January 8, Tuesday

The AMI QT blogs for January (weekdays), provided by Pastor Ryun Chang, are extended to cover important sociopolitical matters that have serious ramifications for the Christian faith. Pastor Ryun (PhD), who serves as the Teaching Pastor of AMI, is the author of Manual de Misionología, Theologizing in the Racial Middle, and a contributor to The Reshaping of Mission in Latin America.

Disclaimer: AMI, as a consortium of several churches, allows the expression of multiple standpoints on non-essential biblical matters. My views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors. I am also mindful that not every reader will agree with my stances on sensitive and contentious issues addressed in this month’s blogs. Where that may be the case, I invite you to utilize the comment section below, so that we may have an open dialogue; I highly encourage all readers to share their thoughts and experiences. Thank you.

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“‘Marriage Still Ain’t Equal’ but for a Different Reason Than Mrs. Obama’s”

2 Timothy 1:5

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

As alluded yesterday, Michelle Obama is convinced that “women can’t experience equality in both their professional and personal lives ‘at the same time.’” Calling the idea a ‘lie,’ she quipped, “Marriage still ain’t equal.” She is right, of course, since women still juggle work and family way more than men. The mothers are the ones taking the maternity leave—not the fathers. And no matter how good the maternal package is, not working for months is opportunities lost or delayed for acquiring skills, experiences and networking conducive for upward mobility in the workplace. Nevertheless, I disagree with Mrs. Obama’s belief that marriage isn’t equal because it is skewed toward women. How? Inasmuch as her concerns are legitimate, they are still delimited to “this world . . . [that] is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31a); to be precise, her viewpoint is secular in nature. But when marriage is viewed through the lens of “the age to come, eternal life” (Lk. 18:30b NIV), we see that marriage isn’t equal because it is actually skewed toward men.

How so? The Bible teaches that while salvation is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9), rewards in heaven are based on good deeds performed on earth (Matt. 10:40-42). And one good deed the Scripture specifically mentions for women is “bringing up children” (1 Tim. 5:10). That, of course, doesn’t preclude the parental role of fathers (more as a disciplinarian—Heb. 12:7); but having said that, I want to underscore a very important role in a child’s life that more mothers play than fathers.

Let me explain this by way of introducing a dear relative of mine who, in the eyes of Korean mothers, was a stunning success. Besides becoming very wealthy through working hard almost every day in business, one of her sons is a doctor and the other a lawyer. But once her faith in Christ became real in her middle age, she recognized the spiritual poverty of her sons who didn’t walk with the Lord and greatly regretted how God wasn’t part of their upbringing because, frankly, she neglected to include Him. As my dear relative was dying of cancer 11 years ago (still in her prime), she was in great agony because she was uncertain of her sons’ eternal destiny.

My point is this: Most children first hear about God from their believing mothers; in fact, their first exposure to discipleship is with their mothers as well. A rabbi, in speaking about his mother, says: “A traditional woman, she saw it as her responsibility that her . . . sons regularly attend Sabbath and holiday worship services, and observe . . . common Jewish rituals, etc.. . . While there were many important Jewish influences in my life, there is no doubt my mother was the primary one.” Thus, a Yiddish Proverb says, “God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.” One of them was Eunice, the mother of Pastor Timothy, who, by the way, couldn’t have been highly regarded among the Jews in her days, for she married a gentile and failed to circumcise Timothy (Acts 16:1-3)—both a taboo in the Jewish world.

Nevertheless, my late-relative, with all of her success, might have gladly traded places with Eunice. Why? Because Eunice did something my relative wished she could have: helping her son to have a sincere faith in God. Listen to what the apostle Paul says to Timothy about the influence his mother had on him: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in . . . your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Tim. 1:5). If you are a parent, then you already know that our children are not easily impressed with the faith of their parents (because they see too much at home); but not Timothy—he imitated his mother’s faith.

This, of course, means nothing to the people of the world, but it should mean everything to the believing mothers. Yes, “marriage still ain’t equal,” since the mothers are privileged to have the first crack at shaping the eternal destiny of our children. And they will be rewarded for a job well done. This is indeed a high calling of God for our mothers.

You will never hear that from the trifecta of our leading institutions—the academia, media and Hollywood—because they are profoundly secular in orientation; for them, this material world is all there is; there is nothing else. Well, they are all wrong—it’s fake news. There will come a day when “the world and its desires [will] pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 Jn. 2:17). Let’s not forget that!

Prayer: Dear Lord, we men are so insensitive to the many challenges facing modern women. We make promises to our wives that we will help out with housework, but we end up doing something else, like playing video game! We repent. Help us, God, to be real men! Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 9

Tomorrow’s Blog: “Beware of the Two Maxims of Modern Feminism”

Lunch Break Study

Gloria Steinem, once the most glamorous face of modern feminism, said, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” After making that statement, Steinem began a relationship with a billionaire that lasted for 4 years; when that relationship ended, she married someone else.

Read 1 Corinthians 7:29, 32:

“This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none . . . I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man [woman] is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.”

Luke 2:36-38:

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Matt. 23:3:

“So do and observe whatever they [the Pharisees] tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.”

Questions to Consider

While I am not quite sure what Steinem really meant in her quote (any man or just chauvinistic man or predators like Weinstein or Lauer?), but in what sense can a man be a distraction to a believing woman?
Imagine that Steinem and Anna got into a conversation. What would Anna say to Steinem?
Ultimately, what error did Steinem make, an error that all teachers have made?

Note

A man or a woman can easily be a distraction to one’s undivided devotion to the Lord, if we allow our devotion and desire for a person to overshadow our time spent with and service unto and thinking about the Lord.
“Gloria, you are right, a woman doesn’t need a man for the things only God can give: unconditional and permanent love and acceptance. That’s what He promised in Christ. Upon seeing the baby Jesus at the temple, I thanked God for the consummation of that promise.”
I am happy that she found the love of her life and married him. But I hope no impressionable young women took her statement and made it her motto. Steinem’s mistake is the same as that of the Pharisees: “For they preach, but do not practice.” I am guilty of that as well.

Evening Reflection

Did you have another long and hard day at the office and/or home? Are you tired? Exhausted? Here is a comforting passage for the weary:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Play a quite praise music in the background. Keep still and rest in the Lord. He is good. He can be trusted. He loves you.

January 7, Monday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Eavesdropping on Conversations Between Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama”

James 4:14

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

In the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s record-breaking memoir, Becoming, she recalls her pre-White House days like this: “As a full-time working mom with a spouse who was often away from home, I became well acquainted with the juggle many women know—trying to balance the needs of my family with the demands of my job.” Indeed, this pressing issue facing many women today has been addressed in several books, but the one that stands out is Lean In (2013)—because the author is Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. A well-received work, one reviewer commented, “I don’t think you should sell yourself short way before it’s time [to have kids] . . . Sheryl calls this leaning in, instead of leaning back. Your tendency might be to cut back and, for example, not take a promotion, because ‘you’ll have kids soon anyway,’ but that’s exactly wrong, because it will lead you to make career decisions that are guaranteed to make you miserable by the time you actually have kids.”

Apparently, Mrs. Obama doesn’t agree with Sandberg, for during her recent book tour, she said, “It’s not always enough to lean in, because that ‘s***’ doesn’t work all the time.” Feeling frustrated, she added that “women can’t experience equality in both their professional and personal lives ‘at the same time,’ calling the idea a ‘lie’ and arguing that ‘marriage still ain’t equal, y’all.’” And coming from her, that’s saying something; after all, who would question Mrs. Obama’s qualification to carve out her own political career if she had chosen that path. But this Harvard trained lawyer became, in effect, a stay-at-home mother of two daughters after her husband became the POTUS. Clearly, the motherhood elicits in Mrs. Obama immense pride, for it is said that she identifies herself first as Malia and Sasha’s mom.

So, if you are a woman caught in this dilemma, whose idea do you lean on? Now meet my two middle-aged cousins who are married with children. Both are highly educated, having attended arguably the top women’s college in the U.S. and earned professional degrees from Ivy League schools. My lawyer cousin, who is politically left-leaning and no fan of Donald Trump, has been a stay-home-mom to three children (her husband’s profession makes this possible); while the other cousin, a mom to two small children who once served as a staff at a conservative church, is presently the sole breadwinner. But ideologically, this is ironic, since my left-leaning cousin should have a career outside the home, while my cousin who leans to the right should be a stay-home mom.

But in real life, “[we] do not know what tomorrow will bring”—meaning, unpredictable and unplanned things happen, and when they do, people don’t always make decisions based on their political ideology (“What would a feminist do in this situation?”), but just respond. I’ve seen this happen to people close to me one too many times: both of my siblings lost their spouses when their children were very young. (Sandberg herself knows this all too well.) What life goals they had—perhaps based on their political ideals—were shelved in lieu of responding to their new day-to-day reality: “Lord, give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11) or sanity. I think my working cousin—who loves kids—would rather stay home, but that option was taken off the table once her husband began facing health problems. And if my lawyer cousin was hoping to rush back to her career, she and her husband certainly did an odd thing by adopting a baby from overseas. So, what’s on their mind? The few times I spoke to them in the past, I heard neither frustration nor elation relating to their career (or absence of it); rather, they were concerned with raising their children to be conscientious and generous human beings who take their faith seriously.

The way women (i.e., families) deal with the tension between work and home won’t always look the same—on occasion it’s the man who becomes a stay-at-home dad—because of variables not under their control, extenuating circumstances, or even lifestyle choices that are reasonable. What’s important amid this tension is that “on [God] we . . . set our hope that He will continue to deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:9b) from life’s many challenges, including, “train[ing] up a child in the way he should go; [so] even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Ultimately, whether to get married or to have kids is a personal decision to be made amid much prayer. But once we have children, the responsibility of raising them falls on those who decided to have them. And the goal of Christian parenting isn’t to raise our children to be the next Bill Gates or Sheryl Sandbergs, but individuals who love God and fear Him. There is no work more valued, vital and difficult than that; and without being on our knees, it’s not possible.

Prayer: Lord, as a man, forgive me for not appreciating all the heavy lifting our women do in order to keep everyone in the family alive! We pray for the women in our lives, that they would stop every now and then to be able to hear Your approval of them in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 8

Tomorrow’s Blog: “‘The Marriage Still Ain’t Equal’ but for a Different Reason Than Mrs. Obama’s”

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 18:1-3:

After this Pau left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

Acts 16:12-15:

And from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Ruth 2:7:

“She [Ruth] said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

Questions to Consider

Note that what’s addressed in the morning devotion is a class-bound discussion—meaning, it is an issue encountered mostly by women with means and options, and not necessarily those who have no choice but to work to put food on the table. Wendy Kaminer, a former board member of ACLU, once put it this way: “Why do some young women on Ivy League campuses, among the most privileged people on the globe, feel oppressed? Why does more middle-and upper-class whites feel oppressed than among lower-income women and girls, of color?”

Three women are seen in the three passages we read above. What do they have in common? What are they all doing?
Some teach that mothers with kids should stay home to raise them. Yes, that is ideal and part of the biblical picture, but what about those mothers who really don’t have that choice? Are the two Acts passages clear about the sociofamilial status of Priscilla and Lydia? What if they were married or single-parents with kids? Do you think women like Ruth, who lived in an ancient agrarian society, never joined others in sowing and harvesting after she became a mother? What do you think? If she did work, then, what would that mean?
You are a professional man or woman with kids at home. You have a big house, nice cars and plenty of money in the bank. One income is not going to wipe you out, especially if you lower your living standard. Now God’s Word says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim. 6:6-8). It further says that one of the good deeds we can do is “bringing up children.” We are not necessarily talking about breaking God’s principle here (i.e., sins leading to both short- and long-term consequences) but not heeding God’s precepts (i.e., unwise choices leading to long-term repercussions). Your move.

Note

They all worked to make a living: Ruth was a day-laborer, Priscilla was a skilled worker, and Lydia was a business owner catering to high-end clientele (indicated by selling purple goods).
My point is that not every father or mother can afford to stay home to take care of the children, because they just don’t have the financial means to do it. I, as a pastor, need to teach God’s principles and precepts (see question 3) on this matter and let the parents prayerfully and honestly make their decisions, but with God’s kingdom and children’s best interest in mind. The final decision may look different from family to family.
Really personal response.

Evening Reflection

Are you married with kids? The best you can do for them is to pray consistently for them. If that has not been your practice, do it right now and then do it every day from here and out. Are you aspiring to be the next Sheryl Sandberg? While I don’t know much about her, one thing I do know is that she abruptly lost her husband over a freak accident—another reminder of how brittle and fleeting life can be. Yes, do all that you can to prepare for a robust career, but remember to heed what King Solomon, who had it all to his great disappointment, declared at the end: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth . . . The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccles. 12:1, 13).

January 6, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Mother’s Costly Obedience”

Luke 2:19

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Due to medical issues, six years went by before we had our first child; we named him Nathaniel, meaning a gift of God. I consider motherhood one of life’s greatest privileges and blessings because it is through motherhood God taught and matured me about His unconditional and sacrificial love to a whole new level. As I age, my appreciation for maternal love has deepened exponentially with each passing year. I wonder then what it was like for Mary to raise her son Jesus.

Mary knew, from the time she supernaturally conceived Jesus, that her firstborn was no ordinary child since there were several unusual encounters surrounding her son’s birth: the angel Gabriel’s announcement of her divine conception; the celebration by her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John; special visits from the wise men who came to worship the baby Jesus and the shepherds, to rejoice over him; and the confirmation of Christ’s Messiahship by Simeon and Anna. Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart throughout her son’s life.

She knew her son was special, and God was going to use him greatly to bring about the redemption of the world. But it was beyond her understanding what it would ultimately cost her son to become the savior of the world: opposition, hatred, loneliness, rejection, betrayal, imprisonment, and finally, execution.

As her son’s journey to fulfill his life mission increasingly took unexpected turns and became a mother’s worst nightmare, I wonder whether Mary’s mother’s heart and protective instinct tempted her to stop Jesus from going to the cross. If she did, the Bible doesn’t say; instead, she supported him and stood by his side until the very end. She followed him to Calvary and watched him take his last breath underneath the cross. As a mom, I simply cannot imagine how Mary’s heart must have suffered and shattered for her son.

Yet, I can trace her inner strength back to the young Mary who thirty years before made a wholehearted commitment to be God’s servant without any hesitation, reservation, or condition. The intuitive, perceptive Mary understood that she was not alone in enduring her son’s death; her heavenly Father’s heart wept and broke with hers, because the only way to redeemed the world was through the sacrificial death of the Son of God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God’s ultimate plan of salvation was fulfilled through a mother with a childlike faith and a costly obedience. As we begin 2019, may we boldly ask God to develop in us a strong faith that keeps on saying yes to Jesus with all that we have even when things become difficult or costly to follow.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for the blessing of my children. Help me to always remember that they are Yours first and foremost. Help me to be a godly mother like Mary who loves You and follows You wholeheartedly. We recognize that motherhood is a stewardship entrusted by You. Empower me by your Spirit, to be faithful to bring them up to know you, love You, follow You. Loosen my grip on their lives to follow you wholeheartedly without hesitation, reservation and condition. By Your grace alone, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 7

Tomorrow’s Blog by Pastor Ryun: “Eavesdropping on Conversation between Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama.”

January 5, Saturday

Read this version.

January 5, Saturday

The AMI Spiritual Food for Thought for the weekend of January 5-6 is provided by Mei Lan Thallman who is currently serving as a staff at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia. Mei Lan, originally from Taiwan, is a graduate of Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary (M.A.) in Kentucky. She and her husband Pastor Kirt have two children, Nate and Naomi

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Serving Jesus”

Luke 1:38

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

In preparation for the past advent season, I was struck by Mary’s character, childlike trust and deep faith in God. Though just a teenager, she displayed maturity beyond her years. And while tracing the progression of her life recorded in Scripture, I, as a child of God, and a wife and mother, have been convicted and challenged by her example.

First, her response to angel Gabriel’s visit and revelation—“I am the Lord’s servant”—revealed an identity strongly rooted in God. Before the visit, she was a daughter, fiancée, and a member of her community; but now she was first and foremost God’s child and servant. Evidently, she grew up in a family that had nurtured her faith in God, which led to having an intimate personal relationship with Him. Thus, having recognized God’s voice and leading, she trusted Him with unconditional surrender and submission to His will, believing that God could fulfill His yet-unknown plan for her life. God’s redemptive plan was made in eternity past, and now she would be called upon to serve a crucial role in bringing it about; she responded with a wholehearted surrender to His sovereign will without any hesitation.

Mary was willing to do whatever God asked of her because she understood that the primary purpose of her life was loving and serving God above all else. She trusted God as her defender who would be able to convince her future husband of the divine conception.

It’s easy to see why God chose and entrusted both Joseph and Mary to be Jesus’ earthly parents. Individually and as a couple, they made a conscious choice to love God above themselves and each other. They were willing to put Him and His plans above their own and make necessary adjustments and sacrifices to be obedient to His leading. So they deferred the consummation of their marriage and humbly embraced and endured the journey to Bethlehem and later to Egypt.

As I reflected on Mary and Joseph’s life, I see a sharp contrast from my own. With all my heart I want to love God; yet, when push comes to shove my response to God’s own plan is more often self-centered rather than God-centered. When I was confronted with uncertainties of my future, and as I struggled with making necessary but risky changes to my life, I tended to retreat in doubt and fear rather than move forward with a firm faith, and say “Yes” to Jesus continuously without reservation, hesitation and condition.

Praise God that in those moments of questions and doubts, He reminded me that the secret to faith is found in Christ Jesus who now lives within me. God already knows that I can never love and serve him wholeheartedly on my own, no matter how sincere my desires are. In my own strength and effort, I am guaranteed to fail. But with Jesus all things are possible. In Him I can rest assured by trusting Him and entrust my all to Him one moment, one step at a time.

Prayer: God, please help me to begin 2019 with Mary’s heart and obedience. I am a servant to the Holy Spirit; please help me (and my family) to center my life around You and make necessary adjustments to do Your will above my own. God, I know I cannot do this without Your help, bring me to a place of total surrender to Your control and plan for my life. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 5-6

January 4, Friday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“One Trait Women Don’t Share with Men”

1 Thessalonians 2:7

“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.”

In the Wednesday blog I said some things that might have alarmed some readers: “While many social roles and responsibilities are mutually inclusive between the two sexes, they do not always perform at the same level relating to certain tasks attributable to differences in physicality and to a lesser extent, psychology.” Perhaps it was yet another attempt made by a male to put women in their traditional place, even justifying inequality in the workplace in terms of pay and promotion.

That, of course, wasn’t my intent; however, what is undeniable is how differences in physicality and psychology between the two sexes may affect their performances in the workplace. For instance, while a female soldier, on any given day, can outperform male soldiers, the latter, on average, will outdo female soldiers with tasks requiring strength and durability for the simple reason that, on average, men are bigger and stronger. While pointing that out seems self-evident, how differences in character traits between the sexes affect their job performances may be neither as clear nor easy to talk about.

So then, which set of character traits between the sexes are valued in today’s feminism? Recall that, according to a study cited in Psychology Today, women were found to be more sensitive, warm and apprehensive, and men, more stable emotionally, dominant and rule-conscious. Some years back, a female soccer player at the collegiate level drew heavy criticism after yanking an opponent to the field by her ponytail. A woman columnist defended her rough playing by insisting that no one would have batted an eye if the player was male. The same logic was used to defend Serena Williams’ “furious rant” at the chair umpire during the 2018 US Open Final. To my own shame, watching Serena’s rage reminded me of what I did to people close to me at times–it was a type of “anger [that] does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:20 NIV). However, several observers, including the tennis legend Billie Jean King, praised Serena’s actions, saying that Williams “was right to speak her mind, to put a voice to the injustice.” Perhaps King would exonerate me as well since my rage at home was always triggered by my intent (real or imagined) to right the wrongs done by others. It appears then that aggressiveness associated with males is valued among some women as a key to success.

It is in this context that what Simone de Beauvoir, a pioneer of modern feminism, said is telling: “Women should not be judged to be equal only insofar as they are like men . . . Women and men are different”—in other words, women don’t need to act like men to succeed. Jeanne Deroin, another French feminist from an earlier era, would have agreed, when she declared, “Women are less selfish than men because as mothers, they know how to care for others. Because women are less selfish than men, they are well qualified to participate in public life.”

What Deroin alludes to is the maternal instinct, and while cultural conditions can affect its cultivation, its root is entirely biological, for no male can ever experience the nine months of pregnancy, the pain of giving birth, and the bonding relationship built during the first years of nursing. While on any given day, a stay-at-home dad can be a better nurturer than stay-at-home mothers, on average, women are better at “taking care of her own children” because they possess a maternal instinct, an innate trait unique to females mainly due to their physical makeup. Some women readers are probably suspicious of where I’m headed: Is he going to say, “Therefore, be stay-at-home-mothers”? Of course, it isn’t as simple as that in real life, which I will address in later blogs; for now, consider how maternal instincts can be powerfully utilized in the workplace.

For Serena Williams, arguably the greatest female tennis player ever, her workplace is the tennis court; and she was having a terrible day at work during the women’s singles final. But Williams, a new mother, upon seeing her much younger opponent Naomi Osaka (by 16 years) who had beaten her for the championship, crying amid a booing pro-Serena crowd during the awards ceremony, “intervened,” writes BBC sports writer, “as her maternal instinct kicked in. ‘Let’s not boo anymore,’’ she pleaded. “Congratulations, Naomi. No more booing.” Perhaps, this is what maternal instinct bestowed on a competitive coworker having a bad day of her own looks like.

Truth be told, women’s success in the workplace and public life without emulating men can only happen under one condition: the removal of any barrier that limits what women can do without needing to act like men. For that to happen, character traits such as sensitivity, warmth and unselfishness need to be valued along with other characteristics associated with success (e.g., working hard—Prov. 14:23). The Scripture says it like this: “In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3a-4).

So I say to young women who aspire to be the next Sheryl Sandberg or Nikki Haley, remember that the maternal instinct is not a social construct invented by chauvinistic men to keep women down; rather, it is a gift of God for you to nurture and protect not only our own children, but also those who are being booed at your school, work, and even church. What a privilege! Use it.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the women in our lives. While we praise You for our mothers who, after giving birth, sacrificially nursed us, we also thank You for the presence of women in all walks of life because their sensitivity and selflessness make our world a better place. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 4

Monday’s Blog: “Eavesdropping on Conversation between Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama.” (The weekend blogs will be provided by Mei Lan Thallman.)

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 66:13:

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Luke 13:34-35:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Hosea 2:8:

“And she [Israel] did not know that it was I [God] who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.”

Questions to Consider

Since “God is spirit” (Jn. 4:24), and “spirit does not have flesh and bones (Lk. 24:39),” it is safe to say that God is neither male nor female. Though the masculine pronoun is used to signify, among other things, God’s sovereign leadership in the Bible, there are some biblical references that depict God’s maternal instinct.

What aspects of the maternal instinct are spoken of in these two passages?
What is humanity’s typical response to God’s maternal caring for us? What does God do when we do that?
How has God revealed Himself to you as a hen that gathers her brood under her wings?”

Note

Isaiah 66:13 speaks of mother’s comfort bestowed on her child, Luke 13:35 speaks of mothers protecting their children from impending dangers, and in 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Paul’s thoughts reflect a nurturing heart of God who gently cares for His children.
Humanity often rejects God’s offer of nurture and protection, choosing to go its own way. But God, like a caring mother, continues to provide for those who continue to reject Him.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Let’s wrap up this day with another biblical reference that captures the hearts of parents for their children. 2 Corinthians 12:14-15 says, “Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” Here, once again, the apostle Paul captures the heart of God as he tries to love the Corinthians with this parental/maternal love. Meditate on this passage and offer up a praise of thanksgiving to the Lord for loving us so dearly.

January 3, Thursday

Please read this updated version.

January 3, Thursday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“What Do You Say When Your Child Says I Feel Like a Boy/Girl?”

Ephesians 2:12 (ESV)

“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ . . . having no hope and without God in the world.”

Romans 15:7 (NIV)

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Upon learning about “Klinefelter syndrome”—an abnormal male genetic condition—I wondered whether a character called “Klinger” from the old ‘70s hit TV show M.A.S.H. was maybe named to sound like this syndrome. Sergeant Klinger, desperately seeking a military discharge, habitually wore women’s clothing to feign mental illness. Affecting one in every five hundred male births, those affected have an extra X chromosome in addition to the normal male match XY in the 23rd chromosome that determines sex. They are “phenotypically males but with tendency toward femaleness” (e.g., enlarged breasts, underdeveloped body hair, long legs and hands, etc.). Then there is “Turner Syndrome” that affects 1 in 2500 females. Missing the X in the usual female pair of XX, the adult females “have virtually no ovaries, lack most sexual characteristics and are sterile.” I am not certain what portion of those people who struggle with transsexual tension actually come from those who have these syndromes; perhaps some; in fact, there may be other physical factors more pronounced behind transsexuality. Whatever the case may be, these conditions are predispositional, not predeterminate—meaning that environmental pull, including, on the one hand, the plodding from influential institutions, and on the other, traumas, is still necessary for anybody among those affected to identify themselves as the opposite sex. In fact, a physician related to me that for some, their transsexual struggle is entirely due to having suffered traumatic events.

But enough about the exact science of these conditions. How do we minister to people afflicted with looking one way while feeling another? If most of you are like me, who have never struggled with sexual identity, we hardly know how those genuinely struggle with this feel; but, looking wistfully to our own past, perhaps we can recall a moment that can bring us closer to understanding their pains. While obviously I could never truly identify with how they must feel, I imagine that it can be a bit like how I felt at my predominantly white college in Virginia, where I began to feel very self-conscious about Asian physical features. My self-loathing for my Asian-ness was so intense that more than once I would hate myself for it. Looking one way but feeling another, I wanted to be white on the outside so much. Once, to appear like my taller Caucasian friends, I carved out the sole of an old shoes and stuck it inside my Nike high tops to gain an inch. Before long I was so enslaved to appearing taller that I couldn’t go anywhere without wearing those shoes.

Later, while studying at UCLA, I met a professor of clinical psychology, Stanley Sue (of Chinese descent), whose study of Asian-Americans with similar experiences as mine identified them as “marginal men,” to whom rejecting their Asian heritage in order to be accepted by whites is the key to happiness. That was once me when I was young, unsure of myself, and easily influenced. Pejoratively dubbed as a “banana”—yellow on the outside, white on the inside—I often felt frustrated, anxious, and hyper-sensitive when people didn’t perceive me the way I preferred. I wonder if that’s anything remotely similar to how young men or women who want to identify themselves as the opposite sex feel. That’s my own story, and I would gently tell it to those struggling with how they appear on the outside versus how they feel inside, to convey that I empathize, however tangentially, with them.

I’d then point out that the rejection of our own selves stems from the brokenness within, because of our willful separation from our Creator for wanting to live independently from His guidance (Rom. 3:11-12). Then I’ll share the following from my heart: Thirty-eight years removed from those miserable days, I haven’t struggled with that sort of confusion for a long time. How? First, at age 20, my Creator found me. It was a powerful encounter that began the process of accepting myself the way God uniquely made me. Second, I found a Christian community in which my worth wasn’t tied to my looks or ability but to Christ’s unconditional acceptance of us; so I was accepted on that basis, and in time I ditched the shoes. Third, my maturation in Christ gradually helped me take my eyes off myself, and instead focus on others who felt alienated from themselves, because they were separated from their Maker.

This is how I’d speak to those confused over their sexuality, who believe that self-acceptance and happiness are waiting to be found through becoming someone else. Now find your own story, and share with those who feel the same way.

Prayer: Father, we are living in an time where the foundations that You established are being brought down by otherwise intelligent people who may be acting very foolishly. We fear for our children and their future. Lord, we cannot do it. Help us! Help our kids! Please. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 3

Tomorrow’s Blog: “One Trait Women Don’t Share with Men”

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:2:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Proverbs 22:24-25:

“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”

Proverbs 22:6:

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Questions to Consider

What do these three passages assume about human behavior?
What is one factor the parents hold to increase the possibility that their children will walk in the Lord and uphold biblical values later in life?
Is a positive outcome guaranteed if the parents diligently ply themselves to “train up a child in the way he should go?” If not, then, what are we do to?

Note

These passages imply that our cultural condition, including pop culture, peer groups and authority figures, can and will affect how we live, even our personality and faith.
Parents can control the environment in which their children grow up. Wise parenting discerns good influences from bad, so that their children are given every opportunity not to conform to secular beliefs and values, and model behaviors that are unhealthy and harmful.
Ultimately, human behaviors are not formulaic, meaning nothing we do guarantees a positive outcome. To believe otherwise is to uphold positivism, a belief that applying observed facts about human behavior that elicit happiness will always produce harmony and order. This may work with pets, but not with inherently sinful humans endowed with freewill. Despite even a perfect upbringing, at any given moment one bad choice can undo much of good parenting.

Evening Reflection

How was your day? Did something happen today that reminded you of your brokenness from within? Yes, the believers can still experience brokenness, because we are both sinners and righteous at the same time. Observing from my own life, I’d describe brokenness as feeling self-condemning, shameful, lonesome, etc. How would you describe it from your own experience? Whether it is the same or different from mine, its short and long-term resolution is the same. The Hebrews writers puts it like this: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15). Shall we go to God right now?

January 2, Wednesday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Real Issue Looming over Sexual Identity and Gender ~~Identity~~ Roles”

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Psalms 139:14

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Meet French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir (1908-86), a pioneer of modern feminism, who once declared, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Her outlook would serve as a forerunner to modern conceptions of gender, including Harvard’s own policy on identity: “We understand that gender identity can be expressed in a variety of ways.” Its unmistakable message: Since “sexual identity is determined not by biology but by cultural condition” (Colson), one can choose their own sex/gender. This, however, isn’t the real issue in modern feminism except for relatively few who struggle with sexual identity due to their genetic predisposition (discussed tomorrow). When the smoke of politics clears, several questions regarding the nature of gender and sex still remain to be answered.

The first question is whether sexual identity is fixed or fluid. The reason that question is even raised is because sexual identity and gender are deemed as synonymous terms. While they are certainly related, they shouldn’t represent the same thing. Whereas sexual identity is a biological distinction between male and female (thus, fixed), gender goes better with social roles attributed to the two sexes, which Beauvoir certainly thinks are fluid. And once these terms are fused as synonyms, fluidity associated with gender roles is transferred to sexual identity, which, then, is looked upon as fluid as well. But while gender roles may be fluid, no cultural condition can change the biological reality that, first, the 23rd chromosome pair for male and female, except in rare occasions, is always XY and XX, respectively; second, females have ovaries while males have testes; third, females have more estrogen than males, and males have more testosterone than females. That’s just for starters—there are other physiological differences between the two sexes accepted by nearly everyone. So when Scripture declares that God created “male and female” (Gn. 1:27), it means, among other things, the two sexes are biologically distinct.

The second question is whether physiological differences between the two sexes generate distinctive character traits (i.e., psychology). The answer is yes. A 2012 Psychology Today article, citing a study based on over 10,000 samples, states, “Women scored much higher than in men in Sensitivity, Warmth, and Apprehension, while men scored higher than women in Emotional Stability, Dominance, Rule-Consciousness, and Vigilance.” And this is why Beauvoir states, “Women should not be judged to be equal only insofar as they are like men . . . Women and men are different.”

This then brings us to the final question—and the issue at heart: Can gender roles at home and in the workplace change with the passing of time despite biological and psychological differences between the sexes? Put differently, do these differences between males and females mandate what roles each sex should play in society? For instance, are women better suited physically and psychologically than men to raise children (thereby becoming stay-at-home mothers), or can men do that just as well? Can women serve in combat roles and perform, on average, at the same level as men? Can men work as nurses in the military just as effective as women? (Note that men were allowed back to serve as military nurses only in 1955.) In the church, can women preach over men despite Scriptures that say or seemed to say otherwise (1 Tim. 2:11-12; 1 Cor. 14:34-35)?

What would Beauvoir say? First and foremost, she does not mean that there is no biological or psychological distinction between male and female. To believe otherwise is to ignore the warning in Proverbs 22:28: “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” The landmark represents, according to a commentator, “the inviolability of the sacred order established by God.” When a society ignores God’s basic order by asserting that sexual identity is fluid (thus, calling a boy a “she” and vice versa), it distorts the mindset of the vulnerable and will cause a long-term harm that outweighs any short-term happiness for some.

What Beauvoir means is that the existing cultural condition is discouraging women from assuming sociopolitical roles traditionally held by men. It’s a valid question that demands answers without having to mangle English grammar. So can cultural condition affect gender roles regardless of biological and psychological differences between the sexes? If a girl is given a gun, would that condition her to be more aggressive or assertive, thereby becoming, in a manner of speaking, a leader instead of a follower? If a boy is given a doll, would that condition him to be more passive and pliant, thereby becoming a follower instead of a leader?

Essentially, we come back to the nature vs. nurture debate. In general, a sensible answer is a combination of both. My specific answers, which are expounded in later blogs, are as follows: first, women should be encouraged to pursue whatever vocational choices deemed fit for themselves, and society should remove any barriers to that end. If this seems to suggest that gender roles in the work place are fluid and can be culturally conditioned, you are right. Second, while many social roles and responsibilities are mutually inclusive between the two sexes, they do not always perform at the same level relating to certain tasks attributable to differences in physicality and to a lesser extent, psychology. Third, regarding the women’s role in the church, the reality is that women must navigate with grace between two schools of thoughts: complementarianism that upholds mutually exclusive yet complimentary roles between the two sexes, and egalitarianism that sees their roles as being equal (e.g., preaching and teaching).

Meanwhile, we should “be sympathetic” (1 Pet. 3:3 NIV) with those who genuinely struggle with looking one way while feeling quite another. But rather than calling a boy a “she” and vice versa, I would greet the affected person with, “Hello, the one who is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Ps. 139:14). How are you?” And I’ll figure out a way to turn that into a third person pronoun.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of life and allowing us to receive so many undeserving privileges by virtue of living in the West. Before I think of myself as a woman (or man), I am a child of God—remind me, therefore, to not only live my new life in You, but to share it with those men and women who are still living without the hope in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 2

Tomorrow’s Blog: “What Do You Say When Your Child Says, ‘I Feel Like a Boy/Girl’?”

Lunch Break Study

Read Judges 21:25:

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

1 Kings 12:25-31:

“Then Jeroboam [the first king of Northern Kingdom—Samaria being its capital] built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.”

1 Kings 17:6:

“In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Questions to Consider

Many people in our world are doing what is right in their own eyes; those who advocate that sexual identity is determined by cultural condition certainly are doing that. Now look at what Jeroboam did—in what ways he also did what was right in his own eyes?
What is the ulterior motive that drove this king to completely ignore God’s sacred order?
What became of the Northern Kingdom? That is to say, what is the final outcome of a society that defies God’s inviolable order, whether spiritual or sociocultural?

Note

King Jeroboam did two things to radically alter the sacred order established by God with respect to temple worship (essential to fostering the covenant relationship between God and Israel). First, he replaced the center of worship from Jerusalem to Bethel and Dan; second, whereas God had decreed that only Levites could become priests, Jeroboam chose anyone he deemed right in his own eyes.
His reason for breaking with God’s sacred order is obvious: he was afraid that when his citizens go to Jerusalem (the capital of Southern Kingdom) to observe their temple duties, they might desire to side with his rival kingdom, thereby losing his own kingdom. It was to safeguard his own personal and political interest.
The Northern Kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C. after about 150 years of existence. All empires of the past have fallen—and the quicker they defy God’s sacred order, the quicker and swifter their demise will be. Psalm 9:17 says, “The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.”

Evening Reflection

We began the day talking about biological and psychological differences between males and females. I think it behooves us to wrap up this day with this question: Men, how do you view women? Is your default mode to objectify them? They are not things but humans who bear God’s wonderful image.

Women, how do you view men? Is your default outlook to see them as chauvinistic, insensitive, even predatorial humans? The MeToo movement has sadly exposed that many men are still behaving very badly. The next time you witness such actions or someone defending them, tell them, “Stop, in the name of Jesus; I will not allow you to demean a child of God like this.” If you have been a victim, then I would pray that you find healing in Christ and strength to forgive the perpetrator at some point. At the same, please do not be given to think that all men are looking to take advantage of women—many of us follow Christ who admonishes husbands to “love their wives as their own bodies” (Eph. 5:28a).

If you are married, pray with your spouse right now. For the rest, pray for members of the opposite sex whether at home, work or church.

January 1, Tuesday

Extended Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Culturally Sensitive and Biblically Valid Response When They Say . . .”

Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

1 Peter 3:15b (NIV)

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect . . .”

Last year one of my children sent me the biographical information section in a Harvard application, thinking it would amuse me. It sure did, for the application states, “We understand that gender identity can be expressed in a variety of ways.” Each applicant is then given several choices for personal pronoun to identify one’s gender, some of which include: “his,” “hers,” “zim,” “they” and “theirs.” If language is indeed a representational system, then what these pronouns are made to signify fails to convey the right meaning. If grammar still counts for something, using third person singular or plural pronouns to stand for first person singular subject is incorrect, no matter how one feels inside.

So what would happen when the protocol of calling a student by his or her preferred gender is not complied, at least in public schools? A Virginia high school teacher was recently fired for not calling a transgender student by personal pronouns preferred by the latter. The principal who did the firing said, “I can’t think of a worse way to treat a child;” the fired teacher said his Christian faith kept him from addressing the student as a male who had been previously identified as female the year before.

Upon seeing these seismic sociocultural changes, I wonder what E. V. Hill, the late African-American pastor from Los Angeles who spoke at my college’s commencement ceremony in 1984, would say today. Whatever disturbing changes Hill witnessed 35 years ago prompted him to quote Psalms 11:3 in his speech: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” In no uncertain terms, the changes back then pale in comparison to what’s going down today. Make no mistake: What we are witnessing today (e.g., redefining marriage and family, extreme tribalism that breaks with e pluribus unum, i.e., “out of many, one,” etc.) is the deconstruction of most fundamental building blocks of any society, let alone Western, established by God (Ps. 24:1).

So then, what do we say to our kids when they think that their parents are as unkind as this teacher for being concerned more about, among other things, repercussions from such a drastic cultural shift than transgender people’s feelings? What do we say to our coworkers or classmates who think that we are simply intolerant and hateful when we break with politically correctness? If there ever was a time for believers to heed Jesus’ words—“Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”—it’s now in what is already a post-Christian America in the academia, media and Hollywood. Truth be told, sociopolitical views of Christians who are enamored with social justice than the justice of God (Rom. 1:17), are affected more by the trifecta of these leading institutions, which disproportionately shape the public discourse, than the Bible, which they read selectively.

Here, Jesus underscores the importance of being tactful—“be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” (Col. 4:5a)—while not “distort[ing] the word of God . . . by setting forth the truth plainly” (2 Cor. 4:2). If our responses err on the side of being culturally tone-deaf and insensitive, then it would greatly diminish our credibility and relevancy when appealing to secular and post-Christian world with the gospel; in fact, they will turn hostile. However, if our responses misrepresent God’s eternal truth, which does not change with time, then we would end up with a flawed message that does more harm—both spiritual and social—than good to what is fast becoming a rudderless and anchorless America.

Therefore, plan to join me in January to think critically on several sociocultural matters, so that we are “always be prepared to give [culturally sensitive and biblically valid] answer” (1 Pet. 3:15) to those who undermine God’s established order. We must try for the sake of our children and those around us who are indifferent or hostile to Scripture and biblical worldview. We need to clear out these roadblocks so that they can clearly hear the gospel: “That [they] may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing [they] may have life in his name” (Jn. 20:31). Make 2019 a year of reaching out to the lost and confused.

Prayer: Father, perhaps every generation has felt this way, but I believe we are living in the most unhinged moment when everything You placed in order is being questioned and discarded. It concerns me and frightens me at the same time. Give me wisdom, knowledge and boldness to be a culturally sensitive, as well as being a biblically correct witness in a world that no longer fears You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 1

Tomorrow’s Blog: “The Real Issue Looming over Sexual Identity and Gender Identity Roles”

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 3:15-16:

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

Questions to Consider

In ancient Rome, people looking for anything to malign Christians slandered them as being immoral (e.g., incestuous on account of loving brothers and sisters; cannibals for eating the flesh of Jesus) and unpatriotic. In view of that, what are some unflattering things that are said to the Bible believing Christians today? What have you heard?

What are we told to do in anticipation of being slandered by the world against our Christian faith?

What does Paul assume that may happen when the person wondering about our faith hears our reasonable responses? What does that imply for us at the personal level?

Note

Typical charges are: “homophobic” for Christian’s dissenting view on same-sex marriage; “Islamophobic” for correlating terrorism to certain segments within global Islam; “xenophobic” or even “racist” for not supporting illegal immigration and an open border, “closed-minded” or “unenlightened” for upholding the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, etc.

The apostle Paul commands the believers to preemptively prepare adequate responses in anticipation of questions raised by both earnest seekers and slanderers of the Christian faith. This command demands studying on our part. We are also told to respond in a gentle and respectful manner.
In verse 17 Paul assumes that those asking questions will not be satisfied and therefore continue to slander. In response, we are told to “suck it up” for Christ, that is, suffer for Christ for having done what is right, not because we have done something criminal. Elsewhere Jesus says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (Jn. 15:18).

Evening Reflection

A psalmist laments, saying, “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’” (Ps. 79:10a); “My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (Ps. 42:3).

As you look back to all that you heard or read today, do you recall anything that slanders the character of God the Father, Jesus the Son and Scripture itself. How does your typical response to these things say about your own faith? If you aren’t offended by this (not to suggest, therefore, you should do something extreme or violent in response), then, what does that mean?

While reflecting on this question, ask the Lord to reveal to you whether you are being wise? Commit yourself to equipping yourself with culturally sensitive and biblically correct responses to better represent God’s interest in the world.