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Does Your Form Determine Your Function?

By Matthew Hamilton Leave a Comment

formfunction

When one brings up the topic of gender roles, it is often in the context of academia, as required reading for an introductory course in Psychology or Sociology in college. It may also come up in general conversation, if one is not afraid of encountering strong opinions that may be offensive to sensibilities regardless where your own ideals may lie. In the midst of this discussion, one of the terms that is often used is the “glass ceiling,” a term coined in the 1980’s to describe the limitations placed on women in career achievement. It refers to the situations where women with similar or even superior qualifications to men are passed over for promotion and advancement simply because of their gender. The examples given to illustrate this inequality are given in monetary terms where women earn a fraction of the income of their male counterparts in the same positions and responsibilities or illustrating the dearth of women in many vocations that are traditionally occupied by men, ranging from referees in professional sports to medical doctors to Fortune 500 CEO’s.

This gap in achievement and earnings comes at a time when the idea of gender roles is in flux and the established norms of a man providing the primary source of income while the wife has stayed home to raise the children has gone from being the structure of the majority of homes to being merely a fraction of total homes. The majority of the homes with children now have two wage earners and a recent Pew study found that women are now the primary wage earners in 40 percent of households in the United States, a number that is 10 times the percentage compared to 1960. It is clear that there is a paradigm shift in the roles that both men and women perform both in the workplace and at home. It is worth also to note how this change is shown in the realm of faith, how it shows up in worship and work within the church.

If someone is new to Christianity or simply just wants to know more about the faith, the topic of gender roles is a substantial one. It affects biblical interpretation, how we understand what has already been written, and how we worship and express our faith going forward. This can be quite confusing to those that are not familiar with established practices but also can be a point of contention to those that have spent their whole lives in the faith. Interpretation of scripture in regards to gender can determine the way you dress, your vocation, even who delivers the sermon in your house of worship.

If you look to the scriptures for guidance as to the proper responsibilities of men and women, you will often find a verse or two to support your predetermined beliefs. But what is certain is that we live in a time where schools of thought have never been more diverse. Even the version that you choose to support your claim can determine what position you are trying to support. Take this example: the King James Version of Colossians 3:18 states, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” A modern translation, The Message, reflects the change in culture over the span of 382 years: “Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.”

One translation was written at a time and place when the King of England and the official church of the monarch determined every action of everyday life in England, including determining who could vote, own land, and lead worship, none of which could be done by women. The other reflects a time where women have served as judges and been elected to higher office. As for the actual act of worship, opportunity for equality in participation and leading of worship can differ greatly. Depending on your church, women are relegated to only sitting in the pews during worship or may be leaders of music, leaders of finances, or pastors.

With so many different interpretations of what the Bible says about the roles that men and women should perform in work, at home and at church, it can be quite confusing for those that are new to the faith and even those that are lifelong believers. While most mentions of women in the Old Testament may stress subservience, there is also the story of Deborah in Judges 4-5, the leader of the Israelites before there were kings. “Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided” (Judges 4:4-5 NIV). Reverend Robert Hall, a Professor of Religious Studies at Campbell University in Jacksonville, North Carolina, explains the biblical interpretation of the provider for the home: “For many, it [the Bible] is a literal message and story from God. Therefore it is to be applied directly and forcefully, and these followers are fundamentalists that regard any opinion other than their own as wrong. The other way to approach the Bible is to see it as an overall lesson for life. This view will demand us to forgive and to seek understanding, to walk a second mile, to recognize that in Christ there are no barriers. Paul spoke of those baptized in Christ being clothed in Christ as well. Specifically in Galatians 3:28, Paul mentions that believing in Christ takes away these barriers, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for are all one in Christ. Paul’s conclusion came from faith in Christ and his Spirit.”

Photo Credit: Drew Herron @ Flickr (CC)

Photo Credit: Drew Herron @ Flickr (CC)

Rob Steinbach, lead pastor of Seaside Church in Bremerton, Oregon, explains the concept of gender roles in the context of responsibility: “Man is head and woman is helper, as explained in 1st Corinthians 11:3 – ‘But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God’ (NIV). Both are called to take dominion together. Interestingly as a result of the fall, both a man’s and a woman’s primary sphere of work is cursed. For a man it’s making a living and for a woman it’s childbirth. To me the Bible always assumes the man to be the provider for his family, though not excluding a woman from helping with the bills. If a man doesn’t work, he is essentially giving his curse to his wife who already bears hers (childbearing).” Proverbs 31 is often cited by Biblical scholars and leaders as the Old Testament ideal for women, describing positive attributes of womanhood, specifically being trustworthy, hardworking, and generous with the poor. A woman in this context is not subjugated but is honored and recognized for her contributions. This is best summated by verses 10-12: “A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long” (The Message).

It is also important to note we live in a cultural landscape that is different from any time before. There was a time when, if you were born into a family that was say Catholic or Pentecostal, you were most likely to maintain a life in that specific faith. Now a person, regardless of their religious background, has a myriad of choices for how to worship or whether to believe in God at all. Brian Musser, Baptist Campus Minister at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, works with college-age students that are training for their careers, in addition to helping them form their worldview. On the topic of gender roles, Musser recognizes that while there may be differences in the work that men and women are likely to perform, there should be no restriction as to who can perform it. Citing from the creation story of Genesis 1:26-31:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (NIV)

Musser states that this biblical beginning shows the standard of how men and women can do godly work.

“The creation story illustrates three major points that deal with the topic of the roles of both men and women in God’s Plan:

•Both male and female are created in the image of God

•Both male and female being created in the image of God is directly connected to their assigned tasks of ruling, subduing, multiplying, etc.

•Both male and female bear the image of God specifically through their work. A woman looks like God as she works. A man looks like God as he works. This means that the image of God in humanity was too grand for just one gender to display. Without women working we would know less about what God’s image looks like.”

Musser is showing that the concept of equality in relation to gender roles is nothing new; in fact it was in place at the very beginning.

Photo Credit: Drew Herron @ Flickr (CC)

Photo Credit: Drew Herron @ Flickr (CC)

As far as the acceptance by those in the church of deviations from the traditional role of men as primary wage earners to women taking that responsibility, Reverend Hall acknowledged that “Christianity is very diverse. Some groups would frown on a woman taking the lead financial role. Others wouldn’t have a problem.” Pastor Steinbach also acknowledges that though it is possible that the woman can be the primary breadwinner, it is worthwhile to consider if that is the ideal: “I don’t know… I think ultimately a man is responsible for the finances of his house. If he decides it is best for his wife to work and be the primary breadwinner, then that’s his decision (and obviously hers). I don’t think it is loving and self-sacrificing to put that all on her. Jesus calls men to love their wives like Christ loved the church. Jesus didn’t tell the church to pay for their own sins… so maybe we shouldn’t tell our wives to pay for their own needs.”

As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by how we handle our daily lives, much like those around us, but also by an added component: our faith. How we pray and worship and spend time with our fellow followers provides additional meaning to our lives. How the Bible dictates our method of worship and who can help lead in that expression is often a point of contention. Rev. Hall explains: “The church in many ways is the most sexist organization in American Society with its limitations on women in leadership roles. It has viewed women in two particular images: the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. Women are either pure, holy, and not sexually active or are sinful and penitent. These images are designed by culture and are completely outdated, like slavery. The culture of the Bible is two thousand years old. Would you use medical wisdom that old to treat heart disease? We’ve grown in our Biblical understanding over the years. Also many of the places in the Biblical text that limit the role of women come from the apostle Paul. It is important to keep in mind that Paul lived in a completely different culture. We have to look at Paul’s teachings and learn to apply them in our current culture.” One example of new interpretation of the world of the apostle Paul can be applied to the passage of 1 Corinthians 14:34-36. A traditional translation reads, “The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” (English Standard Version). A modern paraphrase like The Message shifts the emphasis from silence to not saying something foolish, “Wives must not disrupt worship, talking when they should be listening, asking questions that could more appropriately be asked of their husbands at home. God’s Book of the law guides our manners and customs here. Wives have no license to use the time of worship for unwarranted speaking. Do you—both women and men—imagine that you’re a sacred oracle determining what’s right and wrong? Do you think everything revolves around you?” (The Message) For example, it may have been that while Paul was away planting other churches, in his absence the new established church setting had become more of a social event than a place of worship. And because females in general tend to be the more talkative of the bunch, that may have been why they were singled out. The Message paraphrase gets across Paul’s meaning more in relation to our current culture.

The topic of gender roles lends itself to long discussion in any context, but when it comes to the church it has a particular importance. Whatever conclusions that you may arrive at, it is important to realize something that may be a bit simpler to understand: God has made a place for you and part of that gift is helping you work with the abilities he has given you. Mr. Musser explains it simply: “I believe that both men and women best bear the image of God while working.There are certain things we can see about God when a man works and other things we can see about God when a woman works.”

This essay is the first installment of a series on Gender Roles in relation to Christianity. The goal is to show that Christians can have differing views but still acknowledge others’ commitment to faith. Future topics will cover how gender roles affect the Christian view of raising children and also the roles of gender in regards to Spiritual Leadership both in the church and in the home.

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Filed Under: Spotlight: In Perspective Tagged With: Issue 21

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"Even though I was only in high school, I still th "Even though I was only in high school, I still thought about things like eternity. I thought about death. I thought about the meaning of life and all of this stuff. I just didn’t know where to put that or how to answer any of those questions. Walking into Young Life and hearing the gospel gave me a context for that and made a ton of sense."⁠
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After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19:28-30 ESV] For the full story of what led up to the death of Jesus, read John 18:2-19:42.⁠
Judah was outraged when he heard ⁠ Tamar, the wi Judah was outraged when he heard ⁠
Tamar, the widow of his deceased son, had become pregnant because of prostitution. He demanded, “Bring her out, and let her be burned!” (Gen. 38:24, NLT). What a shame to their family name! What an embarrassment for her! But this story exposes Judah’s poor character, not Tamar’s. ⁠
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Judah’s firstborn son was Er who married Tamar, but Er died. So Judah had his second-born son, Onan, marry Tamar, as was customary to continue the family name and keep their land secure. But Onan died too (Gen. 38:3-10). Judah’s only living son was too young to marry Tamar, so Judah told Tamar to go live with her parents and remain a widow until his youngest son, Shelah, could marry Tamar. Although “Judah didn’t really intend to do this because he was afraid Shelah would also die, like his two brothers” (Gen. 38:11). ⁠
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✍🏽: @the_christopherscott in "Cultivating Good Character" | Continue reading at newidentitymag.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📖⁠ Then Jesus went with them to a place calle 📖⁠
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” [Matthew 26:36-46 ESV] For more of these eventful 24-hours for Jesus, read Matthew 26:17-46.⁠
The crux of the Christian faith is found in Easter The crux of the Christian faith is found in Easter. It is the story of a man called Jesus, who was killed by being hung on a cross, and then three days later rose from the dead. The Bible says in John 3:16 that because of this act of love, those who believe it will be given eternal life.⁠
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Easter is a holiday celebrated in many shops and restaurants as being all about colourful bunnies, chicks, eggs and lots of chocolate and candy. But for those who look a little deeper it is laden with symbolism that can help you focus on what Easter is really all about: thanking Jesus for changing our lives forever.⁠
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✍🏽: WENDY VAN EYCK in "9 Ways To Make Easter More Meaningful" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📖⁠ And every day he was teaching in the templ 📖⁠
And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.⁠
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Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.⁠
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Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. [Luke 21:37-22:6 ESV]⁠
With our busy get-up-and-go lifestyles, it might s With our busy get-up-and-go lifestyles, it might seem more difficult than ever to find time for God or where we can fully make time for the essential aspects of the Christian life like prayer and Bible reading. Yes, like working out or eating healthy, it comes down to the priority and importance of those things in our lives and whether or not they’re important enough to us. At the end of the day we will make time for the things that are most important to us in our lives. Though God is not a “thing” to be fit into our schedules, I believe it’s more than possible to make a place and priority in our lives for connection with him.⁠
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✍🏽: Nicholas Sowell in "ENGAGING WITH GOD" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📖⁠ “Hear another parable. There was a maste 📖⁠
“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”⁠
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Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:⁠
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“‘The stone that the builders rejected⁠
has become the cornerstone;⁠
this was the Lord's doing,⁠
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?⁠
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”⁠
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When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. [Matthew 21:33-46 ESV] || For more of these eventful 24-hours for Jesus, read Matthew 21:20-25:46.⁠
"I wanted to take my own life. It was a dark and s "I wanted to take my own life. It was a dark and scary time, and it was only God who prevented this act from occurring.  When I was going through this period of anguish and anxiety I did not think that I would ever again enjoy the sunshine as God meant for me to enjoy it. Yet it was this dark pit, devoid of any light or even an atom of hope, that brought me to the place where I was able to reach for light from the only true source of eternal light."⁠
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✍🏽: Shannon Clark-Rivera in "FROM THE LAND OF THE DEAD TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📖⁠ On the following day, when they came from 📖⁠
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.⁠
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And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. [Mark 11:12-19 ESV]
How do I get my life together when it seems like a How do I get my life together when it seems like a mess?” That is how I translate Psalm 119:9. Most English language Bibles use something similar to the NIV’s translation of “How can young people keep their way pure?” However, I am no longer a young man, and the word “pure” does not seem to apply to all of the ways that I feel like I stumble. For me, the word “pure” sounds like it has more to do with a priest in the book of Leviticus getting ready for a ceremony. I am also not an ancient Israelite priest. Instead, when I think of the ways I fail in my own life, they are more akin to what Paul describes in Romans 7, when he says, “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”⁠
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✍🏽: @jefffrelatable in "Trading Bad Habits for Zakah" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Holy Week, a central point of remembrance during "Holy Week, a central point of remembrance during the Christian calendar, focuses upon the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is no surprise. Had Jesus not risen from the dead, our faith would be useless, and we would still be guilty of our sins (1 Cor. 15:17).⁠
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Holy Week helps us reflect upon the last week of Jesus’ life. There are a number of ways that Christians celebrate Holy Week, but there is a common commitment to expressing deep gratitude for Christ’s death and celebration of his resurrection! –@lukegeraty in Elevating Easter⁠
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Join us each day this week to read Scripture and see what each day was like in the life of Jesus, leading up to his death and resurrection. It's a good way for us to be present and remember what took place those many years ago.
If you missed it, the new issue is out this week! If you missed it, the new issue is out this week! Check in with some of your favorite writers, and we don't think you'll be disappointed! The link in our bio will take you to in the full issue!⁠
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Everyone has experienced a “wilderness season” Everyone has experienced a “wilderness season” before, perhaps more than once. A wilderness season is when you feel stuck or lost in a difficult situation, and your only options are to endure patiently and wait with the expectation that the situation will eventually pass or be resolved. For some people, this period may last a few days, for others it may last years—or for so long that it feels like it will never end.⁠
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We all encountered a wilderness season at the same time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses closed their doors—some for good. Anticipated events were cancelled. Schools closed with awkward transitions into remote learning. Jobs were lost, hours were cut. Those who lost loved ones were unable to gather to mourn their dead. Church services became virtual, and some may remain that way.⁠
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✍🏽: Chitara Ellis in "Waiting In The Wilderness" | Continue reading at newidentitymag.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
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Hope is around the corner and spring is in the air as we celebrate the renewal of life and the great miracle of Easter. We hope that the articles in this issue would help you during this transitional time of winter to spring, and the hopeful horizon ahead of pandemic to post-pandemic. Be inspired by hearing the thoughts of our passionate contributors. ⁠
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Take a look inside, and let us know what you think! The link is in our bio! Enjoy!
Sadly in our world today, kindness has lost its va Sadly in our world today, kindness has lost its value. But as we see from some of the examples in Scripture, kindness is to be shown in all of our interactions with others. It is a gift from God through the work of the Holy Spirit, and taught by Jesus Christ. We can no longer walk past. Now, more than ever, we need to bring kindness back. We have to especially show the younger generation’s constant examples of kindness. We can hold the door for one another; allow someone to go ahead of us in line. Smile with compassion at the clerk whose line is one person too long and everyone is staring at him or her as if it’s their fault. ⁠
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✍🏽: Crystal Alexander in "Kindness: The Forgotten Fruit"  Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📷: Photo by @cottonbro from Pexels⁠
Charles Swindoll writes, “Wisdom isn’t somethi Charles Swindoll writes, “Wisdom isn’t something that is exclusive to those who have exceptional IQs or advanced degrees. Rather, wise behavior in the eyes of the Lord comes as a result of obeying the Lord’s commands.” Resist the urge to think that a smart person with a lot of knowledge is wise. Author Paul David Tripp says there “is a huge difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is an accurate understanding of truth. Wisdom is understanding and living in light of how that truth applies to the situations and relationships in your daily life. Knowledge is the exercise of your brain. Wisdom is the commitment of your heart that leads to transformation of your life.” ⁠
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✍🏽: Christopher L. Scott @the_christopherscott in "God, What Do You Want Me To Do With My Life?" Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"While you can spend time in God’s creation appr "While you can spend time in God’s creation appreciating his beauty, or with him in prayer, you can also get to know him more intimately through his Word."⁠
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✍🏽: Christopher L. Scott @the_christopherscott in "How Anyone Can Study The Bible"  Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Discovering God’s will and finding direction fo "Discovering God’s will and finding direction for your life from God is like the lead and follow of dancers. God’s the lead. You are the follow and must know the lead and respond to him."⁠
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✍🏽: Christopher L. Scott @the_christopherscott in "God, What Do You Want Me To Do With My Life?" Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📷: Photo by @EJ.Officiel from Pexels⁠
#gracelikeanavalanche ⁠
#iknowwhoiam⁠
#faithnotworks ⁠
#progressnotperfection⁠
#partneringwithgod ⁠
#acceptedbygod ⁠
#lovedbygod⁠
#faithnotfear⁠
#faithoverfear⁠
#bestillandknow⁠
#godisincontrol⁠
#beencouraged⁠
#praywithoutceasing⁠
#godsgotthis⁠
#prayerchangesthings⁠
#trustinthelord⁠
#iamachildofgod⁠
#faithfulmess⁠
#godslove
"The Creator of the Universe promises to be with y "The Creator of the Universe promises to be with you. You’re not alone. You’re his. And as long as he has work for you to do on this earth, you’re immortal. Sparrows don’t hit the ground without his knowledge, and the hairs on your head are numbered. He’s got you."⁠
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✍🏽: T.J. Woodard in "Be Anxious For Nothing"  Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
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