Women
Is “Submit” the Only Word We Can Say to Christian Wives?
She came to me cautiously. Clearly she was a woman distressed by her husband’s deep unkindness. Her story touched on pain, on fear, on confusion, on hatred. My heart ached with sympathy as her heart cried for help. I responded to her cautiously. Clearly she needed the true counsel of God’s Word to salve her [...]
Complement, Coworker or Doormat?
Three main streams of thought on the roles of men and women exist within the church. They are briefly defined below. For a fuller explanation, click here. Complementarianism (n.) The belief that men and women have complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage and the church. Leadership roles are prescribed for men; support roles are [...]
Pastor’s Wife or Superwoman?
The yellowing leaves of ancient trees shivered in the early autumn breeze. The picnic food was gone, but the church people lingered to chat. A woman with a troubled expression pulled up her chair next to mine. Intensely lowering her voice, she shared her concern. “We’ve been trying to find a pastor for a while, [...]
Helping Oppressors or the Oppressed?
Because the weight of the recent discussion about wifely submission has leaned towards the topic of abuse within marriage, I’ve been seeking the Lord for more clarity on this painful issue. First Peter 3 encourages wives to adorn their spirit by quietly hoping in God through respect and submission. But repeated or prolonged patterns of [...]
Grace for Slackers
“Woman, get in your place and stay there!” With these words in last week’s post I was preaching boldly to myself while some of my readers were startled. If you are a woman who has heard those words spoken without compassion and understanding, I apologise for setting a tone that may have alarmed you. I [...]
When Your Husband’s a Slacker
“I wish he would lead us in family devotions.” “Why doesn’t he get off his lazy backside and get a job?” “He never does anything with the kids.” “When is he going to see that I’m run off my feet while he plays internet games and watches the footy?” “What’s wrong with him? Doesn’t he [...]
Doubt: A Self Examination
This quote from Tim Keller’s The Reason for God has really challenged my thinking over the past two weeks: “A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do [...]
Thank you Mum
I remember the day as if it was yesterday. It was my first day in high school (Year 7 for international readers) and my whole world was changing. In primary school, you reach the top of the food chain in Year 6 only to start again at the bottom in high school. At the end [...]
In The Presence Of My Enemies
Martin and Gracia Burnham were American missionaries in the Philippines for seventeen years, when militant Muslims kidnapped and imprisoned them in their island stronghold. For over a year, Martin and Gracia suffered in captivity and isolation. A ransom was paid but the kidnappers refused to release the Burnhams. On June 7, 2002, Filipino troops attempted [...]
Free To Forgive
I read Corrie Ten Boom’s life story The Hiding Place when I was a boy. I remember being moved by her family’s courage in sheltering Jews during the Nazi occupation, until they were betrayed and arrested in 1944. The family was separated and sent to prison camps. Her father died in prison, and her nephew [...]
From Rogue To Regent
Once upon a time there was a woman named Abigail. She was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance. She was married to a man named Nabal who was known for being harsh and evil in his doings. They lived in a place called Maon. Nabal was a very rich man who had his [...]
On Christian Weddings
Dale Morgan married tonight, and as usual, I came away soured. Twentieth-century Christian weddings are the vainest, most meaningless forms. There is no vestige of reality. The witnesses dress for a show. The flesh is given all the place. The songs are absurd if one paid any attention to the words, but no one does; [...]
