Confession

Confession Romans 12:9 says: “Let love be genuine” or, as some translations put it, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” Last year, on a family trip to Greece, I found myself wandering the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. One exhibit caught my attention: an ancient Greek theatrical mask, its smile grotesque and exaggerated, almost silly. But what really struck me was the label beside it: “Hypokritēs”. This is the very root of our English word hypocrisy....

Confession Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. At first glance, the third commandment seems straightforward: don’t use God’s name carelessly or irreverently. But its reach goes further: our conduct can also take His name in vain. Think about it this way: if I’m a student at a prestigious university and get caught in scandalous behavior, I damage the reputation of my school....