In contemporary society, we are well aware of the ways in which people harm or take advantage of others sexually. Certainly in the context Paul wrote, and throughout most of human history, that harm, that taking advantage of, has moved in one direction. From males to females. In the vast majority of situations where thereContinue reading “When it comes sexual expression, men, we need to do better – 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Part 4”
Tag Archives: gender
So many questions about human sexuality – 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Preview
This coming week I resume the blog series on 1 Thessalonians, and we will study chapter 4, verses 1–8. The topic of those verses is sexuality. Evidence suggests that the Greco-Roman culture of the first century was highly sexualized, somewhat like many cultures of the twenty-first century. What Paul writes to the Christians in ThessalonicaContinue reading “So many questions about human sexuality – 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Preview”
Should women be pastors? – Q & A, Part 2
This week we take a break from our Relationships in the Church series. At Faith Church this past week I gave a Q & A sermon. I asked the congregation for questions ahead of time, and then I attempted to bring biblical theology to bear on their questions. What do you think about the roleContinue reading “Should women be pastors? – Q & A, Part 2”
How God’s similarity to the Winter Soldier is of vital importance – Advent Psalm of Celebration
What mental image comes to your mind when you think of God? I suspect most people have images of God, and those images are almost certainly incorrect or inadequate. We view God as “the big man upstairs.” Or God is a Santa Claus kind of figure, or a white man with gray/white hair and a flowingContinue reading “How God’s similarity to the Winter Soldier is of vital importance – Advent Psalm of Celebration”
A Purple Church does not have class or gender preferences – Current Events Q3 2021, Part 3
Churches should be purple! What is a purple church? In the previous post, we learned that a purple church is not colorblind. We have been studying the purple church, as Paul describes it in Galatians 3:26-28. The next phrase Paul uses to describe the purple church is that it is neither slave nor free. SlaveryContinue reading “A Purple Church does not have class or gender preferences – Current Events Q3 2021, Part 3”
How to respond to people struggling with gender
In our Life in These United States Series, we are talking about what everyone is talking about. This week we look at the topic of gender distress. Months ago Bruce Jenner announced that for years he struggled with gender and was now Caitlin, changing his gender from male to female. Then Target stores said thatContinue reading “How to respond to people struggling with gender”
Can we talk about Gender on Sunday?
Can we talk about gender on Sunday without coming across as condemning? Mark Yarhouse, in a Christianity Today article from a year ago, talks about a person he worked with who had gender reassignment surgery: “Sara opened our first meeting by saying, ‘I may have sinned in the decisions I made; I’m not sure IContinue reading “Can we talk about Gender on Sunday?”
Engaging Scripture 