Entries by Rachel Larsen

Do Followers of Jesus Believe in the Hebrew Bible?

You may know that Jesus’s followers read the New Testament, which is about Jesus’s life and teaching. What about the Hebrew Bible? Do followers of Jesus read the Hebrew Scriptures which tell of God creating the universe, claiming Israel as his chosen people, liberating them from slavery in Egypt, and establishing them in their own […]

Do Jesus’ Followers Care About the Environment?

Aerial images of Ethiopia reveal small forest enclaves surrounded by large swathes of arid desert. At the center of most of the oases are churches. These congregations have preserved the forest for centuries, motivated by the belief that “every creature is a gift from God and needs its habitat.” In recent years, conservationists have partnered […]

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What is Atonement?

Atonement is not a particularly popular word in English, but perhaps you are familiar with Yom Kippur, which means Day of Atonement. It is a time when many Jewish people fast and pray, seeking God’s forgiveness. In everyday speech, the verb atone is more common and means “to make amends, to provide compensation for wrongdoing.” […]

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Was Jesus a Prophet?

You may have heard that Jesus was a teacher who performed miracles and claimed to be sent by God. You may have also heard him being called a prophet. Jesus was indeed a prophet, meaning that, like other biblical prophets, he delivered a message from God, urging his listeners to turn from wrongdoing and embrace […]

Was Jesus Jewish?

In 1938, French-Jewish artist Marc Chagall painted “White Crucifixion,” which depicts Yeshua as a Jewish man hanging on a tree. He is wearing a prayer shawl and is surrounded by images of contemporary persecution: a synagogue is burned, a man tries to save a Torah scroll, and a group of refugees flee by boat. There […]