Bible, theology, culture, etc.
God has decided that He would display His creativity through making many different kinds of people: gender, ethnicity, age, etc. Image bearers are a diverse people. But God's image is not the only source of diversity in humanity. Sin also affects us all uniquely leading to a diversity of depravity. Some people's sins look different … Continue reading Good Diversity, Bad Diversity
"Both the commands of the Law and the thunderings of the prophets spread out before us the gigantic truths of God, the metanarrative that makes sense of everything. But we need more. We live day by day where 'there are details of character small enough to escape the mesh of the law and the broadsides … Continue reading What is Wisdom?
Previously I discussed the distinction between creational norms and cultural norms in regards to gender. There are some things we can do or embrace in our particular culture that accord with God's intention for manhood or womanhood, and others that contradict it. In 1 Cor. 11:2-16 we saw that men should not adorn themselves or … Continue reading Boy-Stuff, Girl-Stuff: Four Questions
In a sermon I recently preached on the innateness of gender and its connection with our physical bodies, I referenced 1 Cor 11:14-15: "Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair … Continue reading Nature and Gender: 1 Cor. 11:2-16
One doesn't need to be an expert in cultural analysis to recognize that there is a growing hostility towards any notion of traditional gender roles in society. The recent centralization on stories of abuse and oppression have made all of us highly sensitized to stories of individuals (and groups) with power who have used their … Continue reading Gender Roles Aren’t Just True, but Good
In Carl R. Trueman's seminal work, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, he details how various thinkers over the last four hundred years have shaped how we currently form our identities. In one chapter titled, "The Emergence of Plastic People" he examines how the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Charles Darwin … Continue reading The Power of “Science” in Forming Our Beliefs
I just put my four and half year old and two and half year old down, and I am exhausted. I know complaining when others have many more--or more tragically, none at all--is really lame. I know, I know, I know. But everyday, the end of the day feels like a finish line, and not … Continue reading You’re Going to Miss This
We have all been deeply influenced by the medium of the internet. Whether or not you are a denizen of the world wide web, the digital ecosystem has affected the vast majority of people in our wider culture. So, even if you don't use social media, don't have a smartphone, and don't read the news … Continue reading How to Be Less Stupid About Difficult Things
Depending on what church you are a part of you might have very different perspectives on what a “deacon” is. Whatever your view is, if you are tempted to think that the role of deacons is something relatively yawn-worthy, something on par with organizing church yard sales or pointless committee meetings, Matt Smethurst would like … Continue reading Book Review: Deacons
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number...- Rev 7:9 At the breaking of the sixth seal, when the wrath of the Lamb is revealed, people cry out with this question: "the great day of... wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Rev 6:17). The following chapter is a response … Continue reading Who are the 144,000 in Revelation?
Marc Sims 