I want to define something that at one level is quite simple yet at another level can be hard to grasp. I want to define sex. No, not that kind of sex. I mean male and female—sex. Gender, in our modern discourse, often refers to the accidental and sometimes wished-for properties of humans. Sex, however, points to a concrete reality on the basis of biological and metaphysical norms for males and females. [Read more…] about What Is Sex?
Life
How Social Media Makes Regional Conflicts International
I love social media in part because I follow and learn from pastors, professors, and experts. I love asking questions. I love finding answers. What I do not love is entering into conflicts online (well, my flesh might sometimes).
And while that used to be simple to do through self-control, it has become increasingly hard to do over the past few years due to so many theological and cultural wars occurring across the globe. When these regional conflicts hit social media, they become international. And when they become international, they affect all of us. They make it near impossible to avoid conflicts. [Read more…] about How Social Media Makes Regional Conflicts International
Is It Okay to Be Single?
In our day, we marry later and delay starting a family. Through selfishness, some North Americans have written off the institution of marriage altogether. In light of these realities, Christians rightly underscore the goodness of marriage and the family.
But, on occasion, we emphasize marriage so much that we give the impression that singleness represents a lesser state. It does not. It is not just okay to be single, but for those so gifted with singleness, it also represents a much better state of living than does marriage. [Read more…] about Is It Okay to Be Single?
How to Rejoice Always
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice always” (1 Thess 5:16). For most of us, we probably read this command and wonder, “Is it even possible to obey?” What adds to the problem is that Paul claims that rejoicing always “is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:18). How can we obey God’s will by rejoicing always when we all know by experience that joy seems elusive, partial, and impermanent?
The answer is not to live a life of affected joy and so wear a mask of happiness by forcing ourselves to act the part. Instead, the answer comes through a deeper meditation on what Joy means and what constitutes a person. [Read more…] about How to Rejoice Always
How to Talk to Christians Who Differ Politically—even If It Is Abortion Or Climate Change
Human life begins after conception. Yes, there may be a small gap in time before the fertilized egg can be defined as a human being in potentiality. But it starts early. The climate is changing, but the eleven-year time-table as well as all current solutions to the problem do not convince me. I want nuclear power and investment in better technology, not carbon taxes and radical plans to undercut current energy production.
So my cards are on the table. I have conservative views, and I am what many would consider a simpleton for them. So be it. My point here is not to defend my views but to persuade those who share mine to treat Christians who differ from them better. I am not going to argue for any of these political positions, but I am going to sketch out ways that we can speak the truth in love even with Christians who hold different political views than us. [Read more…] about How to Talk to Christians Who Differ Politically—even If It Is Abortion Or Climate Change
What Gender Is the XXY Chromosome?
Since human nature exists, sex does not amount to either biological or chemical properties in us; nor does it amount to a fluid identification of gender.
Human nature encodes capacity and purpose into humanity. Biology and chemistry can describe our constituent parts but insufficiently do so. We need to also define our capacity and purpose.
This means somewhat controversially that whether we have an xy, xx, or xxy chromosome pattern, these biological and chemical compositions do not tell the whole story. [Read more…] about What Gender Is the XXY Chromosome?