Lord Jesus Christ—to have our hearts renewed in Him daily and to feel the joy of the Holy Spirit!
Faith and works go together—like a rowboat needs oars to paddle downstream. Our plain way of living will not and cannot earn us brownie points to heaven, but it does keep me close to God! The confusion of the world is mind-boggling. How can the internet, TV, and cell phones be part of a peaceful life in all godliness (I Timothy 2:2)? What a wonderful world this would be if people would spend half as much time with their Bibles as with their cell phones.
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Living in Hope, By New York
Greetings in the name of Jesus. I have for a while had questions about getting your little magazine called The Amish Voice. The story by Emanuel Schrock and now the last issue had one from Moses Schrock, both have a ring of gevis der seligkeit (knowing you are saved). That is contrary to what we were taught, and we believe that the Bible supports that teaching of living in der Hoffrung (in hope). Nix fur ungute.
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A Partial Gospel, By Indiana
Dear Amish Voice,
It was with interest (and disgust) that I read Moses Schrock’s article on forgiveness in the January Amish Voice. A partial gospel is a lie. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). Anything apart from the truth is also apart from Jesus.
As we read through the gospel, we notice Jesus did not spend much time or words with theology, but rather he called us to a life! Separated from the world, consecrated unto God our Father.
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What Are You Trying to Prove, by Minnesota
To the Amish Voice,
Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, the only Name given by which man must be saved (Acts 4:12).
As I read your paper, to me it seems it could be misleading. I’m not sure what you are all trying to prove. Now, the scriptures you quote are right, but let’s be careful and not neglect some [others]. I like to think of Eph. 2 as the grace chapter, but take a good look at verse 10, James 2:14-20.
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Just How Much Does the Lord Love You?
To know just how much the Lord loves us, we need to take a look at what love really is. Quickly: what is the opposite of love? Like nearly everyone else, you probably said, “Hate is the opposite of love.” Actually, according to 1 John 4:18 fear is what we have when we don’t have love. ...but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
“Really? Fear?” you say. Think about it. Because God is love, if we don’t have Him, what do we have?
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Separation From The World (Part 2)
In Separation from the World, Part I, I wrote: “One of the [main] beliefs maintained by the plain people surrounds separation from the world. In fact, while studying our rich culture, I discovered that if you look past that one belief, the average plain person isn’t [all that] different from any other person alive.”
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Separation From The World (Part 1)
Having a plain background myself, I tend to spend a fair amount of time studying the ways of the plain Amish and Mennonites. One of the primary definitive cultural beliefs maintained by the plain people surrounds separation from the world. In fact, while studying our rich culture, I discovered that if you look past that one particular belief, the average plain person isn't different from any other person alive.
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Is Your Best Good Enough for God?
When I was a child, I thought of God as a vague (unclear), faraway being who wanted something from me. To be honest, I was a bit confused. I knew there was a problem with sin, but that didn’t stop me and I really didn’t know how to stop doing the wrong that I did. So, I kept asking God to forgive me for my sins, hoping and praying that at Judgment He would remember that I asked for forgiveness, thinking that asking for forgiveness was the solution.
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