The question of whether it is wrong for men to exhibit effeminate characteristics or for women to exhibit masculine characteristics is an important one for Christians seeking to understand God’s design for gender and sexuality. This article will examine what the Bible teaches about gender roles, masculinity, femininity, and cultural conformity versus Christ-like transformation. God’s Design for Gender Roles According to Scripture, God intentionally created humans as male and female (Genesis 1:27). He gave the man and woman distinct yet complementary roles, purposes and traits (Genesis 2:18, 21-24; 1 Corinthians 11:7-9; 1 Timothy 2:12-13). Men were created to be husbands,…
Author: Tim Collings
The term “androgyny” refers to blending male and female characteristics or having an ambiguous gender identity. The Bible does not directly address the modern concept of androgyny, but it does have some things to say about gender and gender roles that may relate to this topic. God created humans male and female According to Genesis 1:27, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This affirms that God created two distinct biological sexes. Genesis 2:18-23 further emphasizes that woman was created as a “helper fit for him…
The prophecy concerning the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 has sparked much debate over whether it refers to Satan or not. On one side, some argue that the language describing the king’s perfection and being in Eden seems to go beyond any mere human king. On the other side, others contend that the entire prophecy is addressed to the king of Tyre and there is no explicit indication of a shift to address Satan. While there are good arguments on both sides, several factors suggest Ezekiel 28 does ultimately point to Satan. Overview of Ezekiel 28 Ezekiel 28 can…
Balak was a king of Moab who hired the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites as they traveled toward the promised land after their exodus from Egypt. Though Balak desperately tried to stop Israel from settling in the land near him, God turned Balaam’s intended curses into blessings for Israel instead. Balak’s story shows how no one can truly thwart God’s plans for His people. Balak’s First Appearance Balak is introduced in Numbers 22 during Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan. After defeating the Amorites, Israel was camped on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho…
The verse in question comes from 1 Corinthians 13, which is often referred to as the “Love Chapter” of the Bible. In this passage, the apostle Paul describes the attributes and importance of godly, agape love. He writes in verses 4-7: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV)…
The verse in question, 1 Corinthians 13:4, states that love “does not boast, it is not proud” (ESV). This is part of a larger passage describing the nature of godly, sacrificial love. So what does it mean that love “is not proud”? Let’s explore this concept in more depth. The Greek word for “proud” The original Greek word translated as “proud” here is περπερεύομαι (perpereuomai). This word means to brag, boast, or vaunt about oneself excessively. It conveys the idea of being puffed up with pride and speaking arrogantly. So this verse is saying that true biblical love does not…
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693 were a dark chapter in early American history, when paranoia and hysteria led to the execution of 20 innocent people accused of witchcraft. But what does the Bible have to say about witchcraft and the treatment of those accused? Here is an in-depth look at what the Scriptures teach. First, it is clear that the Bible condemns actual witchcraft and sorcery. Passages like Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Galatians 5:19-21, and Revelation 21:8 all mention witchcraft or sorcery as sinful practices. However, it is important to note that the “witchcraft” punished during the Salem Witch Trials was…
How can I see the hand of God moving in my life? God’s hand is at work in the lives of believers, guiding, protecting, and orchestrating events according to His will. While God’s actions are not always obvious, there are many ways Christians can recognize and reflect on how God directs their path. Discerning God’s Will The first step in seeing God’s hand at work is understanding His will. As Christians, we know that God desires our sanctification and spiritual growth (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). He has planned good works for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). He calls us to…
Easy believism is the view that salvation comes through mere intellectual assent to the gospel message without repentance from sin. It is a shallow or superficial understanding of the biblical gospel that requires little more from the sinner than an acknowledgment of Christ’s deity and confession of belief in His sacrifice on the cross. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith goes beyond mental agreement to trusting in Christ and His finished work on the cross as the sole basis for forgiveness of sins. Saving faith involves repentance from…
The prophet Malachi foretold that Elijah would return before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). This prophecy is confirmed by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:17, who told Zechariah that John the Baptist would go before Christ “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” John the Baptist was not literally Elijah reincarnated, but he ministered in the same spirit and power as Elijah. Still, the prophecy in Malachi 4 implies a future literal return of the actual prophet Elijah as well. Why is this return necessary? To Restore All Things In Matthew 17:10-11,…