“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.

There’s something profoundly moving about the phrase “Abraham, God’s friend.” It’s not just a title, it’s a description of a life deeply intertwined with God’s heart. Abraham didn’t just serve God; he walked with Him. He laughed, questioned, trusted, and followed. And through it all, something beautiful formed, which was friendship. The Friendship Wasn’t One-Sided When we think about knowing God, we often imagine reverence, worship, and obedience, all of which are true and necessary. But Abraham’s story teaches us that friendship with God is not just about doing for Him, it’s about being with Him. “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” ~ Genesis 18:17 God didn’t hide things from Abraham. He said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Genesis 18:17). That’s what friends do; they share secrets, plans, and burdens. Abraham wasn’t perfect. He doubted, feared, and even made mistakes, but friendship with God isn’t reserved for the flawless; it’s reserved for the faithful. Those who keep showing up, even when they don’t understand everything. The Friendship That Grew From Trust Every friendship deepens through trust, and for Abraham, that trust was repeatedly tested. When God asked him to leave his home without a clear destination, he obeyed. When God promised a son long after it seemed possible, Abraham believed. And when God asked for Isaac, the promise itself. Abraham didn’t hesitate, because by then, he had learned something we often miss, which is the fact then when you know God’s heart, you stop fearing His instructions. It’s easy to serve a God you fear, but it takes intimacy to obey a God you trust. That’s why James 2:23 says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called a friend of God.” His belief wasn’t passive; it was active trust. God Still Invites Us The most stunning truth is that the same friendship is still available to us. Jesus said in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, I have called you friends.” God doesn’t just want worshipers who admire Him from afar. He desires friends who walk with Him daily who share silence, laughter, questions, and trust. To be God’s friend means to let Him into your ordinary days, not just your holy moments. It’s hearing His whispers in your chaos, and learning that His presence isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s gentle and near, like a heartbeat beside yours. Friendship with God is that confidence that says, “Even when I don’t know what You’re doing, I know who You are.” And I dare to say that’s what Abraham knew. He knew that knowing God is not about having all the answers. It’s about walking close enough to trust the One who does. © Favour

“Faith is not denying the existence of your giant. It’s choosing to believe God is bigger than it.” Christine Caine Have you discovered that life has a way of handing you giants? Of course, you have. So have I. But, they’re not nine-foot-tall men with spears, but bills stacking higher than our bank account, diagnoses we didn’t see coming, relationships that feel too broken to fix. Giants show up when we least expect them, and they always look bigger than us. What I’ve found to be true, they specialize in intimidation. They roar loud. They flaunt their size. They whisper that you’re too small, too weak, too late. Doesn’t that about sum it up? The Script Flipper But the Bible flips the script. David’s story in 1 Samuel 17 isn’t really about the size of the boy or the size of the giant. It’s about the size of God. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…” (1 Samuel 17:45) David knew the math. The giant was bigger than David. But David + God is bigger than the giant. Fear Magnifies, Faith Shrinks Psalm 27:1 puts it in plain words: “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” Fear makes the shadow of the big giant look even bigger. However, faith does the opposite, it shrinks the giant. David wasn’t fearless because he had better armor (he didn’t). He wasn’t fearless because he had more experience (he didn’t). He was fearless because he had the right perspective. The giant wasn’t standing against him. The giant was standing against God. That changes everything. Giants Often Fall in Unexpected Ways Notice how David fought. He didn’t grab a sword or shield. He picked up a sling and five smooth stones. A teenager’s weapon. Something no one else would have chosen. That’s how God works. He delights in using small, ordinary things to take down oversized problems. A mustard seed. A shepherd’s staff. Five loaves and two fish. Even a Roman cross. When you feel small, don’t forget, you’re in the perfect position for God to show His power. The battle isn’t about your size. It’s about His strength. What If God Is Already Fighting for You? Paul put it bluntly in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Read that again. Slowly. “Since God is for me, who can be against me?” Important Note: The Greek word translated “if” is what scholars call a ‘first-class condition.' It assumes the premise for the sake of argument: “If (and we all know it’s true) God is for us…” In English, that sense is often captured better with “since.” Not “maybe God is for us.” Not “if you try harder, He’ll be for you.” Since God is for us, right now, in that trial, in your weakness, who can possibly stand against you? Assumption: NOBODY and NO THING. It doesn’t mean giants won’t show up. They will. But it does mean they won’t win. Our Giants vs. God’s Power Let’s bring this down to ground level. Giant of financial stress: God still owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Giant of anxiety: God offers peace that passes understanding. Giant of loneliness: God promises never to leave you or forsake you. Giant of failure: God redeems and rebuilds what feels lost. Your Giant. Your giant may look unbeatable. But remember, David didn’t fight for victory. He fought from victory not for it. The outcome was already decided because the Lord was with him. The Giants Talk Loud, But God Speaks Louder Goliath taunted Israel for forty days. He had one message: You can’t win. Sound familiar? Giants today have the same script. “You’re not good enough.” “You’ll never get through this.” “You should just give up.” But God’s voice is steady, strong, and unshakable. “You are mine.” “You are loved.” “You are never alone.” When you speak God’s promises, the giants lose their power. Facing Your Giant Today So let me ask you: what giant are you facing right now? What’s standing in your path, flexing its muscles, daring you to try? Don’t measure the giant against yourself. Measure the giant against your God. David didn’t see a monster too big to fight. He saw a target too big to miss. That shift in perspective is everything. A Closing Word of Hope You don’t have to be the strongest in the room. You don’t need the fanciest weapons or the loudest voice. The Lord is your light and salvation. The Lord is your defender. The Lord is bigger than any giant you will ever face. So step forward with your sling. Name the giant. Trust God to aim the stone. And when the giant (trial) falls, because it will, give Him the glory. The battle isn’t about your size. It’s about His power. Reflection Questions: What giant in your life feels bigger than you right now? How might your perspective shift if you measured it against God’s power instead of your own weakness? © Gary L. Ellis (1944–2026) You might also like: 🗡️ How Jesus Breaks the Fear of Death ~ Every fear you face traces back to one root fear, and Jesus already broke its power. 🗡️ Stepping Out in Faith: Courage to Answer God's Call ~ Courage isn't the absence of fear, it's choosing to move forward anyway.

unsplash Time is linear for us. God set it that way from the very beginning for us, days, weeks, years, etc. People live inside those boundaries. But God?He lives outside of them.He is the Author of time, not bound by it. Then God reshaped the way I see prayer. This used to happen often to me, and I think many people can relate. I’d be scrolling online, where you don’t usually see or hear updates. I’d see a prayer request and stop to lift them up to God. Then I’d notice it was posted a day or so ago, sometimes even longer. I used to feel bad and think that I was too late. I mean, I’d really, really feel bad about it, like I wasn’t there when they needed it the most. Then one random day, it happened again, and I about spiraled myself down that path of feeling bad all over again. The thought in my head was, if I prayed now, what was the point? I was already too late. Now I’ve come to realize satan was using that. God spoke and said, “Not with Me” I’m not gonna lie. That answer actually took me a little to figure out what He meant, but I did eventually figure it out. lol First, no thought you have should ever stop you from praying to begin with. Period. That was one thing I figured out right quickly. I was letting myself talk myself out of praying, and satan was having a heyday with that. Second, as I said above, God is literally outside of time. He is not bound by our past, present, or future. To Him there is no such thing as too late. Every prayer is a connected one-on-one private moment with Him. Now we may never know the outcome of our prayer, and sometimes we do, but prayer isn’t just for that person or situation. It’s for you to. You don’t build trust, faith, and hope on silent lips. But you can sure lose it on silent lips. Every prayer is heard at exactly the right moment, for the right reason. When we pray, even if we think it‘s too late, God receives it outside of our timeline and applies it with His perfect timing and for His glory. So don’t hold back. Don’t second-guess. Pray anyway. Because with God, every prayer is on time. “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider supporting my work. Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on Facebook.

The cross should not inspire comfort. It was never designed for that. Rome used crucifixion to break people — body, mind, and spirit. It was a billboard of domination, a slow death by suffocation and shame, reserved for slaves, rebels, and anyone who dared to challenge the empire. Bodies were nailed up at city gates to remind passers-by who was in charge. It was so degrading that self-respecting Romans avoided even mentioning the word “cross” in polite conversation. And not only in ancient Rome. In 2015, ISIS fighters crucified victims in Syria, leaving their bodies on display in the streets. The message was the same as it had been two thousand years earlier: this is what happens when the powerful want to crush the weak. The cross is history’s symbol of oppression. So why do millions of people now wear it proudly around their necks? Rome’s Weapon of Terror Crucifixion was Rome’s propaganda made flesh. It wasn’t simply about killing. It was about humiliating. Naked bodies, jeering crowds, hours or days of suffering — all staged for maximum psychological impact. It told the world: the strong define truth, the weak are disposable. That’s why, to the first-century mind, the Christian claim that a crucified man was Lord of the world was sheer madness. Historian Tom Holland puts it starkly: “This is why the cross, that ancient implement of torture, remains what it has always been: the fitting symbol of the Christian revolution.” — Tom Holland, Dominion A Strange Turning Point Against all odds, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth didn’t bury their shame in silence. They proclaimed it. The very instrument of terror became their banner. Why? Because they believed something had happened that Rome never intended: Jesus’ crucifixion was not the beginning of God’s story, but the turning point. What looked like defeat was, in fact, victory. Rome stripped Jesus of dignity; he forgave his executioners. Rome broke his body; God raised him from the dead. The empire thought it had spoken the last word in blood and wood. But the Word — the one through whom all things were made — spoke back through resurrection. The Cross After Rome Once Jesus reframed the cross, it could no longer be used in the same way. Christians began to live as though every person mattered equally before God. They rescued abandoned infants, cared for plague victims, and eventually built the first hospitals. Even the long road toward abolishing slavery drew energy from this belief: that the God who hung on a cross dignified the lowliest of human beings. What had been a weapon of terror became a wellspring of hope. Why It Still Matters The cross is still offensive today, not because it’s violent, but because it redefines strength. Our culture prizes winning, dominance, and visibility. The cross insists that true power is found in self-giving love. That’s why it endures. That’s why it’s worn not as a warning but as a sign of hope. What the empire used to crush, the Word transformed into a declaration: even in weakness, God’s power wins. So here’s the question: If the cross really does flip oppression into freedom, what would it mean for us to live by that kind of power today? I write about the strange, surprising ways faith reshapes our world. If you’d like to know more about why I write, you can visit my About Me page. © Nathan Cole

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. My parents were loving and kind, but I didn’t know Jesus, and I didn’t know the good news of the Gospel. By the grace of God, that began to change in my first year at university. An Unexpected Invitation I still remember standing awkwardly at orientation on day one when a friendly student walked up and invited me to the Christian group on campus. We had a few mutual connections. I thought I had a rough idea of what a “Christian group” might be. It felt harmless to say yes. Why not have a look? What happened next surprised me. They opened the Bible. That might sound obvious, but it wasn’t to me. I had barely seen a Bible, and I’d never read one. Watching a group of students quietly open those thin pages felt strange, almost novel – like stepping into a room I didn’t know existed. No hype. No hard sell. Just words on a page – and people who seemed to care about them. Through the group, I started reading the Bible for myself. I didn’t suddenly understand everything. I asked basic questions. I held my doubts in one hand and the text in the other. But the more I read, the more a single figure came into focus: Jesus. I began to see that Christianity wasn’t mainly about becoming “better” or earning spiritual points. It was about a person and a cross – about what God had done, not what I could do. That realization unsettled me in the best way. When the Cross Stopped Being Abstract As I kept reading, something clearer – and weightier – landed. If the Gospel really is true… If Jesus really did die… If the cross is God’s way of dealing with sin – even mine – then this isn’t a set of ideas to admire from a distance. It demands a response. Not pressure, not panic – just the honesty of facing a gift I couldn’t pay back and a mercy I couldn’t earn. A few months later, at an Easter event on campus, the pieces came together. I believed in Jesus Christ. I accepted that forgiveness of sin is only possible through his cross. And I decided I wanted to follow Him. There wasn’t a spotlight or a dramatic soundtrack. Just a quiet “yes” that felt like the most honest thing I’d ever said. What Changed (and What Didn’t) Not everything became easy. Life didn’t suddenly arrange itself into neat lines. But something essential shifted. I wasn’t standing outside anymore, looking in. I belonged to the One I’d been reading about. The questions didn’t disappear; they became part of a conversation with Someone real. I kept reading the Bible. I learned to pray in plain words. I found myself wanting to know Jesus, not just know about him. Grace turned belief into a path I could actually walk. I never expected to meet Jesus at university. I never expected an invitation in an orientation line to change my direction. But that is the beauty of grace: it meets us before we know how to look for it. If you find yourself where I was – curious, uncertain, a little surprised – open a Bible. Ask your real questions. See what the cross means, not in theory, but for you. I did. And it changed everything. © Nathan Cole Originally published on Medium.

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. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. 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.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 What did guidance look like back then? In David’s world, nobody was pulling out a phone for directions. You had shepherds guiding sheep through rough hills. Parents showing kids how to barter in the market. Kings giving counsel to their people. Guidance wasn’t a distant voice. It was personal, face-to-face. So when David writes this verse, the picture is of a God right there with you. That phrase about His “loving eye”? In Hebrew culture, to keep your eye on someone meant to care for them, to protect them. Like a parent at the playground, keeping watch, ready to step in if needed. That’s what David’s getting at. Why does this matter now? Fast forward to today. We’re swimming in advice, podcasts, books, TikTok hacks, but still lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering what direction to take. Career choices. Relationship messes. Faith questions that feel like a maze. Psalm 32:8 cuts through the noise. God doesn’t say, “Here’s a list, good luck.” He says, “I’ll teach you. I’ll guide you. I’ll keep my eye on you.” That’s not control, it’s care. What does it feel like? Think about learning to drive. You’re nervous, hands sweaty on the wheel. The instructor sits beside you, calm, steady, watchful. They don’t grab the wheel from you, but they guide. “Steady now, you’re okay, here’s the turn.” That’s the heart of this verse. God’s presence plus His wisdom. What if I’m standing at a crossroads? That’s when this verse really lands. Maybe you’re asking: Do I stay or do I leave? Do I mend this relationship or move on? Am I afraid to let go, or finally let God keep his promise and lead? The promise isn’t that we’ll get a billboard in the sky. The promise is that God doesn’t leave us guessing. He instructs. He teaches. He counsels. And He does it with His eye on us, in love. So what’s the takeaway? The same God who walked with David through caves and kingdoms is guiding you through workplaces, breakups, and everyday choices. You’re not fumbling alone. His presence is with you. Maybe the prayer today is as simple as this:“God, I don’t just need answers, I need You. Teach me. Guide me. Keep Your loving eye on me.” And peace starts right there. © Gary L Ellis Gary L. Ellis (1944–2026) served as an editor and contributor to this publication. His work remains part of our archive in grateful remembrance.

The Pressure to Produce It doesn’t always show up as a voice in your head. Sometimes it’s just the way your stomach drops when you see someone else’s career update on LinkedIn. Or the way you feel restless when you take a slow morning instead of ploughing through your to-do list. I’ve carried this pressure — the sense that my worth hangs on what I get done. Work harder, study more, check the boxes, move the needle. If I achieve, I matter. If I don’t, I’m nothing. It sounds dramatic when written out, but many of us quietly live this way. The Gospel Against the Grain Ephesians 2:8–10 offers words that run against the cultural current: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Here’s the order: Saved by grace (not performance) Through faith (not self-effort) As a gift (not an achievement) To do good works (not to prove our worth) It’s not that work doesn’t matter. It’s that work flows from identity rather than creating it. Achievements are Fragile Anchors Building identity on achievement feels safe — until it doesn’t. Grades slip. Careers stall. Bodies slow down. Someone younger, faster, smarter enters the room. And then what? If who I am depends on what I achieve, I’m always one failure away from collapse. But if who I am depends on what Christ has done, the foundation is different. He doesn’t change. The cross doesn’t expire. His declaration of grace doesn’t wobble with the markets or the metrics. Grace Doesn’t Erase Work, It Redeems It Notice Paul’s flow: grace first, works second. We don’t earn grace by working; we work because grace has already been given. That’s liberating. It means the tasks of the day — emails, spreadsheets, parenting, phone calls — are no longer auditions for acceptance. They are expressions of it. We work not to prove ourselves but to love others. Grace doesn’t cancel diligence. It redeems it. Imagine two people doing the same job. Outwardly they look identical — same desk, same deadlines, same tired commute. But one is working to prove they matter. The other is working because they already know they matter in Christ. The difference is enormous. One is chained to achievement; the other is free to serve. A Word for the Weary Achiever If you’re exhausted from carrying the weight of proving yourself, Ephesians 2 whispers something counter-cultural: you are God’s workmanship. His creation. His craft. That means your identity is already given, not earned. Your worth is already secured, not negotiated. And your work — whatever it looks like — is part of God’s larger story, not the thing that defines you. Where This Leaves Us You are not your résumé. You are not your GPA. You are not your productivity stats. You are God’s beloved, created in Christ Jesus for a life of grace-shaped good works. And that means even on the days when you don’t achieve, you are still His. Keep Going If you’d like a way to anchor this truth in your daily life, I’ve created a 30-day printable devotional journal called Identity in Christ. Each page is short: one passage, a reflection prompt, and space to pray. It’s designed to fit into ten quiet minutes a day, and it’s available as a PDF (US Letter/A4) or for GoodNotes. View the 30-day Identity in Christ journal on Etsy → At the end of the day, the truest thing about you isn’t what you’ve achieved – it’s what Christ has already done. Where do you most feel the pull to prove yourself, and what helps you remember your worth is secure in Christ? I’d love to hear in the comments. © Nathan Cole

I will never forget the day I leaned over to my mom during church and whispered, “I’m going to the other side of the world.” We had been listening to our missions committee speak about an upcoming trip overseas, and the words flew out of my mouth so suddenly that I was left spinning. No doubt it was the Holy Spirit moving in me, because I couldn’t stop myself from saying it. It just… came out. What really shocked me, though, was her response: “I knew you would be.” Wait, what? No argument, no laugh, no questioning her 17-year-old daughter, who just said she wanted to hop a plane and leave the country. Just, “Okay. We’ll make it happen.” And happen, it did. I Was Wildly Unprepared The minimum age to embark on this trip was 18. I turned 18 a few months before we were supposed to leave so I was the youngest, least seasoned Christian on the team (that’s important for later). We spent months prepping: fundraising, making travel arrangements, studying the culture, meeting as a team, and saturating the upcoming trip in hours of prayer. Our leader briefed us on spiritual warfare, about how heavy the demonic oppression was in the area we’d be traveling to. We heard stories from other team members who’d been before, and they confirmed it was to be expected. The accounts ranged in severity from lost luggage to being detained by local authorities and miraculously being released without them searching the team’s backpacks full of Bibles (which were illegal to have in the country we’d be going to). Soon, we were prayed up, packed up, studied up, and ready to go. I felt mostly confident, a little nervous, but completely excited to be heading off to share the gospel. I was ready. Except… I was not. 3 flights and a 12-hour bus ride later, we were on the ground. The trip was mostly smooth (I’ll save that for another article), and we were linked up with our point of contact ready to talk about Jesus. We’d already seen some incredible things happen, and one of our team members even led a local to Christ on the bus ride, so by the time we arrived we were on cloud nine thinking about all the Lord was going to do over the next couple of weeks. Remember how I said I was the most unseasoned Christian on the trip? Well, it had me believing that I wasn’t a target. I believed that all the wild tales I’d heard from former team members wouldn’t happen on this trip because of how smoothly it was going. My false sense of security left me totally unprepared to face what would happen. The Night that Shook Me to My Core Each of us on the team shared a hotel room with one of the other team members, and my roommate was one of my good friends who was just a few years older than me. She was, and is, a faithful Christian who loves the Lord, and I will forever treasure the conversations we had on that trip. We ended one of our days making preparations to go up into the mountains the next day. We’d been in the city thus far, so it would be different in the villages. In the area we were working in, there was a night and day difference between city life and village life. So stark was the difference, it almost felt like stepping into a completely different country as we ascended the mountain just outside the city, leaving the modern comforts of hotels and restaurants to find that some of the highest points didn’t even have electricity or running water. We had finished our preparations and bags were packed for the early morning bus ride up the mountain. Excitedly, we drifted off to sleep thinking about what the mountains had in store for us. At some point during the night, my roommate got up and went to the restroom. It woke me briefly, but I soon drifted back off. Shortly after, she got up again. This time, she was walking around the room, so I assumed she couldn’t sleep and was up looking for her Bible or something. Again, I drifted off. The third time I was woken up, I felt the heaviness. I rolled onto my back and looked over to see my roommate fast asleep on her bed. So what had woken me up? I wanted to get up, but my body couldn’t move. Completely paralyzed, I lay there, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. I felt a presence in the room, but was unable to move or do anything but stare up at the ceiling. At the same time I felt the heaviness, I also experienced the warmest feeling of peace I’d ever felt. Though I couldn’t move, I knew in my spirit that it was a good thing. I felt like I was trapped inside a holy bubble, being shielded from the darkness in the room. I wasn’t scared; I was at peace. Soon, I drifted off one more time. WHAM! At 6 am, I sat straight up in bed and caught a glimpse of my roommate flinging the door open and running out of our room. I got up and followed her as she went next door to another of our team’s rooms, which her mom and our team leader were staying in. As it turns out, she was violently sick, and we’d soon find out two of our other team members were too. I asked my roommate if that’s why she’d been up so much during the night, to which she responded she’d never gotten out of her bed until she’d left the room. Confused, she informed me that she’d heard me all night long getting up and down and walking around the room. I hadn’t. At this point, I had chills. Neither of us had been out of bed. Neither of us had been walking around. The heaviness, the presence in the room? That was the enemy. The four of us talked and were able to put more pieces of the puzzle together. We discovered that at least one of us had been awake just about all night long. Each time one of us were woken up, we prayed and went back to sleep. All night long, the wake-ups grew progressively more intense, and around the time I was feeling the heaviness, my roommate’s mom was praying over our room because she’d felt it too. That explained the peaceful shielding I felt the night before. As we reevaluated our day ahead, we decided to move forward with the plan, albeit with a smaller group. Of the 6 of us ladies, 3 were sick and stayed behind, while the other 3 of us went up to the villages for the day. There weren’t any earth-shattering miracles that day. No salvations that we were able to witness. But we sure planted seeds. We spread the message of the gospel to anyone who would listen, in an area that was saturated with idol worship and unbelief. We visited a couple of Buddhist temples, met with many wonderful people in the villages, and rode back down the mountain on a bus next to a man carrying a live chicken. Most importantly, we accomplished what the Lord had sent us and equipped us that day to do. What it all Means Spiritual warfare is real and ever-present. What we experienced that night was a demonic attack, intended to stop us from what we were planning to do the next day. We could have cancelled the plan. We chose to follow the Lord instead. I had never experienced that type of attack before. Thankfully, someone else was covering me in prayer at a time I was too immature in my faith to see it. No doubt there were others back home praying for us, too. That night, I learned firsthand that we can’t walk through life with spiritual blinders on. We can’t pretend the enemy doesn’t exist. Our struggle is not against humans, but rather spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). That’s why it’s vital as Christians that we put on our spiritual armor — every single day (Ephesians 6:10–11). We have got to pray over everything (Philippians 4:6), and often (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Spiritual attacks don’t always look like this one. In fact, I’ve not had one quite like that since. However, living in the Bible Belt, the enemy typically doesn’t need to go to such lengths to stop us from spreading the gospel. He simply has to make us busy, stir up drama in our churches or whisper a few lies to us about how we “deserve” to be treated so that we lash out when we are treated differently. Oof, stepped on my own toes there… I believe our attack overseas was so different because the above methods wouldn’t work there. He needed to use something stronger because we were little beacons of light headed into an area of heavy darkness. We were pointedly marching into enemy territory, and needed to be stopped — except we weren’t. The Lord is more powerful than any fiery dart the enemy throws at us. He’s our refuge in times of trouble (Nahum 1:7). He is greater than any scheme of the evil one, which means we win in the end (1 John 4:4)! Stay ready, friends. Pray always, and don’t be caught off guard like I was. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:8–9). © Stephanie M Other articles you might want to check out by Stephanie on Medium: Trauma, Sin and Breaking Cycles Quick Guide to Start Reading the Bible: 6 Books to Start With Today