Alison Armstrong has interesting things to say about male and female identity. Is it reflected in Scripture? What do the stories of Rahab, Esther, Caleb, Ruth, Abraham, Dinah and Uriah tell us about identity in the Bible? How does Genesis portray the sense of self of Adam and Eve?

Referenced in the Episode:

Alison Armstrong's Website

Modern Wisdom interview with Alison Armstrong

Are women called to tolerate their husbands? Put up with them? Is submit really the best translation of the Greek into English to convey our relationship to God, and to our husbands? I think there's a better way to illustrate this...

Referenced in the Episode:

How To Treat Men Better - Modern Wisdom interview with Alison Armstrong

What does submission actually mean? We look at two women who readily accepted what God asked of them, even when it was a devastating challenge to even consider. Too often we are ready with a "No" before God even speaks to us. How would our lives be different if we were ready with a "Yes"?

Referenced in the Episode:

Christ & Your Problems by Jay E. Adams

Are you accountable for your actions or do you rely on cheap grace? Accountability requires courage, as demonstrated by Christ himself.

Referenced in the Episode:

Hebrew word "HAYIL" in Scripture: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/chayil_2428.htm

Alison Armstrong Books:

The Queen's Code

Making Sense of Men

Understanding Women

The Amazing Development of Men

Celebrating Partnership

David Edgington Books:

White Knights and Reviling Wives

The Abusive Wife

Are you open to correction by others? Are you willing to be held accountable for your behavior? I'm not, and that is a huge problem. What's the answer? Maybe taking the book of Proverbs to heart.

After a Hannukah mass shooting perpetrated by Muslims in Australia, we revisit if Islam is compatible with the West? Is it even Abrahamic? Do "mean words" justify violence? Can Christians coexist with cultures that condone and encourage the rape of children?

Are we meant to live lives of ease and comfort? Are we meant to go through life numb and comfortable until we die? Are we supposed to be nice and gentle and never offend anyone? Scripture says no. We are to be alive, active, doing hard things, teaching difficult things, and not focused on our own comfort. We are not to embrace a numb, painless existence, but to pick up our cross and follow Christ.

We love to cherry pick Scripture, plucking it out of context, to fit our own ideas. Whether women can preach or teach is pretty clear in Scripture, but a bigger question is this: is preaching all that pastors do? Did the Reformation get the role of pastor/priest/elder/bishop wrong?

Why does Scripture constantly call us to gratitude? To remember God and all he has done for us? Why is the Eucharist (communion) a "thanksgiving" that we receive rather than give? Because the opposite of thankfulness is contempt, disdain, scoffing, ridicule, mockery, arrogance, and insecurity. Over and over Scripture warns us against this attitude of ingratitude that isolates us from both God and our fellow man. You cannot receive the blessings of God if you're looking down your nose at them.

Referenced:

Polyeleos: Traditional Hymn of Thanksgiving based on Psalm 135

The people you spend the most time with have a huge impact on shaping how you view the world. Christ broke bread with prostitutes and Pharisees, but his close circle was small: 12 disciples, 3 close friends, and a handful of family. All of those people, flawed but seeking for God, shared his core values and faith.

Also, a brief discussion on Raymond Ibrahim and his insights on Islam, the history of the Christian West, and our cultural amnesia.