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How Should Christians Think about Pets?
Americans love pets! It is reported that 67% of American households own a pet (the top pets being dogs). The amount of money Americans spend on their pets grows each year, increasing over 50% between 2013 and 2018. That means people spent $87 billion on their pets in 2018! I shudder to think what that cost is today in 2025! To put these numbers in perspective, in 2018 couples spent $845 on average per year on pets! Over 10 years (an average life span of a dog), that would mean spending $8,450 on one animal! Given the value that people put on their pets, it comes as no surprise that many hold to the viewpoint that pets are inherently equal to human beings. Although pets should be important to us, if we follow the cultural line of thinking, we risk elevating pets to an unbiblical place. I think it is…
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Three Reasons a Biblical View of Gender is Important
In todayâs cultural landscape, LGBT and gender issues have taken center stage in public discourse. Stories from the not-so-distant past have included headlines about gender-neutral bathrooms, transgender athletes, and reports of professionalsâsuch as doctorsâfacing repercussions for upholding a traditional understanding of gender. Although there has been some reprieve in the cultural moment, the cultural pressures still mandate that we examine how we think about gender and its role in society. While many in the culture dismiss the Bibleâs views as antiquated, outdated, or merely a relic of a bygone, patriarchal era, it remains critical to remember that the Bible presents a comprehensive and divinely inspired perspective on the nature and purpose of gender. In other words, the Bible reveals what God thinks about gender. The Secular Influence on the Church From a secular worldview, gender is often seen as a mere social constructâa label with no intrinsic value beyond what…
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Understanding the Heart of Conflict: A Look at James 4:1-3
Relationships are often described as beautiful, fulfilling, and life-givingâbut anyone who has spent time with other human beings knows that conflict is bound to happen. The reality is that every relationship consists of two sinners, and where sinners are involved, sin inevitably follows. This truth can be discouraging if we do not properly understand the root cause of our conflicts. Thankfully, Scripture provides clarity on this topic. One of the most relevant passages addressing the source of conflict is James 4:1-3, and in this brief article, we will explore how Jamesâs words shed light on the conflict we often experience in our relationships. 1. Conflict Comes from Within (James 4:1a) James begins his discussion by asking a pointed question: âWhat causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?â (James 4:1). Notice that he pinpoints the origin of conflict…
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Keeping the Church Healthy: How Discipline Fosters True Holiness
Many people love going to church for the music, the fellowship, or the preaching. Ask them about essential elements of a healthy church, and youâll probably hear about dynamic worship or warm community. Whatâs rarely mentioned, however, is a weird thing called church disciplineâa practice thatâs sometimes overlooked but is actually vital for a biblical congregation. Far from being outdated or harsh, church discipline helps preserve a churchâs spiritual integrity, encourages repentance, and keeps believers anchored in Godâs Word. The Three Marks of a True Church Little known to most people, the 1561 Belgic Confession offers three marks by which the true church is known: (1) preaching the pure gospel, (2) observing the sacraments (i.e., baptism and communion), and (3) practicing church discipline. Throughout church history, church discipline has been an integral component of God-fearing churches. However, a recent survey of pastors revealed that 55% of churches have never formally…
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Egyptian Wisdom Meets the Bible: Parallels Between Amenemope and Proverbs
It often comes as a surprise to people when they realize that there are striking similarities between the content found in biblical wisdom books and certain ancient texts from surrounding cultures. Although Scripture is unique in its monotheistic worldview, there are some interesting overlaps in the Bibleâs wisdom writings with other wisdom sources from polytheistic cultures. As Christians, what are we to make of these similarities? For our purposes, we can illustrate this phenomenon by comparing Proverbs with an Egyptian document called The Instruction of Amenemope, a collection of wisdom sayings that are clearly polytheistic in nature. There is a lot of thematic overlap in both. For example, both teach the concept that wealth is not everything. They also both admonish us to practice integrity and fairness in daily transactions, caution us against the fleeting nature of riches, and emphasize what we could call contentment. Here are some notable examples.…
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Truth, Experience, and the Authority of Scripture
It is very common in today’s culture to argue that experience is the ultimate authority. However, as I have written before, not only is it foolish, but it is dangerous to elevate experience as the determiner of truth. Additionally, Christians need to be adamant that lack of experience does not prohibit one from having an opinion or even speaking authoritatively on an issue. The ultimate authority can (and should be) the authority that is Scripture. Experience as the Preferred Pathway to Knowledge Experience tends to be elevated to a supreme status in our culture. It is common to hear arguments like, âYou donât know what it is like,â âYou have not been there,â or, âYou are not like me, so you donât know.â Whether it is a culturally sensitive issue (like the racial minority decrying whites for not understanding their oppression), or an individual issue (like someone describing his or…
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What the Early Church Said About Abortion: Quotes from Christian History
To be Christian is to be anti-abortion. From its earliest days, the church has stood firmly against the practice of taking innocent life, recognizing the unborn as precious creations made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This conviction is not merely a cultural stance but a foundational aspect of Christian faith, rooted in Scripture and upheld throughout church history. True Christianity is marked by obedience to Christâs teachings and a commitment to the sanctity of life. While it may be easy for some to claim the name of Christ while supporting abortion, such a position contradicts both the clear teaching of Scripture (Psalm 139:13â16; Exodus 21:22â25) and the witness of early Christians who opposed abortion in the face of a pagan, life-disregarding culture. To follow Christ is to uphold life, defending those who cannot defend themselves. Christian Culture and Abortion Western cultures love to praise abortion. Case in point,…
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The Role of Confession in the Christian Life: Navigating 1 John 1:9
Confession of one’s sin and repentance is part of coming to Christ. However, after salvation, is there a place for Christians to continue to confess their sins? Obviously it is an integral part of Christianity to believe that all sin (past, present, and future) has been dealt with by Christ on the cross. He has paid for all sin in full, assuring the believer of forgiveness and a future hope of eternity with Christ in heaven. So, is there any need to confess sin after conversion? A verse that is central to whether or not we should confess our sins after we are saved is 1 John 1:9. At first reading, 1 John 1:9 seems to imply that believers ought to confess their sins. However, some have argued that if 1 John 1:9 teaches believers are to confess their sins after conversion, then this would undermine the very heart of…
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Feeling Guilty and Being Guilty Are Different
According to the Bible, guilt is objective. Just because you feel guilty does not mean you have actually experienced guilt. On the other hand, just because you donât feel guilty does not mean you have no guilt! Guilt is not an emotion, it is an objective status. You have probably heard people say things like, âDonât you feel guilty?â Or, âI donât feel guilty about that.â What they are actually talking about is what the Bible describes as the conscience. The conscience and guilt are related, but they are two separate concepts. The conscience is supposed to tell you when you have guilt, but sometimes feeling guilty can be confused with actual guilt. This is why it is important for the Bible to form our definitions. The Essence of Guilt According to the Bible The main word used to describe guilt in the Old Testament is asham (×׊××). Within the…
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A Christian Case Against Slavery Reparations
Slavery reparations are a popular political move right now. In fact, the newest California budget includes 12 million for reparations. This generous move, which is about $6 per black resident of California, is the latest in political maneuvering to seize on the idea that reparations are the way forward to solving poor race relations. This conversation has really ignited over the last 5 years. When the culture takes aim at a topic, the Christian needs to be equipped to think through the issues from a biblical worldview. On the issue of whether slavery reparations are to be implemented, I think there are a couple issues to consider. First, slavery reparations would be a logistical nightmare. Although the issue is often painted as blacks needing to receive reparations and whites needing to pay reparations, that is a gross oversimplification. If the actual issue is slavery, one needs to consider the numerous…