Social Pressure, Body Image, and Looks Maxing: A Christian Perspective
The idea of shaping external appearance is not a new one and not even an inherently bad one. It is completely appropriate and natural. Scripture affirms this physical care for the body:
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—“ (Ephesians 5:29)
As followers of Christ, the question I think we need to be asking is, “to what extent is our care about physical appearance appropriate and ordered?” By nature, humans have a tendency to take something that can be good and elevate to a place of obsession—even to a place of idolatry.
Does God Want Women to Be Weak?
It’s strange to me now that a younger Bonnie used to get ruffled by this New Testament passage that directs husbands to act like gentlemen. “Live with your wives in an understanding way,” said wise ‘ol Peter, “as with a weaker vessel.”
A weaker vessel. Why did he have to say it like that? And why did it get tucked in as part of the inspired Word of God? Are women actually weaker? And if so, does God want women to be weak and passive?
You're Not Alone
In generations past, humanity lived in community and had to work hard to find moments of seclusion. In our day and age, most live in seclusion and are straining to find moments of genuine community. We have to rewrite "normal" if we are going to pull culture up out of this relational nose-dive that we're in.
Dis-Integrated Discipleship: finding the answer for modern gender ideology
If you’re called to youth ministry, you’re stepping into the front lines of a rapidly shifting culture. To navigate this, one quality is non-negotiable: a passion for discipleship. Discipleship—a term frequently mentioned in church culture—is often misunderstood or reduced to attending services, serving on a team or simply knowing about Jesus. However, the Biblical model is far more demanding. And transformative.
The Looking Glass: seeing clearly in a confusing cultural moment
Have you ever wondered how you see the world—and why? It’s because of your worldview, a set of beliefs and assumptions that shape how you interpret life, make decisions, and find purpose. Everyone has one, whether they realize it or not. More than just culture or religion, a worldview underpins how we answer profound questions like, What does it mean to be human? and What is the definition of a man or a woman?
Pastor or Party Planner? How to reach the Next Generation in a Hyper-Sexualized Culture
Whether you are a full-time youth pastor in a paid position or a volunteer bi-vocational youth leader, the call you have from God to mentor and develop young people to be passionate disciples of the Lord is a high calling. You may feel overwhelmed and under-equipped, but what you do matters. Maybe you've experienced being the brunt of jokes suggesting that you just babysit kids who need to put on more deodorant, but the truth is you have an incredible opportunity to be a vessel which God uses to lead others to Himself. That being said, you also have your work cut out for you. The pressure young people are facing in this hyper-sexualized culture is no joke. It’s potent and persistent.
WWJD, Love is Love and Virtues Gone Mad
Think about the statement, “Love is love.” You may have seen this in an advertisement or heard it shouted by those protesting for the “freedom” of the LGBTQ+ community. It sounds like a trendy or noble statement, but I dare to suggest that this statement is both deceptive and destructive.
Thank God I Am Not Like Them: The Double Standard Of Sin (ours vs THEIRS)
If we were honest, most of us have two different scales we use to measure sin. There’s the one we use with our sins and the one we use with others. If we aren’t careful, the tendency is to make the sins of others out to be more disgusting than our sins. Others have to live under a microscope of judgment while we need…grace. This should not be so.
A Deeper Kind of Sexual Purity
Remember that “courage” is not one of the fruits of the Spirit, nor is it one of the gifts that is imparted to us. It is a choice. You’ll have to decide - is Jesus worth laying everything else down for?
If Good Men Do Nothing
You won’t make a difference because you think you have arrived at some level of perfection or because you think you know all the answers, but simply because you care and because you are willing to offer your strength for the good of those around you. That’s something, isn’t it?
And something is certainly better than nothing.
Why Authentic Masculinity is Anything but Toxic
The answer to “toxic masculinity” is not less masculinity but more masculinity…authentic masculinity.
Finding Your Way in a Sexually Confused Culture
There is no question that the landscape of our culture when it comes to sexuality and identity is disorienting and confusing. Who would’ve thought it would be offensive to ask, “What is a woman?” Or that an idea such as “men can have periods” would be celebrated as “brilliant progressive thought”? How can the church respond? How can we regain confidence when so many foundations are being questioned?