Category Archives: Thoughts on Faith
On Sexuality and Gender Dynamics
I’ve often heard it taught, “Do not cause anyone to stumble… (1 Cor. 10:32). In terms of sexuality and gender dynamics, this means that men and women must be conscious about how their actions (whether intentional or not) affect those of the opposite gender.
Sisters, be mindful of what you wear and do not use your sexuality to control men or win their affection. Although it is ultimately the guy’s responsibility to guard his eyes and his thoughts, women should serve their brothers by not flaunting their sexuality. This doesn’t mean dress like a nun. Please continue to celebrate the God given beauty you have, but also be mindful to not be provocative in how you do so.
Brothers, be mindful of your sisters emotions. Be careful to not emotionally manipulate your sisters, making them think they are more special to you than they truly are. Make sure you make your intentions clear with them from the beginning, and don’t lead them on by keeping them in the awkward “friend zone.” Be a good brother and guard their relationships with their future husbands, and don’t take advantage of their generous posture of love and affection toward you.”
If you’ve spent anytime growing up in the church, you’ve probably heard sermons like this when it came to teaching on gender dynamics. Generalizations like these are helpful, because they can help us identify the temptations we are most susceptible to fall into. In this case, it is often tempting for women to misuse their sexuality for attention and control and for men to emotionally manipulate women to fill their need for intimacy without commitment. However, it would be foolish to think that these respective issues are ones that men and women uniquely face. The reality is women are just as susceptible to lusting physically (so men, keep your shirts on…) and men are just as susceptible to being emotionally manipulated. Therefore, the application can be switched around very easily. Brothers, be mindful to not be physically provocative, and sisters, be careful to not emotionally manipulate your brothers.
The overarching teaching is clear- do not cause anyone to stumble by being mindful of one another. The proceeding specific instructions to men and women are then generalized instructions of how to apply this overarching teaching to typically observed gender dynamics. They are meant to be to interpreted in light of the overarching teaching to not cause one another to stumble.
With that said, have you ever noticed that the teaching found in Eph. 5:21-33 has the exact same structure? Why is then that so many Christians read it with a completely different interpretive lens? Read the rest of this entry
On Busyness
Busyness. It’s kind of like a predator that stalks you late into the evening. You don’t realize its there. You go on walking like everything is fine. Then, just as you begin to fatigue, it pounces on you for the kill. You can’t escape its grip because you’ve made too many commitments to too many people. And slowly, ever so slowly, you feel life leave you. What was once an exciting adventure into the unknown feels like daily grind with no end in sight.
Am I exaggerating? Perhaps. But when busyness hits it can certainly feel that way (for an F that is… not sure how Ts process it). I was doing so well this quarter. Sure, I was already busy last quarter, but I made it through without too many scratches. So I thought I could handle more this quarter. Three classes became four. 20 hours of work became 30. I took on new projects at church. Teaching engagements, weekend conferences, more meetings, exciting projects at work- all amazing opportunities that I picked up like a fat kid in the candy store. Seemed like a good idea at the time. That is until the belly ache hit.
Well it hit today. Read the rest of this entry
On Waiting
As I settle into my annual Daniel fast (3 weeks of fasting media, meats, and sweets), I sense the Lord teaching me once again about waiting. Like all of you, there are a lot of things in life I’m waiting on- dreams, longings, unfulfilled promises. And also like all of you, I hate waiting.
In the past, focusing my thoughts and prayers on all the things I was waiting for in life caused me to fall into a pit of self pity and depression. In fact, much of my Daniel fasts in past years were spent dealing with the deep sense of emptiness I felt that I was waiting on God to fill. They were really difficult times. Times when my brokenness and loneliness seemed to sit on the surface of my life; and yet, God met me every year, reminding me that he was with me. I came out of these seasons stronger, with a more refined character, and with fresh insight on the nature of God. Through these seasons I began to see waiting not as an enemy to avoid, but as a refinement process God takes all of us through. I saw it as a necessary surgery that Dr. God uses to heal and refine broken, sinful people.
Yesterday during my prayer time I felt led to listen to “Longing for a New Jerusalem” by Matt Gilman. I’ve heard this song before, but there was something fresh that the Spirit was speaking to me as I was moved to tears worshipping to this song. The song (attached below) paints an amazing lyrical picture of the end times vision of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. It speaks to the return of King Jesus who will usher in the fullness of the Kingdom of God, the eternal reign of God, when all things shall be made new. When our relationship with God will be fully restored and we would know him as a bride knows her husband. When every tear shall be wiped from our faces, and there will be no more pain and suffering. As I was soaking in the words of this prophetic song, I felt my soul cry, “Yes! Yes, I long for that! I want that! I wait eagerly for this! Come King Jesus!” It was one of the most intense desires of longing and wanting I’ve ever experienced. For a brief moment, all of the other things I’ve been waiting for paled in comparison to waiting for His return.
And then it hit me. Read the rest of this entry
