August 19, 2024
AUGUST 25 STUDY | THOUGHTFUL RELATIONSHIPS
God sent Malachi to Israel to warn them that they were not stewarding thoughtful relationships at home or keeping an eye on their doctrine.
Articles for tag: divorce
July 22, 2024
July 28 Study | She Brought Joy
The Jews thwarted their enemies, and the events that Purim celebrates also propelled Esther and Mordecai into even more significant positions of authority . . .
June 9, 2022
Throwback Thursday: Issues Facing the Restoration Movement (1982)
Forty years ago, Christian Standard's editor polled readers on the "most crucial" issues facing the Restoration Movement. He promised to steer editorial content toward the themes considered most important. The results were announced June 13, 1982 . . .
September 2, 2021
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Is Divorce the Unpardonable Sin?’
“In churches of Christ and Christian churches, is divorce the unpardonable sin?” Judy Norris asked in this column from 1980. "Have we become so Pharisaical that our own self-righteousness causes us to negate love?"
March 5, 2020
Regret for a Preacher Turned Sociologist
This editorial from 1910 is—more than anything else—a comparison and commentary on the career choices of Disciples of Christ minister turned sociologist James P. Lichtenberger. The editorial also shares a rather amusing anecdote. Lichtenberger (1870—1953), a native of Illinois, preached in churches from 1896 to 1908 before earning a doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University in 1909, according to the website of the American Sociological Association (www.asanet.org). Lichtenberger served as a professor with the University of Pennsylvania the balance of his career, and in 1922 was president of the American Sociological Society (later changed to Association). Lichtenberger penned Divorce: A
May 10, 2017
It Takes More Than a Village
By Paul E. Boatman In a rapidly changing culture, Christians look for a foundation for healthy life. We can”t ignore what”s happening around us. But we can decide how to handle our homes. Family! This oldest of all institutions of God stirs amazingly conflicted images in the current American cultural climate. Some have Norman Rockwell-style family memories. Some view traditional family values as an evil to be fought and destroyed. Some enshrine idealized images of the family in a way that smacks of idolatry. Each of these perspectives may be found among leaders of American churches. Whatever one”s value perspective,
July 22, 2016
Carrying to Completion
By Earl Winfrey I can”t remember a time when church was not part of my life. I was baptized into Christ at 12 and felt the call to ministry and started pursuing a deeper knowledge of the Bible at the age of 14. Unfortunately, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd during my senior year of high school. I got married two weeks after graduation, and we had our baby five months after the wedding. For the first year and a half, I lived in denial, thinking my marriage was good. Then one day I woke up to find
August 10, 2015
7 Things Singles Want Their Pastors to Know
By Jennifer Johnson “¢ Please acknowledge that our culture is couple-focused. Many people still believe you”re incomplete””and you must be unhappy””if you”re not married. While many of us would like to be married, the fact that we aren”t doesn”t define who we are. We live in a culture that idealizes romantic love and feels sorry for those not in a relationship, but the church should have a richer perspective on each individual”s value in the body of Christ. It”s not your fault that our culture trends this way, but don”t let the church inadvertently reinforce it. “¢ We don”t mind
February 14, 2015
You Fight for What You Love
By Ryan Rasmussen My wife and I had recently moved across the country to Boulder, Colorado, in an attempt at a new life, a new ministry, and although unspoken, a fresh start to our relationship. We”d been married three years and had very little fruit to show from our commitment other than a 6-month-old daughter, who was the light in our darkness. I had accepted a student ministry position at a church in town and was excited about what God had in store for this new pastoral adventure. In the meantime, to supplement our income, my wife took a job
May 1, 2014
Six Myths About Divorce
By Paul E. Boatman “The Bible says. . . .” With that authoritative claim, many a sermon has articulated what sounds like a clear, scriptural doctrine. But the thoughtful Christian may observe that such assertions are often no more than opinions empowered by uncritical adoption of traditional, nonbiblical dogma. Several beliefs related to divorce are rooted in this blurring of mythology and doctrine. Myth 1: Divorce is a sin. This assertion seems self-evident. After all, Malachi quotes the Lord saying, “I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:16*). Further, Jesus takes his audience to task for their cavalier divorce practices (Matthew 5:31,
August 8, 2013
What About Marriage?
By Jim Street For the past 42 years, I have spoken these words in every wedding I have conducted: The sacred relationship of marriage was instituted by God. . . . The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God”s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Those words, or similar ones, derive from The Book of Common Prayer and have been in
February 26, 2013
Sticky Conversations: Divorce and Remarriage
THIS IS THE FIFTH AND FINAL IN A SERIES OF  “STICKY CONVERSATIONS” By Julie Gariss As commonplace as the ritual of divorce has become, it is still impossible to fully comprehend the pain that accompanies a broken marriage. That is especially true within the church. Divorces frequently are followed by remarriages. This pattern shows the deep desire by most adults to live in an intimate marriage relationship. And even though the second or third attempt may finally produce a healthy and whole union, the ghost of a marriage past still haunts. How should the church respond to the all-too-familiar cycle of divorce and
July 12, 2012
Discussions Just Begun
By Mark A. Taylor “Wherever two or three are gathered together . . . someone’s wrong!” That was one of a hundred one-liners Chonda Pierce delivered during her alternately hilarious and heart-touching monologue during the Thursday-night evening session at the North American Christian Convention in Orlando, July 12. Chonda hadn’t attended two special seminars I heard earlier that day. But each of them contained questions and ideas that at least someone in the church would call wrong. This is one more thing good about this year’s North American Christian Convention. It stretched us by challenging us with ideas we may
October 31, 2011
Lesson for Nov. 6, 2011: Living in Harmony with Others (Matthew 5:17-37)
This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 6) is written by David Eichenberger, a graduate of Lincoln (Illinois) Christian University who lives in Louisville, Kentucky. ____________ Living in Harmony with Others (Matthew 5:17-37) By David Eichenberger (Note to teachers: The italicized sections are questions designed to help involve your students in the learning process.) Â A much-quoted rhyme provides a fitting description of the challenge of living at peace with those around us: To dwell above with saints we love O, that will be glory; But to dwell below with those we know”” Well, that”s another
September 1, 2010
Growing Like Jesus: No Pain, No Gain
By LeRoy Lawson (LeRoy Lawson was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Lawson is international consultant with Christian Missionary Fellowship International, a CHRISTIAN STANDARD contributing editor and a member of Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee.) __________________ “No pain no gain, Dad. No pain no gain.” Our son Lane was in his teens. Both grandfathers had bequeathed good genes, and he was making the most of them. (I resent how those genes jumped right over my generation and landed in his.) He wasn”t tall but he was muscular””and eager to become even more
December 24, 2006
‘Tis the Season
Christmas awakens a restless longing in many—through perfectionism, loneliness, grief, or escape. Like the Magi, people seek what they can’t fully name. This reflection calls believers to notice that longing and reach out.
November 26, 2006
The Mysterious and Mighty Ways of God
A woman heads to a haircut ready to end a draining friendship—but a Spirit-led invitation changes everything. What follows is growth, leadership, and unexpected healing through a ministry to single moms.
