During this election season, ask God to guard your heart, mind, and tongue with His peace. Commit to praying for our nation and for those who disagree with you, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth to them.

The Nordics are among the most progressive places in the world with regard to gender differences, and The Gospel Coalition’s position on men’s and women’s service roles in the church is often considered a more controversial theological stance. So we thought it important to clarify and elaborate on what we mean by complementarianism as we develop a local Nordic branch of TGC. By “complementarianism,” we mean the broad approach that says men and women are created equal in value and in God’s image and yet different physically and spiritually, in such a way to complement one another and to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church (Gen. 1:27; Eph. 5:32). Practically speaking, this limits the role of elders (including pastors) in the church to men and encourages men to take initiative as the head in the home. This contrasts with the egalitarian position, which holds that men and women share the same function and purpose in the church and home. This isn’t just an issue for progressive northern Europe. As complementarianism is increasingly cast aside throughout the world, churches and organizations everywhere will have to wrestle to maintain biblical fidelity when it comes to gender. We hope our approach will provide a useful template for others in the coming years. Raised Egalitarian: Hanna As a woman with a strong sense of calling to ministry, I (Hanna) shouldn’t have found it so hard to choose a side in the theological discussion of a woman’s role in the church. It was easy to buy the arguments of the egalitarian position given by my leaders and teachers. The way forward seemed clear for my life: study theology for a couple of years, work as a youth or children’s pastor, and then take the step forward to senior pastor. I had all the right conditions in place—a strong sense of calling, a passion for the gospel and church, and a gifting for leadership and teaching. So I naturally followed all the steps and did what I believed was God’s calling for my life. I earned my bachelor’s in theology and became a pastor for a local church. But although everything seemed right on the outside, I had a secret stone in my shoe that wouldn’t stop chafing my conscience. Deep in my heart and mind, there was one thing missing: biblical conviction. Surrounded by Egalitarianism: Christian The Bible doesn’t shy away from the hot topics of today’s society, such as gender and sexuality. But what the Bible actually says about these issues can be hard to swallow for those raised within the progressive ideologies of the feminist movement. As a boy, raised within both Swedish and American cultures, I (Christian) was taught equality was the most important goal in relationships between men and women. However, when my Swedish single mother became a Christian in my preteens, she began realizing the Bible called her to something even higher than equality: counting others more significant than herself (Phil. 2:3). As her understanding of the gospel deepened, my home life was transformed, even as my mom wrestled with the implications of God’s design. Many of us have been taught it’s a matter of serious injustice if a woman doesn’t have full access to every position a man can have. But when the Bible sets limits for men and women in the church, it also teaches that limits aren’t a matter of injustice but of order (1 Cor. 14:40). We’ve been taught that leadership is power and that masculine power is almost always destructive, but the Bible says leadership is service and that a man who follows Christ must self-sacrificially lay down his life, using his strength to protect and serve (Matt. 20:25–28; Eph. 5:25). Trust the Bible As Christians, we live by faith in things we cannot see and don’t fully understand. Trust in God, rather than ourselves, is a most foundational element of our faith. We trust God’s love, his power, and his plan. We trust him for our eternal destiny as well as for his provision for our daily bread. We trust that Christ’s blood covers our sins and that through him we’re completely free and forgiven. We trust the Bible is God’s Word, desiring to follow what it says even when it’s hard or we don’t fully understand the reason behind some of its commandments. We obey God’s Word not by fear but because we trust that Jesus is Lord and that he knows what’s best far better than we do. When I (Hanna) started to read specific Bible texts about men and women (e.g., Gen. 1–3; 1 Cor. 11:3–1; 1 Tim. 2:11–15; Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Pet. 3:1–7) with trust instead of suspicion as my foundation, everything changed. I stopped trying to find interpretations that could justify going around what the text clearly seemed to say and started to trust that God had a good reason to say what he said. Almost immediately, the confusing parts of the puzzle found their proper places, and the whole picture started to make more sense to me. I could see the beauty in God’s creation of two genders: equal in value, yet differing in design and purpose. I could see that God’s plan isn’t oppressive but compassionate, designed for our best and for his glory. Trust the Bible in an Egalitarian Culture As we approach living out these convictions in the church life in the Nordic countries, perhaps it’s worth asking if the battle over God’s design for gender is even worth fighting. In societies where gender is widely accepted as a construct, and any differentiation in treatment between men and women is strongly condemned, is this a value vital to stand on? We believe we must. We shouldn’t come ready to fight, because the battle for the culture is, in many ways, already lost. However, the greater battle for men and women’s souls isn’t lost. As Christ’s followers, we must live with a disarming honesty about our positions that will inevitably seem culturally backward to people. We must live as those who trust God and are free from pleasing man. Rather than trying to posture ourselves as cool and modern, we can be up-front about how backward we’ll seem, then get on with the hard work of “prov[ing] that our love is real, over and over again,” as my favorite Swedish metal band, Blindside, says. Trust the Bible After the Abuse of Women What about the abuse and neglect of women throughout history and into today? How does that inform the discussion on men and women in the church? Tragically, we must admit that much abuse has been done against women in God’s name. But every time the Bible is used to oppress, exploit, or silence women, it’s an abusive handling not only of the women but of God’s Word. The Bible is clear that God cares for women and wants to use them in powerful ways for his kingdom. Many women in the Bible had indispensable parts to play in salvation history. Jesus valued women, and Paul praised the women who served alongside him on his mission trips. Therefore, it’s important to state that complementarianism doesn’t at all mean only a few select men have a call from God to serve in the church. We all have that calling. Every part in Christ’s body is needed—men and women complement and depend on each other. If the women in a church aren’t thriving, the men cannot flourish, and vice versa. Live Out Healthy Complementarianism Complementarianism means the heavy responsibilities of the elder/pastor are carried out by qualified men, to serve and care for the congregation, never to rule over them. Women and laymen can then be even more free to do everything God has called and gifted them for, with the help and support of their leaders. For me (Hanna), this means that although I’m no longer a pastor, my calling hasn’t changed. I’m fully convinced I serve God even better now as I follow the biblical guidelines for men and women in the church than when I took on the service of elder. We believe it’s vital that we men and church leaders actively seek out and encourage women’s proper participation in church ministry. Because God has designed men and women to complement one another, no church service will be complete without the perspective of that church community’s women. Partnering Across Disagreement Perhaps an even more practical question for ministry in the Nordics is this: How can complementarian churches relate to those who firmly stand by the Bible, yet hold an egalitarian position on women in ministry? The complementarian position is again a minority position, even among evangelical believers in the Nordics. We want to emphasize that though we believe the theological debate between egalitarian and complementarian perspectives is important, it doesn’t strike at the gospel and doesn’t prevent us from Christian friendship with those who disagree. Therefore, it’s important to maintain a tone of respect and open dialogue with churches who differ with us on this matter, continuing to seek opportunities to partner together for mission and service. Please God, Not Man In conclusion, is it possible to build complementarian churches in the Nordics? Yes, we absolutely believe it’s both possible and necessary. We can trust that God’s plan is the best, and therefore we can confidently follow the biblical guidelines. Many people will not agree with or fully understand our perspective, but we’re free from needing to please man. We’re not here to preach complementarianism first, but rather the gospel of redemption through Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose to give us life. We live in an age of fragile secular consensus that leads people to a desperate overdesire for identity often found in causes that are good but not big enough to hold the weight of their souls. If we come to these people ready to admit we hold views that may be offensive, and then go on with the hard work of loving and serving them nonetheless, we may be much more effective at earning their audience than when we engage in endless culture wars and debates. This has a great deal to do with the gospel. We can and should agree with the culture that access to jobs in society should be strictly based on qualifications and not on gender. But in the Christian church and home, we confess that our acceptance by God isn’t based on our qualifications but rather on God’s grace alone. Likewise, God has called men to lead the church as pastors and elders based not on their own merits but on Christ’s grace alone. We don’t need to prove or battle for our identities. Our lives are hidden with Christ on high (Col. 3:3), so we can come into the gender conversation with an openness and security that we pray will be attractive and compelling to others around Europe.

Fall arrived, along with the annual neighborhood bonfire. Amid conversations about school beginning and how families were doing, someone lamented the landscape of fallen spiritual leaders. The onslaught of news felt oppressive. A voice interrupted, “But isn’t it nice to know that we’re not alone, that others mess up too? I find more solidarity when Jonah runs from God than when he gets things right.” This cultural proverb isn’t new. Almost 300 years ago, Puritan Thomas Brooks warned that Satan prowls like a lion roaring, eager to “make all others eternally miserable with himself” through deceitful devices that encourage God’s people to sin (see 1 Pet. 5:8). One device is that we’ll glorify the misdeeds of Old Testament heroes, allowing them to lull us into spiritual complacency. Brooks explained we must study closely the full timeline of the saints’ sin and repentance if we want to resist sin. Scripture declares not just the moral failing but also the seriousness of sin, the weight of sin’s suffering, the humility of repentance, and the beauty of forgiveness. Four Remedies Brooks provided four remedies for when we miss Scripture’s truer story of sin and repentance. Remedy 1: Declare the Whole Story We remember King David’s murder and adultery, but do we remember his cries for cleansing (Ps. 51:2)? We identify with Job’s impatience, but do we identify with his repentance in dust and ashes (Job 42:6)? We joke about Peter’s impulsive speech, but have we forgotten the bitter tears that followed (Luke 22:62)? Brooks notes that the Holy Spirit has carefully displayed the saints’ fall into sin and their rise out of sin through repentance. These men grieved their sins and threw themselves at God’s mercy. Too often, we turn our eyes on the sinner and his sin and forget the God who lifts the sinner out of sin. Where are your eyes when you read the stories of biblical saints? Lift them higher, to the God who leads his people to repentance. Too often, we turn our eyes on the sinner and his sin and forget the God who lifts the sinner out of sin. Remedy 2: Declare the Story’s End David seemed immune to sin’s poison for a season, but God mercifully made him sick of it through Nathan’s speech (2 Sam. 12:1–13). Paul declared he did what he didn’t want to do, but he cried out in thanksgiving that God was delivering him from the flesh through Christ (Rom. 7:15, 24–25). Because we trust in Christ, sin no longer rules our identities or hearts. Paul commands us to consider ourselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). While we still sin, we don’t make a trade of sin—we don’t make it a happy, willful, regular occurrence. Because of Christ’s resurrected life, we have new life, which means new identities (v. 4). Like Scripture’s saints, we may fall. But we rise by repentance, that we might, in Brooks’s words, “keep the closer to Christ for ever.” Remedy 3: Declare the Weight of Sin’s Discipline Not all suffering is because of our sin. But we can be sure that if God loves us and delights in us, he’ll discipline us (Prov. 3:11–12). Scripture shows us that discipline is equally painful and fruitful (Heb. 12:11). When God thrust Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden, he protected them from taking of the Tree of Life and living in their damned sin state forever (Gen. 3:22–23). When David’s son fell ill, he petitioned God’s graciousness until his son died, then he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped, restored (2 Sam. 12:20). When Jesus looked at Peter after his denial, conviction overwhelmed Peter and he wept (Luke 22:61–62). We’re like these saints. It’s easy for us, before godly discipline, to consider our sin innocuous and unimportant. We disregard Scripture and hope God will see the “heart” behind it, as if this somehow excuses us from doing what’s right. We forget that sin is lawlessness, unrighteousness, the work of the Devil (1 John 3:4, 8; 5:17). We forget that because of our transgressions and iniquities, Christ was pierced and crushed, dying a criminal’s death on a cross (Isa. 53:5; Phil. 2:8). Godly discipline reminds us of our sin’s offensiveness and our Savior’s goodness. Still, we must never sever the weight of God’s discipline and the sins of past saints. As Brooks reminded us: If you sin with David, you must suffer with David! Remedy 4: Declare the ‘Why’ Why has God bothered to share about the fall of his saints? We can open our Bibles and read faithfully recorded accounts of shortcomings and missteps. Brooks suggests there are two reasons. First, to keep us from sinking under the weight of our sins—as a reminder we’re not alone. Don’t I also need to know that God chose imperfect people who needed him? Don’t I find it comforting that the giants lining faith’s hallway in Hebrews 11 failed along the way? This remedy takes the cultural proverb that invites complacency about sin and alters it; the invitation is now to humility and repentance. Second, as a warning. Brooks reminds us that God didn’t record his children’s failings so we might be encouraged to sin. Rather, he did it that we might seriously search our hearts, see the ungodliness of sin, and cling to the skirts of Christ. Are we reminded of others’ failures so our own sins are normalized then trivialized? Of course not. When we hear of the saints’ sin, we’re meant to be sobered. We’re to grieve their sin and watch carefully how they respond. We witness their tears, discipline, and prayers. Then we watch as God exchanges his beauty for their ashes, all for his glory (Isa. 61:3). We remember that he can do this for us too. Truer Story Too often, we leave the stories of Scripture’s saints incomplete—we need to finish them. Their stories include sin and repentance, failure and suffering, neediness and dependence on God for forgiveness. When we hear of the saints’ sin, we’re meant to be sobered. Friends, we don’t fight Satan’s devices alone or in our own power. We fight with the whole story in our head and in our hearts: the story that declares Jesus victorious over every sin we commit; the story that declares the risen Christ as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30); the story that calls us not to boast in imperfect saints or our sinfulness but in the Lord (v. 31). The hope is that we’d suffer like these saints, repent with them, find forgiveness with them—not sin like them.

In Christian ministry, it’s difficult to think of a greater occupational hazard than pride. But of course, pride can manifest itself in both “loud” and “quiet” ways. How, then, can pastors avoid the perils of pride? This episode of The Everyday Pastor focuses on practical tips for cultivating humility in the service of Jesus Christ.

There is no better way to ensure the survival of the family in case of a SHTF scenario and to create a sustainable homestead than to grow and raise your own groceries. There are a plethora of traditional farm animals which can help keep the family well-fed year around or during a long-term disaster, but when both space and budget are limited, one stands out above many of the rest – Dexter cattle. Dexter Cattle Dexter cattle, or miniature cattle, are perhaps the best pound-for-pound value in the bovine realm. The mini cows are one of the smallest breeds of cattle and do not need as much room to roam – or pasture to feed them, as regular size cattle. Most Dexters are primarily black, but some versions of the miniature breed come in either a dun or red fur tone. They have beautiful white horns which are tipped in black once they reach adulthood. The miniature cows and steers require about one half-acre of pasture per animal – or approximately 12 to 15 pounds of hay and a small supplement of grain as deemed necessary over the cold winter months. They are not picky eaters and can get by just fine on overgrown pastures or less-maintained pasture. | Dexter cows and steer appear to be an extremely durable breed regardless of the climate where they roam. Miniature cow breeds now span the country and exist successfully about anywhere, including both Florida and Alaska. The mini cows are often seen wandering happily about their pasture even when the thermometer dips very low and a significant amount of snow is on the ground. The miniature cows grow to just about 36 to 44 inches at the shoulder. The Dexter cattle breed boast a lean mean and rich milk. They are known to be a very gentle breed – and much easier to manipulate than their far larger, and sometimes hard-headed, peers. The number of preppers and homesteading families which have embraced the miniature cattle concept in recent years has surged. The reasons Dexter cattle are become more popular goes far beyond budget constraints and space limitation issues. The miniature cows produce about one to two gallons of milk per day. One cow produces enough milk to fulfill the needs of a typical family, without any going to waste or causing extra work to turn into a semi-shelf stable edible. Standard size cows, like a Holstein, produce around 10 gallons of milk each day. That’s a whole lot of milk to deal with and store if not participating in some type of herdshare agreement with others who either raw milk fans or prefer to pasteurize their own milk to avoid added hormones and other unnatural additives in commercially produced milk. Dexters have also been frequently and successfully used a “nurse cows” and provided milk for up to three calves in need to a surrogate mom. Milk from the mini cows has a 4 percent butterfat milk when fed for production. At the height of a mini cow’s lactation period it has been known to produce up to 5 gallons of milk a day. Milk form a Dexter cow has also been heralded for how easy it is to digest. Because the fat globules in the milk are extremely small, it is less irritating on the stomach than milk from a standard-size cows. The cream from a mini cows’ milk has also been known to easily separate, making it a cooperative ingredient when making both ice cream and a very rich butter. Dexter cows produce about 400 pounds of meat. Full-size cows or steers produce 600 to 800 pounds of beef. Mini cow breeders brag on not only the excellent flavor of their beef, but its juicy tenderness as well. Typically, grain-fed Dexter cattle will hit the 250 pound mark in only 12 months. A large Dexter cow or steer can weigh in at 500 pounds in 24 months. They dress at approximately 60 percent of their live weight. Feeding two mini cows or steers is typically less or the same as providing feed for one regular cow or steer – but the amount of pasture space required to properly house them still remains far less. If you have only the space of budget for one standard size cow and becomes ill or lost, the entire meat harvest has been lost. But, if two mini cows are purchased instead and one cow becomes ill and dies or has to be put down, the family will still have access to 400 pounds of beef to make it through tough times. They might be small, but they are still mighty. Dexter cows are known to take to a yoke both quickly and easily. The miniature cows and steers appear eager to please, making them a great bovine to work with for both first time farmers, homesteaders, and newbie preppers. Their complaint personality make them great teachers for children in the family. Youngsters may be able to most safely learn how to care for, milk, and mange livestock, when working with the miniature cattle breed. Equally easily and safely, an elderly and even experienced member of the family can still help contributed to the daily workings of the prepper retreat or homestead by taking are of the Dexter cattle with far less fear of being injured or needing assistance than compared to handling standard-size cows and steers. | The mini cows most likely originated in Ireland and found their way to America in the early 20th Century. The one significant drawback with the Dexter breed is a genetic reproduction problem which appears to most often plague the smaller stature mini cows. Sometimes Dexter cows give birth to “bulldog” or stillborn calves with deformed faces. Dexter cows commonly calve without any assistance from human hands. The need to glove up and use a calf puller is almost unheard of for miniature cow breeders. When their hooves hit the ground, Dexter calves weigh about 45 pounds. When they are weaned at around seven months, they typically weigh about 250 to 350 pounds. Both cows and steers continue to grow until they hit close to six years old. Some Dexters have continued to calve until they hit the ripe old age of 15 – and can live to be more than 20 years old. Up Next: Zesty Shrimp Spring Rolls | The Perfect Springtime Snack Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook! Will you get some Dexter Cows for your homestead? Let us know in the comment section below.

Another day, another Very Serious celebrity fully indoctrinated into the current messaging and warning you to vote for Kamala Harris or face deadly consequences. Advertisement This time, it's Billy Eichner.…

It was after church, and we were at our local Mexican restaurant sipping Victorias, indulging in some carne asada, and waiting for the NFL game to come back on the big screen when our attention became…

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Updated October 27, 2024 Where do the 2024 presidential candidates stand on the issue of criminal justice, and how do their stances compare? According to polls around the 2022 midterms, around 61% of registered voters believed that violent crime was "very important" to their voting decisions. There is a partisan divide on criminal justice’s importance; 73% of Republicans say violent crime is very important to their vote, while 49% of Democratic voters say the same.  Voter...