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The reports about Andrew Brunson’s release are just another example of how little the media know about evangelical churches.
Bee colonies give the impression of being a single organism made up of thousands of individual parts.
Photo: Antonio Cruz
"... In [the lion's carcass] there was a swarm of bees and some honey" (Judges 14:8)
There are thousands of different species of bees. Some of them are solitary by nature while others form colonies which can be made up of up to 80,000 individuals. Most of them carry a poisonous sting which they use to defend themselves, but there are also some species which do not. The best known of these species, the domestic bee (Apis mellifera), form hives containing an adult queen bee, a majority of female working bees, and 4% of male drones. In animal societies of this kind, it is not the individual that matters, but the whole community. It is for this reason that bee colonies give the impression of being a single organism made up of thousands of individual parts.
Due allowance made for the obvious differences, the Old Testament also often refers to Israel as a "collective person". This deeply embedded idea of the individual as part of a community led the Hebrews, for example, to assume responsibility for the actions, good or evil, of the other members of the community. If one person sinned, all were guilty. Children thus inherited the consequences of the sins of their fathers, but the converse was also true.
This concept of the "collective person" gradually changed until the idea of personal, individual responsibility emerged, whereby each would be held responsible for their own actions and not for those of others.
If God is calling you to a responsible job, don't be afraid. He himself will fit you for it by his Spirit, and you'll do well.
Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
Kathy Bryan: Online sex trafficking in the USA
“Prostitution is nobody’s dream, it’s a very traumatic lifestyle”, says Kathy Bryan, director of the Elevate Academy. She mentors former victims.
Christians in politics?
What is the role of Christians serving in politics? An interview with Auke Minnema, the new General Director of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM).
Photos: Reaching people with disabilities
Seminars, an arts exhibition, discussion and testimonies. The European Disability Network met in Tallinn.
Photos: Hope for Europe
Unity in Diversity is the theme of the conference. Representatives of Evangelical Alliances and many other church leaders gathered in Tallinn (Estonia).
Sharing Jesus with World Cup fans in Moscow
A team of Steiger mission is starting conversations about the gospel in the middst of the football celebration in Russia.
European “Bridges to Inclusion” gathering 2018, in Riga
The network of Christian ministries working for the inclusion of people with disabilities, celebrated its tenth continental meeting in Latvia with the participation of 12 countries.
Biotechnology: “There is a difference between restoration and enhancement”
“We have to understand the times in which we live, and have discernment”, says Doctor Peter J. Saunders.
The Manzanas case
A short documentary about how retired pastors and widows of an evangelical denomination in Spain fight a legal battle for their pensions after the favourable ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.
How does romantic love change over time?
Psychatrist Pablo Martínez uses a metaphor to explain how romantic love evolves.
‘Mediterráneo’
“Something will change if you have hunger and thirst for justice”, sings Spanish artist Eva Betoret in a song about the refugee crisis.
How the loss of universal values led to a loss of civility
Author Bruce Little: “We have moved from a sense of responsibility to ‘my personal rights’”.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
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