Using the analogy of a vine and the branches, Jesus challenges us to “abide in Him,” a dependency on HIm that has four intended results and four key characteristics.

Years ago, historian Richard Hofstadter wrote an important book entitled The Paranoid Style in American Politics, in which he documented the role paranoia, fear and conspiracy theories have played in American political culture. He called it “an arena for angry minds.”

A major premise of Scripture is that leaders are always called to a higher standard. Indeed, spiritual leaders in the church and in ministry are called to be “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2). Leaders in ministry are to be servant leaders, modeling the biblical truths they espouse (see Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:21-30 and John 13:1-17). Leaders are to avoid even the “appearance of evil” in their lifestyles and in their words (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Jesus introduces the facets of the New Covenant Community–prayer, the Holy Spirit, the new circle of love in Christ and Christ’s peace.

Fundamental to the Christian worldview is that we live in a fallen, broken world. Sin and rebellion against God are the defining characteristics of this dark world over which Satan rules (2 Corinthians 4:4). The modern nation-state, in terms of world history, is a relatively new development on the world scene.

As the way, the truth and the life, Jesus reveals the Father and the Holy Spirit whom He will send.

A new book by Religious News Service reporter Jack Jenkins (American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country) argues that not only is the Religious Left alive and well in contemporary America—it is the “beating heart of modern progressivism.” Modern politics in the Trump era often stereotype people into rather rigid categories. This is not very helpful and is in fact often intellectually dishonest. As I have argued on Issues over the last few months, genuine, biblical Christian leaders are all over the map in their political leanings.

In washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus exhibited limitless love, servanthood and, symbolically, the washing away of sin.

As the Father speaks for the third time to His Son, Jesus then interprets His Father’s words for the people and offers a theology of unbelief to explain why so many are rejecting Him as the Messiah.

According to Stephanie Kramer, “A [2019] Pew Research Center study of 130 countries and territories shows that the U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Almost a quarter of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent and no other adults (23%), more than three times the share of children around the world who do so (7%).