When we read about the importance of evangelism in the scriptures, a feeling that often comes up is that this means that full-time ministry is the lifestyle that really maximises sharing the gospel, and so we begin to feel second rate in our “secular” jobs. In this weeks episode, Mike Omoniyi discusses the importance of not separating the Christian life into the sacred and secular.
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We often view singleness as simply a phase of our lives to exercise patience in. As if marriage is the goal and singleness is just the journey of seeking a partner. However, our four guests discuss how the season of singleness is a wonderful opportunity to use the time, resources and friendships God has blessed you with, to glorify him.
Guests: Toye Akinoso, Deborah Suen, M.T Omoniyi and Heike Faith Adex
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In the church today there seems to be an assumption that if you’re a young person who is single, it’s only for the time being and that everyone is pursuing marriage. It’s understandable that people assume this sort of thing, after all, statistically, the vast majority of Christians will end up getting married at some point – but this idea can result in singleness being looked down upon as if it is inferior to being married. This subtle attitude can be very harmful and downplays what is in fact a gift from God, and a wonderful opportunity to serve him. Let’s think about a few points surrounding the area of singleness.
“We tend to compare the lows of singleness with the highs of marriage.”
Sam Allberry
Marriage is a beautiful gift from God, designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church, however, it’s easy for single people to adopt an unrealistic view of what married life is like. Similarly to many other areas in our lives, we can slip into a “grass is greener on the other side” mindset, and imagine the eradication of many of our problems as soon as we settle down with a lifelong partner in marriage.
However, we only need to speak to honest married couples to learn that while marriage is wonderful, it also presents many difficult challenges. I’m not qualified to write on those, but I would encourage you to read and take advice from someone who is, such as Tim and Kathy Keller who have written a very well-respected book called ‘The Meaning of Marriage.’
The point I am making is that holding an unrealistically high view of what marriage will be like, can too easily lead to idolatry. A way of combating this mindset is to understand that singleness is a gift.
It might not come as a surprise to you that singleness is a gift, after all it offers benefits that marriage doesn’t, such as more free time, more flexibility, and arguably more capacity for meaningful friendships. However I think it’s important to emphasise just how highly the Apostle Paul speaks of singleness.
In 1 Corinthians 7:7, while discussing the topic of marriage, he writes “each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” There is no hierarchy here, he doesn’t elevate marriage as a greater gift than singleness. In fact, he goes on to say after this: “to the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.” (verse 8, ESV)
We need to get rid of this frame of mind that marriage is the goal and singleness is just the journey of seeking a partner. The season of singleness is a wonderful opportunity to use the time, resources and friendships God has blessed you with, to glorify him. If you’re single, think about how you’re spending the free time afforded to you and the finances that you don’t yet have to factor a spouse or children into. Are you building intimate God-glorying friendships? Are you wholeheartedly serving your local church?
It goes without saying that there is nothing wrong with wanting to marry, but there is a danger of being so consumed with that desire that you neglect the opportunities you have while you are single. Don’t waste the gift of singleness.
A comforting truth to consider regardless of circumstances, is that currently you are where God planned for you to be. Your current well-being, employment status and relationship status is as God intended, and we are promised in Romans 8 that in all things he works for the good of those who love him. That is a wonderful foundation for our trust, he doesn’t make any mistakes and his timing is perfect.
My prayer is that we would fix our eyes on him, and enjoy the gifts he has blessed us with, while using them to glorify him. If you are single, that is one of those gifts. Don’t take this season for granted.
To hear more on the topic of singleness, listen to the latest episode of the On The Table Podcast
Over the past year, churches across the globe have had to adapt or completely create a new way of doing local church meetings. Christians have had to develop a newfound love for Zoom and YouTube as the pandemic forced (necessary) restrictions. While church being online does have some benefits such as wider reach, greater accessibility, and adaptable service times; there are also some hindrances: reduced accountability, decreased attention, and diminished relationships. In the UK, the government has rightfully agreed that churches are amongst the institutions that are essential for people during this pandemic. While some churches are unable to meet, some who could meet, choose not to meet, This begs the question why? Has the pandemic changed how we feel about church or has it merely exposed how we always viewed church?
For many decades different leaders have warned against the dangers of pragmatism. Pragmatism is the philosophical idea that the ends justify the means; that the validity or truthfulness of an idea is verified by its consequences. Whilst pragmatism is not inherently evil in and of itself, it can lead to compromise when pragmatism comes into contradiction with what the Bible declares. The temptation arises, particularly when concerning local church gathering, which is that if it works it is okay.
I have engaged in and heard the various reasons why there is no difference between online and physical assembly. One of the main reasons that I hear is that the different components of a church service i.e. liturgy and sacraments can be replicated online. Unfortunately, this line of thinking misses the mark as to why we have these various components of a church service. When we gather at church, we are not just doing some religious activity, we are being a people purchased by the blood of Jesus, bound by covenantal promise (Ephesians 2:11-22). It is not just about doing praise and worship but doing it together. It is not just about taking part in communion but doing it together. We miss out on the command to admonish one another with spiritual hymns and the word of God (Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:16) when we reduce local church assembly as a place we go to complete religious stuff.
When we succumb to the sin that pragmatism can produce, we can be seduced into thinking that our relationships, specifically those fostered in church, are transactional. We start to think “why do I need to meet up with my elder for accountability when we can talk over WhatsApp” or “Do I need to go to church to sing praise and worship? I can sing at home”. Do you realise the problem? The issue here is that we have reduced all interaction to “what’s in it for me”.
This position is antithetical to the ethic that ought to govern all our lives – love your neighbour as yourself (Galatians 5:14). When we live this way, our question will change from “what’s in it for me” to “how can I serve them”. We will no longer see the church as a spiritual activity to tick off our religious list, but as the body that Jesus died for. The “each other” commands that are given in scripture cannot be done online or over the phone; they require physical intimacy. We were not made to be alone (Genesis 2:18) and God’s wisdom has sovereignly given you your local church to remind us of this.
It has been a difficult year for us all. Some of us have not seen family or friends for months, others have suffered great loss in a variety of areas. We do not need less interaction, but we also do not need any kind of interaction. We need people that will remind us to long for the appearing of Jesus (Hebrews 10:25). With so many great challenges that we face our souls may be in a precarious position, thank God for pastors who are entrusted to help watch over our souls (Hebrews 13:17). They are better able to do this when they can see you.
Pastors your flock is weary and understandably so. Remind us why we gather and why it is important that we meet often and physically. Remind us of the church’s long history of gathering and the impact it has had. Remind us that in a seemingly hopeless situation that we have an abiding hope (Titus 2:13). It is my prayer that we are soon able to meet in person with no restrictions and that God would remind us why there is nothing like meeting together physically.
It seems like every week there is a new scandal involving a Christian which leads to the understandable question from non-believers, “why don’t Christians act like Christians”. Whether or not non-believers are aware of the spiritual mechanics of the Christian life, they are very much aware that Christians should not do certain things. Therefore, there must be some dissonance for the non-Christian when they see a Christian act in such a way that is antithetical to the Christian life. So, non-Christian, this article is for you. This article will not justify the un-Christlike behaviour that you may have seen from celebrities or even from your friends and family, instead I seek to declare what the Christian is and why what they do doesn’t ultimately define them.
The bible defines sin as lawlessness (1 John 3:4). The bible also tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The glory of God can be defined as the beauty, majesty and worth of God that displays and declares Him as the supreme Ruler, Creator, Treasure and Lord of all things. Therefore we can conclude that sin is any action, speech or thought that will break the law or rule of God which in turn diminishes or detracts from His glory – namely seeing God as the supreme Ruler, Creator, Treasure and Lord. Now, every human in the past or present has sinned. David declares in the Psalms what is true for all of us “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). And sin entered the world because Adam and Eve rejected the law of God to do their own thing (Genesis 3). So, this does not mean that we are held responsible for Adam and Eve’s sin, what it does mean is that Adam acts as human kind’s federal head. Consequently, sin enters the world through Adam and as a result all his progeny are born into sin – meaning we have a nature that is against God. Not only that, but the world is under sin which explains, at least on a macro level, why we see so much wickedness and suffering in this world.
Perhaps a friend or family member has shared the Gospel with you, or you have heard someone shout it in the middle of a high street. Maybe you have heard a version that declares you as a bad person that is en route to hell. Or another version that says God is desperate to know you and you’re breaking His heart by not receiving Him. I would suggest both of these versions have problems. The problem is that this gospel starts with you, in the bible the gospel starts with God. You see, the first book of the bible starts like this “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). This is fundamental because the gospel is not primarily about what you have done against God or what you can do for Him; instead, it is about what God has done in Christ for the world for His glory. The gospel is about God formulating a plan before time began that would send Jesus Christ (who is fully God) to the world as man, that He might reconcile the world back to God (cf. Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21). The gospel is about God dealing with sin and all of its effects, destroying the works of the devil (the enemy of God and man) and setting those captivated by the power of sin and the devil free (Ephesians 2:1-10). The gospel is not about what you can do for God, the gospel is what God in Christ has done for you.
Now to be a Christian, one must simply believe in who Jesus says that He is and what He has said He has done (Acts 2:22-36). Once you believe that you are a sinner and that Jesus is the Saviour, you are now a Christian. What Jesus accomplished on the cross now applies to you, you are now a child of God (John 1:12, Galatians 3:26). This means that it is faith in the person of Jesus and His works (life, death and resurrection), that makes a person saved (a Christian) (1 Corinthians 15). What a person does once they are a Christian, is the outworking of their professed faith. This is where the dissonance occurs. Why do we see Christians who have this faith act in such a way that makes it appear that they do not? Well, two words may help with this: justification and sanctification. Justification means that when a person places their faith in Christ, they are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness, they are made right with God (Romans 3:21-31). No sin in the past, present or future separates them from God. Sanctification is the ongoing process of the Christian realising what their justification declares, namely that they are not what they used to be (sinners) but they are now changed (saints) (Romans 6:1-14). So when you see a Christian act in a way that is antithetical to Christianity remember this, their actions doesn’t nullify what Christ has done in and for them. It’s actually an opportunity to see what makes Christianity so glorious, God consistently gives us more than we deserve (Psalm 103:10).
Christians have done some damage to their witness, admittedly. I am not innocent in this area either. I have done things that non-Christians would be rightfully quick to exclaim “but aren’t you a Christian”. Sinful behaviour should never be justified. Sin doesn’t just harm the person involved but permeates far beyond the immediate reach of what the person involved intended. Whilst Christians will not be sinless on this side of eternity, they should be Christ-full. Meaning, in the day to day life of the Christian they should show that Jesus above all things is their pursuit. God’s grace (unmerited favour) is what carries the Christian in this life and the next. If you aren’t a Christian I invite you to come and know this grace that is found in the person of Jesus, I can assure you it’s greater than what I can try to describe in words.
I confess that I am guilty, at times, of taking my access to the Bible for granted. I don’t often think about how blessed I am to have a Bible in my own language, and not only that but also to have a selection of versions that vary according to readability and communicate the message in slightly different ways.
Bible translation is a subject that is often brought up by those arguing against the reliability of the Bible. In discussions with sceptics, I have frequently encountered the objections that we can’t possibly trust Scripture to be true and infallible when it has been “translated so many times” and “passed through so many hands”, surely it has been “watered down” and we can’t possibly know what the writer actually meant. These views sound plausible at first, but when we closely analyse the lengthy process of Bible translation, we start to see that these arguments against the Bible’s reliability do not hold much weight. So what are the answers to some of these misconceptions?
When scholars are working on a new Bible translation, let’s take for example the English Standard Version which was first published in 2001, it was not a case of simply translating an older English Bible version (in this case the RSV) into a version that is more readable for the modern reader. It involved a large team of over 100 highly experienced scholars, seasoned pastors and theologians reviewing the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible, against the English text, and arduously ensuring that they translated as accurately as possible into what we now know as the ESV; whilst using other historical texts such as The Dead Sea Scrolls and The Septuagint as sources of references.
Of course, the big elephant in the room in this discussion is the fact that the physical pieces of “paper” which the original writers of biblical texts used have been lost in history. However, these writings were replicated and widely distributed in the few years following their writing. There are 8,500 Greek manuscripts on the New Testament alone and thousands more in other ancient writings. Scholars take these into account as they undertake the enormous task of translation.
Another common objection to the reliability of the Bible is that a lot of the manuscripts we have vary from each other. However, I would argue that this actually supports the reliability of the Bible. This is what Greg Gilbert (MDiv) says in an article for Crossway:
“it’s precisely the existence of those thousands of copies, from all over the empire and with all their variations, that allows us to reconstruct with a huge degree of confidence what the originals said.”
This is because rather than contradicting each other, these sources actually fit together like a puzzle to give us a complete picture. Click here to read Gilbert’s full article.
It goes without saying, but before a new translation is published it is thoroughly proof-read and quality checked by experts and linguists in each language.
Something that can be easily overlooked in this discussion, is how God is working throughout the process of Bible translation. God has raised up people who love Him and want to serve Him in this laborious task. These are highly skilled people who are using their gifts to make the riches of God’s word as accessible as possible to everyone – we should have faith that the Spirit is inspiring and working through these people as they carry out this task.
You often hear people discuss which Bible translation is the most accurate, the most reliable. However, it isn’t that simple. This is because different methods are used for different translations. For example, the New International Version was translated phrase by phrase from the original language (Functional equivalent), rather than word by word (Formal equivalent). Some would describe it as a paraphrase rather than a translation. However, this approach was taken in an attempt to make the text more readable and easier to understand. Although this translation is not as literal as the ESV, which was translated word for word, great care was taken by scholars to try to ensure that it doesn’t lose any of the meaning that the original author intended to get across.
We should seek to continuously thank God for the blessing of having numerous translations. It is really helpful to see how the same passage has been worded differently, and I believe consulting numerous translations during Bible study gives us a fuller picture of what the author is communicating. However, do practice discernment in this regard and look into how the translation was done.
We should also bear in mind that over 255 million people have no Scripture in their own language. There are about 2,200 known languages that remain without a Bible. This is heart-breaking, and something we should be praying regularly. I would recommend checking out Wycliffe Bible Translators for more information about this need.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
Every word of your bible is trustworthy, true and breathed out by God. The Bible is the primary way that He chooses to communicate with His children, the writer of the book of Hebrews describes it as “living and active” (4:12). Trust that the God who is faithful in carrying out the Gospel work through the ages, is also faithful in letting the story of His work be faithfully communicated through our Bibles.
Multitudes of people have opposed the bible and the message of Christianity down through the ages, but it has stood the test of time. We can have full confidence and assurance that it is accurate and true. As you open your Bible and start reading, you are letting the precious words of God fill your mind and heart, that’s an indescribable blessing! We would do well to consider that more.
There is a common misconception that as Christians, we will always be happy. We will always be positive and full of optimism. That although worries come, we will be smiling through it all. However, this is seldom the case. A lot of things happen in our lives and around us that can affect our overall mental health. We will not always be ‘happy’ Christians. So as there are still many misconceptions when it comes to the topic of mental health within Christianity, how then as believers, should we navigate this struggle?
We first need to understand that we are not alone. Whether temporary or long term, many Christians suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. We can be drastically affected by the stressors in life which can lead to anxiety and fill us with insecurities. Fearful of the unknown or situations that take us out of our comfort zone, for example, a global pandemic, continuous lockdowns and not seeing friends or family for an extended period. Even if it’s for a moment, we become tired, stressed, lethargic and start to lose joy in life.
We are not the only ones. The bible is full of examples of faithful people going through their deepest laments, struggling with mental health issues and crying out to God about them:
And now my life seeps way. Depression haunts my days. At night my bones are filled with pain, which gnaws at me relentlessly.
I cry to you, O God
Job 30:16-17, 20
It is enough now, O Lord take away my life
1 Kings 19:4
I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me
2 Cor. 12:8
– “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)
There are many more “woes” from the prophets of old – the book of Psalms is full of distressed, depressed and downcast people. At times we can find ourselves crying out in the same manner. Our feelings do not display a “weaker faith” or “a lack of trust in God”. I have found when I struggle with my anxiety or low mood that I am reaching more for Jesus. “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:11) because Christ has said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9).
When I find myself struggling with my mental health, one of the most effective ways I have learnt to cope is through the Word (the bible). The bible can help us navigate the struggles of life. There are so many verses to help guide us through these times. We do not have to lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). We can keep our hearts stayed on Him (Isa. 26:3), at all times, through the word, especially when we do not feel up to it.
As described above, people in the bible have struggled with similar issues. It is a greater joy to read of their continued faithfulness in the midst of this. When our mental health reaches a low, we can remind ourselves of the truth in the word.
The word of God constantly reminds us to not worry, to not be afraid or be anxious (Phil. 4:6, Matt 6:25, 1 Pt 5:7). Jesus calls us to cast our burdens unto Him, to come to Him when we are weary (Matt 11:28) when life gets a little too much. And in the Word, we are advised to not worry about tomorrow for we do not know what tomorrow will bring (Matt 6:34).
Ultimately, the more we think about these things, or meditate on them, the more we are likely to believe them. And thus, accept it.
Christ is the living Word and through Christ, we are free. We should understand that He is a strength. Anxieties will come, we may not always have the confidence to speak, but there is nothing to fear with God by our side (Isa. 41:10). At a point where it may seem as we are surrounded by darkness, there is a light that shines brightest and the darkness cannot overcome it (Jn. 1:5).
When Jesus says “In this world, you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world,” (Jn. 16:13), this includes our anxiety, stress, sadness and difficulties with our mental health.
To find out more about the topic of mental health and the Gospel, listen to this episode of The On The Table Podcast
How often do you live in fear of supporting Christ? Constantly apprehensive of how others will view you rather than how God will view you? Are we more concerned with making sure to renew our minds and actions to be like that of Christ, or have we become disillusioned by the fear of man that we spend endless amounts of time, online and offline, trying to gain the approval of peers? What can we do when wanting to please man has led to a dullness for pursuing godly and radical living for Christ?
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Living a life in unity with Christ is not one that should accommodate fear. As we accept Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, we obtain a spirit of peace, power and love (2 Timothy 1:7). Throughout the Bible, we are reassured that He is always with us, to the point where, even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death itself, He is right by our side. (Psalm 23:4). If the Author, that has control of death itself, requires us to live for him, then who are we to live for the attention of mere humans (Revelations 20:14)? How prideful can we be to think that a creation’s approval surpasses that of the Creator?
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to redirect our minds, remembering the dynamic of the relationship we were gifted and adopted into. Jesus said even if we do not acknowledge him, even if we do not follow him, He can raise up stones instead (Luke 19:40). We need to understand that He doesn’t need us, but we need Him. And now that we understand this, why not exclaim to others the need that they’re searching for? Christ gave His life for us so that we can be free from sin and suffering. We should thus use our lives, lives that cannot pay for that price, to glorify Him and proclaim His name fearlessly.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
Living in fear can mean that we can waste our lives, not living for God’s purposes. An example includes prophet Jonah whom God sent to evangelise in a foreign city. However he ran away from it, choosing to disobey God instead. Instead of wasting the precious days God has given us, we should put our confidence in Him and experience the peace that accompanies fulfilling His purposes in our lives. We should use prophet Jonah as an example on how to repent and ask for a fear of God that makes wanting to serve him and be obedient a priority over living for the approval of others.
But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22
As Christians, we can unknowingly abuse the grace that exists with God’s sovereignty.
I am not a preacher, I’m just a normal Christian. If someone else can take my place, then why me? Why do I need to stand up for the Word if I’m going to Heaven anyway?
We are asking the wrong questions. The true question is if we are called to be countercultural according to Christ’s standard of living, then why do we enjoy and devote our time to doing the things that makes us blend in? Acknowledgment and obedience of God’s word is far more important than being satisfied in the fact that there might not be a consequence. Because the truth is actions always have consequences. We should be asking ourselves, what is expected of us according to God’s word and what should we be doing to maintain this standard. Salvation is a gift, but with it comes with the responsibility of obeying Christ, professing and defending the gospel in speech and conduct. If the disciples gave into wanting to please the public, the gospel might not have been preached and we may have not heard it as a result. We should thus act responsibly acknowledging that the same mercy bestowed upon us can be observed by others also.
Be reminded of how insignificant everything is in comparison to the things above, even fear itself. It is important to understand that the more you become aware of the need to be able to form a healthier, more life-giving fear – the fear of God, the more you will notice that it is feeding you with a delight in him that helps us to be radical and countercultural for His name’s sake.
Today (the 23rd March 2021) marks exactly one year since lockdown restrictions began in the United Kingdom. As restrictions begin to ease and life returns to some form of “normality”, it can be easy to look back at last year with a pessimistic mindset, remembering only the difficulties of 2020. However, even after the year we just had, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 77:11, we want to “remember the deeds of the LORD”. To do this, we asked some of our writers to share what they have learnt about God’s faithfulness during these unprecedented times.
Shumi Mararike: During the pandemic, God has brought greater depth and joy into the relationships in my life. Despite spending the majority of my time at university, I’ve come to appreciate the love and support of my family all the more. We invest in the well-being of each other, being intentional in our efforts to spend more time together. I have also experienced more of Christ’s love from my friends’ sacrificial love and consistency toward me. Their wisdom, encouragement and rebuke has contributed to my growth as an individual over the past year. Most significantly, two of my close friends have trusted Christ for salvation; to God be the glory!
Chude Obuaya: When news first broke out that there was a deadly virus spreading throughout the world I underestimated the severity. I looked at the data at the time and it didn’t seem as severe as it turned out to be. My university was one of the latest to close and I had to finish my Masters at home. This affected my final exams as well as my dissertation and it was difficult. Compiling this, there was so much death that was occurring throughout the world from Covid-19 to police brutality, it was a lot. God led me through a time of lamenting which was good for my soul. It led me to the goodness of God. Throughout the past year, God has shown His faithfulness to me in my degree, career and relationships. He has kept me and shown me that He is in control no matter what happens.
Seyi Sobogun: God is so faithful. I cannot count the number of times in the last year that God has shown me that He is for me, He is with me and He will never leave me. In situations where I was ready to give up, God always showed up. But that is exactly who He is, He is faithful and even if we are faithless, He will always remain faithful because He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:11). No matter what may have happened over the last year, regardless of what fears I may have faced or challenges that came my way, God remained the same.
Deborah Asamoah: As a TV freelancer, I already live month to month with the precarity of employment. In March 2020, the coronavirus brought the production I was working on and all other TV productions, to a screeching halt. I went from having work and income lined up, to nothing at all. However, during those months I had plenty because God used His faithful providence to ease my anxiety by making financial provision when I had no means to work. But more importantly, to teach me a greater lesson of finding satisfaction in Him amidst the trial of having to go without.
Ayo Stephen: The pandemic was one that took us all by surprise. At the start I must admit, it was difficult, tolling on my mental and physical health. However, God has shown that His faithfulness never changes despite how the world changes. God has kept all my family and friends alive. Due to his grace, I did not see death, nor did I mourn over my loved ones. He also brought me closer to Him, despite my imperfect self – and with the sudden lockdowns, He has graced me with opportunities to become closer to Him and further away from the world.
Toye Akinoso: During this lockdown, God was faithful to making sure my joy in him will be full. When lockdown started in the UK, it seemed as though the world took a standstill. The busyness we had all become so used to quickly dissipated. Prior to the pandemic, I found that we can often get so caught up in the business of life that we often miss the lessons God is trying to teach us. During this lockdown, I learnt the importance of what the Psalmist meant he said ‘be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). This year, God allowed me to slow down and focus on what really mattered, our Creator God, Heavenly Father and Saviour.
Matidaishe Mupfacha: God was faithful in preserving my family, especially my parents. The are both nurses and they worked in environments were Covid was very much present. Every day they were exposed to potentially being infected, but they never were. Things were going well until late-December 2020 when most of the family got infected, my dad being the worst affected. I watched my dad do his best to remain present and positive through the whole painful ordeal though every night he fought nightmares of death. I watched my whole family support each other, trying to put their medical minds together in order to alleviate my dad’s ever-fluctuating symptoms. God was faithful in keeping us sane and hopeful. He allowed my dad to make it through.
Dan W. Brown: This time last year I had just dropped out of uni and was working a temporary job in a factory, feeling very uncertain about the future. Lockdown turned out to be a great blessing in my life, it helped me to slow down, spend more time in the word and prayerfully consider the future. In the middle of my uncertainty, God was wonderfully working, and he blessed me with a job that I love, and in the process taught me a lot about what it means to rely on him completely. For the rest of my life, I will look back on the last year as a time when God displayed to me his magnificent sovereignty over a broken world. Glory to God
We hear a term that, nowadays, is considered to be an ugly word in our society today. Submission. It is mocked as being outdated, oppressive and many consider that the idea should no longer have a place in our society. That being said, is submission something we should ignore in the 21st century or is it still a useful framework to use and follow today?
Whenever we hear the word submit, some of us, especially as women, can shudder at the thought of what is required of us when we are asked to submit. It is almost always a difficult conversation when broaching the subject because people almost never seem to agree on the topic. Knowing the divisive nature of this matter, I myself have sheepishly given a half-hearted and rehearsed answer on submission or avoided discussing the topic altogether.
I think such a response has stemmed from the idea that the issues surrounding submission are not clear cut. Moreover, it is obvious that the abuse of power, demonstrated by male leaders, in particular, does not make submission inviting. In fact, it acts as a deterrent. This is not surprising, given that people holding greater power have unfairly used and continue to use their authority to lord it over those with less power in a way that makes the latter feel like the only way to feel liberated is to resist, rebel, and refuse to submit.
History writes a long list of stories, both told and untold, which speak to the negligence of those in authority that leave people disenfranchised en masse. For example, the Transatlantic slave trade dehumanised and mistreated black Africans for the profit of European powers. SARS has a long record of abuses towards their own citizens. Statistics show that 35% of women worldwide experience physical, emotional and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, mostly deriving from an intimate partner. This does not even speak to the cases that are unreported.
With the long list of abuse and offences caused by those who have authority, it is no wonder why people, particularly women, are questioning the idea of submitting to someone who is capable of violating them.
Think about the examples that the Bible uses in relation to submission and authority. For example, the husband is called to love his wife as himself (Eph 5:28). In other words, treat her with the same care and devotion as he would his own body. Pause for a moment. Think about the ways you care for your anatomy. Nourishing it with food. Setting aside time for your body to rest and recuperate. In turn, we give our body the opportunity to flourish, grow and feel restored, leaving it feeling well-served, empowered and cared for. But note that our body does not choose when it gets to eat, nor does it choose when it gets to rest. It has no power to dominate itself over us with its needs. We have authority over our bodies. We choose when to feed it or give it rest. Yet we do not ignore our body’s needs. We are careful to listen to its needs, and consider how it feels so that we can nourish it and take care of it appropriately.
Similarly, a husband who is called to be the head of his wife is not called to wield his power over her in order to control her whilst ignoring her needs and desires, thus leaving her feeling marginalised. Instead, he should be exercising authority in a way that allows her to be taken care of, her needs and wants to be considered and most importantly allows her to feel loved and cherished. In turn, she feels empowered and supported instead of oppressed and marginalised. Paul expresses this idea when he says:
In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife, loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it.
Ephesians 5:28 – 29
Submission should be treated with the idea that the person with more power, should not oppress the person who is in submission to them, but should use their power to benefit the person who submits to them. Another way this can be interpreted is servanthood. The husband or father is called to be both head and servant of his home. In this way, submission is never oppressive but always supportive and beneficial.
This leads us to the big question. Where do look to if we want to have the right perspective about submission? Paul makes this very clear for us;
Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.
Ephesians 5:25
A husband nourishes and cherishes his wife because Christ does the same for his church. Us, people who are considered members of His body. Christ being the perfect example of authority, anticipated the most major need of His body (the Church) before the foundation of the world. Our need for salvation. He set about accomplishing this need by dying for our sins so that we could be pardoned of God’s wrath and experience the benefits of eternal glory. Even now He nourishes us by His Spirit so that we may be kept until He returns and enjoy His eternal riches. In return, we as Christians submit to Him because we know and trust that He has our best interests at heart.
With this in mind, we can see that submission derives from a place of love. Therefore, with this view, we should strive to be shining examples to society when we choose to submit to one another faithfully; showing that submission is not something from which we must be deterred but something to be embraced because it incurs one’s best interests.
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