Have you ever visited your local Christian bookstore as an exercise in gender studies? Notice as you walk down the “women’s” aisle how all the books take on shades of pink and lavender. Have a careful look, also, at the…
Earlier this year I spent nearly one week at a Christian university. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the passion and vision of the next generation of Christians, especially regarding gender. I was thankful for the strong…
Many people in Minnesota get really excited about fall. We welcome cooler weather, colorful trees, and a chance to share treasures from our garden. Fall is also a vivid reminder that we are placed on Earth to help one another.…
The gender discussion in the church today is captured succinctly by New Testament scholar Gordon Fee in Listening to the Spirit in the Text. He writes:
Perhaps the worst thing the evangelical tradition has done on gender matters is to isolate them…
Have you ever noticed how every day language is used to manipulate and shape rather than describe reality? Here is one example. I used to swim several mornings a week, and as I walked from the locker room to the…
Have you ever pondered the dangers of reading the Bible? Perhaps booksellers should provide consumer warning labels that read: “Be careful, reading this book may change you and your worldview forever.” If Christians are correct, we encounter God’s infinite power…
In a recent post examining the biblical qualities of a leader, I considered the similarity between the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the qualities Paul requires for elders and overseers (1 Timothy 3:2-3), deacons (1 Timothy 3:8), and…
Does it seem curious to you that when the issue of leadership in the church is discussed, gender is frequently cited as a primary element to consider? In fact, when determining who may or may not serve as an elder,…
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere…
In last week’s post, I argued that because the apostle Paul commended the work of Phoebe—a deacon (Romans 16:1-2)—the tradition of female deacons continued throughout the early centuries, as noted both by the archaeological evidence and also in Christian literature…
As you may know, the question of whether women can serve as deacons has been recently debated among many evangelicals. Since scripture makes clear that Phoebe served as a deacon in the church in Cenchrea, there is an abundance of…
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31, NRSV)
Have you noticed how God selects the most unlikely individuals to accomplish extraordinary feats? Defying human standards and expectations, we discover God’s power working in astonishing ways in…
I heard a preacher once say, “Don’t let facts blind you to the truth.” What did he mean? Facts, misunderstood or taken out of context, can take us further away from, rather than closer to, truth. This risk is ever-present…
As friends and I met for dinner to enjoy pictures of mutual friends’ wedding, their four-year old joined in the fun. At one point I asked this child which picture was her favorite, and she quickly pointed to one saying,…
I enjoy addressing the contributions of women in history at Christian colleges or universities. When invited to speak, I often make an effort to learn something about the school, particularly their founders and graduates. In doing so, I have discovered…
Many of you have attended a class at church designed to help you discern your spiritual gifts. Thankfully, over the years, excellent biblical resources have been produced that equip believers to discover and develop the gifts God has given each of…
Do you find yourself reluctant to attend women’s retreats because they tend to focus on things like fashion, women’s emotions, crafts, and new forms of stomach exercises? Are you confused by so-called Christian blogs for women, where again, the discussions center…
As we celebrate Easter and Christ’s empty tomb, we recognize that Calvary changes everything! Through Christ’s victory over death we not only receive forgiveness for sin, but if that were not enough, integral to the good news of the cross…
Many of us were raised in churches that taught that women should be silent in the church because of the teachings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:34. When we read the passage, sure enough, we see the following words on…
In last week’s post
