5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Is it okay to deceive someone if it is the only way they will even begin an open discussion with you (e.g. telling someone that you agree with or understand their values when you truly do not because you know that unless you tell them that, there will be no way they will have a constructive conversation with you)?

Sincerely,
Feigned Interest

Dear Feigned Interest,

It is never okay to lie (Rev 21:8), but you don’t have to lie to be diplomatic.  Jesus tells us to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves when interacting with mankind (Matt 10:16).  Just because you disagree with someone doesn’t mean that you can’t kindly ask to understand their position.  Wise men seek understanding (Pr 24:3), and friendships are built by being honest and gracious with your words (Pr 22:11).

Trying to balance being gracious with being forthright can be tricky, but it is possible.  Learning to have our words “seasoned with grace” is a lifetime education (Col 4:6).

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

(This is a follow-up to “EGPs”)

I have to respond to your demonology answer.  Yes, I believe that demons are not subject to humans truly living in the name of Jesus, but I believe the Lord allows evil to dwell in ignorance.  I myself, along with many other investigators, have experienced scientific proof of ghosts (demons) in electronic voices and documentation.  You can’t really believe that this is just a delusion that hundreds of millions of people are experiencing.  I believe this is Satan using one of his strongest powers, which is the power of deception, to make people believe that some people stay on earth when they die instead of going either to heaven or hell.  There are many cases of possession, such as the case of Anneliese Michel and countless others.  If not for demons, what else could this be?  There has to be a logical answer to ghosts, psychics, possessions, and voodoo besides delusion.  Could it be the deception of a demon?  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Demonologist

Dear Demonologist,

There is definitely deception from demons in this world.  All false teaching and beliefs are doctrines from demons (1 Tim 4:1).  Demons do not directly interact with mankind anymore, as we mentioned in the previous post… this would include supposed ghost encounters, etc.  However, Satan and his minions are actively involved in deceiving mankind.  Demons are false gods, and they are the recipients of all false worship (1 Cor 10:20).  There is no doubt that demons are deluding mankind, but you may be barking up the wrong tree as to how they are doing it.

What's the difference between Christianity and Christendom?  I thought they were synonyms.

Sincerely,
Wordsmith

Dear Wordsmith,

They can be used as synonyms, but in certain contexts, those two words can also have different meanings.  We will try and clarify the differences.  ‘Christendom’ is often used to refer to all religious groups and individuals that pledge some sort of allegiance to Jesus.  This would include everything from Catholicism to snake-handling Bible cults.  When the word ‘Christendom’ is used this way, it is an umbrella term that encompasses all groups that (even slightly) refer to themselves as ‘christian’.

However, it is fair to say that not all religious groups in Christendom agree with one another… or the Bible for that matter.  This is where the word ‘Christianity’ comes into play.  ‘Christianity’ is the true religion that Christ came and taught.  Jesus made it clear that not everyone who professed allegiance to Him would be saved (Matt 7:21-23).  There is only one true form of Christianity (Eph 4:4-6).  True Christianity is built upon the words of the Bible (Rom 10:17).  Many in ‘Christendom’ are not part of ‘Christianity’.