“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.” Definitely a touchy subject, and I’m going to do my best to break this down and explain a few things to relieve some of the tensions out there. This verse has been used for centuries against women in the wrong way, now I’m talking about human nature, not God’s intention. The two are not mutually exclusive here; when it comes to understanding what this verse means, you have to go back to what God intended it to be, not what man has turned it into. For clarification, I am not some hot-headed feminist, so that is not where any of this is coming from; I’m coming at this based on the Bible and specifically this chunk of verses. Now, normally, this is where I would pull up the word “submit” in this verse in the original language and present it to you along with other facts, except I can’t in this case. Curious as to why I can’t? Because the word never existed in this verse in the first place. I’m not kidding. The oldest manuscripts never had that word there. First, Ephesians 5:21–23 is split into three verses, but it should be read as a whole, without weight being put more heavily on one section over the other. (How the Bible was originally intended before verses were put in.) “Be submitting yourselves to one another in reverence of Christ: [the] wives, to the own husbands, as to the Lord; for [the] husband is head of the wife, as also Christ [is the] head of the church, He Himself of the body.” (1) Now let’s take a quick look at the entire passage to get a feel for what Paul was saying, because again, remember, these verses go together. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”(2) (I apologize, but I couldn’t find an English translation that didn’t include submit, so please disregard that for the purpose of what I’m getting at.) The Biblical Meaning of Submission in Marriage The first thing to notice is “be filled with the Spirit,” (remember that for later), then “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Verse 21 is an equal command to both husband and wife. The submit part there for wives was added later by someone and never corrected or removed, and husbands are directed to love their wives in verse 25. It is not until verse 24 that “submit” is actually in there regarding women. I’ll be explaining the importance of that as we go on. Ephesians 5:22 Greek & Their Verbs From what I have learned, it wasn’t uncommon in ancient Greek for the sense of a stated verb to continue in following phrases or sentences without the verb needing to be restated. Totally get that and not arguing with that. But the issue is that originally “submit” in that one section still wasn’t there to begin with, yet it shows up in verse 24? When, by going by this rule alone, none of that makes sense, then. All the other verbs were missed. “Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The entire point of the passage before verse 21 was completely missed, and “submit” was added where it was never intended to be added. If it was meant to be there, then it would have been added just like it was for verse 24, or added, and verse 24 would have been left blank, and this Greek verb thingy would have applied there. Verses 18–20 ARE the Bible’s clear definition of what “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” means, united. Husbands and wives must first be united, doing the same things, jointly. They were addressed equally in this command. Inference This was an inference occurred here because, as stated, it was never originally in there, and they didn’t follow their own rules about verbs. Let’s face it, women have been knocked down a lot of pegs in Christianity, it’s historically proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, and where better to fudge things a little than right there? So while the emphasis then fell on the women to submit because we are the weaker vessel (that’s not an insult btw), not on the men. The beauty and meaning of the passage as a whole have been lost and abused. This is a dual command, an equal command to each other, done out of love and respect. Remember, mankind’s rules, moral glitches, and sinful nature are not God’s. Just because someone put that word in there at that time and mankind took off with it, does not mean this is what God wanted. Now, Things Get Interesting Submit, in the English language as we define it, would not even be the correct word to begin with if people were starting the translation process this days in age. Here’s why , there is a definite, laid-out structure in the marriage unit. The man is supposed to lead the family. It goes like this :  God> Husband> Wife> Children Trust me, there’s nothing wrong or insulting about this setup; it’s there for a protective reason. Now we need to understand better what “submit” actually means, because to submit equally using the English definition of the word takes away from the marriage structure that is laid out for us. So we have to learn what submitting ACTUALLY means. First thing,  we have to remove the English thinking and the historical abuse of this word, and look at it fresh without any prejudice, which thankfully, scholars have done, so I can quote you a whole bunch of stuff for you. “Specifically, I suggested that rather than submit, “in context, υποτασσομαι (hupotassomai) probably means to deploy yourself in support of your spouse against the enemy. In fact, I would suggest that a better translation might be something like one of these:” “Wives, support your husbands.” “Wives, deploy yourselves in support of your husbands.” “Wives, arrange yourselves for battle for your husbands.” (4) “Following recent discoveries relating to our understanding of the word hupotasso, many linguists and lexicographers today are inclined to refer to this approach as an “etymological fallacy.” For example, if we used the principles of etymology, we would never understand such words as greenhouse, lighthouse or honeymoon.” “Hupotasso, according to recent studies, should probably be translated and reframed in terms of “identifying with,” “being united to,” “alignment,” “partnering together” or “supporting one another” (3) "Recent scholarship has made clear the understanding the people to whom these letters were written would have of hupotasso, the word translated submit. It is critical that the Biblical meaning of the word become the standard and that we rid ourselves of inaccurate and misleading understanding through faulty translation. Indeed the English word “submit” is properly translated by hupeiko, with dative “submit to." (5) "The New Testament word hupotasso is a common word meaning to be in support of and was used of attached/appended (supporting) documents in the postal system.” “In the context of biblical relationships between men and women, the best meaning of hupotasso is “to identify with or support” (This is an incredibly strong and all-encompassing thought.) It has nothing to do with being subordinate to, secondary to, or subject to. The correct meaning is especially important and clear when considered against the cultural backdrop, that is to say, when it is understood in the light of the marriage customs and the culture of the people to whom Paul was writing.” (5) Now, doesn’t that make a little bit more sense? Jesus treated everyone as equals; in fact, He went out of His way to lift women up from what humanity had done to them. Read The Shocking Truth About Jesus’ Relationships With Women by Nils von Kalm. Also, this may not appear to be related, but it actually is: “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19: 4–6 Bringing It Back To Genesis Jesus brought it back to the beginning, where both men and women were equal, both having dominion over the Earth. The marriage structure we have now, after the fall (and yes, there is more we could go into, but for today, I think this is enough to start with), is for a reason. Ladies, we are the weaker sex; that's just a fact. Christian men carry a burden we do not, just as we carry a burden they do not, but together the burdens are to be carried as one. It is vital to reevaluate the word submit and understand the marriage structure, what it means, that it IS NOT restrictive and that mankind screwed this all up, not God. If you are both following Christ, none of this would even be an issue in the first place. It never has been in my marriage, and I’m hands down the loud-mouthed, outspoken, spicy one of the two of us, but we both  are: “filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” And Guess What? None of that gender power grab stuff is going on in this home. © 2025 Jane Isley Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Culture & Faith. Sources, References & Recommended Reads: (1) Biblehub.com (2) Ephesians 5:18–23 NIV (3) The Word 4 Life: Hupotasso: Submit, subject or something else? (4) Stant Litore: The Misleading Translation of “Wives, Submit,” … and a Tale of Battle-Ready Women (5) God’s Word to Women: Word Study Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Choosing Your Faith If God loved us before the foundations of the earth, why is it up to us to accept that love? Why do we have to choose what He has already offered? And why would someone be condemned for refusing a love they cannot fully understand? God left it as a choice, but is it fair to judge those who struggle to accept what they have never known? Even those of us who are in Christ do not always fully understand what we have received through Him. If someone like me, who was born and raised in a Christian home, is still trying to understand God’s grace and love, can we truly blame those who grew up never hearing about Him? This question bothers me because where we are born is not something we choose. God allows each of us to enter this world in different places, families, cultures, and circumstances. Scripture tells us that God’s purposes prevail (Proverbs 19: 21). So then, is it a mistake for someone to be born into a different faith tradition, whether Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, or another belief system? If God is sovereign and all-powerful, why not determine our origins in a way that gives everyone the same starting point? Why not place everyone in the same environment and with the same understanding before we enter this world? But that is not how life happens. We arrive with much of our understanding already shaped by the places and people we are born into. Before we can think, question, or choose, we are introduced to the beliefs of our families and communities. Prayers are spoken over us. Traditions are practiced around us. Values are taught to us. All of this happens while we are still unaware, waiting to enter the world. Then we arrive. We are taught what our loved ones believe. We are guided by the faith, culture, and experiences that surround us. We did not choose our starting point; it was given to us. As we grow older, some people begin to question, some deepen their faith, and others search for something different. Then there are those who are never introduced to faith at all. At some point, they encounter the gospel and are asked to consider something completely new. They are invited into a relationship with God without the same foundation that others may have received from childhood. As Christians, we believe the Holy Spirit is the One who convicts and guides people as they respond to God. While writing this, I was tempted to discuss whether we can know with complete certainty that one religion is better than another. Every person has experiences, evidence, traditions, and encounters that shape what they believe. These things influence how we understand the world and where we place our faith. But even as Christians, we experience moments of uncertainty. There are days when I question God, when I wonder where He is, and when trusting Him feels difficult. I believe this is part of the human experience. Faith, by its nature, requires trust in what we cannot fully see. Absolute certainty is something we often desire but rarely possess. This is why faith matters. We choose to believe even when we cannot see everything clearly. Sometimes it is difficult to look beyond the physical and trust the spiritual. Yet we continue because we were created with a longing for something beyond ourselves. As people from different backgrounds, denominations, and beliefs searching for meaning beyond this life, none of us has the answer humanity is looking for. Pointing at one another, judging one another, and trying to determine another person’s worth does not bring us closer to the truth. I do not believe God created us to spend our lives condemning one another. We are called to love because we were first loved by Him. This is the command Christ gave us. Without love, our lives become a constant attempt to prove that we are right and others are wrong — something we cannot do with perfect understanding. When I think about all the countries and places I could have been born into, I see myself as a small piece of a much larger puzzle. But every piece matters. Without you or me, the picture is incomplete. So whether our faith looks the same or different, our responsibility is to give what we have been given: love, compassion, kindness, and grace. I do not know how this piece ended up talking about peace and togetherness. That was not where I thought it would go when I started writing. But maybe that is the point. When we truly begin to understand God’s love, we become less focused on proving ourselves and more focused on loving others. Because the God who loved us before we knew Him calls us to love one another. © 2026 Sabina Kumi. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Culture & Faith. "Choosing your faith is one of the most personal journeys a person can take, shaped by everything you have lived and everyone who has loved you." Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I’ve known about Jane Isley’s “Why do you believe?” project for almost a year ,  back when it was just an idea, before God had her put it in motion. I had started writing for it then, and I remember my initial reaction being: “How can I not?” This has been stuck in my head and heart since then. When it comes down to it, how can I not believe? My Life I have seen and experienced too much to simply set God aside or deny His hand in everything. Too much has happened in my life. I’ve seen too many miracles, been pulled from too many dark places, been healed from too much hurt. I look back at my life and see Him guiding, comforting, healing, and walking with me, even when I wasn’t really following Him. He was there through it all. I’ve seen too much of Him in my life and in others’ to ignore. Truthfully, I shouldn’t be alive right now. From complications when I was in my mother’s womb, to abusive and dangerous situations, to debilitating health issues and resulting depression ,  it really is a miracle that I am here. It’s also a miracle that I’m not still depressed, bitter, or angry. I’m not stuck in past hurt and trauma, or stopped living my life just because I’m disabled. I’ve moved forward. I push myself (most of the time) to do the things I love and work toward goals like school, going into town or to events, and volunteering at different places. But I couldn’t have come this far without God. I could never have done this on my own! In fact, I often hinder my growth and the plans He has for me! (Though thankfully, He has accounted for this). God has healed me. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. He also put people in my life to hold, help, advocate, and motivate me. I wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for them, too. I’ve also found that the more I get to know God and Jesus, the more I see Him everywhere. I can feel His presence and peace surround me, even in the darkest of places. He has proved His character to me countless times, and has kept every single one of His promises. I can trust Him. Creation I look at creation and can’t help but see Him. I can see His work in everything, in all the beauty, intricacy, creativity, humor, and wonder. It’s all too much to be reduced to chance or evolution. The more I learn about His creation and how it works, the more in awe I am and the more I can’t deny His existence! I recently discovered that certain plants, particularly types of orchids, mimic insects in appearance, feel, and even scent to facilitate pollination and reproduction. The Bee Orchid, for example, poses as a female bee through its visual imitation and production of “pheromones” that are almost exactly those of female bees. This lures in male bees, looking to reproduce themselves, who land on the flower, collecting pollen which it then carries to other Bee Orchids. And don’t get me started on Spider Orchids or Corpse Flowers (some of which can raise their temperature to mimic a freshly dead animal on top of smelling like one)! The creativity and humor in these plants alone show God’s glory. When looking at all creation, and the processes that have to happen for any of it to exist and thrive, it is insane to think about! This is why I love science , it proves that God has made and thought of everything. It proves His sovereignty. I don’t understand how anyone can look at all creation, look at science, and ecosystems, cells, forests, mountains, and all of it, and not see that it all requires a Creator to exist the way it does. Simple chance can’t do all of that, even with billions of years. Humanity And look at humanity. Our tendencies that repeat throughout history show that we crave more than this world has to offer. That no matter how much we gain, there is always something missing. Nothing is ever enough. Nothing from this world at least. Jesus is the missing puzzle piece. The more I study cultures, the more I see how humanity is built to have a relationship with God. From our ability of language, tendency to define right and wrong (which can defy cultural upbringing, showing that morality comes from something deeper), and our social nature. Even the variety of religions or spiritual beliefs that exist or have existed is proof to me of God and our desire for Him. We have always recognized that there is someone or something greater. We can see and feel it. I could probably spend days talking about why I believe, and I know God has many more reasons in store for me. Honestly, I think Brandon Lake sums it up pretty well: More — Brandon Lake © 2026 Maia Vashti.

Jeremiah 29:11 has been a favorite verse ever since I first met the Lord more than 40 years ago. Despite clinging to it, believing it, and professing it, I've not experienced the future I had hoped for. I certainly didn't hope that my husband would be disabled due to a stroke, or that we would lose everything we worked for all our lives. I know I'm not alone in this. This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree—“bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. (Jeremiah 29:10-14) This past weekend I was introduced to a person who thought that he had adequately prepared for retirement by saving more than one million dollars. Unfortunately, these were Zimbabwean dollars. The currency lost its value to a point where one million dollars could barely purchase one loaf of bread. His retirement plans were destroyed by hyperinflation. I've talked about Jeremiah 29:11 before. I know this was a message to people in exile hoping to return to their homeland. I can't simply lay claim to this verse, nitpicking the parts of Scripture I find most appealing. However, despite realizing that this Scripture was a specific promise to a certain group of people at a particular time in their history, the heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart wouldn't let go of this verse. What can I take from this verse? Apart from the personal connection (my birthday is on 29/11), I can draw some parallels between my life and the Babylonian exiles. When I read my Bible, I understand that this world is not my home (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11). I'm in this world, but I'm not of this world. In this sense, I too am exiled from my home. God has a set time for His plans and purposes to unfold. In the case of these exiles, it was a period of 70 years. “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home.” I don't know whether I'll wait 70 years before I go home, or whether it will be a longer or shorter time, but there is a set time for God to take me home. All the days of my life were written in His book before even one of them came to pass. My life and times are in His hands. Furthermore, I believe that God has a purpose and plan for my life. Paul wrote that God prepared me for the special works He planned for me before I was born (Ephesians 2:10). He called me out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). I may not have the life I dreamed about here on earth, but I hope to live a life that pleases God, and that I live according to His plans and purposes for me. God guides and directs my footsteps. He creates the desire in my heart to do His will, and He promised to work all things together for my good in accordance with His plans and purposes for my life (Romans 8:28). The Bible tells me that it's His plan and will for me to spend eternity with Him. Ultimately, that is my hope. In this sense God is giving me the future I hope for. I may not enjoy the life I had hoped to have here on earth, but God is more concerned about my character than my comfort, and my ultimate destiny is what truly matters. Paul learned this truth, and boldly declared that the things we suffer here on earth are small potatoes compared to what awaits us in eternity. It is no wonder that God continued His message to the exiles by saying that if we seek Him wholeheartedly, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:14). He wants us to find Him. He wants us to be with Him. As such, I can focus on my relationship with God and eternity rather than temporary comforts and my carnal desires such as money and possessions. God has a plan and purpose for my life. He has a good future planned for me. It's a future where I'll never be separated from Him (Romans 8:38-39). What more can I ask than to call the Almighty, the Creator, the King of kings, my Father? What an awesome privilege. What an astounding inheritance. What an amazing promise. So yes, I think Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse that I can apply to my life, and cling to the hope it gives me. © 2026 Rina Schultz.

Introduction An obsession with a particular film may not be because the film itself is that good, but because something about it resonates deeply with what the viewer is longing for or searching for. In my case, it was my longing to find God, even though I didn’t know it at the time. Background It was May 1977, and I was living alone in a room at the Cheshire Bridge motel in Atlanta. I was 22 years old, drinking a lot, and doing things I shouldn’t have been doing. I had always been a loner, and the fear of people kept me that way. To find comfort, I went to the movies often to escape my intense loneliness. When the first Star Wars movie came out in theatres, I was ecstatic because I had always loved science fiction movies with a lot of action. There was something about this movie that kept me coming back to see it. The Father-figure and Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, explained the “Force” to Luke Skywalker (his protégé and Jedi Knight wannabe). He said it was an “energy field created by all living things” that “surrounds us and penetrates us” and “binds the galaxy together. That’s when I said to myself, “That’s it, I finally understand what God is!” The long road ahead So, even though I had discovered a mystical power that could supposedly infuse me with strength like the Jedi Knights, I had to wonder, could it also: answer my prayers, give me guidance, protect me, give me hope, and love me? I’m here to tell you that the “Force” did none of those things. In fact, my life got much worse during that time. I spent many more years chasing money, success, love, purpose, and meaning, and ended up as a desperate alcoholic. Finally, in March 1997, I hit bottom. At 41, I had had enough of life and wanted it to end. That was when the real God stepped in and saved me. I didn’t become a Christian at that time, but the foundation stones had been laid, and I began to see clearly for the first time in many years. I was led to a program that helped me dry out, learn who I had become, and gave me hope that I didn’t have to stay that way. The program I was in emphasized the absolute necessity of finding a “higher power” that could give me the strength to live without drinking. In the first six months, I had surrendered to this power greater than myself. One day, I got on my knees and said, “God, I see where my best thinking has brought me to this point of despair. If there is a better way to live, I’m ready to listen. Please show me what it is.” Apparently, He did because I’ve been sober ever since that day (29 years later). The turning point Over the next five years, I went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems. I also moved to Memphis, Tennessee, got a decent job, and got married. However, something still felt unfinished within me. I wasn’t satisfied with a “higher power” anymore, one that, according to the program, could be anything I wanted it to be, even a doorknob! My husband and I started attending a Presbyterian Church, and I started reading the Bible. That’s where I discovered the real God! I sensed that what I was missing in believing in a “higher power” was a relationship. Scripture showed me that a loving, personal God existed who answered all the big questions I’d been asking, such as “Why am I here?” “Does anyone love me?” “Is there any meaning in all the suffering and evil in the world?”, and “Is good really stronger than evil?” So, I surrendered again, this time to a “Person” instead of to a “Force." A few years later, my husband and I moved to a small town about a hundred miles east of Memphis and got baptized together at a small country church. I began to feel joy, meaning, and purpose in my life through worship with like-minded believers. Conclusion Rewatching the first Star Wars movie repeatedly became a kind of unspoken prayer to find “something more” in life than mere existence and survival. The Bible describes this search plainly: God has set eternity in the human heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NASB) The movie awakened a hunger to fill the emptiness in my soul, but it couldn’t fully satisfy it. Thankfully, I have the real God to thank, praise, and worship for fully satisfying that hunger. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV) I’m grateful for the program for making me look at myself. It was a necessary discipline and still is. I’m grateful for the movie because it comforted me during an extremely difficult time in my life, and it started me on my search for the true, living God. © Debra Hodges

Short Version The Gospel of Matthew is the opening of the New Beginning, just as Matthew 11:13 says: “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” His genealogy is the ultimate example of that old proverb: “If you want a job done well, you have to do it yourself.” I’m not foolhardy enough to put words in God’s mouth, so the best I can do to make sense of what begins unfolding in the Greatest Story Ever Told is this: “I’ve given you your chance. You’re not as good as that con‑artist Satan has deceived you into believing. You’ve failed. You’ve suffered enough. I’m coming to rescue you Myself.” God opens the last part of the Narrative with a declaration of how faithful and merciful He is. That alone should set the mood for reading the Bible. The Wood and the Trees There is so much petty argument about the genealogies in the Gospels. A previous post, How Many Genealogies Does Jesus Have?, shows that both Matthew and Luke give valid genealogies of David’s two sons, Solomon and Nathan. And Nathan’s is the authoritative one. But what, then, is the purpose of Matthew’s genealogy? Here is Matthew’s genealogy compared to the records in Chronicles. You can see that Matthew is giving a genealogy of the Jews. Abraham, the first Jew, was originally a Gentile. The green highlights show the discrepancies between the Chronicles record and the Holy Spirit’s list in Matthew. Why don’t they match? Surely that’s another “error” in the Bible. No. It is up to the Holy Spirit to decide who gets erased from Christ’s biological lineage. The reasons for the omissions are in the Old Testament if you care to look. If you don’t care to look… well, that’s your choice. Some of the surprising names involved are Manasseh, Jehoiakim, and Jeconiah. Their stories explain everything. Some Family Secrets Stay in the Closet Adam, who had a personal, one‑on‑one relationship with Jehovah Elohim, still sold his soul to the Devil because he didn’t believe what God said on those sublime afternoon strolls. Abraham, who did believe Jehovah, still couldn’t redeem what Adam had thrown away. Samson, the physically strongest mere mortal (yes, I know he’s not in the genealogy), couldn’t fix it either. David, the man after God’s own heart, had blood on his hands, and the kings who followed him were truly wicked. Even the best of them was bad. Yet Jehovah remained true to His promises. That alone is an encouragement to anyone who professes the Name of Jesus. Then came Solomon, the wisest mere mortal, who made a dog’s breakfast of the whole thing. The Women in Matthew’s Genealogy Matthew does something radically unusual for an ancient Jewish genealogy: he includes women — five of them. Leaving Mary aside for the moment, the others all come from the wrong side of the tracks. Tamar (Genesis 38) began a line of bastards. Rahab (Joshua 2; 6) was a lady of negotiable virtue. Ruth (Book of Ruth) came from the wrong family. And those are the successes in the list. But haven’t you missed one? That intriguing woman is “the wife of Uriah” (2 Samuel). Everyone with even a smidgen of biblical knowledge, or who watched the 1951 Susan Hayward/Gregory Peck movie, knows that Uriah’s wife was Bathsheba. Yet the Holy Spirit did not give her the courtesy of a name here. Names matter in the Bible. Something more is going on there than meets the eye. That’s something you can cogitate on for yourself. The Subliminal Message God opens the next part of the narrative with a declaration of how faithful and merciful He is. Satan is a con‑artist. Humanity could not look after itself. Immanuel was necessary. Christmas is the new beginning promised in Jeremiah 31:33 and 32:40. God did not forget. If that is not a reason to celebrate, what is. But Mary Can’t be Ignored Mary and Joseph would have ended up in Bethlehem regardless of which genealogy you favor. Both Jacob (Matthew) and Heli (Luke) lead them there. Mary was in the line of David by both blood and marriage. In Bethlehem, she was among family. Yet no one would, not could, but would, find room for her, even though she was with child, supposedly the epitome of social status for a Jewish woman. Why would that be? The post Illegitimate Skeletons in Messiah’s Family Closet shows that Mary was a gutsy girl. Someone to be admired. Not worshipped. © Brad Banardict ネ Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

In a society that is increasingly willing to blur moral lines for the sake of justifying evil, Isaiah 5:20 doesn't sound crazy anymore. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” A Minnesota State Representative sparked outrage by suggesting that LGBTQ youth should have access to pornographic websites for “educational” purposes. “They’re almost jubilant about being able to use these laws to ban young people from accessing content that could be educational if they are queer,” they said, commenting on a bill that would require age verification for adult websites, a measure intended to protect minors from sexually explicit content. The argument that pornography could serve as an educational tool for children is morally and spiritually wrong on so many levels. This representative also claimed that queer youth are not receiving adequate sex education. First, regardless of how one identifies, the basic realities of human anatomy remain the same in how body parts work and are discussed in sex education. Second, the scientific literature is clear:"One factor that may play a role in risky sexual behaviors is pornography viewing. [...] condom use is rarely depicted in pornographic scenes [...] Viewers who consume pornographic content – especially younger viewers – may learn from and model these behaviors (10), contributing to less condom use among sexually active populations at risk of STIs." Finke's argument is utterly demonic. Pornography is destructive to begin with. It distorts sex by separating it from covenant, intimacy, and responsibility. It distorts consent by portraying performance over mutual respect. It distorts relationships by reducing human beings, made in the image of God, to objects for consumption. Now imagine a generation of children being told to go to porn sites to “learn” about sexuality. What will they learn? That intimacy is transactional. That bodies are commodities. That aggression is normal. That self-gratification replaces self-control. That love is irrelevant as long as desire is satisfied. That is not education. That is conditioning. When children are exposed to pornography, it doesn’t “educate” them; it shapes them. It trains their brains before any moral compass can be formed and bypasses their ability to learn boundaries. It teaches them scripts for behavior long before they understand covenant, responsibility, or spiritual consequences. Scripture consistently emphasizes purity, self-control, and living honorably:"It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;" 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 And Psalm 82:3-4 commands: "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Exposing children to sexually explicit content is a direct contradiction to this divine instruction. From a moral perspective alone, society has the solemn duty to protect those who cannot yet discern right from wrong. Attempting to frame pornography as “educational” inverts good and evil. Exactly what Isaiah warned against. Proper guidance fosters righteousness; exposure to adult content fosters confusion, desensitization, exploitation, and spiritual harm. How Did We Get Here? Part of the reason people are feeling so empowered to even suggest such demonic things and honestly believe they can get away with it is that accountability has been utterly eroded in society. High-profile cases involving powerful elites have shown that influence and money can bend justice with nothing more than a few words and a few dollars thrown in the right direction, while twisting moral and legal boundaries for their own gain. When those at the top appear untouchable, moral lines begin to erode everywhere else. At the same time, too many churches, spiritual leaders, and Christians have fallen away from Biblical principles, adding to this demonic corruption bleeding over this world. They are compromising with the world instead of standing firm in truth. They should be ashamed of themselves, and I hold them to higher standards than this and accountability for not checking under the fur. (Matthew 7:15) When right and wrong, morals, and common sense are disregarded, it emboldens others to push boundaries in more and more harmful ways. These people believe they can bend morality, definitions, and common sense without consequence because they are allowed to. And if we keep allowing it, the question becomes unavoidable: where does it end? Does it end when children are harmed under the banner of "progress"? When innocence is sacrificed to ideology? This was never really about partisan politics or left versus right. It is about good versus evil, about innocence set against Satan himself. Pornography is not education. It is exploitation dressed up as enlightenment, and our children deserve better than this. © Jane Isley Sources: New York Post National Library of Medicine

This came up in a discussion, and my answer confused most people because my answer is a dual one. When I was asked to pick one I went with request, but the whole time I was thinking why does it have to be just one? Why can't it be both? I may be wrong, I am still working through this, but here are my thoughts. Free Will Is the Starting Point We are not puppets. God gave us free will to choose what we want, and that matters so much to this question. He makes it very clear what He wants from us, but He does not override our ability to choose. That choice, to come to Him willingly, openly, and freely, must mean something extraordinary to God. A love that is chosen is not the same as a love that is forced. So does that mean I do not believe in the Ten Commandments (because they are commands) or that they are simply a request? Absolutely not. I believe in them completely and I believe we are absolutely called to follow them. But here is the thing, we still have to make that choice. Some people do not, and that is a painful reality. When we choose to truly follow Christ, not halfway, not conveniently, but fully and completely, we begin a process of learning and living out His commandments. I describe it as a pull. Something draws us toward being more like Him, and as that pull grows stronger the commandments stop feeling like a list of rules our flesh keeps trying to fight and start feeling like the natural expression of who we are becoming. The Word That Changes Everything Here is where my dual understanding comes from. Acts 17:30 says: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." That is not a gentle suggestion, that is a command. The Greek word used there is paraggelló, it carries the weight of an order, a directive issued with authority. God is not asking politely. And yet. Look at how Jesus describes His own heart in Matthew 23:37: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." That is not the language of a king issuing a decree. That is the language of someone longing, pleading, aching for people to come to Him. The command is real. The love behind it is also real. And both of those things exist at the same time. A Request & a Command Are Different But They Coexist A request and a demand are two different things, but they are not mutually exclusive. I think that is exactly what is happening here. God commands repentance and belief, that is His authority speaking. He is the Creator and we are accountable to Him. That is not up for debate. But the way He pursues us, the way He pleads with us, the way He sent His own Son rather than simply wiping the slate clean and starting over, that reads like so much more than a cold command handed down from above. He is commanding, He is also asking, He is also pleading. 2 Peter 3:9 puts it plainly: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Not wanting anyone to perish. That is the heart behind the command. He is not issuing orders from a distance, He is a God who desperately wants us to choose Him and has made every possible way for us to do so. My Conclusion (For Now) Commandments are given to us, not forced upon us. The fact that we can still choose to ignore them is proof that the choosing matters. That is why I land first and foremost on request, because the entire framework of our relationship with God is built on the fact that He wants us to come to Him freely. But the command is real too. Both are true at the same time and I think that is exactly the point. And the fact that He does all three at once says more about who He is than any one of them could say alone. © 2026 Jane Isley. (revision) Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Exploring Scripture. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

To read Part 1, click here. This article is really a supplement to part 1. The Reason For Part 2 There are so many posts from women who have had bad experiences with misogyny, and many, not all, deduce that the Bible teaches that the girl child, whatever her age, is a second-rate Creation in God’s eyes. There is no doubt that violence against women and children is not a new phenomenon. In my immediate family, there have been prolonged periods of violence against my mother and my sister. As well as my brother-in-law, who married my sister. The good old days were not so good for some people. But there are other stories for another time. My goal here, if I manage it, is to show further Biblical evidence of where God stands on the issue of women. I’m not ashamed to appeal to the Written Word of God as my ultimate Authority. There are professing Christians, even on this Medium platform, who say, “We know more now.” Non-believers may be able to use that argument, but professing believers have no leg to stand on. Sexuality At Birth Is Not The Same As Race There are different societies and cultures in the world, but only one human race, consisting of different groups having different amounts of melanin. Humans are created in God’s Image, so by default, they must be shown dignity. (Genesis 1:26–28) How Many Sexes Are There? There are two sexes, male and female, based on genetics (X and Y chromosomes) and Genesis 1:26–28, where it is written: "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.” There is mention of different sexes here, but no mention of different races. There is mention of subduing the Earth, but no mention of raping it. Let’s get down to tin-tax. Does God place a higher value on Males than He does on females? Women walk with Highly Esteemed Company Old Testament example: (Dead Sea Scrolls) It is written in Genesis 2:18:"And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper " (H5828 — `ezer, עֵזֶר) comparable to him (H5048 — neḡeḏ) H5828 — `ezer = helping carry the load.H5048 — neḡeḏ = what is in front of, corresponding to, opposite, and before, parallel to. NOT INFERIOR! (Septuagint) Genesis 2:18 "And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper (G998 — boēthos, βοηθός) comparable to him.” The Greek has the same flavour but not the grunt of the Hebrew because it doesn’t include the comparison, but read on. New Testament Example It is written in Hebrews 13:6 "So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper (G998 — boēthos, βοηθός); I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Jesus is our Helper, βοηθὸς boēthos, as shown in Figure 1. Eve was Adam’s boēthos. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, God gave Adam a helper, βοηθὸς boēthos in Genesis 2:20, shown in Figure 2. This is the same word as in Hebrews 13:6! Obviously, the task given to women is no trivial thing. Does a boy have more value to God than a girl? No. The offering demanded by YHVH is identical for both the girl and the boy. It is written in Leviticus 12:6–8 “When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’” Using the Leviticus 12:6–8 perspective to review the apparent Divine Edicts against women in Scripture shows that they are protections for women in a misogynistic society. The women are protected from husbands who try to rush them into sex after a girl child in order to get a boy child as quickly as possible. Having this insight, it is well worth re-visiting Divine Ordinances, which appear to show that women are unclean humans. In a God-fearing Society, the tiniest female is protected from the biggest bruiser, randy male, by the phrase, “It is against God’s Law.” From Which Sex Was The Messiah Intended To Come? Not the male. YHVH informed the Shining One, as is written in Genesis 3:15"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This is a Prophecy of a spectacular miracle because, in nature, the male provides the seed and the female the egg. When the Messiah came, the Holy Spirit supernaturally eliminated the need for the man. In Genesis 3:15 the promise is made about the “Seed of the Woman.” In Matthew 1 and Luke 3, the promise is kept with the “Woman of the Seed,” as shown in Figure 3. The thread of Scripture from there shows that Satan planned to eliminate the Bloodline of the Messiah right up to the Cross. Part of the process was the subjugation of women because one of them would be the one through whom the Messiah would come. So Why Does Satan Keep Trying When He’s Been Defeated? After the Triumph of the Cross, Paul uses the prophetic term “Fullness of the Gentiles” (God’s predetermined number of Gentile Christians) as the trigger for the beginning of the Final Judgement. (Romans 11:25) There is another Prophecy (Hosea 3:4–5), which states that the Children of Israel will return to the Land and seek the Lord their God and David their king. Then He will come. For both of these to come to pass, there must be children born. If Gentiles could be obstructed from breeding and converting, Satan thinks he still has a chance. The same if Jews can be wiped off the map. This is covered in much more detail in part 1. Does God Have Favorites In The Ecclesia? No. It is written in Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse actually elevates the status of women in the culture of the Acts Church — before that time, their value had been stolen by the misogynists under the influence of Satan. Why could a Hebrew wife not divorce her husband, but vice versa was allowed? Examination of the Scriptures shows that, in God’s eyes, marriage is a type of the Christ and His Church. (Ephesians 5:31–33) The names given to the Church are “Bride” and “Body.” These melt into the “Bone of my Bone and Flesh of my Flesh,” of Genesis 2:23. She can’t divorce Him and He won’t divorce her, i.e., a model of Eternal Security. Satan has been causing trouble since Genesis 3. Why All The Fuss About Sex And Adultery? In the spiritual realm, God’s abhorrence of profane sexual activity is concerned with worshipping other gods. Man and wife — Adam and Eve — Israel as the wife of YHVH — the Church as the Bride of Christ — are all models of the relationship between God and mortals. Our Lord is a El Kanna, a Jealous God. He is jealous of what is His. He will share our affection with no one. He knows that no one can love each of us like He can. Ancient Hebrew Teachings [Unfortunately, I have lost the reference for the next three paragraphs. They were told to me by someone who had studied in Israel.] The original concept of the Bride Price WAS NOT, as some say, to pay the father of the bride for maintaining a valueless person, a daughter, until a husband would take her out of his hands. It was potential alimony paid by the husband in advance. He paid the money to his bride (not her parents), and it was not refundable. She would lease/buy a field to generate income that was disposed of at her discretion — and hers alone. It was her guarantee against being cast aside. Unfortunately, this concept was hijacked by man. The Bride Price Was Not The Same As The Dowry The purpose of the latter was that the parents of the Bride gave seed money to the son-in-law so that he could generate income to maintain their daughter adequately. This was also allowed to be hijacked by Satan. When a Hebrew couple was newly married (Deuteronomy 24:5), the husband was exempt from military and other duties for a year so that he could establish a relationship with his new bride. Early Talmudic writings mentioned that sex was forbidden while a woman was menstruating. This was a protection from God that prevented the husband from forcing himself on his wife when she did not feel comfortable. The rituals were that, at the end of the flow, the woman would cleanse herself by bathing in pure flowing water. She was then regarded as being a virgin bride, and her husband was expected to treat her as such. So, while he was no longer exempt from external responsibilities, the husband was expected to treat his wife as a virgin bride for a year. But the process was repeated every month, so the husband was expected to treat his wife as a virgin bride, and the wife was expected to act as a virgin bride until death do them part. That is God’s plan for keeping a marriage spicy. It is common knowledge that the marriage between man and woman is the shadow model for the relationship between Jesus and His Church. The Song of Solomon shows that Jesus desires primitive passion from His Spotless Bride. Conclusion It is clear from Scripture, at least to me, that husband and wife are synergistic (i.e., the whole is greater than the sum of the parts), but someone must take responsibility. In Genesis 3, it is Eve who initiated the Fall, but Romans 5:12–19 makes it clear that Adam is the one upon whom the weight of responsibility lies. Satan has done a good job of getting each of the spouses to snarl at each other, but that was not God’s Plan. There is an old management proverb, “It is surprising what can be accomplished when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” It is obvious that most men, though not all, do not treat women well. Christian men misinterpret the Scripture because of poor teaching. It is not so obvious that women mistreat men in a more subtle way by undermining the authority of men and demanding what the ‘culture’ says is their right. Because of these corruptions, both sexes of Christians will lose rewards at the Bema Seat before Christ. The Pulpit has much to answer for in the Church. Good teaching would protect many women and children from needless suffering. Where are the Teaching Priests? (I feel the love.) What sort of Marriage would it be if each side made a habit of trying to out-bless the other? HOWEVER, THE BIG QUESTION Why did/does God allow it to happen?! Why doesn’t He just do a better job!!!!? A perfectly valid question about many things. I have to admit that I don’t know the answer. The only thing I know is that it must be the best way because His Redemption Plan has cost Him so much. You may think that is a piss-willy answer, but it’s the best I can do. © 2026 Brad Banardict. First published in The Dove on Medium. Revised and edited by Jane Isley. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

This is more of a teaching blog than an entertaining one. It may not be an easy read because there is more here than a normal, well-adjusted person would generally want to know. But the time will be well spent. The detail that makes me a boring person brings the Bible alive for me. If, however, you happen to like what you read, there’s more to be found here. Someone Has The Daughters In His Sights The quip, “Satan’s best trick is convincing us that he doesn’t exist,” is true, regardless of who coined it (and many claim they have). The entire redemption story begins in Genesis 3:15, where Yehovah Elohim declares war on Satan, and the Plan begins: "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” From there is the Crimson Thread is played out through the Scriptures until The Revelation. In Genesis 3:15 the promise is made about the “Seed of the Woman.” In Matthew 1 and Luke 3, the promise is kept with the “Woman of the Seed,” as shown in Figure 1. Prophecy It is written in Amos 3:7 || “Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”. Further, the equal Greatest Commandments are defined by, “On these two Commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.” The Bible has many facets. One of them is that it is a legal document where the Lord lays out the Promise of His Redemption Plan so that all Creation can see it and confidently expect it to come to pass. If you are interested, this topic is expanded further in the posts: PROPHECY 101; Introduction to Bible Inerrancy INSPIRED? INERRANT? INFALLIBLE?; Absolutely! From the very beginning. INSPIRED? INERRANT? INFALLIBLE?; Israel is back in the Land — Déjà vu all over again Unfortunately, Prophecy is not a popular subject in the distinct majority of the NT Church. There are a number of Milestones laid out by the Lord, most regarding Israel, God’s Record keeper. Anyone who knows the narrative can remember a multitude of times that Satan almost snuffed out the Bloodline of the Messiah, only to be thwarted by some deftly executed intervention. The Resurrection being the Trump Card. Satan is far from stupid. He is aware of the Prophecies and devises plans to foil the Lord all through the Scriptures. But God is God and is always a number of steps ahead. Satan was defeated at the Cross. Why does he keep on trying? It’s in the book! Two things must happen before Hamashiach Nagib, Christ the King, returns. 1. The prerequisite number of Gentiles be drawn into the Kingdom. Romans 11:25 || For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Obviously, this requires human birth. This is why there is an attack on God’s design of family, and on today’s Youth. 2. Israel, repent and call upon the Lord to return. Hosea 3:4–5 || For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterwards the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days. Again, obviously, that requires Israel to be in the Land and alive. No matter how many people he slaughtered, Satan could not prevent the Birth of the Messiah. But if he changes his strategy and prevents the mortal children necessary for these Prophecies to come to pass, in his mind, he may be in with a chance to thwart God’s Plan. Where do children come from? (Duhr!) It Is Not God Who Hates Girls. It Is Satan. The enmity prophesied in Genesis 3:15 is now coming to pass at breakneck speed. Satan knows his days are numbered because, despite appearances to the contrary, the Kingdom is on the move. The Lord is stirring. But the Bible is so much against women. Before deciding that the Father regards women as second-rate people, it is worthwhile delving into L-A-W rather than the rumors which have become the L-O-R-E entrenched in today’s (and yesterday’s) church. If you go through the Bible, women figure in a number of places, but only two will be specifically dealt with here. It is better that you find the others yourselves. The church is in desperate need of self-feeders. What Value Does God Give To Women? In Leviticus (that long, long, boring book), the Regulations for Purification After Childbirth are written in Chapter 12. Superficially, they seem misogynistic. The key verses, however, are 6–8 where the Offerings to the Lord for both the girl child and the boy child are IDENTICAL. The unspoken words heard here are that GOD GIVES EQUAL VALUE TO BOTH SEXES. Armed with this insight, it is hoped you will look at the verses immediately prior in Chapter 12 through different eyes. Strange that God should choose the Jews. This begins a widely known saying from days of yore. It seems to make sense, but it goes on. Even stranger those who reject His choice. I don’t know why He chose them. You can argue with Him when your turn comes to have a chat with Him. But He did choose them, and it is obvious in the OT that they were misogynists. It is too long a topic, but sons were a big deal to them. It is still the same today in some parts of the World. Imagine a guy to whom is born a son. He’s satisfied — at least for now. He can give his wife a rest. But a daughter? He’d better start to know his wife (Biblically speaking) asap. The period of uncleanliness after childbirth was to protect the mother. She might not be strong enough to keep a randy hubby away, but if God declares something unclean — say no more. The double length of time for a daughter keeps him away longer in order to allow more recovery. The Rate Of Violence Against Women Is Increasing Worldwide Who do you see as the culprit? Israel is back in the land. The (big ‘C’) Church is growing. It is reported that the most fertile places are Iran (the Mad Mullahs can’t stop the Holy Spirit on the move) and China. The Taliban is overreacting, even for Mad Mullahs. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is on the move in Afghanistan, and Satan is panicking?? The fullness of the Gentiles is coming to pass. Satan is running out of time. What can he do? Cut off the supply of Gentiles. How? Attack the producers — the women. His weapons of choice are Men, but not all men, and Women, some women. Mean Girls is not a myth. Neither is Mongrel Men. How Easy Is It For Him? Unfortunately, very easy. In a God Fearing culture, there would be no need for a #MeToo Movement. “God says no” would be an effective protection for the slightest woman against any big bruiser. But who is the god of this world? Who is the one that those who complain loudest against this unjust, intolerable situation listen to? The answer to the problem is in knowing the Name of God, not extra money spent on lessons in ethics. The fault does not lie with the politicians. The burden is directly on the shoulders of the church to step up. We are told exactly what to do in 2 Chronicles 7:14. God has given the pattern. He will keep His Word. Here is just one other example of many that show that God has no favourite sex. Resurrection Morning: it is written in Matthew 28:9 || And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. This was the first Worship Service of the Church. Women were chosen to be the first to see AND first to worship. What To Do Now? Keeping this information in mind, go through the books of the Book with a new set of eyes and see if you detect the Pattern that every apparently anti-woman law is a protection for women in a misogynistic culture that Satan has distorted. It is hoped that you will hear the unspoken words. If not, so be it. It would be surprising if there were not a torrent of, “Aw yeah, but . . .” comments but they will get no response. Rather than a knee-jerk reflex, wait and see what you see as you read the Scriptures now that you have this information. Don’t Judge a Doctrine by its abuse. © 2026 Brad Banardict. First published in The Dove on Medium. Revised and edited by Jane Isley. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.