When Christians discuss important topics related to God’s design for marriage and family, it is easy to forget that a significant constituency of the church is single. That is, within any given church you will not only find many married Christians; you will find—now more than ever, due to historical and sociological reasons we can’t … Continue reading Single and Married Christians Together in the Church
Contemporary Gender Confusion and Clarity of the Nashville Statement
The beauty of the Genesis narrative is found in the harmony of two notable features: its simplicity and its explanatory power. With straightforward prose through the pen of Moses, God reveals the origin of man and woman, providing us insight into one of the most glorious realities in the universe. Genesis 1:27 gives us a … Continue reading Contemporary Gender Confusion and Clarity of the Nashville Statement
Christian Dating and Courtship, Part 3: The Question of Physical Attraction
Male handsomeness and female beauty are good gifts from God. Scripture is unashamed to speak of men who had attractive physical appearances (Gen 39:6; 1 Sam 9:2; 16:12; 17:42; 2 Sam 14:25; 21:21; 1 Kings 1:6; Ps 45:2; Songs 5:10-16) and of women who had beautiful faces and---get this---beautiful bodies (Gen 12:11; 14; 26:7; 29:17; … Continue reading Christian Dating and Courtship, Part 3: The Question of Physical Attraction
Christian Dating and Courtship, Part 2: Compatibility
Much is made these days about compatibility when it comes to romantic relationships. Indeed, the entire online dating industry is built upon the idea of compatibility, and a simple Google search will provide you a dizzying array of romance gurus ready to share their wisdom on how to find the person with whom you are … Continue reading Christian Dating and Courtship, Part 2: Compatibility
Christian Dating and Courtship, Part 1: Leadership
Ever since Joshua Harris kissed dating goodbye in 1997, the dating vs. courting debate has raged within the evangelical community. While not as controversial as it once was (as far as I can tell), the question of whether Christians should "date" or "court" is still a hot topic within the larger Church. I do not … Continue reading Christian Dating and Courtship, Part 1: Leadership
Can I Date an Unbeliever?
Ever since my first ministry post as a middle school ministry director in 2003, I've dealt regularly with Christian folks who want to know if it is acceptable for them to date an unbeliever. Often (but not always), those who are pondering this question readily acknowledge that the Bible says a Christian cannot marry a … Continue reading Can I Date an Unbeliever?
How Shall We Serve the Poor? Reflections on 'Nickle and Dimed' by Barbara Ehrenreich and 'The Natural Family' by Carson T. Mero
I would see them about once every three weeks; not that they only came in every three weeks, but my Pastor on Duty assignment and their periodic visits would only seem to coincide about once every twenty-one days. The stories, though told by many different faces—men, women, black, white, young, old—were remarkably similar: they could … Continue reading How Shall We Serve the Poor? Reflections on 'Nickle and Dimed' by Barbara Ehrenreich and 'The Natural Family' by Carson T. Mero
From the Study 