• Women + The Church

    Reading Time: 23 minutes

    The ongoing conversation about the ‘role’ of women; in the church, in marriage, and indeed, in society in general, is not something that is new, only specific to our own time, or a subject that the early Christians didn’t also have to navigate and reevaluate, specifically in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
    It’s a subject that impacts me personally, both as a woman and as the mother of two daughters, and my understanding…

  • Lessons From The Seven Churches

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    It can be tempting to view the early first century church in rather glowing terms – a ‘golden age’ of church history when the believers were all-in, the church totally had it together, and the believers shared all things in common. I’ve heard Acts 2:42 touted as somewhat of a touchstone for church authenticity, with a revival of these (implied: blissful, albeit persecuted) glory days being the true mark of genuine Christian living.
    And there’s no…

  • Without The Applause: Examining Celebrity Culture In The Church

    Reading Time: 8 minutes

    I recently wrote an article which I called ‘Beneath The Skin’; a critique of sorts of modern Christianity and the Western church.
    The article focused primarily on the collective Christian identity; The Church, not on any one particular denomination or way of ‘doing church’ but, rather, on the church’s influence and presence, as a whole, in the world today. I endeavored to identify both the good and the bad, historically and now, but, in particular, I was…

  • What The Church Is (And What She Isn’t)

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    I really love talking about church.
    Not, as in, my church or your church.
    Not, as in, what flavour of church, in a denominational sort of way.
    And not, as in, which kind of church; mega church, home church, missional church, or cell-group church (and, oh boy, I wish whoever had come up with that last descriptor had really given it a bit more thought…).
    I love talking about church, as in, The Church. The bride of the lamb, the…

  • Will Progressive Christianity Destroy The Church?

    Reading Time: 8 minutes

    I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind for a while. Some time ago, I watched a commentary by a ‘Christian pastor’ that totally shocked me. In fact, I haven’t really stopped thinking about it since.
    I found it disturbing; equal parts ridiculous and horrifying, and I really couldn’t believe it was being presented under the guise of legitimate Christianity.
    For me, it highlighted a disturbing and, frankly, heartbreaking direction that modern Christianity, or…

  • Beneath The Skin

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    What’s beneath the skin of our collective Christian identity?
    Has Christianity lost touch with its original radical and beating heart? Are we so enamored with the power and prestige of this present world that we have forgotten our own history?
    Are we, the church, so entertained by the lights and sounds, by the choreographed music, by the dimly lit stages and almond-milk-lattes-after-service that we’ve forgotten the ancient truths our early Christian brethren lived and died for?
    Have we…

  • Christianity + Missional Living

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be…

  • Why Belonging To A Local Church Isn’t Optional

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    The last six months have been an unsettling and disruptive time for millions of people around the globe. The impact of COVID-19 on our ordinary routines and daily habits has been, in many cases, bewildering. The ways in which we would usually connect have had to adapt to these new and strange times – and it seems we’re not out of the woods just yet. Our lives may not return to normal any time soon,…

  • The Church | A Woman Of Valour

    Reading Time: 12 minutes

    In my recent article, ‘The People Of The Kingdom’, I noted that the church is the tangible evidence of the kingdom of God. Church people are kingdom people, living in a fellowship under King Jesus, with lives that “are literally connected to things before the creation of the world and extending far into eternity” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) (Matter Of The Heart). By looking more closely at how the Bible describes the church, we will also see what…

  • People Of The Kingdom

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    Deciding to become a Christian has its origins in believing the things about Jesus, certainly, in an intellectual sense; who he is and what he came for – but there’s more to it than that. We are also choosing to surrender to his guidance and leadership in our life as a willing subject of God’s designated king.
    Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth, he becomes the first claimant on our affections, the…