• Fidelity In Friendship

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    “Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” | Thessalonians 5:15, ESV

    Fidelity.
    It’s a word perhaps more likely to be used in the context of its absence rather than its presence. Regrettably, it often comes to our attention through it’s lack; infidelity.
    While we tend to think of fidelity as describing physical faithfulness in committed, intimate relationships, it’s not just restricted to these.
    The word fidelity is also used to describe employee loyalty to a…

  • 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…

  • When God Moved Into The Neighbourhood

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    I think our view or perspective of God and His intentions may have been shaped by many things, but the Bible seems to set the narrative straight pretty much right away, declaring His intent and purpose from the beginning. We read in Genesis 1:6 that God said “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock,…

  • The Kingdom | Now, But Not Yet

    Reading Time: 12 minutes

    The sovereignty and rule of God has always existed and will always exist (Psalm 47:7, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Exodus 15:18, Psalm 103:19).
    He is Almighty God, maker of the earth, sovereign over all, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He alone claims the title of the One and Only God and that there is none like Him in all the earth. The Psalmist declares the wonder and worthiness of this Eternal God, who is clothed in light, …

  • Stop Promoting Gendered Hierarchy!

    Reading Time: 16 minutes

    One of the more detrimental teachings that I believe has defined the church throughout her history and which continues to exert influence today is the idea that God established some kind of hierarchy of men over women at creation. Hierarchy, it’s claimed, was, one; either part of God’s original plan for humanity, established from the beginning or, two; God’s prescriptive punishment (primarily upon the woman), because of sin.

    (Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓)
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    This article…

  • Judging // Discerning

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    It seems to me that it has become increasingly difficult to speak into many issues or situations that the church faces today; not because the Bible is silent, not because the church doesn’t have or hasn’t held a historical position on a matter, and not because we, as Christians, don’t know what we ought to be doing. Rather, we are feeling pressed into silence, in many instances, simply on the basis of one little verse…

  • 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…

  • Loving The Church

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    “You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.” | James 3:18, MSG

    It can be hard to love the church. Frankly, at times, she can seem like a big, fat disappointment.
    Infighting. Divisions. The failure of leaders and the apathy of congregants. The assimilation to culture. A preoccupation with…

  • Dual Citizens

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    I was born and raised in New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud and a ratio of nearly six sheep for every one person. I often remember as a child watching the sun in summer sink below the horizon late at night, and, in winter, layering up as warmly as possible through the short, dark, freezing days of relentless rain and oftentimes snow.
    My husband and I moved from New Zealand in 2008, the…

  • Women Must Keep Silent?

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    You may be aware that there are a few verses that, as traditionally interpreted, seem to completely contradict Paul’s recurring message of ‘freedom and oneness in Christ’, particularly in relation to women’s contribution to and participation in church ministry. The verses in question are found in 1 Corinthians 14:34-36, 1 Timothy 2:11-12, and 1 Corinthians 11:1-16.
    1 Corinthians 14 is the only passage that (seems to) explicitly forbid women ‘speaking in church’ (and which is…