They were quiet. They seemed content. They walked. Even through the harshest conditions, they walked.1 For 108 days, through ten states, from Fort Worth to Washington D.C., twenty-four Buddhist monks traveled about twenty miles per day. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of people quietly gathered to watch the monks walk and listened to speeches by the head monk Bhikkhu Paññākāra. The monks were quiet, so the onlookers were quiet. The monks were respectful, so the onlookers were respectful. There was (mostly) no shouting, no shoving, no signs of protest, no name-calling. Just peace… I think?

There is a reason why the Buddhist monk’s “Walk for Peace” has been resonating with so many people across the country. We live in a fast-paced culture. Our phones and social media keep us constantly connected. After a long, hard day of work (when it is finally time to rest) what do we do? We end up sorting through that day’s news… seeing stories of violence, war, political unrest, disturbing document releases, and/or our Facebook friends’ unhinged opinions. We are mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Then came the monks.

But what is it that these Buddhist monks were actually promoting? People were confused. Mama bears emailed us asking what to think. “Is this a mission that Christians can unite with them on? We’re not Buddhist. How do we process this with our kids?”

These are all excellent questions, and worth taking time to discuss. In this blog, we’re going to do a sort of “ROAR” through the kind of “peace” the Buddhist monks walked to promote. We’ll look at what we can agree with, and where it would be wise to offer some discernment.

OVERVIEW OF BUDDHIST “PEACE” VS. CHRISTIAN “PEACE”Let’s go over a quick breakdown of the distinctions between the monks’ message of peace and a biblical peace, and then we’ll elaborate:

In Buddhism, peace is found inherently within oneself.
In Christianity, peace is supplied by God for those who trust Him.
In Buddhism, peace is harmony in the mind, with people, and with nature.2
In Christianity, peace has a fuller meaning, encompassing ideas of wellness, completeness, and reconciliation with God.
In Buddhism, peace comes from practicing mindfulness.3
In Christianity, peace comes from a right relationship with God.

CLAIM #1: World peace starts within yourself. The monks insisted that world peace cannot be accomplished until individuals experience inner peace.

Where we agree: When we feel tranquil on the inside, we tend to promote harmony on the outside. When we’re a hot mess on the inside, our actions can be chaotic or destructive. Mama bears, you see this principle at work in your toddlers! Tantrums, hitting, throwing toys – that all comes out when there’s some kind of inner distress (caused by your audacity to ask them to share a toy with their sibling). Or consider the mantra “hurt people hurt people.” There’s truth to that! And conversely, people who are more internally secure are often the most pleasant people to be around. So to a degree, yes. The more we have a sense of inner peace, the more peaceful our world will be.

Where we differ: We have a different assumption about the origin of true peace. According to Bhikkhu Paññākāra, “We are not walking to bring peace to anyone. We are merely messengers to remind you that you already possess that peace and happiness, but you have forgotten it because you are busy chasing material things and the external world.”4 Did you notice something? The underlying assumption in this message is that every human has inherent peace within themselves. But this cannot be, because sin robs us of peace, and all have sinned.5 Peace comes from Christ. After describing His impending death and resurrection to his disciples, He told them, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

CLAIM #2: Mindfulness is the key to peace.“Of course to free peace, to unlock that box, we [are] supposed to have a key. And we must have that key to unlock it. And that key is mindfulness.”- Bhikkhu Paññākāra6

Mindfulness is a state of awareness of your inner world as well as your surroundings. People who practice mindfulness are encouraged to meditate and do breathing exercises in order to train themselves to be present. By putting all of your focus on one present thing, you are not focusing on the future or on all the things that cause stress and anxiety.

Where we agree: Bhikkhu Paññākāra’s preaching of mindfulness was centered around our society’s seemingly inability to slow down. Are our over-scheduled calendars and addiction to doom scrolling contributing to our lack of peace? Absolutely! We can agree with the monks that taking daily time to intentionally quiet the noise of the outside world is a good, healthy, way to quiet the noise on this inside. In fact, consider the weekly Sabbath rest that God had, not suggested, but commanded the Israelites to observe. Why? Jesus explained that the Sabbath was not just another rule but was meant to be a benefit for the people (Mark 2:27). Not only did the Sabbath provide rest for God’s people, but it taught them to trust in His provision. And the Bible consistently teaches us to control what our minds dwell on: Do not worry about things you need,7 cast your anxieties upon the Lord,8 set your mind on things above.9

Where we differ: Christians and the walking monks would advocate differently for how to spend that quiet rest time. Bhikkhu Paññākāra’s insistence that Mindfulness is for all human beings, not just Buddhists.10 However, mindfulness is very much rooted in the Buddhist view of suffering. In Buddhism, mindfulness is a response to suffering and suffering is caused by desire and attachment to things in the external world.11 According to Buddhism, happiness is fleeting and nothing can truly bring lasting satisfaction since everything eventually ends, dies, or decays.12 Relief from suffering happens the more one is able to detach and curb any desire for, well, anything!13 Mindfulness (and specifically, the practice of meditation) is the means by which we can detach from this world, and thus reduce suffering and experience inner peace.

But Christians are called to attain biblical peace in a different way: Psalm 23 is a beautiful allegory depicting us as sheep with God as the Good Shepherd. In a book about this psalm written by Robert J. Morgan, who himself has owned sheep, Morgan writes that a sheep only lays down when it feels completely calm and safe. Verse 2 says “ He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.” In this book, I learned that a sheep lies down after spending time grazing. It actually will regurgitate all the grazed grass, and proceeds to spend hours chewing and digesting its food. Morgan makes the point that believers are to spend time “grazing” on God’s Word, but it is when we lie down and “chew” (or meditate) on God’s Word that it really nourishes us. Like the still waters provided to the sheep, the Holy Spirit provides the necessary hydration that digests the Word into every part of our being.14 This is the true key to inner peace: Feeding on God’s Word, and resting in Him so that we are changed from the inside out.

CLAIM 3: Peace is something around which all people can (and should!) unite.In other words, you don’t have to be a Buddhist or a Christian or of any particular worldview to come together and promote peace.

Where we agree: We can live peacefully with our nonbelieving neighbors. Together, we can advocate for mutual respect and civility. We can help bring the temperature down in our society by listening to other viewpoints instead of being reactive and defensive. And we can advocate for both self-reflection and self-control. All of this is available as part of God’s common grace to all humanity. As for believers, the Bible tells us to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14b), to “live in harmony with one another,” (Romans 12:16) and “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18).

Where we differ: Look at Romans 12:18 again and notice the phrase “as far as it depends on you…” As Christians, we want to do everything we can to live at peace with those around us without compromising God’s Law. Sometimes, our commitment to righteous living will cause division. Even Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). We are not to bend the knee to evil in order to keep the peace – that wouldn’t be genuine peace even if we did.

True biblical peace has only one source. The biblical words for peace are “shalom” in Hebrew and “eirēnē” in Greek. They both denote more than just inner tranquility or lack of suffering. Biblical peace means completeness, well-being, and prosperity all in the context of God’s blessing.15 It is inextricably tied to unity and harmony with the biblical God, because Yahweh is its source. If we were to try and unite with people who believe that peace transcends all belief systems, we would be uniting with those advocating for a false path to peace. We might even be uniting with those who “call evil good, and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20) That may keep things calm temporarily, but it would never create real peace.

WALKING IN PEACEThis side of heaven, Christianity doesn’t necessarily offer promises of being free from all suffering, stress, or anxiety. We are, however, offered a deeper everlasting peace with which the Holy Spirit helps us to persevere faithfully through life. The peace Christ offers is rest for the soul, made possible by complete trust in the goodness of a Sovereign God. The Apostle Paul showed us what it looks like to embody this peace when he wrote Philippians 4:12-13, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through… Mindfulness…”

KIDDING!

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree that Jesus Freak is the best Christian song that ever graced the earth.

1 For a glimpse as to how harsh the conditions were, see: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/monks-walk-peace-wake-forest-north-carolina-ice-snow2 “The Buddhist perspective on peace encompasses a comprehensive idea that includes developing inner serenity, moral behavior, compassion, non-violence, ecological awareness, and harmony within all aspects of society.” Bawa, Simmin. “The pathway to peace and harmony: A Buddhist perspective.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 3.03 (2024): 363-378.3 “By embracing compassion, mindfulness, and ethical living, humanity can move toward a more just and peaceful world, one where peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of universal well-being.” BAURIYAN, MR SACHIN. “Buddhism and the Path to World Peace: Compassion Beyond Borders.” IIP: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal 2.Issue-I (Jan-March) (2025): 9-9.4 https://www.spiritofchange.org/lessons-and-wisdom-from-the-walk-for-peace-monks/5 Romans 3:9-176 https://youtu.be/HPHDyZlMqe0?si=bTxHSHTJYGz5gBC2&t=170 at 2:507 Matthew 6:25-348 1 Peter 5:79 Colossians 3:210 For example at 6:43, https://youtu.be/ZuNfsAuBmEY?si=qzAtQp0wcittu37R&t=403 11 This is “the second noble truth” of Buddhism. Groothuis, Douglas. World Religions in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic. InterVarsity Press, 2023, p. 72, Chapter 4, “Buddhism: ‘Life Is Suffering.’” 12 Groothuis, Douglas. World Religions in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic. InterVarsity Press, 2023, p. 76, Chapter 4, “Buddhism: ‘Life Is Suffering.’” 13 This is “the third noble truth” of Buddhism. Groothuis, Douglas. World Religions in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic. InterVarsity Press, 2023, p. 73, Chapter 4, “Buddhism: ‘Life Is Suffering.’” 14 Morgan, Robert J. The Lord Is My Shepherd: Resting in the Peace and Power of Psalm 23. Simon & Schuster, 2013. Chapter 4.15 Hershey, Doug. “The True Meaning of Shalom.” https://firmisrael.org/learn/the-meaning-of-shalom/The post Should Christians Unite with the Buddhist Monk’s “Walk for Peace”? appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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SummaryThis episode lovingly equips parents to navigate the tension between fun Easter traditions and the truth of the resurrection. The hosts affirm that while eggs, bunnies, and cultural practices can be enjoyed, they should never overshadow the central claim of Christianity: Jesus truly lived, died, and rose again. Lindsey and Robin address common internet claims about Easter’s supposed pagan origins, showing that much of the argument rests on weak historical evidence and linguistic confusion. The conversation then shifts to the heart of apologetics—can we trust the resurrection? Through historical references, medical analysis of crucifixion, and eyewitness testimony, the hosts build a compelling case that the resurrection is not just symbolic—it is reality.

Ultimately, the message is clear: parents can confidently teach their children both the joy of traditions and the truth of the gospel, without fear that one cancels out the other.

Main Points Covered* Balancing Easter traditions with biblical truth * Claims about pagan origins of Easter * Linguistic origins of the word “Easter” * Historical reliability of the crucifixion * Refuting alternative theories (swoon, hallucination, body theft) * Teaching apologetics to children

People and resources mentioned The Case for Christ – Lee Strobel * The Case for Easter – Lee Strobel * Risen* (film)

Children’s Resources Melissa Cain Travis – How Do We Know Jesus Is Alive?*

Scripture References Matthew 27 – Crucifixion and resurrection narrative * 1 Corinthians 15:3–7* – Early creed and eyewitnesses

Unfamiliar Vocabulary Swoon Theory:* The idea that Jesus didn’t die but only fainted

Quotable Quotes

We want that to be the core of Easter message… that Jesus was resurrected. - Lindsey Mendenwaldt
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We can’t talk about his resurrection from the dead if he didn’t really die.. - Robin Lopez
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SummaryIn this episode, the focus is on worldviews—the lens through which people interpret reality. Tricia Scribner explains that everyone has a worldview, whether they realize it or not, and that lens shapes how we answer life’s biggest questions. The discussion centers on three foundational worldviews: theism, atheism, and pantheism, and how each one answers six essential questions about life: origins, identity, meaning, morality, knowledge, and destiny. By learning these six questions, parents can train their children to recognize the assumptions behind the messages they hear in music, social media, classrooms, and entertainment.

Rather than passively absorbing cultural ideas, kids can learn to ask thoughtful questions: Where does this worldview say we came from? What does it say about who we are? What does it claim about right and wrong? Teaching children to evaluate ideas this way helps them identify inconsistencies and recognize when a belief system doesn’t align with reality. The episode also warns about syncretism, the common cultural habit of mixing beliefs from different religions into a personalized system that “feels right.” The Mama Bears remind listeners that conflicting truth claims cannot all be true at the same time. Training our children to examine worldview foundations helps them avoid being swept along by persuasive cultural messaging.

By giving kids these tools early, parents can raise children who think critically, recognize faulty ideas, and remain grounded in a biblically consistent understanding of reality.

Main Points Covered What a worldview is and why it matters * The analogy of worldviews as glasses or filters for interpreting reality * The three foundational worldviews: theism, atheism, and pantheism * The six worldview questions every belief system must answer * How these questions help children evaluate cultural messages * The problem of syncretism* (mixing belief systems) * Practical ways to teach worldview thinking to kids and teens

People and resources mentioned The Universe Next Door — by James Sire * A Practical Guide to Culture — John Stonestreet & Brett Kunkle * Tactics* — by Greg Koukl

Scripture References

Genesis 1:27
Romans 2:14–15
Hebrews 9:27

Unfamiliar Vocabulary Worldview:
The overarching framework or lens through which a person interprets reality and answers life’s biggest questions. * Theism:
The belief that God exists as a personal, transcendent being who created and sustains the universe. * Atheism:
The belief that no God or divine being exists and that the natural world is all that exists. * Pantheism:
The belief that God and the universe are identical, meaning everything in existence is divine. * Syncretism:
The blending of different religious beliefs or philosophical ideas into a customized belief system. * Karma:
In many Eastern religions, the belief that a person’s actions determine their future circumstances or reincarnations. * Moksha:
Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation in Hindu philosophy. * Scientism:*
The belief that science is the only reliable source of knowledge.

Quotable Quotes

A person’s worldview is sort of that overarching mental picture of reality. - Tricia Scribner
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Many people treat religion like a cruise ship smorgasbord buffet. - Tricia Scribner
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What we believe has direct impact on how we see ourselves and how we behave. - Amy Davison
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SPOILERS AHEAD

The ashes are still settling from the death of the Stranger Things hype following the colossal disappointment of an ending. And yet, the series will live on and continue to grow in fandom (especially as its spinoffs are released). Yeah, the ending was bad, but overall, the show excels in its storytelling and unique characters. It is rich with themes and messaging, so in this blog, we will focus on just a few prominent messages that run through the entire series. This is not going to be a ROAR for your young ones, mama bears. This one’s for your teens and up. (But only for families who choose to watch. Viewer discretion is very much advised; the show features a lot of cursing, a lot of gore, and some arguably occult material.)

SYNOPSISIn the small town of Hawkins, a 12-year-old boy named Will goes missing. Turns out, the boy was kidnapped by monsters into a scary alternate dimension dubbed the Upside Down. Joyce, Will’s mom, realizes her son is trying to contact her through flickering lights. She paints the alphabet on her wall and hangs up lights for Will to communicate with her. Meanwhile, Will’s best friends, a geeky group of junior highers, set out to find and rescue him with the help of an odd “superhero” girl they found in the woods named Eleven. Eleven had escaped from a science lab where she was raised as part of a secret government-sanctioned program. They aimed to develop superspies who could snoop on the Russians by means of remote viewing (i.e., traveling via the mind to see and hear specific targets) and psychokinesis (moving objects with the mind). These reckless experiments opened a portal to a dimension with a malevolent entity that seeks to take over Earth and destroy humanity. This entity, which the kids call “The Mind Flayer” (after a Dungeons & Dragons creature), creates psychic connections with its victims. The Mind Flayer exploits its victims’ vulnerabilities to strengthen its connection. It prefers youth for their naivety and malleable minds, and it especially thrives on shame and trauma. As the story unfolds, an unlikely team of misfits works together to save Will, Hawkins, and ultimately the whole world. (You know, sometimes I wonder if we’re living in the Upside Down… but I digress.) Let’s ROAR!

RECOGNIZE the MessageThese are the main messages – good or bad – that viewers can take away from the series. What messages run throughout the series that fans might be unconsciously influenced by?

It’s not occult if it’s scienceJoyce Byers, Will’s mom, paints what is essentially an Ouija board on her wall. But it’s “okay” because she’s not trying to contact spirits. She’s just talking to her son in another dimension. You know, normal stuff. The remote viewing, telepathy, psychokinesis etc., also isn’t “occult,” because it’s scientists conducting the experiments. The message some teens might absorb from this is that phenomena such as psychic powers, astral projection, dark alternate dimensions, and spirit possession are not occult (and therefore not forbidden by God) if we can come up with a scientific explanation for them.

Your “weird” is your superpower Feel like a freak? Maybe the thing that makes you weird or different is the very thing that will save everyone. In season one, nerdiness gets the kids bullied, but it also solves the mystery and helps rescue Will. In season two, Will is tormented by his psychic connection to the Mind Flayer, and yet that connection allows Will to spy on it and save someone’s life. In the final season, that connection actually gives him superpowers. Throughout the show, Eleven’s powers make her “a weirdo” and most unlike her friends, and they also make her the ultimate hero.

Your “family” is your ride-or-die. We’re not just talking about your blood relatives. Your “chosen” family counts, too! Pretty much every main character in Stranger Things demonstrates their willingness to face mortal danger for one another. Eddie Munson, an iconic character from Season 4, started out as a coward. But inspired by the courage of his new friends, he bravely gives his life for them. Family and friendship call for unwavering loyalty even unto death.

OFFER DISCERNMENT:Almost every media has things that we agree with and things we don’t. Let’s start by pointing out some of the true and biblically aligned ideas that we can affirm:

TRUTH: Sacrificial love is nobleGreater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13. This is one of the show’s greatest strengths. Whether it’s love between a parent and child, a brother and sister, a romantic relationship, or between friends, the characters consistently treat one another’s lives as more valuable than their own. We love that the characters show a sacrificial level of love!

TRUTH: Your “weird” can be used by GodThere are so many ways in which a person can feel different from everyone else. It could be a personality quirk, the way your mind works, a disability, a dark past, or a million other possibilities! In the show, several characters had an unwanted part of themselves that they tried to fight or hide. And each one was able to fulfill their purpose only after facing and embracing “all of themselves.” We can affirm that fighting or hiding certain parts of yourself can leave you feeling fake and fractured, affecting your confidence, relationships, and ambitions. We also agree that God gave us all a special kind of weird for a reason! As long as this “weird” trait isn’t a proclivity toward some kind of sin, you should look for how the Lord might use it for His purposes.

TRUTH: Science can look like the supernatural when you don’t understand itThink about it. If we took some of our modern technology back in time in a time machine, people would probably assume it was magic. Just because something feels or seems supernatural doesn’t mean it necessarily is. It might actually have a perfectly natural explanation. That being said, just because someone can come up with a sciency-sounding explanation of the phenomenon does not mean you’ve been given the green light to explore it…

Which brings us to the lies:LIE: As long as it’s called “science,” you’re free to experimentStranger Things is science fiction, so it attempts to rationalize all the supernatural stuff with sciency explanations. But caution is warranted because this happens in the real world, too. For example, there is increasing interest in experimentation with psychedelic drugs to shift consciousness and have mystical experiences in order to heal mental illnesses. (Mama bears, the ends don’t justify the means. Using drugs to seek “mystical experiences” is occultic.) Or how about Project Stargate, a 1970’s Government program experimenting with the potential use of psychic abilities such as remote viewing, telepathy, and psychokinesis in intelligence operations? All of this was just as occult, no matter what pseudo-scientific label you slapped on it.

LIE: Everybody should accept every part of you (or they aren’t a real friend)First, not everybody needs to know everything about you. Some things need to be shared only with trusted, Godly friends/family. That’s not the same thing as hiding parts of yourself or being fake. Second, you shouldn’t hang yourself up on whether or not someone else accepts you. That’s, at the very least, flirting with co-dependency.

LIE: You will be free when you love ALL of yourself. This is the false gospel of self-helpism. In Stranger Things, the kids are all trying to figure out who they are, and it is incredibly relatable. (Isn’t that what everyone’s teen years were about?) But the lie is that once they embrace every part of themselves, including the sinful parts (i.e., sexual sin), then they will feel “free.” Some even might unlock the power of their full potential. In season 5, this manifests as Will literally gaining superpowers once he accepts his homosexual identity. The truth? Think about it this way: Can the problem also be its own solution? (Hint: No.) If we are having sin and identity problems, we can’t help ourselves. We need help from our Maker.

And one more for good measure…

LIE: The lights are talking to you. Ok, I can’t actually promise that no one’s trying to talk to you through the lights. But I CAN promise you that it’s no one you want to talk to…

ARGUE for a Healthier ApproachBy far, the best part of Stranger Things is the love between the characters, demonstrated by their constant willingness to risk their lives for one another. This kind of courage resonates powerfully within the audience. Why? Because it reflects a truth about reality: courage and laying one’s life down for another are objectively virtuous. Humans, whether Christian or not, recognize that these are honorable acts. Yet, these acts can only truly be “good” if there is a standard of goodness embedded in reality. And a standard of goodness outside of humans can only be real if there is a Being that transcends humanity who arbitrates that standard. If Christianity weren’t true, and no God existed, then any sense of goodness or virtue would merely be a subjective feeling, a survival mechanism without any real meaning. But self-sacrifice, as seen in the show, is incredibly meaningful and good, implying the necessity of God.

Consequently, acknowledging the reality of God through a biblical worldview would resolve many of the problems that the “lies” in Stranger Things create. The more confidence we have in the Lord, the less we need to feel accepted by every person in our lives. As believers, we get to anchor our security and self-worth in Him, who is unchanging and loves us unconditionally. We also trust His unique design for men and for women, and the identity that He has gifted to us. We don’t have to seek the “answers” to all of our problems by looking inward and striving to fix ourselves. And we don’t have to mess with dangerous experiments to try to unlock the mysteries of the universe to access psychic abilities. Why? We simply don’t need to seek that kind of power when we rely on the One who is literally ALL-powerful.

REINFORCE Through Discussion, Discipleship, and Prayer1. The story of Stranger Things was inspired by a conspiracy theory called “The Montauk Project.” Research the “project” with your teens, and then watch this documentary where the host investigates these claims and demonstrates excellent critical thinking. 2. Discuss with your kids what it actually means to “live authentically.” Does that mean that you should embrace every feeling you ever have and live accordingly? Does it really mean you’re being a “fake” person if you use self-control and boundaries? 3. Talk to your kids about using wisdom when it comes to what kind of content we immerse ourselves in. Everyone has different levels of sensitivities and no fictional TV show is worth watching if the dark images tend to stick in your mind and prevent you from keeping your mind on holy things in your daily life. Together, read Philippians 4:8 and the surrounding context. 4. Pray for and with your kids for courage from the Holy Spirit. Pray for the perseverance to seek and stand on the truth, no matter how the world looks at us. May all believers be filled with such love that we would go to any length, even death itself, to protect one another.

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“This is my football.”It was the only way I knew how to explain my love of Fixer Upper to my bewildered husband.

Since the show aired, I would plunk myself down, yell in frustration (who picks a midcentury modern over a classic Victorian, I mean, come on!?), and bask in the beauty of the big reveal.

Yes, I loved the shiplap, but like other Christian fans, what I enjoyed most was having a show featuring a Christian couple who truly loved each other.

What Christian fans weren’t expecting was to watch the designing duo green-light the normalization of homosexuality when they partnered with HBO for the newest reality, Back to the Frontier.

The fallout gave fans everywhere a front row seat to a Christian accountability meeting, and they had a lot to say.

“Christians shouldn’t judge. Matthew 7:1!”

“…All you holier-than-thou scripture-spouting know-it-alls pick and choose your bible verses to quote.” Toni (People Magazine)

“I guess someone forgot Matthew 7:1.”

Yep, Matthew 7:1 became the theological “shiplap” of the comments section–That verse was everywhere! What none of those folks seemed to realize, however, was that they, too, were judging.

Which got me thinking, if the anti-judgment crew didn’t realize this, would the new believer? Would our kids?

That’s why we are going to evaluate whether Christians can judge, and if so, how we can judge well. Grab your spiritual tool belts, mama’s. It’s demo day (Colossians 2:8).

To judge or not to judge…At first glance, Matthew 7:1 appears to be on the side of the comment critics. Jesus warns, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

If taken at face value, then everyone from Franklin Graham to Matt Walsh owes the Gaines an apology, but that would be a mistake. Why? Because this verse isn’t banning believers from making any judgments; it’s warning against making improper judgments.

At that time, the Jews (particularly the Pharisees) struggled with two huge problems: legalism and double standards. Instead of leading people to God from a place of humility, they set themselves up as God and rejected anyone who didn’t follow their own subjective version of the law (Matthew 12:1-8).

Jesus was setting things straight by saying that man isn’t holy enough to condemn someone eternally, and that accountability can’t be hypocritically applied.

His warning in Matthew 7:1 was meant to spark humility by showing that if people were held to their own “measure,” they would quickly be found wanting.

Instead, Jesus told them to examine their own hearts, repent, and then “remove the speck” from the eye of their brother (Matthew 7:3-6).

This is the method of righteous judgment. It leaves eternal judgment to God, while allowing believers to correct one another from a position of humility. Righteous judgment is necessary for protecting believers from false teachings and enables the believer to stand firm against the pressure of secular culture (Colossians 2:8 & Ephesians 6:11-18).

So yes, to follow God, a Christian can make and use good judgment. We can help our kids learn how to judge rightly by following five important practices.

#1- Be Theologically Sound“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” Psalms 119:66 To make the right judgments requires an objective standard of right and wrong from which we base morality. Where does that standard come from? Not man, not culture, but God. God’s word is very clear on sex, sin, and marriage, so then why is there so much debate?

Because there is a very real war being waged over the heart, mind, soul, and body of each one of us. One of Satan’s goals is to distort the word of God into a counterfeit faith to lure people away from Him. This is why, to judge rightly, we need to be immersed in scripture.

For more help on how to read the Bible well, check out our podcast here.

Next, check yourself before you wreck yourself…hermenutically speaking. Does the conclusion you made align with the world of God, His nature, our identity, the reality of sin, and the redemptive work of Christ? If so, well done! This will help you avoid a common but preventable error: cherry-picking verses.

Cherry-picking is when a single verse or part of a verse is (often) taken extremely literally to advance a person’s own desires or conclusions without regard to the verse’s context or application. Like when the Pharisees gave themselves a free pass to perform circumcisions on the sabbath, but condemned the disciples for “working” when they plucked a handful of grain for a snack (Matthew 12:1-2).

Sorry-not-sorry critics in the comments section! If you posted Matthew 7:1, you’re guilty of making a judgment based on a verse you had cherry-picked [2].

When a bumper-sticker-worthy verse pops up during your quiet time, guide your children to read the passages (or chapters!) around it to properly discern its meaning. As you read together, point out how the passage reveals God’s goodness, his grace, and his redemption through Christ. From there, you can play “spot the counterfeit” whenever culture tries to offer its own broken version of love, empathy, and acceptance.

Our ROAR method is great for this and perfect for your next movie night!

#2- Be Restoration FocusedEvery righteous judgement needs two important ingredients: love and humility. Love delights in the truth (1 Corinthians 13). Humility is the anchor that roots our judgement in love. Humility reminds the believer of their life before Christ and guides us when we need to hold each other accountable.

How we do this will look different depending on who we are addressing. If addressing a non-believer, our approach will be evangelistic in nature. The goal is to point them toward Christ by seeking to find out what led them to that conclusion, gently address its logical failings, and offer an account of how truth is rooted in Christianity.

If we’re addressing a believer, our approach is gracious accountability. We affirm our mutual call to submit to the truth of God, address the biblical error, encourage the believer to repent, and be restored in righteousness (James 5:20).

To help kids be restoration-minded, role-play how you would address a correction in love by using a character on a show or in their favorite storybook. What tone should you use? If this person were a believer, how would you speak to them? How would our approach change if they are an unbeliever? How would you correct a logical error while pointing to the truth of Christ?

Remember kids, Elijah may be the patron saint of sass [3], but in most cases our tone should be heaped with grace (Colossians 4:6).

#3- Be seasoned with saltGrace, however, isn’t possible without a little thing called truth. Truth is what enables us to make a right judgement [4]. If our conversions aren’t rooted in truth, then we will lead people into bondage through progressive affirmation. This is exactly what progressives want.

Progressive theology [5] rejects the truth of God in exchange for whatever feels right to each person. It’s part relativism, part spiritualism, mixed into a deadly cocktail of bad theology by a guy who looks like Jesus without any of his redeeming qualities. Pun intended.

The goal is to convince the theologically weak and the empathetic folks into believing that the truth of God is harmful to those who live contrary to his commands. To truly love their neighbor, Christians have to reject the idea of dying to self and accept everyone without question. This, dear reader, is a pack of lies.

Our kids need to know that we are not ‘casting stones’ when we make a right judgment [6]. The most loving thing we can do is speak the truth. As you practice your ROAR, remind your kids that empathy is a gift from God. To Chip’s point, we can rightly listen and understand a person’s past, but a person’s past doesn’t get to censor the truth of God. In short, a person’s past should alter how we preach God’s word, not if we preach God’s word.

#4- Be consistent in word and deedNow for a little heart check, mamas. Before we confront another, we need to ask two questions.

1. Am I currently living in sin? I’m not meaning the random times where we fall short…like yesterday in traffic. If that were the case, then no one could judge anything! I mean, is there a part of our lives where we are living in habitual sin? If so, we have no business removing the plank from the eye of someone else until the sawdust is removed from our own, Matthew 7:3-6.

2. Am I applying a double standard?This “good for thee but not for me” problem wasn’t unique to the Pharisees. We, too, can develop this spiritual blind spot when we justify our own sin as “less sinful” than that of another. Don’t be fooled, mama’s. Our kids notice when we draw the line at shows normalizing LGBTQ lifestyles, only to erase it when we watch the saucy period drama. When we make a judgment, we need to be consistent with that judgment.

Kids need to see what it looks like to live an integrated faith through our example. Model how to sacrifice earthly pleasures for the glory of God. Show them how to love like Christ, ask forgiveness, and stand firm in the faith. Remind them that it’s not possible to fully unplug from everything ungodly [7], but to the best of our ability, we can direct ourselves and our money toward that which glorifies God.

#5- Be confident in ChristOne of my favorite quotes is from Jason Whitlock: “When we are fearful before God, we are fearless before culture.”

This fearlessness is the heart of 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

When our identity is rooted in Christ, we are issued a set of spiritual armor and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who gives us wisdom and the boldness to speak truth. The problem is that too many Christians either callously lob truth grenades or cower the moment a cultural criticism comes blazing toward them, Ephesians 6:16.

Who then do we fear?Our kids need to know that to be set apart in Christ means that we are set against culture (John 15:18-19) while still seeking people (Matthew 28:19). People will hate us for speaking truth, but we aren’t called to seek man’s approval; we are called to seek righteousness.

To build up your child’s confidence, affirm their identity in Christ. Remind them that the world is going to push back, but we can equip ourselves for the challenge by knowing God’s word and rebuttals to common objections to the faith. Train them to recognize faulty logic, so when someone attacks their character (or their grammar), the baseless insult will bounce right off their shield of faith.

Final ThoughtsIt’s not easy to watch a believer defend their own worldly compromise, but it shouldn’t wreck us. Here’s the truth: if we are still breathing, and they are still breathing, the Holy Spirit is still working. We can encourage them in truth and lift them up in prayer, whether it’s a TV couple or a family member.

References1- If not, it could be due to a hermeneutical error. Check out our blog here. For some, however, it could be a worldview issue. See if you add anything to these two statements: I am a _______ Christian. I am a Christian, but/and I believe__________. Whatever is added into those blank spaces will usually reveal what someone truly worships. For example, someone who calls themselves a “progressive Christian” is a person who doesn’t believe in the gospel but a filtered view that Jesus affirms whoever we say that we are and cheers us on as we live our best life now. It has a guy who looks like Jesus, but it’s a false worldview that, if believed, will lead away from Christ. Secondly, if anything was added after the “I am a Christian” statement, it too is usually what the person actually worships, be it social justice, LGBTQ+, BLM, etc. Please know that each of those movements is a separate worldview that is in direct opposition to God. You cannot be a Christian and follow a pop-cultural religion. Only Christ saves; every other religion falls short.

2- Fair warning: critics will use the “cherry-picking” accusation when a believer rightly quotes scripture. So long asjudgment you have taken the verse within context you aren’t cherry picking, you are quoting. There’s a big difference.

3- 1 Kings 18 records his snarky mocking of the prophets of Baal. This is a description, not a prescription,folks!

4- It is also a vital aspect of the nature of God, John 14:6.

5- See chapter 15 of Mama Bear Apologetics.

6- You practice your discernment with this comment posted on an article from the NY Post. Matt Lustig said: “…A true religion preaches love and acceptance. Jesus would tell us to love, accept, and be kind to everyone. Reverend Graham and those like him are false Christian’s.”

7- To put this in perspective, you have supported a company who affirms LGBTQ+ & DEI if you have: electronics by apple or android; ate at Chik-Fil-A; shopped at Home Goods, Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, or Amazon; ate a Kellog’s product; had Starbuks; flew United, Delta, or American; have an American Express card; used Pinterest; and more!

Recommended Resources:Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn

The Theology Handbook by The Daily Grace Co.

10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin

Mama Bear Apologetics Edited by Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Amy DavisonAmy Davison is a former Air Force veteran turned Mama Bear Apologist. She graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an MA in Christian Apologetics. She and her husband Michael (also former Air Force) have been married for over 17 years and have 4 kids. Amy is the Mama Bear resident expert on sex and sexuality, but thinks that might look sketchy on a business card.

saltngrace.com/about/The post 5 Ways to Know You Are Judging Rightly appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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With the holiday season around the corner, we all know those conversations are coming. Whether it’s your college freshman, agnostic uncle, deconstructing niece, or seasoned atheist brother-in-law, you may be dreading the conversations you feel ill-equipped to have. But guess what!? You are not alone! Too many of us are under the misconception that we have to have the answers for every question, every challenge to Christianity that could come our way. But not having the answer doesn’t mean you have failed, and it doesn’t mean that the answer isn’t out there. We are all on a journey with God, and as we deepen our knowledge of Him and His Word, we will grow in wisdom. So we don’t have to dread the questions- either from others or from ourselves. Doubt is part of the human condition. It is not a sin or a failing. It is an opportunity to come even closer to Christ. And not everyone can answer all the questions. So if you have a doubter in your life who is asking things that make your eyes glaze over, we’ve got a great resource for you!We here at Mama Bear Apologetics can only do so much. We probably won’t ever have a PhD Astrobiologist on staff. But you know who will? My friend, Jonathan Mclatchie! Jonathan has created an invaluable resource for when you are presented with questions that go beyond the “who made God” variety and extend into challenges like, “Distant starlight proves that the Bible is wrong. Change my mind.” (Or maybe it’s a “Moses didn’t actually write the Pentateuch” or “There is no archeological evidence for the exodus.” No matter the doubt, Jonathan will have an expert who can address the claims!)

So, meet my friend, Jonathan! And hear about his ministry, Talk About Doubts below, or visit www.talkaboutdoubts.com!

Tell us a little about yourself and your expertise.I am originally from the UK but now living in Seattle, Washington. I am married to an Austrian woman (Katharina) and have a two-year-old son. My primary academic interest and expertise is New Testament studies, particularly the historical reliability of the gospels & Acts, and how this relates to the broader set of arguments for the truth of Christianity. I am persuaded that the gospels and Acts are best understood as historical memoirs, and that they are composed by individuals who are close up to the facts, well-informed, and in the habit of being truthful. The major lines of argument for Christianity that I defend include the resurrection of Jesus, other credibly attested New Testament miracles, the conversion of Paul, the Christological Trilemma, Messianic prophecy, and modern miracles.

I am also interested in the scientific evidence for a Creator behind life and the Universe, and professionally, I work with the Discovery Institute Center for Science & Culture as a fellow and resident biologist. I completed a doctoral degree in biology in 2019 at the University of Newcastle, with a focus on the origins of the eukaryotic cell division cycle.

What is TalkAboutDoubts? What inspired you to create it?TalkAboutDoubts.com is a ministry that I launched in December of 2021. We offer free private Zoom meetings to Christians who are struggling with doubts about faith, as well as former Christians who are interested in exploring whether there is a rational path back to faith. We also occasionally talk to non-Christians who are exploring the claims of the gospel. Having watched numerous deconversion testimonies on YouTube and having read books by deconverts, I have often been frustrated by how little consideration was given to the public evidence of the gospel, of which there are many. It is not that deconverts carefully investigated the arguments for Christianity and found them wanting, but that they failed to even consider them. At best, they are familiar only with weak caricatures of those arguments. My passion, then, is to give people the opportunity to engage seriously with the most robust arguments for Christianity before they make their decision to abandon the faith, or to give due consideration to returning to the faith. This is what motivated me to create TalkAboutDoubts.com.

Tell us about some of the people who work with you and their expertise. What kinds of questions do they get?We have more than seventy specialists in our volunteer network, with diverse areas of expertise in fields ranging from New Testament scholarship to Old Testament to Biblical archaeology to textual criticism to philosophy to the natural sciences. Most of our volunteers are at a PhD level of expertise in their respective fields. A few examples include Dr. Tim McGrew (theory of knowledge, New Testament), Dr. Titus Kennedy (Biblical archaeology), Dr. Douglas Axe (biology, intelligent design), Dr. Luke Barnes (astronomy), Dr. Brian Miller (physics, intelligent design), Dr. Travis Campbell (philosophical theology), Dr. Max Baker-Hytch (philosophy of religion, divine hiddenness/problem of evil), Erik Manning (New Testament), and many others. Some of our past inquirers are now volunteers themselves as well and can offer guidance to others who are walking the path they have themselves trodden.

If a person is struggling with an upper-tier question, how would they go about setting up an appointment to talk to one of your scholars?To schedule a meeting, one may submit a contact form concerning their doubts via our website, and one of our specialists will reach out to schedule a private Zoom meeting to talk about their doubts in confidence.

What is a session typically like? How many questions can a person ask? Is there any follow-up?An individual session typically lasts an average of an hour to an hour and a half. Typically, these meetings offer a survey of evidence for Christianity (giving plenty of opportunity for interaction and questions), or engage specifically with particular objections to the faith. Meetings may be recorded (for personal use only) with permission from the volunteer(s). We have found that generally meetings are most productive when they are focused around one or a few connected subjects rather than trying to superficially cover many unrelated topics and not really doing justice to any of them. If you need to talk about various different subjects, we will suggest breaking up the material over multiple meetings. With some inquirers, we talk with them once; in other cases, we mentor them over a period of weeks or months (or sometimes years). There is no in-principle limit to the number of meetings any person can have, provided we are convinced that one is engaging with the material in good faith and is growing in one’s thinking about the subjects.

We also have a Discord community, which we invite past inquirers to. This promotes continued engagement with people we have spoken with. Moreover, we have an emotional support group that runs twice every other week (run by two of our past inquirers). We also have a book club (also run by a past inquirer). These are available only to those who have done at least one meeting with us.

Thank you so much for talking with us, Jonathan!Mama Bears, be encouraged. Questions are good! But too many questions can lead to doubt if our kids think that there are no intelligent Christians within higher academia. We may not be able to answer all their questions, but we can introduce them to experts who can! If you are struggling with a PhD-level question-asker, take advantage of Jonathan and his team at TalkAboutDoubt.com. Remind yourself of what is true (no matter the question) is that is that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We can trust that tough questions have good answers.

[John Ferrer, Jonathan McLatchie, Hillary Ferrer = friends 4ever!]

Hillary Morgan FerrerHillary Morgan Ferrer is the founder of Mama Bear Apologetics. She is the chief author and editor of Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies and Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: Empowering Your Kids to Understand and Live Out God’s Design. Hillary has her masters in Biology and has been married to her husband, Dr. John D. Ferrer, for 17 years. Don’t let her cook for you. She’ll burn your house straight to the ground.

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Mama Bear Apologetics™: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies

Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: Empowering Your Kids to Understand and Live Out God’s Design

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It’s doubtful parents would send their kids to college without some sort of meal plan, but are parents as diligent in helping set up a spiritual meal plan for their children? Once that dorm key is issued, there will be no more spoon fed lessons by the youth group. When our kids head to college, it’s time for them to feed themselves, or they could spiritually starve to death.

In our previous blog, we addressed the top four preparations to keep your kids on FIRE for God: faith-based, intellectual, relational, and environmental. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to prepare your kids spiritually for college, specifically through spiritual disciplines.

Developing Good Faith HabitsHelping your child establish the habits of personal Bible study and prayer while they are still living in your home is an important part of encouraging them to remain connected and committed to their local church and their Christian beliefs. (I contend it’s not too late, even if they’ve already gone off to college and even if they have already graduated. If we’re still breathing, it’s not too late.)

If you are at a parenting stage where you can model this for your kids, go for it. If that discipline has not yet been developed, don’t let a guilt trip or excuses stall you into inaction. Why not express your current desire to engage and use it as an incentive for both of you to start? You could even hold one another accountable and/or share what you’re learning.

Need some help? Host a get-together with other college-bound Christian friends to encourage and equip them to dig into this discipline. Call in a trusted Christian mentor to share their personal insights on the importance of reading the Word, committing to prayer time, and using trusted tools and resources. Research shows that maintaining relationships with parents and having other adults they respect invest in their lives helps young adults stay connected to church through and after college.

Ways to Nurture Your Kid’s FaithDevotionalsDevotionals can serve as an appetizer to prepare the palate for the main course, like a warm-up to a workout. Encourage your child to use a devotional book that quotes Scripture daily. If they never get to the main course, at least they will have had a taste of God’s Word that day.

Although there are many modern-day devotionals that are great, don’t be afraid to introduce your kids to classic devotionals. The writing and theology are rich, and these writers connect your kids to our shared Christian heritage and history. (Consider Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, and A.W. Tozer to start. Want something from the 21st century? Try Paul David Tripp.)

Bible StudyTalk about a smorgasbord! There are so many approaches to Bible study, it’s often hard to know where to start. Why not ask your child what appeals to them? A historical biblical figure? A book of the Bible? A theme? A word study? Use this list to help if they aren’t sure:

Basic theology. Studying basic theology can be helpful and grounding for students. An introduction to the orthodox Christian tenets is key to recognizing heresy (anything that denies the teaching of Jesus). (Try Wayne Grudem and Norman Geisler.)
Attributes of God. Studying the attributes of God can develop your child’s understanding of God, fortifying their trust in Him. Knowing our never-changing God provides a compass in an ever-changing culture. (Try A.W. Tozer, R.C. Sproul, and J.I. Packer. We also recommend a book by Lydia White for parents and kids ages 4-11.
Fruit of the Spirit. Studying the fruits of the Spirit help develop spiritual maturity in college (and it’s a way to personally measure their growth).
Specific passages. While still at home, have your child study the passage your pastor preaches from on Sunday morning. Then, when they join a campus ministry and a local church while at college, they can continue the habit.
Wisdom literature. A chapter a day from Proverbs is easy to digest and gives great insight into both wisdom and warnings. (Help your child keep in mind that these pithy sayings are principles, not promises.)
Apologetics (we’re kinda partial to this one!). The Apologetics Study Bible has great articles on pertinent faith questions that will come up in college, a worldview chart explaining what other religions believe, and sections called “twisted scripture” about passages commonly misused or misinterpreted. It’s a great reference tool and study Bible. You can sign up for 52 weeks of free apologetics content and use that to spur study. Online videos also offer tough questions. If your church offers a RightNow subscription, use it!
The ESV Study Bible continues to get high marks both for the translation and the study materials. Download the free app for robust resources and reading plans.
Consider teaching your child the inductive Bible study method. This discipline will set them on a lifelong trajectory of rich study that they can do on their own without Bible study books.

Go DigitalSince our students are such a digital natives, engage them through their thumbs and earbuds. Bible study and prayer apps might be the best way to get them connected, literally.

YouVersion has access to multiple translations of the Bible at your fingertips. Plus, Bible reading plans can be chosen both by topic as well as by length of time to complete the study. Includes video, audio, and much more. Be discerning about the content.
Blue Letter Bible has a Bible reading plan in addition to devotionals, dictionaries, lexicons, Bible studies, maps, charts, free online books, and more. Those who want to can really “nerd” out here as they deepen their study time and tools.
Bible Gateway has a verse of the day upload, a Bible reading plan with a daily reminder alarm, and an audio version of Bible readings, which could be nice to listen to on the way to class or while they are working out.
The Bible Recap app is an excellent way to read through the Bible in a year with succinct commentary.

Don’t forget: While there are advantages to digital–based content, reading a printed Bible has even more benefits. If your child doesn’t have a Bible of their own, consider getting them one before they leave for college.

PrayerThere’s no better way to learn how to pray than by actually praying. Use an acrostic like ACTS (Adoration/praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) – it’s instructive, biblical, and focused. The ACTS method can help your children develop their relationship and trust in God. Teach your child as they read the Bible to highlight these four aspects of prayer.

Another thing you can try is praying God’s Word — in context, of course. While there are tremendous books and studies on prayer, learning to use your Bible to pray will be rich and requires no other material.

There are apps for prayer as well. YouVersion includes a prayer module with guided prayer prompts, a way to create your own prayer list and track answers, and a tool to set a daily reminder to pray.

Personally, having a prayer partner in college with whom I studied a book on prayer (and who held me accountable to pray daily) changed the trajectory of my prayer life. (We’ll talk more about how to pray for your kids in college in a later blog in this series!) While corporate prayer is extremely important (prayer groups are popping up on college campuses everywhere), personal prayer time lays the foundation.

Model prayer for your kids. We recommend our book, Honest Prayers for Mama Bears, to help you. It’s topical, so it’s easy to find a prayer that fits your particular situation. To help you get started, we’ve created these images that you can download and print. There are two for boys and two for girls. Pick your favorite, print it out, and then put it up to remind you to pray for your kids.

TimeEncourage your child to find the time that is best for them, so they will stick with a plan. Chances are that if they have an 8 a.m. chem lab, they are not going to get up and have quiet time. But if they have a break on campus in the early afternoon, maybe they can find a nice spot to spend 15-20 minutes in the Word and prayer. Be willing to share your own struggles and successes with maintaining a consistent personal study and prayer time.

A Faith They Can OwnSo, before that last duffle bag is packed, consider giving your child a special new study Bible, pocket Bible, or leather-bound devotional book with a personal inscription in it. Wrap it up with a new set of earbuds with a note to “plug in daily” to God’s Word. Challenge them to weave Scripture reading and prayer readings into their playlist. And don’t forget the value of Scripture memorization, which requires active mental engagement. (Mama Bear Hillary recommends the BibleMemory app) You can also check out this classic tool from Navigators.

A nourishing daily diet of God’s Word and prayer will go a long way to help our college students resist the temptation to ingest the spiritual junk food offered by some of their peers and professors.

Julie LoosJulie Loos combined her passion for prayer and apologetics in her contributions to three Mama Bear Apologetics books. Her apologetics training came from campus ministry and certificates from Biola University and the CrossExamined Instructors Academy. Julie has been teaching, writing, and speaking on prayer for Moms in Prayer International for more than 23 years. She lives in Missouri with her husband, Todd, has two married sons, two grandchildren, and enjoys working out, Bible study, chocolate, coffee, and deep conversations.

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Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

Everyone's a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

The Attributes of God for Kids: A devotional for parents and kids ages 4-11.

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If you are the mom of a soon-to-be-college freshman, hang on. You will survive! But the more important question might be: Will your child survive college…spiritually? Even if he or she has checked all the boxes associated with growing up in the church, there’s always the possibility that their faith will end up as intact as the couch at the frat house. But rest assured, I have walked in your shoes. Twice. And I can happily say that my young men thrived in college and graduated, still walking with Christ. (Thank you, Jesus!) We know this isn’t true of all of our kids, though, and we’re not trying to make anyone feel bad; rather, we hope that these blogs will help prepare you for what’s to come as a parent of a college-aged child.

Here’s the thing: We moms are experts at ensuring dorm rooms are well-equipped, meal plans are sufficient, and laundry bags are ready. After all, we’ve been doing this for the last 18 years, right? Unfortunately, statistics and experience show that we are not doing as good a job as we thought we were in one key area: spiritual preparation for college.

It’s never too early to begin this prep work, but don’t get discouraged if you think it’s too late. It’s not. The summer months, in particular, are a great time to prepare while also having bonding time with your almost-adult child before you send him or her off.

It’s never too early to begin this prep work, but don’t get discouraged if you think it’s too late. It’s not. #collegeprep #discipleship
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This can be an emotional time, especially if you are sending your first fledgling out from the nest. The inner conflict of letting your baby go often competes against the inner celebration of more freedom for yourself and celebrating your job well done. However, you will feel better after that last hug, knowing you wrapped your child in tactical armor to navigate the spiritual landmines ahead. So, what do you say? How about engaging in a summer spiritual boot camp for college prep?

In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the FIRE method of preparing your kids, and then follow up with more in-depth blogs describing how to accomplish each step. FIRE is an acronym that stands for faith, environmental, intellectual, and relational. These are the four most important areas of prep work to prioritize before sending your freshman off to orientation. Now, before you throw your hands up in despair or throw your face in a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s, ask God for help, hope, and discernment. He knows your child even better than you and is willing to show you what to accomplish before the first-year orientation week.

Now, before you throw your hands up in despair or throw your face in a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s, ask God for help, hope, and discernment.
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Foundation #1: FAITH PreparationBasic Spiritual Disciplines: Develop or reinforce Bible study and prayer. While this sounds like a no-brainer, we must remind our kids that having the discipline of personal Bible study and personal prayer goes a long way toward helping them retain the faith. In fact, six spiritual disciplines have been identified as helping youth who graduate from youth ministry to not leave the faith. These all focus on making their faith personal and not program-based. But at a minimum: Bible Study and prayer!

The six areas we alluded to above are referred to as “H.A.B.I.T.S.”: Hanging out with God, Accountability (with peers and intergenerational relationships), Bible study, Involvement in the church body (through ministry and missions), Tithing/stewardship (not just financial), and Scripture memorization.1 And by the way, modeling these disciplines is key. Your kids are watching to see if you practice what you preach. Consider this a spiritual meal plan. Your child will be ingesting enough “junk food” on their own from peers and professors. He or she is a big kid now. No more milk. Time for solid food (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-2). Help your child lay a foundation that will support their beliefs when (not if) the ground around them shakes them to their core.

Foundation #2: INTELLECTUAL Preparation Apologetics and worldview training. Build confidence for the truth and evidence of Christianity and a biblical worldview through the study of apologetics. If you have been following Mama Bear Apologetics already, you are well on your way. High five! If you’re new to us and apologetics in general, we’re here for you. How about a different sort of ACT review before campus — Apologetics College Training! Apologetics is a form of discipleship that gives confidence to the Christian that their faith is a reasonable, viable, and trustworthy worldview. It helps answer the “why” behind the “what” of what we believe. Be aware of other worldviews’ beliefs, what questions all worldviews have to answer, and how Christianity does that. Your kid’s faith will NOT survive as a hand-me-down faith on the college campus. They need to try it on for themselves.

Your kid’s faith will NOT survive as a hand-me-down faith on the college campus. They need to try it on for themselves.
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Conversation training. Be ready for challenging conversations by training in tactics for defending the faith and bridge-building. Greg Koukl’s book, Tactics, is a great tutorial in having faith conversations calmly and respectfully. Our own Mama Bear Lindsey Medenwaldt’s book, Bridge-Building Apologetics, can help in this area as well.

Sharpen critical thinking skills. Can we admit that we, as a society, have almost completely lost the ability to think critically? Our kids are bombarded with information, but they do not know how to differentiate between the true and almost-true (or sometimes flat-out false!). The entertainment industry and its “professors” are two of the most influential worldview shapers our students will encounter. Does your child know how to spot logical fallacies? Do you? Merely familiarizing yourselves with these and discussing them as you encounter them in what you watch, read, and listen to will develop the brainpower to decipher false claims. And don’t forget to revisit or teach the Mama Bear ROAR method!

Discuss a biblical view of sexual ethics and why gender matters. These are two of the key issues facing the church today and may be the greatest moral issues on the college campus. Moral issues are a key way your child’s faith can be derailed in college. Help them stay on track through prayer and honest discussions. We’ll discuss this further in our breakout blog on Intellectual Preparation. To get you started, we recommend the Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality. You might also be interested in our series about biblical sexuality on The John Ankerberg Show (a new episode drops each week this summer).

Foundation #3: RELATIONAL PreparationOpen communication. Create a healthy atmosphere, attitude, and action plan for doubts2 about faith and for potential moral failures. Create a checklist3 of things to ask when they call home or visit. I pray no parent will ever have to deal with their child seriously doubting their faith or even walking away from it, but I have talked to too many parents and heard too many stories of it happening to know that it is a reality. Make sure your child knows he or she can come to you with their doubts and questions. And in the meantime, prepare yourself for responses if tough situations arise. Foster an atmosphere where their moral failures are not shamed but dealt with lovingly and biblically so that they will not hide them but confess them and be led to repent.

Foster an atmosphere where their moral failures are not shamed but dealt with lovingly and biblically so that they will not hide them but confess them and be led to repent.
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Pray. No, really. Start or join a Moms in Prayer group for moms of college kids. This benefits your child, the campus, and you! This is the only “approved” way to “go to college with” your baby. (Be honest, there’s a part of you who wants to.) Praying for your college child and the campus is one of the most intentional, strategic things you can do. If your child is open to it, it also can foster communication between you two as you ask how you can be praying for him in your weekly group prayer time. A great resource to begin with is our Honest Prayers book.

Foundation #4: ENVIRONMENTAL PreparationCampus ministry and college church connections. Did you know your student can have a game plan for church and campus ministry involvement before they ever set foot on campus? This can be done with your own research or the help of ministries like Every Student Sent or Ratio Christi. According to Mark Whitt at Lifeway, your child’s involvement with a local church and campus ministry during the first two weeks of college is crucial to her spiritual health.

Additionally, maintaining intergenerational relationships at a local church bolsters faith and makes it more “sticky” down the road. Keep in mind that a campus ministry and a nearby campus church are not substitutes for one another. They play different roles in your student’s life. If a child has the foundational prep we mentioned above, it will be a natural transition to look for and attend a local church as well as a campus ministry. Have your student talk to returning college students at their home church about the campus ministries they are involved in.

Home church engagement. Do what you can to foster engagement between your home church and your student, both when they are at school and when they return home on breaks. Once they graduate from the youth group, encourage them to move on to a small group at your church. Does your church have a college group they can attend when they are home? As a young adult, can they move into a singles/young adult small group? Also, consider encouraging senior adults to “adopt” students while they are at college and foster ongoing contact through notes and care packages (because college students love snacks!).

The campus buzz. Know the latest issues on public and private campuses. These issues may catch your student off guard if they are not familiar with them and ready to respond. What is the spiritual, social, and political climate like on their college campus? Even a Christian college needs to be carefully vetted. What are the major events on the campus — for example, do they have a Sex Week? What does their student government support? What is their DEI policy? Are campus ministries allowed to meet on campus?

The Bottom LineReality check: If it’s June when you’re reading this, you’ve got about two months to prepare if you have a soon-to-be freshman. You can do it! As our mama bear-in-chief, Hillary, always says, “We’re all in this together.” Grab your spouse, a friend, and God, and go do this. If your child is headed to college in the not-too-distant future, consider this your Spiritual College Prep Guide. If your kid is already in college, you can still put many of these pointers into practice. Take this just as seriously, if not more so, as AP classes, building the resume, campus visits, applying for scholarships, and College Board exam prep.

Intentional spiritual preparation will go a long way toward helping all our college students leave campus without leaving their faith behind. Stay tuned for our next blog in this series – a deeper look into faith-based preparation. For now, tell us in the comments how you and your kids are getting ready for college.

Intentional spiritual preparation will go a long way toward helping all our college students leave campus without leaving their faith behind.
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(NOTE: This blog series originally appeared in 2016. Since then, the warp speed at which culture has accelerated in reaching even the youngest of children demands we start early in our training, just as the Mama Bear books have taught. Use our suggestions now for prep right before college if it applies to your family, but start this as early as possible with your younger children.)

1 These HABITS were originally found in Doug Fields, Purpose-Driven® Youth Ministry (Zondervan, 1998).2 Over half of teens and adults (so, the U.S. general population ages 13+) report that they’ve experienced doubts about their religious beliefs at least sometimes (12% frequently, 16% occasionally, 24% sometimes) in the past few years. Similarly, exactly half of those who are Christian or who have some Christian background or experience (50%) say they have gone through a “prolonged” period of doubt. Barna, “What Do We Do with Doubt?” February 28, 2023. Read an excerpt here: https://www.barna.com/research/doubt-faith/.3 For Gen Z, the top four causes for their doubt are: human suffering, hypocrisy of religious people, science, and conflict in the world. Barna. See excerpt here: https://www.barna.com/research/doubt-faith/.The post Sending Your Kids to College on F.I.R.E. for Their Faith! appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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What comes to mind when you hear the word “multiverse”? Do you a) cringe, b) think of your kid’s favorite Marvel movie, or c) cock your head like a confused (but very cute) puppy? In case you chose “c,” the term “multiverse” refers to a theory that we live in one of many (potentially even an infinite number) of universes. It makes for MARVELous movies (see what I did there?). But what happens when this theory makes its way into the minds of our kiddos as a plausible explanation of reality? Can this affect their view of God?

How a “Multiverse” Replaces GodThe mainstream scientific consensus is that the universe as we know it had an ultimate beginning at “The Big Bang.” This is a massive problem for someone wishing to maintain a naturalistic worldview (a worldview in which no God exists). Why? Because in nature, things don’t pop into existence out of nothing! Especially things that just happen to lead to unimaginably complex systems that produce life, irreducibly complex systems, and also advanced, rational, sentient beings. But even if one accepts mainstream science, the naturalist still has another card to play. What if our universe were just one of an infinite number of universes? What if there were some kind of natural, eternal universe-generating system, and we just happen to live in a lucky universe in which a planet that is ideal for hosting advanced human life exists? If it’s true, then belief in a creator is unnecessary because everything in existence has a natural explanation. Anything “super”-natural can be ruled out.

The multiverse theory is becoming more popularized, and it’s being introduced to us and our kiddos through entertainment like movies (for example: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and even a spiritually dangerous social media trend called “reality shifting.”1 And, I’m not gonna lie, it’s fun to think about! It is the perfect setup for a fictional fantasy world. But it’s also an excellent opportunity to have conversations with our kids and teach them some good ol’ critical thinking.

Why The Multiverse Theory is Unreasonable: The Kalam Cosmological ArgumentIn a previous blog post, we introduced “Classical Apologetics,” a branch of apologetics in which we argue for the existence of God, but not specifically for the Christian God (those arguments come later). The Kalam cosmological argument (sounds confusing, I know, but stick with me) is a classical apologetic argument that, if true, rules out the possibility of a multiverse that emerges from pure naturalism (a God-less reality). It argues that God is necessary to explain the reality of our universe.

The argument is simple enough to teach to even young kids. It goes like this:

Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
The universe began to exist.
Therefore, the universe has a cause.

If, after examination, this line of argumentation is determined to be sound, then the next step is to ask some questions about this “cause.” How do we get from a “cause” to God? Couldn’t the “cause” be an effect of another cause, which is an effect of ANOTHER cause forever and ever? Hold your horses, we’ll get there! We need to take a closer look at the first two premises.2

How do we get from a “cause” to God? Couldn’t the “cause” be an effect of another cause, which is an effect of ANOTHER cause forever and ever? #Kalam #apologetics
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FIRST PREMISE: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. For every effect, there must be a cause. If I find a $5 bill on the ground of a parking lot, it would be silly for me to assume that it accidentally assembled itself from the elements. I can reasonably infer that somebody dropped it. Why? Because nothing happens for no reason. This is the basis of science. We have to assume that whatever we are studying has a reason or cause for its properties in order to search for the reason or cause!

SECOND PREMISE: The universe began to exist. This premise relies on reason alone (as opposed to hard evidence), but can be supported with current scientific evidence.3 If the universe may have existed eternally in the past, then this premise, and therefore the entire argument, fails. Likewise, if a multiverse-generating system can exist, then the argument fails. So the goal is to show that it is logically impossible for the universe (or whatever system caused the universe) to be eternal. Whatever is not eternal has a beginning.

Now, let’s defend this premise. We’re going to get into the concept of infinity. You might want to grab a cup of coffee or a Bubbl’r…

If the universe does not have a beginning, then there would have been an infinite number of moments before this moment right now (called an infinite regress). But can there be an infinite number of past moments? Well, if so, it is difficult to see how we could ever arrive at this moment today since it would take an infinite number (an unending number) of moments to get here! Philosopher and professor Douglas Groothuis likens it to attempting to jump out of a bottomless pit.4 An infinite past seems to be a logical absurdity.

That wasn’t too bad, was it? Keep sipping that coffee or energy drink because we need to dive a little deeper into infinity as we consider our conclusion.

CONCLUSION: Therefore, the universe has a cause.Thus far, we’ve established that anything that begins has a cause. We’ve also reasoned that the universe must have a beginning. At this point, we can conclude that the universe, therefore, has a cause.

Well, isn’t it a ginormous leap to immediately assume that this cause is God?! What if the multiverse theory is true? What if the cause of our universe is some kind of eternal multiverse-generating system? Here’s the problem: Even the multiverse theory would depend on an infinite number of past events. Remember that nothing happens for no reason. Every effect has a cause. So there would need to be a cause for our particular universe to have emerged within that system. And that cause would need to have a cause, and so on. Anything that requires an infinite regress is arguably a logical absurdity that we can reasonably rule out, including a multiverse.

Further, the existence of an infinite number of universes also seems to lead to logical absurdities. Philosophers who defend the Kalam cosmological argument, like William Lane Craig, maintain that an actual infinite number of anything is impossible. Imagine an infinite number of Hot Wheels cars. Take away 100 Hot Wheels. How many do you have left? You still have the same number – infinity! Infinity minus 100 is still infinity. So, would it be possible for an infinite number of universes to exist? Some say “no way, Jose,” because it would lead to mathematical absurdities.

Got a little extra brain power? Check out this mind-bending video describing Hilbert’s paradox of the Grand Hotel, a classic example of how an actual infinite leads to absurdities.

Image from https://steemit.com/steemstem/@mcfarhat/hilbert-s-grand-hotel-paradox.

What (or Who) is this “Cause”?So far, we have made a case that our universe needs to have an ultimate cause. And based on our discussions about the infinite, I think it is reasonable to assume that this cause cannot lead us to an “infinite regress” (an effect by a cause, which is itself an effect of another cause, on and on into the infinite past). In other words, the cause we are searching for cannot itself be caused. We are talking about an “uncaused cause.” Some would call this a “brute fact” about reality. It just “is,” and it always “is.” It was, and is, and is to come… Hmm…. sounding familiar to anyone?

We can make some more inferences about this cause. We know that the cause cannot be bound by anything that is contained within the system of our universe, since it came before those things. Space, time, and matter are all contained within our universe. This means that the cause necessarily transcends space, time, and matter. Our cause is spaceless, timeless, and immaterial. Is this describing anyone you know? 😉

At least from our puny human perspective, anything that can bring our reality into existence from no prior physical reality must be insanely powerful. Not only that, but an impersonal power or system that is uncaused could never choose to do anything. (Choice requires some kind of agent with a mind.) So a personal agent makes more sense than an impersonal force that just happened to spit out an amazingly beautiful and intricate universe from nothing.

If our argument stands, this means that a powerful, uncaused, spaceless, timeless, immaterial, personal agent is responsible for causing our universe to exist. I think that’s a pretty good description of what many of us call “God,” don’t you?

Teaching the Kalam Cosmological Argument to Your KidsThis might seem like a lot for your little ones. But keep this in mind: younger kiddos don’t need to understand ALL that we presented here to benefit from the argument. If they can grasp the idea that our reality must have a cause, you can talk with them about why God is the best explanation.

One way to teach this to younger kids is to have them make a painting. Then come back to the painting sometime later and exclaim, “No way! Look at this awesome painting – it created itself!” Your child will likely protest, “Silly mom, I made that painting!” Take that opportunity to go outside and recognize the beauty of creation. Could all of this have assembled itself? Or does it need a Creator?

For older kids, keep it simple to start. Talk about the main points of the argument:

Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
The universe began to exist.
Therefore, the universe has a cause.

Ask them their thoughts. Let them ponder and ask questions. If your kid asks, “What caused God?” explain that God never began to exist. God is eternal, so He does not need a cause. We encourage you to give them the freedom to wrestle with this. If your child starts to sound like he believes in the multiverse, don’t panic. This isn’t a hill to die on. If we don’t allow kids to grapple with science, philosophy, and theology, they might grow up to feel as if they were indoctrinated rather than trained to think for themselves.

That being said, if the evidence truly does point to our universe having an absolute beginning, that is very compelling evidence for the existence of our Creator. So let’s look at the Kalam cosmological argument as a way of removing a potential barrier to our kids’ faith, rather than as a way to force them into agreement that “Science proves God!!”

If the evidence truly does point to our universe having an absolute beginning, that is very compelling evidence for the existence of our Creator. #apologetics #kalam
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Resources for Digging DeeperMombrain-Friendly Level Resources* ARTICLE: “What is the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God?” GotQuestions, accessed May 20, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/kalam-cosmological-argument.html * ARTICLE: Mikel Del Rosario, “Who Made God? A Cosmological Argument for Kids,” CrossExamined, May 12, 2019, https://crossexamined.org/who-made-god-a-cosmological-argument-for-kids/ * VIDEO: “The Kalam Cosmological Argument – Part 1: Scientific,” drcraigvideos, YouTube, September 1, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CulBuMCLg0

Brainy-But-Not-Bonkers Level Resources BOOK: Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Crossway, 2004), 73-94. * BOOK: Douglas Groothuis and Andrew I. Shepardson. The Knowledge of God in the World and the Word: An Introduction to Classical Apologetics* (Zondervan Academic, 2022), Chapter 4: The Cosmological Argument. * ARTICLE: William Lane Craig, “The Kalam Cosmological Argument,” Reasonable Faith, accessed May 20, 2025, https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/existence-natureof-god/the-kalam-cosmological-argument * VIDEO: The Infinite Hotel paradox: https://youtu.be/Uj3_KqkI9Zo?si=9cWmBYG5oR-zAG6Q * VIDEO: A concise yet helpful explanation of the Kalam cosmological argument including responses to objections (from a non-Christian source): https://youtu.be/gqN87vzauRM?si=i-DSO33UtzW5P1qs

Straight-Up-Nerd Level Resources BOOK: Douglas Groothuis, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed. (IVP Academic, 2022), 207-39. * BOOK: Norman L. Geisler, Christian Apologetics*, 2nd ed. (Baker Books, 2013), 242-44, 265-79 * VIDEO: Dr. Douglas Groothuis teaches the Kalam cosmological argument, https://youtu.be/AsqEznikq6c?si=udvR3StXiqMwEoCf

1 “Relity shifting” is a practice in which people try to shift their consciousness to other realities in the multiverse. Read more here: https://www.wikihow.com/What-Is-Shifting-Explaineda2 A “premise” is a statement or proposition. A logical argument called a “syllogism” consists of two premises and a conclusion. If the two premises can both be proven true, then the conclusion must be true (so long as the conclusion necessarily follows the two premises).3 For scientific support for the cosmological argument, see Chapter 3 of Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek’s book, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Crossway, 2004).4 Dr. Douglas Groothuis teaches the Kalam cosmological argument in this video: https://youtu.be/AsqEznikq6c?si=Xwz4HSiAwpVVDJRTThe post How The Multiverse Theory Could Challenge Your Child’s Faith appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Ya gotta love a good snarky atheist meme. But this one does make you think, doesn’t it? I mean if somebody claims fairies are real, is it my job (as a fairy-skeptic) to disprove them? No! It’s their job to provide evidence for their claim. So, wouldn’t it follow that a Christian skeptic should have to give reasons for their skepticism? Are believers the only ones making claims that need to be defended? Keep reading to find out!

Memes like this are rampant. And when your kids aren’t trained to think through them well, encountering arguments like these could sow unnecessary doubts into their minds and hearts. So what is a mama bear to do? We inoculate our kiddos by exposing them early and training them through it! This blog can help. First, we’ll define some terms and discern the message of this meme. Then we’ll talk about the apologetics arguments for the existence of God, or what is called “classical apologetics.”

Defining terms: Let’s get on the same page!There can be nuance to these terms, but for the purpose of this particular article, these definitions should clarify what we mean when we use them.

God: A powerful, immaterial, personal, Being (one with a mind and the freedom to make choices) who created the universe and everything in it. (The word “god” can have various definitions, but for the purpose of this article, this is the definition we will use).

Theist: A person who believes in a Creator God (or gods) who interacts with the world (as opposed to deists, who believe in a god who created the world and left it to run on its own without any more interaction with it.) All Christians are theists, but not all theists are Christians.

Atheist: Classically, an atheist was a person who denied God’s existence. In recent history, however, the term atheism has been broadened to mean anyone who is “unconvinced” that any God or gods exist. (i.e. “A person who lacks God belief.) The difference is that the former is making an active claim (God doesn’t exist), while the latter (with this broadened definition) makes no real claim.

Agnostic: A person who believes it cannot be known whether or not a God exists. Today, many atheists consider themselves “agnostic atheists.”

Naturalism: The belief that everything in existence is the effect of natural causes. (Completely excludes the possibility of a spiritual reality or supernatural realm)

Evidence: An object, a fact, data, or a line of reasoning which supports an argument or claim. Evidence may be submitted but needs to be evaluated for its validity.

Proof: Evidence that supports an argument with a high degree of certainty, meaning the evidence is so strong that it would be unreasonable to doubt it. Keep in mind that it can be nearly impossible to prove something with 100% certainty outside of mathematics and logic, since everything else requires some assumptions about reality. Can you prove beyond ALL doubt that we aren’t living in a matrix? (Don’t know what I’m talking about? Get yo’self some popcorn. You’ve got a movie to watch.)

Burden of Proof: The responsibility to provide evidence that backs up a claim. Typically, the one who makes the claim bears the burden of proof. For example, if Hillary and Amy were in a conversation, and Hillary claimed to have seen a pink unicorn in the woods, it would not be up to Amy to prove Hillary wrong. Amy is under no obligation to believe Hillary until Hillary provides some good evidence. (And thanks to AI, a picture is probably not going to be good enough.)

Breaking down the meme: Do Christians always have the “burden of proof”?According to many atheists that I have interacted with, they simply “lack belief” that God exists. They argue that the theist must provide evidence of God’s existence, and that they are under no obligation to support their own worldview since they are not making any claims.

To illustrate this, here is a fictitious conversation based on real conversations I have had:

Atheist: “There is no evidence that God exists.”

Theist: “Then where did we all come from? What is the purpose of life and why is there something rather than nothing?”

Atheist: “I don’t know and I don’t claim to know. But you’re the one who claims God exists. Therefore, it is up to you to prove it to me.”

There is a bit of a bait-and-switch going on here. If the atheist had said, “I am personally unconvinced that God exists,” then they are under no obligation to support that view. However, when the atheist says something like…

“There is no evidence that God exists.” or

“A theist’s belief is just blind faith.” or

“It is unreasonable to believe in God.”

… they are baiting the theist with a claim, and then switching the burden of proof over to the theist. What they might not realize is that they are actually making claims that need support.

Here’s what we need to help our kiddos understand: Atheism is not the neutral position many atheists think it is.

Atheists see their “lack of belief” in God as a sort of objective perspective. (See image below.) We all accept the physical reality around us, but atheists would say any supernatural or spiritual belief is adding something unknown and unproven to the parts of reality we all agree on. Therefore, these additional (spiritual) beliefs need to be proven by the one who claims they are true.

The problem is that a “lack of belief” isn’t a perspective at all. In an honest discussion, both parties should explain their basic assumptions and beliefs. This gives grounding for the conversation. But if the atheist claims, “I have no beliefs, I only accept facts,” she is kidding herself. Everyone has beliefs. Everyone makes assumptions about reality that cannot be proven. (Can you prove yesterday actually happened? Can you prove all of reality didn’t just pop into existence this morning with pre-programmed memories intact? No, but you probably assume that it didn’t.)

Rather than setting up a discussion, this creates a game where the theist loses every time. Any evidence the theist provides can be dismissed by the atheist, because she hasn’t explained how she filters the evidence. What constitute “evidence”? (i.e. you can’t provide material evidence for an immaterial phenomenon!) What would be enough to convince her? What are her assumptions and beliefs that lead her to dismiss the theist’s arguments?

Contrast that with an honest atheist who is willing to describe how she views reality. Maybe she admits to a few of her rules:

I see order in the laws of physics.
I accept my perception of this physical world as correct.
I believe there are moral truths that people ought to live by.
I trust that natural processes alone are sufficient to create the above (i.e. physics, perception, and morality).

Now we can have a productive conversation! One party claims that God explains reality, and the other party claims that natural processes are the better explaination. Both parties need to provide evidence for their view. Discuss!

Mama bears, it is important to help our kiddos recognize when they are being put in an unreasonable position. We don’t want these dishonest debate tactics to manipulate our kids into thinking that there aren’t good reasons to believe in God. And MAN are there good reasons to believe in God! This is where Classical Apologetics comes in.

Classical apologetics: Making a case for God’s existence.What is classical apologetics?As a reminder, the word “apologetics” comes from a Greek word that basically means to give a defense. If you meet me, I might give you an apologetic, or defense, for why DC Talk was the greatest band to ever exist. In Christian apologetics, there are a variety of methods and topics for which a Christian might argue for. Classical Apologetics specifically refers to a method of argumentation that begins with basic assumptions about reality that most people share, no matter their religious or nonreligious background. We start there, and then present arguments to demonstrate that the Christian God’s existence is the most reasonable explanation for our shared reality.

Classical apologetics involves both making arguments for God’s existence, while also refuting arguments against God’s existence. The case for God’s existence is made cumulatively. This means that there isn’t one slam-dunk argument (like video evidence of your 3-year-old stealing the cookies from the cookie jar)! Rather, there are many lines of arguments which–when considered together–make a very strong case. Like, the cookie jar is empty, your child’s step stool has been moved out of place, a bit of chocolate has been smeared low on the wall, and Little Man is suspiciously too full for his dinner. None of those alone are incriminating. (But together… come on… admit it, buddy. We know you did it.) Likewise, we can examine several lines of evidence that, together, make a powerful cumulative case for the existence of God.

Is classical apologetics just for the nerds?Don’t get me wrong, my nerd peeps will LOVE classical apologetics (they are my people!). But mama bears, even if it doesn’t seem like “your thing,” you and your cubs need to be prepared at least with the basics. Many people see the field of Christian apologetics as purely an evangelistic tool, but it is so much more than that. Classical apologetics are great for conversations with atheists and agnostics, but they will also lay a foundation for your kids of understanding why the God of the Bible makes the most sense of our reality. Movies, music, media, and most of the messaging your kids will encounter every day are permeated with atheistic or mystical undertones. By being armed with classical apologetics arguments, your kiddos will have a better chance of spotting lies from the enemy who seeks to confuse them and derail their faith.

What if this feels overwhelming?I have good news for you! (Besides the gospel – that’s the BEST news!) You don’t have to be a scholar or some kind of professional intellectual to be able to think through these arguments. Don’t let the enemy discourage you by making you think you’re not smart enough. And remind your kids of this!

God gave us brains and He expects us to use them (Romans 12:2). If this topic is overwhelming to you, pray and ask the Lord to give you the desire to learn, the wisdom to comprehend it, and the ability to teach it to your kids. Ask Him to reveal to you the joy and excitement of seeing how reality lines up so beautifully with the claims made in the Bible about His attributes and character. Studying Classical Apologetics really can become an act of worship! I pray you will discover a fountain of awe and joy that you may not have realized was available to us.

Truly, the best way to learn this is to teach it to your kids. And if you’re struggling to teach it, email me at alexa.rae.cramer@gmail.com. Tell me which steps I missed because we all get better together!

And if God has already wired you as a philosophy or a science nerd, let the fun begin… 🙂

What classical apologetics arguments will the Mama Bears cover (God-willing)?1. The Kalam Cosmological Argument – Did the universe come from nothing? From God? Or from the multiverse? 2. The Fine-Tuning Argument – How is it that we happen to live in a just-right solar system on a just-right planet at the just-right time for advanced life to flourish? 3. The Argument from Design – Down to our very cells is the appearance of engineering and design. Can this come about by natural events or do we have a creator? 4. The Moral Argument – Are there such things as moral facts? Can there be a moral law without a moral lawgiver? 5. The Argument from Reason – Can rational beings exist without an ultimate rational source?

The post Who Has the Burden of Proof? An Intro to Classical Apologetics appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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In our last blog, we covered a really brief overview of these cultural buzzwords: “privilege,” “oppression,” “marginalized,” and “equity.” We compared the formal definitions of these words with both 1) what we assume people mean when they use them and 2) the oversimplified description of what our culture actually means. That was just a place to start, because as you probably already know, these terms refer to ideas that are anything but simple. Even though these words are being co-opted to manipulate the masses (we call it “linguistic theft”), the underlying theme of justice is something Christians are called to stand up for. We just have to take care to distinguish true justice from counterfeit justice. Let’s do that with a ROAR!

Recognize the Message: What is culture trying to teach our kids?Fight for equity at all costs!Equity is the goal, but past injustices must first be corrected. This might require some temporary exclusion and reduction of rights and privileges for those who currently hold the most power; we first need to even out the power imbalance.

Disparities equal oppression. Full stop. In this day and age, no one should lack anything they need. At this point, the world has enough resources to go around. The only reason that any disparities are a reality for any given group of people is because there is some type of oppression at play.

If you’re not marginalized, then you’re privileged.The more traits you embody that align with the dominant traits of our society (white skin, cisgender, English-speaking, etc.) the more inherently privileged you are. The fewer traits, the more marginalized you are. Things aren’t going to change until those who hold the most power in society (the privileged) humble themselves and recognize how they have contributed to this unjust system.

Offer Discernment: Affirm the Good and Reject the BadTRUTH #1: Inequity is real. Zoom out from your country of origin. We obviously don’t live in an equitable world. Just in my own experience, I’ve been to a party at a mansion that looked like a five-star resort, and I’ve visited houses with only three walls, built on stilts over water on a Peruvian island. There are children in India who are born into state-sanctioned brothels. There are tribes with millions of people who are on the brink of starvation, such as in Africa and South America. Some kids are born into the Western version of poverty, and others into working middle-class families or upper-class families.

TRUTH #2: Prejudice is real.And it is evil and needs to be called out. But will we ever totally get rid of it? Not as long as sin is still a thing.

TRUTH #3: Privilege is real.If by “privilege” we mean “advantage,” a native in her home country is often going to be privileged in some ways above a foreigner because she knows the area and has family and friends nearby. This will give the native advantages that the foreigner may not have. But this “privilege” is directly relative to the foreigner’s situation. There is nothing inherently privileged about living in your hometown. It becomes problematic when “privileged” is dogmatically assigned to an entire demographic with no real objective standard to begin with. What if a straight white male lives in poverty in a dilapidated house among the Appalachian Mountains? Can we really call that person inherently privileged just because he is a heterosexual male in a dominantly white country living in his hometown?

TRUTH #4: Oppression is real.Oppression based on ethnicity or religion is definitely a part of American history. We cannot overlook the truths of our past and even recognize the ripple effects of historic oppression. We must take care not to become so reactive to “buzzwords” that we turn a blind eye to true oppression.

So, while we readily acknowledge that there is some truth in what social justice activists are trying to say, we have to still stand against the lies that are sneaking in.

LIE #1: God wants Christians to work towards an earthly utopia.A social justice utopia is not God’s goal. Culture’s utopian vision of equity is a worldly mission with worldly methods. But the truth is that it is not up to believers to create a perfectly equitable world. We are to play our part in the expansion of Jesus’ Kingdom on earth primarily by making disciples. Part of being a disciple of Christ is fighting for justice, advocating for the oppressed, and caring for those on the margins of society who are vulnerable. But these words need to be defined by God, since they are His ideas in the first place.

LIE #2: Sometimes you need to sin in order to fight sin.No! This is an incredibly arrogant and dangerous lie. Is a Mike Smith more likely than a Miguel Garcia to get a callback at an accounting firm? Sadly, sometimes yes. Is that fair? No. Can we police every instance of this? Also, no. And if the social justice movement were just about helping people see their own biases, then we’d be all for it. But, it’s not. Under the banner of “social justice,” fair and equitable treatment is to prefer Miguel over Michael by fiat. This is called “affirmative action” and perfectly exemplifies antiracist author Ibram Kendi’s claim that “the only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination.”1 But that’s not what Scripture teaches. God literally predicted this movement all the way back in Leviticus 19:15 when He warned not to show partiality to the rich or to the poor. We are not to pay the price of unrighteousness for the prize of “equity.”

LIE #3: The root cause of all disparities is oppression. Are we completely forgetting about personal responsibility? If someone makes a poor choice, should we immediately assume that they were unavoidably driven to that bad choice because of some kind of oppression? In the documentary Born into Brothels, photographers Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman provided training for a group of kids, ultimately raising enough money to send a few of them to school. The outcome? While one girl was ecstatic to break the cycle of her family and get out of the ghetto, another student had very little motivation or family support. He squandered the opportunity and eventually went back to the brothel of his own accord (and the request of his mom) living in squalor rather than in the nice dorms provided at the school. Bottom line? There are some mindsets you can’t fix, even when you provide equal opportunities.

LIE #4: Each person is either overall “privileged” or “oppressed.”There is no way to fairly categorize every single benefit or disadvantage each person experiences, even if we wanted to. The variables are too vast. Many of our experiences will benefit us in one way while disadvantaging us in another, and vice versa. Individuals within a demographic will still be born into differing family situations, differing communities, and with differing genetics. To dogmatically declare an entire group “oppressed” is almost like claiming omniscience. There is only One who has that kind of wisdom.

Argue for a Healthier ApproachIn Scripture when God is warning His people to “seek justice” and “correct oppression,” be sure to read the individual verses in context of the full passage. In Isaiah 1, for example, notice how God’s imperative to do justice is contrasted against the sins of Judah: they were “dealing corruptly” (verse 4) and “accepting bribes” (verse 23). In Zechariah, the Lord says, “Administer true justice…” and what does He mean by that? He tells us, “show mercy and compassion to one another.” What, then, does God mean when He uses the word “oppression?” God says, “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.” (emphasis added). And in Psalm 9:8, God is praised for ruling with equity, or in other words, fairness. Nowhere in scripture does God say “Make sure everyone has the same amount of everything and that everyone feels normal!” No, but we are to have mercy and compassion, and deal with people impartially and without corruption.

In a keynote given at the Women in Apologetics conference a few years back, speakers Krista Bontrager and Monique Duson together made a point that really stuck with me: there is a difference between being oppressed versus being vulnerable to oppression. Biblically, a person is not automatically considered oppressed by virtue of being in a vulnerable situation (poor, orphan, widow). In fact, we are warned not to oppress them, implying that they can be not-oppressed, (Proverbs 22:16, Exodus 23:9, Zechariah 7:10) and we are called to care for and support them (Isaiah 1:17, James 1:27). This is an entirely different (and healthier) lens through which to view oppression because it allows us to truthfully acknowledge when or if those in vulnerable situations are perpetuating oppression themselves. We are free to recognize actual oppression, even if it’s coming from someone whom culture has deemed “marginalized.” And that doesn’t take away our initiative from the Lord to look out for and care for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Reinforce Through Discussion, Discipleship, and Prayer1. Make a list and pray. Take a few minutes to make a list with your kids of how God has blessed them. Talk about how the culture sees these as “privileges” but we can see them as blessings, and thank God for them. Then, pray with your kids that the Lord will reveal ways they can be a blessing to others.

Draw a picture and tell a story. Have your child draw a picture with 3 characters. Give each character the same piggy bank with $100 written on it. Then draw 3 big doors. Ask your kiddo to tell you what each character wants to do with their $100, which door they will choose to go through, and where that door leads. Most likely, your child will give you a different story for each character. Talk about how EVEN if everyone had all the same things, people will make different choices. God has given us free will and the responsibility to choose how to use it.
Compare culture’s idea of oppression with God’s. Discuss the ideology of our culture and contrast it with a biblical worldview. By what standard is culture judging oppression and what standard does God use?
God’s standard: Impartiality – treat all people the same whether they are rich, poor, black, white, etc. When that standard is not met, it is sin and injustice.
Culture’s standard: There is none! Everyone is compared to everyone else. What results is this somewhat arbitrary (or at least subjective) assignment of “oppressed” and “marginalized” to various groups of people, and it tends to be the people with the most power who get to make those assignments.

Hillary and AlexaHillary and Alexa love writing together, so this piece is a little bit of both of them.

1 Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist (One World, 2019)The post ROARing through the buzzwords privilege, oppression, marginalized, & equity appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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How often have you heard a sentiment like this one: It is the responsibility of the privileged to champion the cause of the oppressed and fight for the inclusion of the marginalized.

That’s basically the going gospel de jour right now. And it sounds good, right? When we hear the categories of “privileged” versus “oppressed” or “marginalized,” most of us have an instinctual emotional reaction to them. Why? Because these words carry moral implications. Shouldn’t we do all those things? Isn’t that what Jesus did? Yes, and yes. However, there are a bunch of linguistically-thefted words going on here.

When altered definitions of these words are culturally accepted, there becomes a moral imperative to respond as society deems fit, not how God sees fit.

Let’s break these buzzwords down one-by-one and then look at what assumptions they smuggle into their definitions. (And don’t forget to see the next blog where we ROAR through this, discussing what they get right!… and where lies have snuck in.)

Buzz-Word Overview:“Privilege”Formal Definition: An advantage, right, or immunity only granted to the few, and typically in relation to being in a high position of a company or high status in society.

What we assume they mean: The proverbial “silver spoon” that a person is born with, usually in terms of wealthy parents.

The overly simplistic summary of what they actually mean: White people with their white privilege. (But really, it can extend to basically anything that benefits a person–espeically if that person is white–if it isn’t automatically given to everyone… like parents who read to you as a child. Or good parenting in general.) No matter what it is, if it wasn’t given to everyone, it’s a privilage, and you need to check it before you wreck it.

(Wanna know how “privileged” you are? Just take this quiz! Heads up, though. If you are heterosexual, feel comfortable with your gender, and have never “felt poor,” you’ve just racked up some serious privilege points. Extra points if you’re a papa bear.)

“Oppression”Formal Definition: Being under unjustified control or enduring unjust treatment.

What we assume they mean: Living under a regime that withholds basic, equal, human rights in a manner that you cannot overcome.

The overly simplistic summary of what they actually mean: Being poor or a person of color who now can’t access the privileges of rich, white people. (If you are white, your white privilege wipes out any of your poverty oppression though.) Beyond money and skin color, they can apply this word to literally anything that either currently or has historically created/resulted in inequalities between groups, regardless of whether it is within their control. And this is mostly all group related, not individual related because social justice advocates often think only in terms of a person’s group identity.

“Marginalized” Formal Definition: Viewed as less significant, lower status, and holding minimal amounts of power and influence.

What we assume they mean: People who have been unfairly forced outside of a group, polite company, or have been thrust to the margins of society to be forgotten and ignored.

The overly simplistic summary of what they actually mean: Everyone who does not feel equally normal within a group or society no matter if it is based on their ethnicity, criminal history, immigration, sexuality, religion, perceived gender identity, or–now–even how they choose to behave or dress.

“Equity”Formal Definition: The state of being treated with fairness and impartiality.

What we assume they mean: Nobody unfairly gets more or less than another person. (And “fainess” is defined according to contribution, not need)

The overly simplistic summary of what they actually mean: Everyone gets whatever they need in order to have equal outcomes with everyone else. Fairness is determined by need, not contribution.

The assumptions:

Each of these words smuggles in a lot of social justice assumptions. For example, the social justice version of an ideal society means that:

There are no (low, middle, upper) class distinctions.
Everyone has equal access to the same things at the same quality.
Everyone feels accepted, respected, and celebrated. (As if we could really control how people “feel”…)

This is our culture’s idea of “equity.” Once you assume that the above are “rights” or how a “good society” should look, then anything that opposes it (or makes it harder to achieve) will be considered oppressive. The only solution at that point is to play “find the oppression.” And friends, it’s funny how when we assume that something is the root cause, we will always find “evidence” to bolster that assumption. It’s amazing how you can always find what you’re looking for.

Since we witness all three of those aspects (class distinctions, unequal access or quality, and people who don’t feel celebrated), then finding the “oppression” means finding the oppressor who has robbed these people of their rights to identical outcomes. And, according to critical theory, oppression is due to the “privileged” using their power and advantages to further marginalize others, whether or not it’s intentional. Do you see the ideological connection between all of these “buzzwords”? Once your kids understand the big ideological picture, it will be a lot easier to compare it to a biblical worldview.

In the next blog, we are going to talk about what they get right, what they get wrong, and how we can talk to our kids about it. So, we’re going to ROAR through these buzzwords! Read it here now!

Hillary and AlexaHillary and Alexa love writing together, so this piece is a little bit of both of them.

The post What do they mean when they say equity, privilege, marginalized, and oppression? appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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When I was little, my mom used to take me with her into the voting booth. I remember crowding around her legs as she stood in front of the voting machine to cast her ballot. The process seemed solemn and mysterious. Politics didn’t seem to be discussed much when I was a child. While people had access to newspapers and television, the coverage was limited to an hour here and there (I kind of miss not having news every second of our day), and life felt much more insulated from every political event happening around the world. Of course, politics affected our lives, but I never felt like it was something we focused on.

However, with 24-hour news cycles and video content continuously shoved in our faces (let’s be honest, we often willingly seek out and consume the content), politics are more front and center in our culture than ever before. While we can (and sometimes should) shield our children from some of what is going on out there, we can’t protect them from all the political news or propaganda. And they will be much better served if we teach them how we navigate tough issues biblically. Our last political blog, “Navigating the American Political Landscape,” walked you through how to navigate the rocky political landscape as Christians and voters, but here we want to give you some ways to do so as a parent, guiding your children to know how our faith should govern our choices whether they be in our daily actions or voting in elections.

Personal character speaks volumes.I am old enough to remember when the character of a candidate at least appeared to matter. I remember when exposed extra-marital affairs could end a politician’s career. Sadly, that isn’t the case anymore. It’s not only no longer shocking but expected that politicians are sinful and corrupt. Yet, there are still some good people in politics and the character of the candidates should matter.

As Christians, we should look for people who practice what they preach, candidates who have a track record of honesty and integrity.
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Read Ruth, Esther, or the stories of David and Saul from 1 Samuel. Ask your children to identify positive and negative traits or actions of the biblical figures. Have the kids name the traits or deeds and explain why they were good or bad. Reinforce the concept that what is good or bad comes from God.

Encourage them to look for these traits in the candidates. If there ever is a truly good candidate again, they hopefully will be able to recognize him or her and be able to use discernment to examine their decisions and policies in light of God’s truths.

How can we explain who to support when neither candidate is honest nor decent?This seems to be the question everyone is asking this year. What do we do when don’t like either candidate? (Hillary’s husband, John, wrote about that in a blog called “What If I Don’t Like Either Candidate?” that might be helpful. Read it here.) First, we start with looking at the platform that each candidate endorses. Consider the impact of their policies on our freedoms, rights, economy, etc.

Measure their views against the Bible. How do their policies protect the innocent? How do their policies affect the widow and the orphan? Do their policies align with what the Bible says is true about mankind and how we are to behave? (If you’d like to read each party’s platforms for yourself, here is the Democratic platform and here is the Republican.)

This is a wonderful opportunity to teach your children age-appropriate ways to compare what God’s Word says with various messages and ideas. Here are a couple of examples.

Pro-Life – We value human life because it is a gift from God. No child is conceived on accident, and every human life is made in the image of God. Read Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:15-16 with your children. Both passages demonstrate that God knit each of us together in our mother’s womb. Ask your children if they can think of any other examples of verses that talk about preborn life (hint: John the Baptist in the womb Luke 1:41-4). Then ask them what these passages tell us about preborn infants? How does God think about babies? Then show them how those truths inform how we vote and what policies we support. We cannot vote for any platform, policy, or person who ignores these most basic of truths. Human beings have the right to life from conception to natural death. When neither candidate is staunchly pro-life, we must choose the platform that protects life the most and get more involved in local and state elections to help more pro-life candidates reach the national level.

Marriage and Family (and gender) – We should also vote in ways that honor God’s design for marriage and family. From the very beginning, God created them male and female and defined marriage and family. As a family, read the account of God’s creation of man and woman in Genesis 1:27 and 2:18-24 and where Jesus reaffirms God’s design in Matthew 19:4-6. Then discuss the following questions:

What do these passages tell us about God’s design for humanity?
Who created marriage?
Who designed and defined our gender?
Do we have the right to change God’s design or change how He made us?

God’s design is best for society and culture. While not every marriage follows God’s design, overall strong marriages create strong families, which in turn create good societies, so we should support policies that follow God’s design and oppose those that lead to confusion.

Okay, those are pretty easy issues to interpret using scripture. What about issues that are more complex like immigration, medical insurance, fair income taxes? Some topics are going to take more research and might be too big to tackle with little ones. However, knowing how God’s word relates to various topics is going to be more and more crucial, especially if you have kids coming home from school being taught a very humanistic worldview.

Widows, Orphans, and…Since my husband died, I’ve become acutely aware of how many times the God mentions caring for the widow and the orphan in the Bible. It’s a lot. Psalm 68:5 tells us that God is the Father to the fatherless and protector of widows. Exodus 22:22-23 warns not to mistreat them. James 1:27 says that pure religion is a faith that cares for the widows and orphans.

But who was supposed to do this? 1 Timothy 5 says first their family, then the church if they had no family. God called us as individuals to care for the widows and orphans in our sphere. Is there a kid without a dad in your neighborhood? Can you invite him to join your family for a fishing trip? Can you mow the lawn for a widow on your street?

Should the government be structured to be fair to the widow and orphan? Absolutely. However, we need to consider how policies will actually affect people. Sometimes, well-meaning policies have lasting negative consequences. The government generally doesn’t do a great job in the areas where God has called the church to act.

… the Sojourner (i.e. immigrants)Immigration is one of those nuanced topics in which we need to be very careful about our terminology. An immigrant is anyone coming into a different country than their nation of origin. We further differentiate between those who come into our country legally or illegally. But how should Christians think about this issue?

First, anyone we come into personal contact with is made in the image of God no matter where they call home. We are called to treat each person with worth and value. Hebrews 13:2 exhorts us to demonstrate hospitality. Leviticus 19:33-34 instructs us to treat the sojourner the same as the native. We are to be compassionate and demonstrate mercy.

Yet, we need to understand the Bible definition of sojourner. Sojourners also had requirements, mainly to assimilate into Hebrew culture, following the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 18:26, Numbers 15:14-15). Israel had one law that applied to both the Israelite and sojourners.

Romans 13 also makes clear that we are to obey the law of the land and the rulers unless they call on us to violate God’s moral law. While we can all agree that our nation’s immigration system needs a massive overhaul, the Bible doesn’t allow people to break the law because it will be better for them. Coming into our country illegally violates the law. While we can have compassion, the circumstances of most of these people are beyond tragic, however, breaking the law is still sin.

But what if your kids ask, “Wasn’t Jesus a socialist?”This could be its own article, but quickly, no, He wasn’t. First, much of God’s law that was given to Moses is based on the idea of private property and the need to repay people for damaging their property (Deuteronomy 5:19). God is so emphatic on personal property that a family was not even permitted to sell their familial land permanently; land was always returned to the original owners every 50 years during the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:13). Socialism does not have private property. Secondly, Daniel 4:17 clearly shows that God, the Most High, gives power and wealth to whom He will to serve His purposes. Also, read Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus tells a parable of three different servants trusted with three differing amounts of money. They started with different advantages. Wouldn’t Jesus address this if it were inherently unfair? Maybe brainstorm with your children why the master might have given some servants more money? We are not all called to have the same; we are all called to do the best with whatever we have been given.

While Jesus did call on the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give them to the poor (Matthew 19:21-24), He did not call everyone to do so. Perhaps that young man needed to see that he loved his money more than Jesus.

We are to glorify God in how we use what He has entrusted to our stewardship. That means being generous to the poor and needy, but we don’t abdicate that responsibility to a secular (and often godless) government and hope they get it right.

How do you handle these more nuanced topics with your children?These kinds of topics are where you need to dig in deep. You might need to do some research before you sit down with your kids. First, do your best to understand the proposed plans from each side and how they will play out in the real world. Like shutting down an oil pipeline might be safer for the natural environment in case of leaks or spills, but how will it affect gas prices, food prices, and electricity costs? All policy decisions have ripple effects which impact peoples’ lives. You can help your kids see this through Bible stories about men who made sinful choices and how those choices affected their families or Israel as a whole. (Exodus 20:5 shows how an idolatrous father can affect generations, King Ahab from 1 Kings 16-21, Korah from Numbers 16, and most of the kings of Israel in 1&2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles.)

Additionally, remind your children what the Bible says about our human nature. We are sinful and have a fallen nature. Which platform, candidate, or policy denies our sinfulness and ascribes natural goodness to all? Take the platform to its logical conclusion and discuss. Have your kids evaluate if it’s really a good idea. Does it align with Scripture? Can we look to the past to see how similar policies affected our nation or others? Look at the platforms of both parties and ask your kids to consider how each one would work in the real world and how those policies align with who God is and how He commands us to live.

Discuss with your children how a candidate is more than one office in many elections. A governor or presidential candidate may appoint hundreds or thousands of people (I heard one candidate mention in an interview this week that the president appoints 10,000 people!) to various high-level offices and appoint judges to different levels of the court system. Consider carefully which viewpoints you want those appointees to hold. The previous four presidents all appointed hundreds of judges to the federal court system. In many cases, they hold long or lifetime appointments. The impact of judicial appointments was very clear when Roe v. Wade was recently overturned.

Teach your children that we don’t vote our feelings.We can’t say this enough right now. Our culture is feeling the feelings. And they seem to be counted more crucial than facts. Emotions are real, but they are not always true. Sometimes, we can feel totally worthless and depressed, but all we really need is a sandwich or a nap (1 Kings 19). We need to base our thinking on solid foundations, not ones that are so temperamental. And empathy for others can be toxic when it leads to policies that hurt others. Have your children research the effects of welfare. Did it help or hurt? How can they make sure a policy that sounds kind is also wise.

Because most media is run by ad revenue, what we see and hear is perfectly curated to evoke strong feelings in us and be persuasive, whether it’s for a tissue brand, soft drink, or political candidate. People make their livings on being able to get us to override logic based on our emotions. Don’t fall for that and show your kids how to think through propaganda. The podcast Filter it through a Brain Cell is an excellent resource in this arena!

Another interesting method is watching political ads without the sound, using just closed captions. It’s amazing how much of the power in an ad or movie is in the musical score.

Read through slogans and watch ads to determine what each candidate endorses and recommends. If the candidate is vague, that speaks volumes as well. Why are they being vague? What are they trying to mask? Sometimes it might be that they haven’t fleshed out a solid proposal on an issue, but sometimes, he/she might deliberately be trying to keep their true intentions secret to win those middle of the road voters. Look at their past records as candidates and in office. What did bills and policies did they support or oppose? What is their track record in office? How well did they fulfill their campaign promises?

For older kids on social mediaHow we behave online can have a huge influence on others. I’ve had lots of hostile interactions regarding my pro-life views and had people (even strangers) message me about how impressed they were with how calmly and rationally and kindly I acted even when I was being attacked. Remind your teens we are blessed when we are attacked for the truth and name of Christ. Don’t let it upset you. Do your best to represent Christ as you strive to share His truths. And especially remind them that we don’t debate to convince the person we’re talking to, we aim our demeanor at all the people who are watching the interaction. More than likely, you won’t change your sparring partner’s mind. But you might change the mind of onlookers—but only if you keep your cool and keep it kind.

Also, tell them to do their best to fact check articles and memes before posting. We all fail at this sometimes but try to at least find a couple of sources that verify the information you’re about to share. Images can be extremely powerful, but it’s never acceptable to knowingly share false or misleading information because it makes your point. The ends do not justify the means.

Before sharing news articles, read opposing sources. How did the other side characterize the same event? Having enemy attestation of facts that make a powerful point, is even better. I often have found an opposing article that proves my point to share because it’s much more effective when a source your friends or family might trust says the same things.

Speak wisely.Each of us has an influence in this election far beyond our vote. You have a sphere of influence starting with your children and including friends, family, neighbors who are watching and listening. How you act speaks volumes. Your kids have those spheres of influence too. Help them learn how to have good conversations even about difficult topics. Teach them to be bridge builders (Bridge-Building Apologetics is an excellent resource by our very own Lindsey Medenwaldt).

Teach your children to ignore ad hominem attacks (personal attacks) on the candidates (or directed at them) and focus on the issues. Keep the main thing the main thing. For example, “Okay, we can agree he is kind of a jerk, but let’s focus on the issue of ____.” Don’t get caught in the emotions of having a tough discussion. Remember, people generally won’t have a political epiphany and change their views on the spot. Teach them to ask their friends the same questions we’ve asked you like:

How would that work?
What do you think that would solve?
Are there foreseeable consequences to that solution that might cause other problems?
How did you come to those conclusions?

Help your children remember to always represent Jesus. Sometimes the way they act will influence their friends more than any carefully crafted arguments.
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But what can we DO?We are supposed to be the salt and light of the world. In her forthcoming When Culture Hates You, Natasha Crain points out that verses like John 3;19-21, 8:12, and Ephesians 5:11 are about those roles of preserving (salt) what is good and (light) exposing what is not. She says, “They require Christians to advocate for righteousness in the public square. We aren’t preserving or exposing anything by sitting passively in our living rooms.”1

If your kids are anything like mine, they want to do something. Start with fasting (take a tv or phone break, skip dessert, etc.) and praying as a family. When Nehemiah agonized over the state of Jerusalem, he spent days weeping, fasting, and praying.

Ask God for wisdom in how you and your family can make a tangible difference in your area. Can your kids collect canned goods for a food bank? Can they visit the residents at a senior center? Can you all volunteer at a pro-life pregnancy center, homeless ministry, or foster clothes closet? Can you attend city council meetings and support Godly men and women who run or serve?

Find ways for your kids to be part of doing things to be the salt and light of the world. Show them they can change the world one person at a time.
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The candidates we have this year are partially our own fault. We have allowed evil to reign in every corner of our government. Look for ways to bring a change in the culture through your witness and making disciples. Change won’t come overnight, but together, we can make a difference in the culture which then affects who we follow in politics and Hollywood (which definitely needs to change!). Hopefully, we can teach our kids how to boldly be the light in the darkness.

Jennifer DefratesJennifer DeFrates is a former high school teacher turned homeschool mom and Christian blogger at Heavennotharvard.com and theMamapologist.com. Jennifer is a CIA graduate (the Cross-Examined Instructors Academy, not the government agency…though I wouldn’t mess with her just in case) and has an abiding love for apologetics. She is also the reluctant ringleader of a small menagerie in rural Alabama. How cool is that?

www.heavennotharvard.com1 Natasha Crain, When Culture Hates You (Harvest House: 2024), 27.The post Politics at the Dinner Table: Answering Your Kid’s Questions Without Panicking appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Back-to-school time often means back to familiar routines, but it can also bring new things: new schools, new teachers, new friends… new vocab? Now, if you’re hoping we’ll explain what stuff like skibidi toilet riz means, you’re out of luck.1 But we might be able to help you with the other kinds of words your kids might be bringing home – ideological buzzwords.

Buzzwords make up the jargon of a particular time and place. Every generation has slang and jargon that captures the era’s zeitgeist that can sound strange to other generations. For example, the buzzwords of the 1990s included many new tech terms that parents had previously been unfamiliar with like e-mail and hard drive. Or words like “virus” that suddenly had a new definition (computer virus anyone?).

Parents today have a lot of new buzzwords to learn, too, except most of the words kids are bringing home are concepts that parents only think they understand. That’s the tricky part: this new zeitgeist operates by taking the familiar and infusing it with new meanings that the average person 10 years ago wouldn’t have even dreamed of (hello, linguistic theft!) – words like privilege, inclusion, and justice.

But we mama bears aren’t going to be like those normal moms. We’re the cool moms, right? The ones who understand the ideological implications behind the words. Yes, they can be difficult to define because they are vague, slippery, and can mean just about anything people want them to mean–and that’s on purpose! In the words of community organizer Saul Alinsky (who taught his followers “how to get power… how to get it and how to use it.”), “You do what you can with what you have and then clothe it in moral garments. . . because all effective means require the passport of morality.”2

When all is said and done, you’ll get a good picture of how some old ideas are sneaking into these new happy-clappy-can’t-we-all-just-get-along-flower-power words. For each of our words, we’ll briefly describe what people have traditionally meant by the word, what people now mean by it, give a few examples of how it is used in this new sense, and then finally how to talk about it with your kids.

But before we get to allllllll our buzzwords, we first need to dig deep into the big kahuna – the buzzy-est buzzword of all – justice (and more importantly social justice).

Social Justice?Ahhhhh….. Social justice. It sounds so good! So biblical! So right!

Or, for some of you, the phrase “social justice” immediately makes your skin crawl and you import the entirety of Mao’s and Marx’s philosophy into a single phrase, ready to unleash your righteous indignation on anyone who uses the phrase positively. But mama bears, let’s try not to err on either extreme. Our goal is to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). God has given us the ability to reason, so come let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18), starting with the concept of social justice.

Our goal is to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). God has given us the ability to reason, so come let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18), starting with the concept of social justice.
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“Justice”What we assume they mean: A good society upholds justice when its people are treated fairly and impartially. This means people will be respected and afforded the same opportunities regardless of their gender, skin color, ethnicity, economic status, etc. Justice should mean that people receive the benefits they worked for and are not being punished for things they didn’t do. When a crime is committed, appropriate punishment should be served to the perpetrator and payment made to the victim ensuring justice has been restored. The Bible is all about justice. (See for example Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 27:19, Jeremiah 22:3, Proverbs 21:15 and 29:7, Isaiah 1:17 and 5:23, Zechariah 7:9, 1 Peter 1:17, and Colossians 3:25.)

The overly simplistic summary of what they actually mean: Equal opportunities and outcomes for everyone, especially if there is a statistically significant discrepancy between ethnic minorities. (Unless those minorities do better than the average white person (i.e. Asian or Jewish people); those kinds of “minorities” don’t count.)

So what is “social justice”?

Our culture is sweeping all kinds of social dilemmas under the banner of “social justice.” Social justice goes beyond identifying “justice” for individuals and instead focuses on “justice” for groups – especially groups based on ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and religion.

The assumption: According to social justice theory, if everyone had the same opportunities, then everyone would have the same outcome. If there are statistically significant differences between demographics (like those listed above) then the “system” is to blame, not the individual. Social justice means exposing and dismantling these unfair systems.

In the case of the justice system, certain demographics can experience unfair benefits or unfair impediments to success, preventing groups from achieving the equal outcome hypothesized by a totally “fair and just system.” In order to achieve this fair and just system, the structural impediments of the system need to be torn down. The unearned privileges must be rejected by those receiving it in order to allow someone in another demographic to benefit. (And yes, biological differences can also include unfair privileges and impediments, as we’ll see in a later blog regarding the concept of “reproductive justice.”)

What they get right and what they get wrong:

Setting evil people or selfish agendas aside, most “social justice warriors” (SJWs) are passionate about human flourishing. Even if SJWs are not suffering themselves, many are willing to commit time and energy to the goal of being an advocate for the well-being of others. What they are good at is bringing awareness to often overlooked areas of life in which communities or groups of people are suffering. They encourage (if not demand) others to get uncomfortable and examine their own biases and prejudices because they assume that it is these biases and prejudices that are causing all the harm. And in some cases, they are absolutely right! (For example, see here.) They help bring awareness to historical injustices that still have lingering vestiges. (How does one quantify the generational effects of learned helplessness from slavery?)

Fighting for people who have been unfairly targeted or forgotten is good and biblical. So what’s the problem? Social justice as a whole gets it wrong on two fronts. First, it takes legitimate cases of group oppression and applies it to every group that has ever been “marginalized.” Gird your loins, mama bears, we are about to see all the same social justice rhetoric for pedophilia under the guise of “minor attracted persons” (MAPs) – a poor, disenfranchised demographic who has been unfairly stigmatized for a “sexual orientation” that they did not choose or want. MAP discussions are already in TED talks and academic literature and will surely be making their way into our society soon. And since we’ve defined “justice” as any kind of marginalization or unequal treatment for whole demographics, there is nothing to prevent the phrase “social justice” from protecting this new oppressed group, too. (This is what people mean by a slippery slope.)

Secondly, if we are to put the intention of this movement in biblical terms, it would be to “love thy neighbor” (Matthew 22:39). Again, a good thing. But SJW’s get this wrong, too, by trying to uphold this command while redefining love. They essentially define love as having empathy and compassion… with no mention of truth or responsibility. Like, put yourself in the other person’s shoes, and ask what you would want if you were them – but what we want isn’t always what’s best for us, either! (And wouldn’t we all like to be off the hook for our own contributions to a problem?) This new definition of social justice operates under the assumption that all unequal treatment is the result of an unjust external “system.” This ignores any problems arising from sin, negates personal responsibility, and (sometimes) rejects brute reality.

According to God’s Word, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Are there areas of unhealthy prejudice and bias which we need to bring attention to? You betcha. Are there areas where people are reaping the effects of unhealthy cultural mindsets? Cultural values that need redeeming as a wide scale? Ummm… yes to that, too. But that is taboo according to SJW’s who label it “victim blaming,” as if people don’t need to also be held responsible for their own choices. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and. We cannot neglect either one.

Furthermore, justice and righteousness are bedmates; you cannot separate them. That should be a huge worldview concern for Christians. You’re either going to look at these issues through a biblical lens using God’s definitions for things like love, truth, righteousness, and justice, or you’ll see them through a lens influenced and shaped by the culture. If all your ideas are filtered through the singular trait of compassion, you can accidentally stumble into (as Allie Beth Stuckey says in her latest book) “toxic empathy.” By disregarding sin, truth, and personal responsibility, our culture’s social justice framework does not always lead to true justice because you cannot have “justice” that includes unrighteousness (as is the case with things like “reproductive justice”).

Examples of (social) justice:

Health Justice

The group Health Justice Commons recently stated on their social media that “The Medical Industrial Complex (MIC) is a violent, profit-driven system that functions as a form of social control.”3 “Healthcare justice” is not just about getting people access to healthcare. Rather, the system itself needs to be cured of it’s “ableist” mindset (the mindset of able-bodied people) who blame people for their illnesses and focus on “behavioral change” for promoting healthcare. For example, in one clip from the NBC medical drama New Amsterdam, a doctor tells a boy’s parents that he thinks their son’s tumor was caused by racism.

This fits in with Health Justice Common’s accusation that our current healthcare system blames individuals and/or their bodies for their illnesses rather than acknowledge that “generational trauma and oppression” are the real causes of “harm and illness.” The goal is to dismantle the system. That’s how they define “healthcare justice.”

Housing Justice

The website urban.org discusses the new concept of “housing injustice.” According to their website, achieving housing justice means “ensuring everyone has affordable housing that promotes health, well-being, and upward mobility by confronting historical and ongoing harms and disparities caused by structural racism and other systems of oppression.” Sound like a mouthful to you too? Here’s the basic idea: People are getting evicted from their homes when they don’t pay their rent/mortgage, but this is seen as an injustice because the reason they haven’t made the payments is ultimately due to being trapped in an oppressive and racist system.

How to talk to your kids about justice:

Justice is part of who God is. We worship a God who loves justice because it is a part of His very nature (Psalm 33:5). Justice pleases God, and injustice invokes His good and righteous anger (Nahum 1:2-3). We see this attribute of God clearly when we read through the Old Testament laws that He gave Moses after delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

God calls for impartiality when judging, from the poor to the affluent (Leviticus 19:15). We even see how the Lord had built-in protections in his law for people like the poor and slaves. (Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 15:13-14)
God calls us to protect the vulnerable. When James 1:27 talks about caring for the orphan or widow, it’s literally talking about people in society who have no advocate, no authority over them from whom they can receive protection; this means that this group needs protection from people taking advantage of their vulnerable position. However, it doesn’t attribute any action resulting from that vulnerability as being unjust. As we see in that same verse, we aren’t just to take care of this demographic, but to take responsibility for ourselves from “being polluted by the world.”
There have been groups who have been mistreated. Unfortunately, we don’t have to look very hard to find rampant examples of discrimination and injustice in the U.S. and around the world. These include things like slavery, the Holocaust against the Jewish people, Japanese-American internment camps, violence toward and forced assimilation of Native Americans, just to name a few. At times, the list seems endless. We even see examples in Scripture. As Christians, we need to take a stand against such atrocities. We need to care for others as Christ cared for people. Keep in mind that loving our neighbor doesn’t just mean loving those we agree with. Think of Jesus’s love and care for the Samaritans, the tax collectors, the ill, the poor, the rich, etc. When we talk with our kids about past injustices, we need to be honest about what’s happened, as is age-appropriate, of course. Acknowledging the dark stains of human history can help us have more sympathy (and even empathy) toward people among us.

When we talk with our kids about past injustices, we need to be honest about what's happened. Acknowledging the dark stains of human history can help us have more sympathy (and even empathy) toward people among us.
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Past injustice (unrighteousness) never excuses present injustice (unrighteousness). God cares about all trauma (Psalm 34:18) However, He still holds each person accountable for their own actions (Ezekiel 18:20). In Greek, the words for justice and righteousness are the same word. Dikaosynē which means “the state of being as one ought to be or integrity and virtue.” What should this tell us about justice? It will never include unrighteousness. When it came to justice, God never allowed “generational trauma and oppression” to change the plumbline for which to judge people. If He had, the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy would look very different. These two books describe a people who were literally coming out of slavery and oppression – an entire demographic intimate with generational and personal trauma. The solution wasn’t a softening of God’s law; it was literally to this people group that God gave his law! (He was extremely patient, but also had some pretty harsh punishments for disobedience.) Moses even had to “talk God down” (kidding/not kidding…) from wiping out the entire group (Exodus 32:9-14).
Blessings and guilt can be communal. Just because God only punishes individuals for their own sins does not mean that whole families or communities are immune from the effects of each other’s sins. Alcoholism and depression tend to run in families. Divorce has a tendency to breed divorce. Kids are especially affected by a parent’s choices. Entire groups can suffer for the unrighteousness of their leader (Leviticus 32:33). It is good to acknowledge ways that the health or dysfunction of our family or demographic have affected our own ideas of what is normal and healthy. However, it is up to individuals to break the cycle by making wise and healthy decisions for themselves so that they don’t perpetuate the generational curses.

In short, Christians should emulate God’s heart by being at the forefront of advocating for true justice wherever we are located!

ConclusionThe problem with the cultural definition of “justice” is that it often bypasses God’s definition of justice. Rather, it reflects an unattainable utopia because we, as humans, will always have our actions stained by sin – both as individuals and as individuals within a “system.” Cultural justice shifts the blame for crimes and other sins from the individual to “corrupt social structures.” God’s justice attributes sin on the individual who broke God’s moral law (1 John 3:4 and Deuteronomy 24:16). Cultural justice is about systems and institutions. God’s justice is about the human heart (Hosea 6:6).

Mama bears, we’ve got our work cut out for us! Most of the other buzzwords we’ll cover in this series are under the umbrella of social justice, and social justice has had a lot of linguistic theft and linguistic smuggling going on! (See Chapter 4 in our first book and Chapter 6 in our sexuality book.)

When words like justice, tolerance, inclusion, & rights are sifted through unbiblical assumptions, our kids may think they are arguing for Christian principles when in fact they are advocating for unrighteousness!
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For this reason, we must proactively prepare our kiddos with candid conversations about these buzzwords. We want them to recognize the message and be able to practice discernment, knowing why God’s way is a healthier approach. That way, when our kids inevitably encounter these terms at school or with their friends, they will be empowered to stand firm with confidence in biblical truth. Stay tuned for upcoming Buzzword blogs…

adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

1 But we’re pretty sure it means someone is unpopular and nobody likes them.2 Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals (Vintage Books, 1989), 36, 44 (emphasis ours).3 See https://www.instagram.com/p/C-3Oucroq8p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D.The post Beware of Back-to-School Buzzwords appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Surviving political landscapes as a Christian has always been challenging (ancient Rome was harsh, y’all!). However, this U.S. presidential election cycle feels like the most difficult in recent history, and the American political landscape seems to grow more contentious every year. So, how do we navigate this minefield with truth, love, and joy? It’s not easy, but it can be simple.

So, how do we navigate this minefield with truth, love, and joy? It’s not easy, but it can be simple. Let's talk about how.
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First, let’s address the elephant (and donkey) in the room. Should Christians even get political? I mean, doesn’t Romans 13:1-7 basically tell us to obey the government God has allowed to rule over us? Yes, and no. Yes, we are absolutely to obey the government authorities unless they are asking us to violate God’s laws. However, we have a totally different form of government than the Roman Empire during the first century. The early church had no say in their government. They were under totalitarian control and could do little more than choose their attitude of servitude. However, the U.S. was founded as a democratic republic, and expects participation as part of our civic responsibilities. We should voice our thoughts in various ways, including contacting our legislature and voting for the candidates we wish to represent us.

Everyone promotes their values and beliefs in the public sphere, whether those values and beliefs flow from truth, feelings, or faith. Our values are shaped by what we believe is true about the world and everything in it. If we believe the Bible is objectively true about God, the universe, and everything, we would be terrible citizens (much less Christians) if we didn’t use it to inform our values on laws and policies. Remember, there is no neutral. Every citizen uses their strongly held beliefs to determine how to interact in our political sphere. Christians have every right to do so as well, and even a mandate to do so as salt and light! (See Matthew 5:13-16.) Ask “How is the way I’m voting preventing decay in our society?” Political discourse is a good opportunity to demonstrate for your children how our faith is active in all parts of our lives, not something we put into a compartment only on Sundays.

We do not have to hold our values quietly just because we believe they were instituted by God. While our primary citizenship is in God’s kingdom (and this Earth for sure ain’t it!) we can strive to promote the best values possible while we reside in the here and now. In fact, everywhere biblical Christian values have been used as the foundation, society has flourished.1 They are verifiably good values to promote. (Books for further reading include Faithfully Different by Natasha Crain and We Will Not be Silenced by Erwin Lutzer.)

So yes, we can get political, but how do we do so in ways that reflect Christ and spread the benefits of His morality?

Step 1 – Be loving and reasonable. Jesus told us that people should recognize Christians by our love (John 13:35), so first, as Mama Bear Lindsey Medenwaldt puts it plainly in her book Bridge-Building Apologetics, “Don’t be a jerk for Jesus.” Secondly, as much as it is up to us, we are to be at peace with all people (Romans 12:18). While we are called to defend our faith in 1 Peter 3:15, we should do so with gentleness and respect. Our tone should always be loving, kind, and reasonable, even when we need to be bold and unapologetic.

Philippians 4:5 reminds us that our reasonableness should be evident to everyone and that we should not be anxious for anything. We you are on the side of truth, the truth is on your side as well. We do not need to get frustrated or angry when people don’t agree with us, but rather should seek to be persuasive in how we communicate that truth. One of the best ways to do that is by using questions. Ask people what they believe, why they believe it, and how they came to that conclusion. And then be willing to amend your conclusions if someone presents evidence that you hadn’t considered before! Sometimes asking questions can gently reveal that a person’s beliefs are not built on solid foundations like logic or factual arguments. We also get the added benefit of building a relationship by listening to each other instead of just seeking to make our own point.

Step 2 – Don’t be silent.Once, I was chaperoning a field trip and had several unknown students assigned to my bus. While calling roll, I could not imagine how to pronounce the name L-a. When I cautiously asked for La, I was corrected, “It’s Ladasha. The dash don’t be silent, Miss.” While this was a humorous lesson for me in creative spelling, I couldn’t let go of the idea that the dash shouldn’t be silent. One of the most powerful speakers at the Reality Student Apologetics Conference this spring, La Nej Garrison, spoke about the dash between our birth date and death dates representing our lives. And that our lives should not be silent. God has given each of us a voice and a sphere of influence that includes your children, your friend, maybe even a public audience. Are you using your dash to glorify God and make Him known?

Your primary commission from Jesus is to go into the world and make disciples. While it’s tempting to create a small circle echo chamber of like-minded friends, that does nothing to spread the gospel message. Be willing to get uncomfortable and make friends with people who might disagree with you. Share the gospel. Love them loudly. Don’t be silent in the face of evil. Be the first to stand for what is true and good. Let your life speak volumes. People are listening and your children will learn how to live from your example.

Share the gospel. Love people loudly. Don’t be silent in the face of evil. Be the first to stand for what is true and good.
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Step 3 – Do your own research.If we want to have reasonable, powerful conversations with our friends and family, we need to know what we’re talking about. While we live in the information age and anything we want to know is at our fingertips in a moment, there is too much information of varying quality, and everyone has a platform. It’s very important that you know who is worth listening to.

Start tracking reliable sources. Look for people who do not use outrage as clickbait. Reporters should stick to the facts and leave editorializing to the editorial page. Most of mainstream media tends to be biased, so make sure you are doing things like reading articles from both sides of the spectrum and watching C-Span instead of CNN. Try to find neutral outlets as much as possible.

Also, read the original documents, when possible, like the Constitution or the text of a proposed bill. Don’t settle for some talking head telling you what a law says or what a candidate endorses. Read the law, platform, or speech for yourself. The media tends to name things in pithy ways that influence most people who never take the time to read them for themselves. People allow their opinions to be decided by the a commentators name for a bill or the title of an article rather than individual research. (See our post about the 2022 Florida “Don’t say gay” bill. What people sensationally claimed was is in bill didn’t show up anywhere in the bill.) Know what you’re promoting and voting for.

Step 4 – Consider the platform, policies and personnel over the person.This year especially, our choice of presidential candidates leaves something (okay, a lot!) to be desired. Neither one seems to be appropriately moral (at least not in their pasts), and both are prone to exaggeration, misdirection, and straight up deceitfulness. Frankly, trying to listen to either of them talk is often unpleasant, but we’re voting for more than the person. (See John Ferrer’s article here on how we are voting for policies, platform, and personnel (like 4000 of them…). Which of these candidates has ideas that you want to duplicate in all spheres of government, like 4000 times?

Which of these candidates has ideas that you want to duplicate in all spheres of government, like 4000 times?
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It would be LOVELY if we had a candidate that reflected Christ, didn’t have a messy past, was bold and confident while also being kind and reasonable. But as a nation, we didn’t vote to put those people to be on the ballot. SIGH. We have the choices we have.

Remember, Christ is King.We do not serve a fallen god or a dead king. We serve the risen Jesus who is seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father right now. Nothing happens on this Earth that is not under His sovereignty. The same God who allowed Nebuchadnezzar to conquer His people rules over our elections, too. Sometimes, God needs to show His people how far we’ve fallen in order to call us to repentance. (And if there is one thing our nation needs, it’s a call to repentance!) Do not despair. You were born for such a time as this. Raise up your dragon slayers to slay the dragons of this world that oppose our God. Be bold. A wonderfully wise speaker, Laura Zifer Powell, at the Women in Apologetics conference this month made a statement that really inspired me. I’m paraphrasing here, but she said why are you sitting on the couch watching superheroes battle the forces of darkness. You get to do that! Get off your couch and do spiritual warfare!

Get into the fray, Mama Bears. No matter how the election results roll in we can influence those around us and strive to improve our country and win souls to Jesus.
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Get into the fray, Mama Bears. No matter how the election results roll in we can influence those around us and strive to improve our country and win souls to Jesus. In fact, we often do best at winning souls when it looks like our side isn’t winning at all. Remember ancient Rome? When people saw the Christians facing their deaths singing worship to God, Christianity began to spread like a wildfire. I’d rather see that wildfire than win at the polls. If we could have both, that would be nice, but Jesus wins in the end. We want to be Team Jesus most of all.

www.heavennotharvard.com1 See John Stonestreet and Maria Baer, “Christianity Has Nothing to Hide,” Breakpoint, May 6, 2022, https://breakpoint.org/christianity-has-nothing-to-hide/.The post Navigating the American Political Landscape appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Can you believe it’s September already?! New school year, new election year… A few years back, we shared a blog called “10 Things to Pray Every Day During September 2020” and that blog turned partly into the Honest Prayers for Mama Bears book!

But prayer isn’t something we relegate to just one specific time. (Okay… maybe it’s a good idea to be on our knees a little more than usual during an election season like this one?)

In general, mama bears, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of prayer. We fight ideologically battles ideologically, but we fight spiritual battles with the spiritual weapons that God has given us, because no amount of “discussion” will be effective if there is a spiritual stronghold jacking up communication. Remember, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). Spiritual blindness is a real thing. Spiritual deafness is a real thing. (See Matthew 13.) We have an entire war raging all around us in the spiritual realm, and if we want to make a dent in our culture, we need to be prayed up not only for our own sakes, but for the sake of those who are held captive to these strongholds. (See Isaiah 61:1.)

Some of these prayers will be new. Some will be repeats from 2020. But I’d like us as a Mama Bear community to commit to pray these 10 prayers, every day at 12 o’clock noon. In fact, post “Prayed #10at12” on your socials. Let’s see how many mama bears we can get lifting up these strongholds every single day in September and October! And then let’s see if we can make it a regular thing. There is something magical about knowing that there are other mama bears all over the world praying at the exact same time as you (or within your time zone!).

Unity around the essentialsThere’s a phrase from German Lutheran theologian Rupertus Meldenius that my husband’s former professor Norman Geisler used to repeat frequently: “In the essentials, unity, in the negotiables, liberty, in all things, charity.” Mama bears, there are a lot of different opinions out there at what constitutes “the essentials” of the Christian faith. There are hills worth dying on and hills that are not. Let’s be praying that God would reveal to us the essentials of Christianity around which we are to unapologetically unify, knowing that in some of the lesser issues, we should have grace with our brothers and sisters. Only then, can real unity take place.
Division around the non-negotiablesAnd while we are on the subject of unity, there are some who (mistakenly) advocate for embracing allllll the things under the auspices of “Christian unity.” Mama bears, we can’t go there, either. Does it directly change who God has revealed Himself to be in Scripture, negate what the Bible says, or prevent us from fully reflecting God’s image to the world? Don’t unify with that! No matter how much the person claims to “love Jesus.” That being said, there are a whollllle range of different convictions, secondary issues, or personalities that all contribute to a healthy, functioning, body of Christ. That’s what healthy parts of the body do; they each have their own function while interacting with the whole. Separate yourself from anything that destroys the function of the whole, but it’s okay to be different with convictions and secondary beliefs. Pray that the Lord would reveal to you those issues, and be bold enough to separate from things that distort the gospel.
Ability to see what’s going on in culture without fearThis is a prayer that I pray regularly for myself, and for y’all, my sweet mama bears. There is a lot going on in this world. God, please open our eyes to the schemes of the enemy without letting us give way to fear. If you are for us, who can be against us? Your perfect love casts out fear. But may we never turn a blind eye to what is going on in our world.

God, please open our eyes to the schemes of the enemy without letting us give way to fear. #prayer #10at12 #honestprayersformamabears #mamabearapologetics
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An insatiable craving for the WordWe cannot figure out what the essentials, negotiables, or dealbreakers are if we don’t know the Word! For anyone who has read the Honest Prayers book, you know that I spend a lot of time admitting to God how tedious it feels to study sometimes. That’s where we ask the Lord to change our desires! Make us absolutely insatiable for your Word, Lord! That is how we “Delight ourselves in the Lord” so that He can “Give us the desires of our heart.” When the desire for the Bible becomes a deep yearning in our souls, then Bible study becomes exactly what we want to do! It’s a pretty sweet deal.
Eyes to see the teachable momentsThere is so much that goes on around us, from conversations at a soccer game to moments in the latest film, television show, or TSwift lyrics. Raising kids who are disciples of Jesus means that we need to reinforce the truths from His word while whether we are walking on the road or going through the Wendy’s drive-thru. Be careful with this prayer! The Lord is faithful to answer it! You’ll see nonsense everywhere, and your kids will get so tired of you pointing out lies that they’ll start being all “Nooo! Not again!!!” But mama bears, I say it all the time: sometimes that eye-roll means you are on exactly the right track!
A mind that can remember what we’ve learnedAnyone else’s memory tanked in your old age? No? Just me? Riiiiiight. I literally pray this a lot. There’s so much study that I do, and it is frustrating when I can’t remember it all. I have those “teachable moments” come up with the neighbors’ kids or my nephews, but I sometimes fear that my ability to recall what I’ve learned is diminished. So I give that to God, too.

Lord, increase our study, and help us retain that which you want us to pass on to your children! Help us be faithful in each of these small, teachable tasks. #honestprayers #10at12 #mamabearapologetics
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Energy to defend our actual family and our church familyDefending our families doesn’t mean we go all West Side Story rumble style. One major part of defense is fortifying unity. What can you do that helps fortify your family’s bond? Family dinners? Family game night? Make sure that being together is where nostalgia will take them back to in the future. Same thing for our church families. There are a lot of bad experiences that people can have at church to the point where they want to tear down Christ’s bride altogether. Not on our watch! Weep with those who weep. Mourn with those who mourn. But do not stand idly by and allow the entire Bride of Christ to be trashed in the public sphere. One book we recommend about this is Jeff Meyer’s Truth Changes Everything, which goes into detail on all the beautiful things that the Church (big C) has accomplished throughout history.
Know when to speak up and when to be silentMama bears, some fights are ours and we’ve been called to serve. Other fights? Not so much. It’s okay to pick your battles. It’s okay to let people be (gasp) wrong sometimes. Do you know where you’ve been and how far God has brought you? If every single time you were wrong someone was in your face about it, the maturity might have ended there. Just remember how you are as a parent — sometimes you let things go because it’s a small skirmish in the bigger battle of raising kids up into adulthood. The same is true with all of us who are at different spiritual maturities. Just ask the Lord for wisdom in the moment, and then either boldly speak up or boldly hold your tongue. Either way, don’t do it because you fear being quiet or not speaking up. We are bold when we know we are answering a situation aptly.
Ability to see root issuesI was talking to my cousin about a lady who was rude at the grocery store. My mind immediately went to all the possible scenarios that she might have lived through today. Now, this isn’t the case all the time. Sometimes, people are just jerks. But as we go about being light, being seeds, and spreading the kingdom, let’s ask God for the ability to see what the root of the issue is rather than the symptom.
Freedom to release all consequences to GodEven looking at this list, being a Christ follower can feel like walking a tightrope. There’s so much to balance, so many perspectives to take into consideration. But you know what? We’re probably going to mess it up again… and again… and again. And being a Christian means that we as sinners just keep trying. We give grace to ourselves when we blow it, and grace to others when they blow it. If there was something that God needed us to do, the world will not crumble unless we do it perfectly. He chooses to use us because He delights in using us! We do our best, but the results are ultimately up to Him. Now, our hearts, on the other hand, don’t know this. Personally, I take every failure as if I should have known better. But the older I get, the more I realize that I don’t have as much control as I like to think I do. So my prayer in those situations is that I would just release it to God. Otherwise, there are just too many things to keep me up at night, and I’m not particularly pleasant when I’ve been up all night! Haha!

I do what I can, release it to God, and when I find myself ruminating again, I ask Him to take it one more time. #10at12 #prayers #honestprayers #mamabearapologetics
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I hope that you like our 10 at 12 for this year! Let us know in the comments if any of these particularly spoke to your heart.

P.S. A new note-taking edition of Honest Prayers for Mama Bears book will be released next month! We think you’ll love its beautiful design, which includes space to write down your own thoughts related to the prayers. You can preorder it now wherever books are sold!

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SummaryCould your child’s playlist be as influential as their peers? That’s the question we tackle, as Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department sweeps through headphones and homes, stirring a wave of concern among Christian parents. We’re looking into the heart of the matter, unraveling how the melodies and lyrics that echo in our kids’ ears might be shaping their worldviews and emotional landscapes. We’re not just talking tunes here — we’re discussing the seeds of beliefs being planted with every beat and verse they hear.The allure of beats and harmonies isn’t simply a matter of taste — it’s a powerful force with the capacity to sway moods and beliefs. In this episode, Amy isn’t shy about confronting the myths surrounding the impact of music like Swift’s, challenging the notion that it’s all harmless entertainment. Instead, Amy spotlights the psychological and spiritual battlegrounds within our children’s mental health, leaning on both Scripture and science to navigate this complex terrain. We’re opening up the conversation to equip families with the discernment needed to face the subtle, yet profound, influences their children encounter in their favorite playlists.Navigating the celebrity culture maze becomes all the more important when stars like Swift command not just the airwaves but also the hearts of their listeners. We dissect the weighty influence wielded by artists over their fanbases, recognizing the fine line between admiration and idolization. By fostering a foundation built on truth, we empower our listeners to guide their children in engaging with culture without losing their footing in faith. It’s a call to all parents to anchor their young ones in a faith that withstands the tidal waves of cultural fads and fan fervor.Main Points Covered* Should I be concerned about my kids listening to Taylor Swift? * How does music affect the brain? * Art is an expression of worldview. * Being a “Swifty” should not be a primary identity statement. * Be on guard for yourself and your children so that you aren’t taken in by the culture. * Tips for healthily engaging with your kids around music.

People and Resources Mentioned* Romans 1:18 * Mark 12:30 * Romans 12:2 * 1 Corinthians 10:5 * University of Central Florida Article * You podcast * Witnessing to unbelievers with Lindsey Medenwaldt * Article on how Music Affects the Body * Additional article on how music affects the mind

Unfamiliar Vocabulary Nucleus Accumbens: The nucleus accumbens is a brain structure in the forebrain that plays a key role in many behaviors, including motivation, action, pleasure, reward, and addiction. It’s also known as the brain’s pleasure center and is a central component of the basal ganglia. * Amygdala: The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain that’s part of the limbic system and is closely associated with emotions, fear, and motivation. * Hippocampus: Hippocampus is a complex brain structure embedded deep into temporal lobe. It has a major role in learning and memory. * Frontal Lobe:* The frontal lobe is the largest lobe in the human brain and is located at the front of the brain, extending from behind the forehead to the precentral gyrus. It’s responsible for many higher cognitive functions.

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105. 3 Myths About Taylor Swift
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In our house, bedtime is normally dad’s job. I homeschool my kids (we do the hybrid thing), so most days by the end of the night I have been momming for a solid 14+ hours. I’ve got… like… less than nothing left in the tank. Of course, there is the occasional night where dad is unavailable and bedtime duty belongs to the momster (that’s my burnt out overstimulated alter ego – she’s kinda scary). Don’t worry, by the time I’m tucking each kiddo in, looking into their sweet sleepy faces, and starting our prayer and song routine, I am always reminded of how preciously limited these moments are and “momster” flees the room. Inevitably, this is when it happens: My kid drops the tough theological question bomb!

I distinctly remember this one from my daughter: “If God let Adam and Eve’s kids marry each other, how can it be bad for brothers and sisters to marry each other today?” After asking some clarifying questions to make sure I understood what she was getting at, I realized she was essentially asking how God can call something good at one time in history and then declare it sin at another. My response as I’m slowly backing away out the door: “Good question. So proud. Ask your dad tomorrow! Goodnight!”

Kidding! I did not respond that way. But that’s an example of a question that’s not easy to answer for an adult, let alone a child–and especially without keeping my kid up way past bedtime. Before we get into what to do when your pint-sized philosophical prodigy has challenged you with a mind-boggling theological question, let’s talk about why dismissing it entirely is a really super bad idea.

What happens when we persistently dismiss our kids’ questions?If you are a parent (or work with kids in any capacity), then you already know that kids ask a lot of questions. I wanted to know how many on average so I did some research. I found one study that suggests an average of 73 questions per day. I’ve also seen articles that report on studies which suggest over 300 questions per day peaking around the age of 4, and as the quantity gradually decreases, the level of difficulty tends to increase. (So sorry… things probably won’t get easier!) And if you are the primary caregiver in your home, you are likely the one fielding the vast majority of those inquiries.

What happens when you get a theological question in the middle of Costco that you don’t have an easy answer for? “Let’s talk about that later” is probably the natural response. But do you talk about it later?
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It’s easy to imagine what is likely to happen if your kiddo’s questions are constantly dismissed or ignored – they’ll stop asking you. Either they will assume there are no good answers, or they’ll look for answers elsewhere. (Equally detrimental is spoon-feeding bad answers.)

“Thoughtful questions demand thoughtful answers. When we respond with half-baked or pat answers, we communicate that we’re not taking the questions seriously – or even worse, that we simply don’t have any good answers. Bad answers shut down sincere questions.”- Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett, The Deconstruction of Christianity

Many adults who have walked away from the church and “deconstructed” report that when they were in the faith, they did not feel like they were “allowed” to question the Bible or its theological doctrines. Some had their questions dismissed and were told to “just have faith.” In fact, Natasha Crain writes about a time when, at a dinner party, another mom confessed that she tells her daughter God is like Santa: “It’s a matter of faith.” This could be the makings of a future deconstruction. We must not let this be the story for our kids.

Rules to follow in the moment:1. Don’t panicWhether your child is just curious or is experiencing doubt that Christianity is true, cast your anxieties on the Lord and trust Him. Ultimately, your kiddo is in His loving hands, and their salvation does not rest solely on your ability to answer their theological questions.

Do praiseWe want our little future apologists to be awesome question-askers! We must be careful not to fall into the temptation to act annoyed or exasperated, even if the timing isn’t great. Reinforce good question-asking skills by giving lots of praise and encouragement whenever your kid raises a question about the faith. We want them to report back to their friends that questions were always encouraged in their home! (Below we’ll cover what to do when you can’t have a proper conversation right at that moment.)
Do probeSometimes your response is going to be different depending on what is motivating your child’s question. Did they see something in a TV show? Did they have a conversation with a friend at school that sparked curiosity, created fear, or sowed doubts? It’s a good idea to evaluate why your kid is asking the question before exploring the answer with them.
Don’t prattleI cannot tell you how many times my son has asked me super complicated philosophical questions, and I go to town giving an elaborate answer with all the nuances, anticipating and responding to all the objections I can think of, and when I ask if that helped he replies: “Huh? Sorry I wasn’t listening.” (Face palm) Learn from my mistakes: Keep your responses short. They won’t be exhaustive, and that’s okay.

Some of these questions require entire books to respond to them so you’re not likely to give the full answer in one conversation anyway!
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What if the timing is really bad?Rather than constantly finding yourself in a situation where it’s just not an appropriate time or location to have a deep theological conversation with your kid, you can be prepared ahead of time. Get your family a special journal, specifically designated for tough questions about God and the Bible. Anytime a family member (including mom and dad) has a question, write it down. You can even have a second journal designated for answers. That way, after y’all have researched the question together, you can record what you’ve learned. You can even cross-reference them by making a mark in the question journal which says “answered! See page ### of answer journal” so that they know which page to look at in the answer journal. Make it an on-going family project!

Not home when the questions are popped? Get out that good ‘ole notes app on your phone and record them up while you’re out and about. I don’t know about your kids, but my kids LOVE any opportunity to type things into my phone, so depending on your family rules that could be their task. That might even motivate them to think of more questions, keeping their minds on the Lord (wink). When you get home, have the kiddos copy the questions into your special journal. Imagine both journals as the pages fill in the coming years – what a testament that will be to your family’s effort to love God with all your mind!

Discipling vs. AnsweringAll this being said, take care not to become your child’s Bible Answer Mom. The last thing we want to do is teach our kids to seek out authority figures who will merely supply them with all of the “answers.” (This is one way cults are made. It’s also how doubts are sown later–when another “authority” has a different answer.) We want them to wrestle with both the question and answer. That’s how they own it, rather than just regurgitating it. It is our job to disciple our children. This involves not just teaching them, but also training them. It is critical that we don’t just give our kids answers. We need to train them how to ask good questions and how to seek true answers for themselves via good research and critical thinking. We’ll cover practical steps on how to do this in our next blog, along with some of the favorite resources to help you along the way.

Until then, GO GET YO’ JOURNALS, MAMA BEARS! And get ready for some rockin’ theological conversations.

Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.

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I’ll never forget the first time my husband and I read Scripture together. Our cute little dating selves were taking turns reading through Romans (as you do), and when I was finished with my paragraph, my gorgeous had a funny look on his face.

“What translation are you reading?”

I was confused by his question. I was a fairly new believer, so all I knew was that mine said “The Holy Bible” on the front, just like everyone else’s, so why the face?

That’s when he pointed to the spine and, sure enough, I had me a New King James, which was a bit different from his Life Application Study Bible. What I hadn’t realized was that there was more than just one type of translation and picking which type to read is an important (and sometimes polarizing) choice, especially when it comes to getting a Bible for our kids.

Picking which type of Bible to read is an important (and sometimes polarizing) choice, especially when it comes to getting a Bible for our kids. #discipleship #bibletranslations #mamabear
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That’s why we here at Mama Bear thought it would be helpful to evaluate the three types of translations (and one that isn’t), compare how they translate biblical passages, and offer a few tips to help you choose which one will best suit your study style. That way, you and your children can confidently pick out a Bible (or three!) and dive into God’s Word.

Type 1: Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence): ESV, NAS, KJV, NKJV, and RSVFormal equivalence is often called the “literal translation,” and for good reason. The translation committee of these Bibles strove to find an English equivalent for li-ter-all-y every Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek word in the Old and New Testament documents. If a clarifying word is needed, it’s often put in italics.

Literal transitions also keep the original word order whenever possible, which means that our reading is closest to that of the original audience. Which is pretty amazing, if you ask me!

As great as this sounds, there are a few cons to this type of translation. For one, formal translations suffer from a bit of false advertisement: they’re not truly literal. Translators have adjusted both words 1 and word order to make it more understandable to those who aren’t fluent in ancient Hebrew because it would sound like complete gibberish if they didn’t! 2

Just read this literal translation of Matthew to see for yourself…

“Of the but Jesus Christ the birth thus was, Being betrothed the mother of him, Mary, to Joseph, before of to come together them she was found in belly having from Spirit Holy” (Matthew 1:18)

Now imagine trying to read the entire Bible like that! No, thanks!

Secondly, literal transitions often use the same old-fashioned phrasing common to 14th century England, but not so much in modern America. Sure, this style makes the heart of any Shakespeare fan flutter, but it’ll confuse the jeepers out of the rest of us. Don’t get me wrong, if you love all those “thees” and “thous,” by all means, pick up a KJV. But if you dozed off during your high school English reading of Hamlet, you may want to pick a translation in the functional or optimal category instead.

Third, some have a tendency to idolize literal translations. Addressing this issue will require its own blog post. For now, please know that only the original autographs written by the apostles were divinely inspired, not one particular translation.

Type 2: Thought-for-Thought (Functional Equivalence): NIrV, CEV, NLT 1996While formal equivalence is focused on getting every single word to readers today, functional equivalence is all about getting the original meaning of Scripture to impact the reader in the same way as it would have the original audience.

This means the translation committee will use most of the same words as the earliest documents. But if anything starts sounding like something you’d hear from Yoda, their team of scholars will paraphrase the passage to make it understandable to modern audiences, though the amount of paraphrasing will vary.

The pros of this style are obvious. For one, functional translations are accessible to pretty much everyone. No English Lit degree required. This also means there won’t be any outdated words causing snickers from the kids because a donkey is just called a donkey (and not another word for your backside!).

The cons, however, are worth noting. For one, functional translations do not italicize the clarifying words added to help you better understand the passage. Secondly, you end up losing the impact of the original reading the further you drift from a literal translation. Stray too far and you get someone’s impression of Scripture, instead of Scripture itself (otherwise known as paraphrase).

Third, functional translations use more inclusive language (like saying “brothers and sisters”) when the passage’s meaning is directed at all people rather than just specifically men. Within context, this isn’t a big deal, but some fans of the literal translation style see this as adding to Scripture and thus aren’t fans of this practice.

Type 3: Optimal Equivalence: NIV 1973, CSB, NETBalancing the middle ground of the translation spectrum are Optimal Equivalence Translations. These translations use word-for-word translation but will switch to thought-for-thought when the meaning isn’t clear. You won’t find confusing old-English words or phrases in these Bibles; instead, optimals blend the best of formal and functional translations for a reading that’s both robust and accessible.

This doesn’t mean that optimals are perfect for every person. Optimals, like their functional counterparts, don’t italicize their clarifying words and have used inclusive language, which can really bother the fans of more literal translations. Optimals can also be more challenging to read for those drawn to functional translations.

What about paraphrases?One style of Bible that’s growing in popularity is the paraphrase. Paraphrases like “The Message” or “The Living Bible” (not to be confused with The New Living Translation) do not qualify as translations because they are not directly translated from original documents by a scholarly committee. Instead, these are retellings of Scripture by one individual using the modern phrasing common to us today.

These Bibles read like an average book and sound like you and your friend discussing your favorite passages. As such, they are really popular with people who are new to the faith or those who are not native English speakers.

Despite their accessibility, the problem with paraphrases is that they are one person’s impression of Scripture. This means that you get the author’s reflection of what the text meant to them or how they think Scripture will be best understood by youngins today. Paraphrases also lack scholarly accountability when it comes to accurately relaying the meaning of the original text.

You can see this best by comparing the different translations of 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. ESV (Formal)

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT (Functional)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will. NIV (Optimal)

Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. The Message (Paraphrase)

Notice the difference? Paraphrases often sound more like a commentary on Scripture rather than Scripture itself, which is why we here at Mama Bear do not endorse the reading of paraphrases for spiritual discipleship. Instead, we encourage believers to dive into the Word of God through formal, functional, or optimal translations.

So…..Which translation should you pick?!That depends on you and your Bible study goals. We at Mama Bear consult multiple translations and encourage you do to the same, but for sake of ease when starting out….

If you attend Shakespeare in the Park and love doing in-depth word studies, then a formal translation Bible might be the one for you! #bibletranslations #mamabearapologetics
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If your shopping lists are written in calligraphy and are working through a Read the Bible in a Year Plan, then a functional journaling Bible will take your study time to the next level.

If, on the other hand, you nerd out in the concordance section of your local Christian bookstore but have the artistic ability of an under-watered houseplant (can we be friends?!), then an optimal translation study Bible will be your best friend.

When it comes to kids, pick a Bible together! Take their reading and comprehension levels in mind, and don’t be afraid to adjust to a more accessible (functional) translation when needed. Choose one that suits their personality: journaling for the meditative soul, study for the child who loves details, or an Apologetics Bible for the kid with all the questions.

Above all, read your Bible! Let your children see you read your Bible and read with them! Compare the phrasing in their reader friendly version with your translation to help them become better readers and know God better. Which translation you pick is unique to you, but what we all need is God’s Word. Live in it!

For even more on Bible translations, check out our recent podcast here.

P.S. A note about The Passion TranslationWhere does The Passion Translation fit in? We don’t recommend it as a study Bible for two reasons: 1) it was done by one person, not a team of people, and 2) it adds concepts that aren’t in the oldest manuscripts, and not for the sake of better understanding but to evoke an emotional response or to tweak the meaning. The author claims he “received downloads” from God. You can a video of him explaining the process here.

For example, see John 15:2, which The Passion Translation interprets differently than the early manuscripts as well as every other modern English translation. It changes the theology of John 15:2 for a more palatable message.

The Passion: “He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest.” (emphasis added)

NIV: “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (emphasis added)

NLT: “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (emphasis added)

KJV: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (emphasis added)

Bottom line: we do not recommend The Passion Translation.

Recommended ResourcesHow We Got the Bible by Timothy Paul Jones

40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible by Robert L. Plummer

Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall & J. Hays

Amy DavisonAmy Davison is a former Air Force veteran turned Mama Bear Apologist. She graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an MA in Christian Apologetics. She and her husband Michael (also former Air Force) have been married for over 17 years and have 4 kids. Amy is the Mama Bear resident expert on sex and sexuality, and she’s especially hoping to have that listed on her Mama Bear business card.

saltngrace.com/about/1 Early King James uses words like “wimple” and “crisping pins” when talking about head-coverings and purses, neither of which were used by the original Hebrew or Greek writers.2 To understand why we only need to read the words of the translator of the Latin Vulgate, Jerome: “Translation…is a difficult, almost impossible, art to master. Languages vary in their order of words, their metaphors, and their native idioms. The translator is thus faced with a choice between a literal, word-for-word rendering (which is certain to sound absurd and so be a travesty of the original) and something very much freer (in which case he is liable to be accused of being unfaithful.).”The post Bible Translations: What to Know and How to Choose appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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SummaryHello, Mama Bears! On this episode, we are ROAR’ing through the latest He Gets Us commercial that aired during the Super Bowl at the beginning of this year. We want to carefully examine what the message is and what it isn’t. Our hope is to highlight the importance of sifting through the media we consume, even media that appears wholesome or biblical on the surface. We want to hold the message of the He Gets Us commercial against Scripture to examine where it does or doesn’t align with what the Bible teaches.

We will walk through each step of our ROAR method to discern what the appropriate steps are for engaging with that message and how to disciple our children accordingly. We’re here to empower each other to raise discerning, wise, and loving families. So, let’s sharpen our ability to recognize truth under the veneer of messages that surround us and pass on this legacy of wisdom to our little ones.

Main Points Covered* What is the He Gets Us campaign? * The 4 issues we see with the message of the He Gets Us Super Bowl commercial * How to discern the the false and true messaging in the commercial * How shepherd your children in media consumption

People and Resources Mentioned

He Gets Us Commercial
Commercial Explanation
John 13:1-20
Luke 22:24
Prov 6:16-19
James 1:19
Colossians 4:6

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This episode is made possible in part by the support of Summit Ministries. Our hope, like yours, is that your children will grow up to develop an unshakeable faith, to be followers of Jesus Christ and live out His call on their lives in a way that brings God’s glory and flourishing. That’s one of the reasons we love Summit. Summit takes biblical worldview training and makes it seriously fun. If you have a child between the ages of sixteen to twenty-two, send them to a two week conference in Colorado or Georgia this summer. Register today at summit.org/roar/. Save $200 when you use the code ROAR24.

Quotable Quotes

Episode 102. ROAR’ing Through The He Gets Us Campaign
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“We have to be careful that when we are seeking edification and knowledge of who Christ is that we are going to godly sources for it” - Amy Davison
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adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

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In case you haven’t noticed, I (Hillary) am a big fan of honesty. This has worked both to my favor and my detriment in regular life. People know they can come to me to get honest assessments of things. On the flip side of that coin, I sometimes don’t guard my words as carefully as I should.

When I’m coming to God in prayer, I find it necessary to let Him know where I am—right here, right now, with all the ugly out there for Him to see. There is nothing I withhold, no matter how horrible it feels to admit or say aloud to Him. So, in that vein, there is no honest that is too honest. I find that, in general, it is helpful to verbalize out all my yuck first, and then I can see what needs changing. Think about it this way: If you are lost and need directions, you must figure out where you are first. Only then can you navigate to where you want to be. I find that to be the case emotionally. When I feel trapped or lost in grief or anger or discontentment, I need to identify where I am before the Lord so He can lovingly direct me out of the pit.

The point where we can go from honest to toxic, however, is when I begin to ruminate on the negatives to the exclusion of truth. If all I’m doing is wallowing in my sin (or my hurt feelings, or my anger, what-have-you) then it can be easy to start reinforcing those feelings. At this point, we have released all our blech, but failed to inhale truth and goodness. If we stop at the step of identifying our emotions without moving forward, we haven’t done ourselves any favors.

Yes, we have total permission to say allllll the things to God—but, we must purposely redirect our thoughts to what is ultimately true, not what feels true right now. David does this really well in the Psalms. He cries, he rants, he rages. And then he starts listing all the beautiful truths about God, such as His faithfulness and kindness (Psalm 10,13, 22, and 143 are good examples.). Or David declares what he’s going to do in the face of his suffering: “I will always have hope! I will praise you more and more!” (Psalm 71:14).

We can do the same in our honest prayers. Yes! Cry out to the Lord! But always circle back to who He is and what He’s done—the ways He has been faithful to you already. Honest is only too honest when you refuse to move on from the unfiltered negative realities and don’t interact with the life-giving positive truths. And if you are having a hard time moving on, then tell that to God, too! It’s one more thing to be honest about. (“Ooops! God, I’m doing it again. I’m ruminating and it’s just making me feel worse. I really want to move on to your glory, but I’m having a really hard time. Please redirect my thoughts to what is true.) Then choose to speak what is true, even if you don’t feel like it. Forcing yourself to verbalize truth (whether through writing or speaking) has an amazing way of redirecting both our thoughts and our feelings. Our emotions often have to catch up to what our brains have already acknowledged. That’s where meditating on the truth comes in. When we force ourselves to acknowledge truth, we can’t help but fall back in love with what God has already done for us. So, be honest Mama Bears! But be truthful too. And remember, honesty and truth aren’t always the same thing.

Yes! Cry out to the Lord! But always circle back to who He is and what He’s done—the ways He has been faithful to you already. #honestprayersformamabears #honestprayers #prayer
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Part of this blog was taken from our newest book Honest Prayers for Mama Bears which you can find here.

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By Tricia Scribner

Jen and Mark have seven grandchildren. As Christian grandparents, they wish they could talk to their grandkids about Jesus, but for one set of grandkids, that’s forbidden because their son’s wife, the grandkids’ mom, is an atheist. If Jen or Mark even mentions the word “church,” the conversation shuts down. Their son has warned them not to bring up that “Christian stuff” around the grandchildren or they won’t be allowed to see the kids at all.

What I’m about to say requires us as grandparents to lay down our pride, our desires, and our disappointment and take up self-sacrificial humility and confidence in the God who loves our adult kids and grandchildren more than we do. While these actions may be tough, they aren’t nearly as tough as dealing with the consequences of allowing disappointment, fear, and anger to drive our actions.

Instead of thinking in terms of what we can’t do, let’s think of five things we can do!

We can show love and respect for our adult child and spouse/partner as parents.We as grandparents have already been parents; that time has passed. (Wouldn’t we love a do-over for our failures?) Our role now is to provide support, not to control. Even when we don’t agree with parental rules, we can:

use our words to build the relationship between our grandchildren and their parents, not to tear it down. While grandparents must sometimes confront parents’ dangerous behaviors (whether the parents are Christians or non-Christians), our goal is to foster a healthy relationship between our grandchildren and their parents.
honor boundaries and family rules. Nothing damages a relationship with an adult child and his/her partner more than undermining parental rules and telling our grandkids to keep it a secret. “I know mom told you no sweets, but a couple of cookies won’t hurt. It will be our secret.”
take opportunities to speak well of our adult child, our grandchild’s parent. For instance, we can share with our grandkids sweet memories of their parent’s growing up years. “When your daddy was in second grade, he loved fishing, just like you. . . .”

We can act in faith, rather than in fear.Maybe you’re thinking, But what if our grandkids’ parents have threatened to stop us seeing our grandkids? Yes. Even then. Especially then.

In Psalm 56, David described a situation that struck that kind of fear in him. Saul hunted David like an animal, refusing to rest until David was dead. Having escaped to Philistine territory, David didn’t know whom to fear more, Saul or the Philistines. That’s why he said in verse 3, “when I am afraid” (emphasis mine). Fear is not an “if” but a “when.”

While David confessed his fear, he didn’t camp out there. Instead, he drove a metaphorical stake in the ground, declaring his life as God’s territory by affirming his trust in God. Then, he pronounced his enemies’ attacks impotent against the God whose power (v. 9), protection (v. 13) and tender love for him (v. 8) had proven His trustworthiness.

But here’s a point worth noting. Even after David prayed the words of Psalm 56, his crisis didn’t evaporate. But God gave him power to live faithfully and righteously within the interminable crisis. He will do the same for us, when we practice trusting Him.

We can take the long view.Right now, things may look bleak. We pray for circumstances to change. As we intercede, they may. But if they don’t, we can determine to act in a Christ-honoring way, waiting patiently before Him, without fretting (Psalms 37:7).

We can remember to wait before the Lord, not merely for a change in circumstances. Rather, our waiting provides opportunity to affirm His faithfulness, goodness, and power, and to renew our strength.

While there is no guarantee our grandkids or their parents will trust Christ as Savior, neither of these painful possibilities changes God’s character or His enabling us to live faithfully.
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Further, one day our grandchildren will be grown. If we are still alive, they will be free to choose the kind of relationship they want with us. Invest now for that future.

We can teach our grandkids critical thinking and reasoning skills.Critical thinking is a way of reasoning to understand and solve problems. If grandkids’ parents ban God-talk but are okay with our teaching our grandchildren other things, we can train them to reason well so they can analyze and evaluate truth claims (whether religious or not) for themselves.

Here are a few examples of useful thinking and reasoning skills to teach:

How to identify assumptions underlying truth claimsClaim: “You should do what you feel is right for you.”

This truth claim comes with various assumptions such as “Whatever you feel is true,” and “You have a moral obligation to be fulfill your desires.”

How to recognize fallacies in arguments1. All fish swim in water. 2. That creature is swimming in water. 3. Therefore, that creature is a fish.

The conclusion doesn’t follow logically from the premises. This is an example of the non-sequitur fallacy.

How to recognize when a claim is self-defeatingA truth claim is self-defeating when it doesn’t meet its own stated standards. “I can’t type a word of English.” (“Wait a minute. Didn’t you just type those words in English?”)

To learn more about reasoning and critical thinking skills, here are good resources:

For 13 and under: The Thinking Toolbox by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn
For teens: The Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel Bluedorn

We can explore the natural world with our grandchildren.If God is persona non grata in conversations with our grandchildren, we can explore the wonders of the universe with them, focusing on its beauty, order, design, complexity, and purposefulness. When we do, we know as Christians that the effects (evidences) bear witness to the cause (God), as Romans 1:19-20 describes. These characteristics of nature reveal a personal, all-powerful, creative, purposeful, and infinitely intelligent Mind behind it all. Nature speaks even when we cannot (Psalm 19:1, Psalm 139:15).

So that we don’t undermine parental rules, we need to prepare to respond when questions about origins and evolution come up. This challenge is not so different from my Christian friend’s experience as a biology teacher in a public school.

When students ask how the universe began, for example, she explains that the current prevailing view among scientists is that everything came into being from nothing, by chance. Students often look at her incredulously when she pushes home this point. Why? Because, regardless of religious convictions, to say everything came into existence from nothing by chance is illogical. And they know it. She doesn’t have to say, “God created.”

So, take heart.

You are not alone. Like you, thousands of Christian grandparents walk this road. Christ Himself knows what it’s like to live with family members who reject the truth (John 7:1-5).
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He has placed you in this family—your family—for His purposes. Seek to love and respect the parents of your grandchildren, acting in faith rather than fear, and taking the long view. Focus on what you can teach them, such as critical thinking and reasoning skills and the wonders of the natural world. And breathe.For more help, take a look at Overcoming Grandparenting Barriers* by Larry Fowler of the Legacy Coalition for help in biblically navigating difficult grandparenting situations.

Guest AuthorGuest Author is probably awesome at what she does. She is probably a mom, but possibly not. She definitely has good things to say, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been offered the position of guest author. We like Guest Author. She is our friend.

The post What’s a Nana to Do? When Your Grandkids’ Parents Aren’t Christians and Ban God-talk appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

Overcoming Grandparenting Barriers (Grandparenting Matters): How to Navigate Painful Problems with Grace and Truth

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SummaryEvery mother’s prayer journey is unique, yet bound by a common thread of seeking God’s guidance through the chaos and beauty of raising children. Julie and Hillary, walk through the pages of “Honest Prayers for Mama Bears,” a new book birthed from the depths of maternal hearts and a collaboration that spans the nation. We reveal the sometimes raw, unpolished dialogues with God that range from the humorous pleas of wanting to use the bathroom in peace to the heartfelt petitions of a mother facing a miscarriage.

Hillary and Julie, alongside voices from the Mama Bear community, crafted a tapestry of prayers that we hope speaks to the soul of motherhood. Our conversation takes you behind the scenes of this unique creative process, emphasizing the importance of authenticity as we addressed delicate subjects like addiction and family dynamics. Poring over every word, we ensured that our prayers resonated with truth and relevance, offering a lifeline of hope and solidarity for mothers everywhere.

As we share personal insights and practical tips for integrating prayer into the daily grind, “Honest Prayers for Mama Bears” is more than just a book—it’s a spiritual companion for every season of motherhood. From fill-in-the-blank prompts to theological expertise, we’ve poured into this project with a shared goal: to empower mothers to foster honest, heartfelt communication with God, and to support one another as we navigate this transformative journey called motherhood. We hope it blesses you!

Pre-order the book now at mamabearapologetics.com/book

Main Points Covered* Why did we write this book? * The difference between Honest and Shallow prayers. * Creating a collective voice from moms * Prayer book creation process * How to use this book * Honest journaling * Our favorite, most convicting and hardest to write prayers

People and Resources Mentioned

Every Moment Holy – Douglas McKelvie
Honest Prayers for Mama Bears

Thanks to Our Sponsors

This episode is made possible in part by the support of Summit Ministries. Our hope, like yours, is that your children will grow up to develop an unshakeable faith, to be followers of Jesus Christ and live out His call on their lives in a way that brings God’s glory and flourishing. That’s one of the reasons we love Summit. Summit takes biblical worldview training and makes it seriously fun. If you have a child between the ages of sixteen to twenty-two, send them to a two week conference in Colorado or Georgia this summer. Learn more at summit.org/roar/. Save $200 when you use the code ROAR24–and another $200 if you register before March 31st. Register today at summit.org/roar/

Quotable Quotes

“I think sometimes learning how to do honest prayers often starts with shallow prayers. And so I just want to give mom’s permission to pray the shallow prayers, if that’s where you are starting.” – Hillary Morgan Ferrer

“We made it. We’re not saying it’s perfect, but… our heart’s desire was to make sure that these prayers were Theologically sound.” – Hillary Morgan Ferrer

“I know I thought back on what were some of the times that really drove me to prayer, maybe as a younger mom, as a mom of a teenager, and then even now. I had some opportunities to write some prayers that maybe approach more being a mom of an adult child too, because that’s a whole other season there.” – Julie Loos

adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

The post Episode 100. New Book: Honest Prayers for Mama Bears appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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I am a 21st-century, overstimulated, and exhausted mom. All I want is to take one measly hour to go outside in the quiet of nature and stretch with an adorable baby goat on my back. What could possibly be so wrong with that?

Okay, goat yoga is hilarious. And it’s kind of adorable. But seriously, so many of us crave a healthy way to care for our minds and bodies. With the promises of peace, stress reduction, physical fitness, and the ability to quiet your mind, it is no wonder that yoga has become so popular in the West. But is yoga an appropriate practice for Christians? How do we discuss this with our kids without being dismissive or judgmental?

In A Crash Course in Yoga, we discussed yoga’s spiritual roots and some of the symbolism found in the different aspects of the practice. The poses, the movements, the breathwork, and the meditation are all designed for attaining “enlightenment.” Enlightenment derives from Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. In yoga, enlightenment occurs as you gradually disconnect from your individual sense of self and “realize” that you and everyone else (and everything else) are one. But things get a bit tricky as yoga is appropriated into Western culture. Depending on the yoga instructor, your session could emphasize the spiritual aspects of yoga, but there’s also a good chance your class is just focused on health and fitness while using yoga poses for stretching and strengthening. Is it all evil? If not, is any of it evil? Is this just an area of Christian freedom and personal conscience? Can yoga be “taken back” for God? Can the exercise of Yoga poses be divorced from its spiritual roots? If my kid copies someone on TV doing “Warrior Pose” will she be attacked by demons?! Let’s ROAR.

Recognize the Message – What are the messages coming from pro-yoga Christians?1. All that matters is your intent

“We know that yoga is a spiritual discipline much like fasting, meditation, and prayer that cannot be owned by one specific religion.” – Holy Yoga1

Since yoga has been adapted as a practice by multiple Eastern worldviews, many people view it as something that can be adapted by any worldview. The idea is that yoga practice can be integrated with anyone’s personal beliefs about reality. Don’t intend to worship Hindu deities? Just think about YOUR God! Or don’t! Yoga is what you make of it.

This is an area of Christian freedom

“Where the Bible is silent (and, if you were wondering, it doesn’t say anything about our modern-day yoga practices), I use my freedom and wisdom from Christ to determine what is consistent with my faith — just like I’m gonna use Extended-Side-Angle to strengthen my core.” – Alli Patterson2

Since the Bible doesn’t explicitly condemn yoga, the idea is that each Christian should come to his/her own conclusion. If–as a Christian–you are able to separate yoga from its spiritual roots in your own mind, then you should feel free to participate.

Christians have special spiritual protection

“Consequently, believers in the Bible have no reason to fear yoga. According to the Scriptures, God encircles, encompasses, covers, and shields those who make Him their refuge. His presence, the anointing, is a kind of force field of protection making you inaccessible to the enemy no matter what the circumstances.” – Tonyah Dee3

No need to worry about yoga’s Hindu origins. Remember the first message “All that matters is your intent”? Well, if that’s true, and if you don’t even know that yoga is designed to worship ancient Hindu deities, then it would follow that you are safe from accidentally participating in idolatry. If your kid came home from school and showed you that she learned a “Lord of the Dance” move in gym class, are you going to panic that your child is now an idol worshiper? Plus, you have the Holy Spirit in you! He’ll make sure you’re always protected.

Offer Discernment – What truths can we affirm in yoga, and what lies do we need to expose?TRUTH #1: Our mind, body, and spirit are connected.There is no question that our mind and our body are connected. Just taking “the placebo effect” into account demonstrates this. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, “How placebos work is still not quite understood, but it involves a complex neurobiological reaction that includes everything from increases in feel-good neurotransmitters (like endorphins and dopamine) to greater activity in certain brain regions linked to moods, emotional reactions, and self-awareness. All of it can have therapeutic benefit.”4 Therefore, what we believe can actually have a physical effect on our bodies.

Biblically, we know that our spirit is affected by both our mind and our body. Sin affects the spirit, since “the wages of sin is death.” When original sin came into the world, we were born spiritually dead–a spiritual separation from God. When we sin, we further disconnect ourselves from God. We know that we can sin with both our bodies (through actions) and our minds (through thoughts and unrighteous emotions [Matthew 5:21-30]). Further, our words and actions come out of our spiritual condition. Our mind, body, and spirit are indeed connected.

TRUTH #2: Stretching and breathing are good.As believers, our bodies are a temple for Christ. We each only get one body on this side of heaven (at least I think so but since we’re basically living in a sci-fi movie these days, who knows?). Exercising, stretching, and breathing deeply are good for the body.

In fact, there is good scientific evidence to suggest that daily deep breathing exercises can reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone), anxiety, and blood pressure.5 Stretching also has a number of benefits, including reducing your risk of injuries, improving your range of motion in your joints, and just overall better performance in daily activity.6

TRUTH #3: We can do all things to the glory of Christ.Whether we are doing ministry, changing diapers, or doing our self-care routine, we can (and should be) glorifying the Lord. As we perform our daily tasks with the joy of the Spirit, in humility, kindness, and love, we represent Christ to the world. Even as we take care of our mental health and our bodies, we model for others how we are stewarding God’s creation well. If you want to meditate on Scripture or pray while you stretch or exercise, you can certainly do this as a way to honor Christ. All of this glorifies God.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

LIE #1: The words and the poses don’t mean anything if you don’t want them to. When performing yoga postures or stretches, you are putting your body into positions that were specifically designed to worship or pay homage to false gods.7 You might not have any intention of worshiping these gods, but you are participating in the ritual nonetheless. Check out the YouTube thumbnail shown below and understand that this woman is supposedly committing her day to the Lord while doing a worship pose to the Hindu god Vīrabhadra.

When “holy yoga” uses the same flows and poses, whether or not you use the same names for them, your body is sending out a message. Just like words in a particular order mean something, poses in a particular order mean something.

LIE #2: I can be surrounded with an unbiblical worldview and not have it affect me.We’re not saying that every person who goes to a yoga class is going to become entrenched in the New Age or devote their life to yoga and Hindu spiritualism, although, some will.8 But each of us needs to have a humble view of ourselves and realize that we are vulnerable to the influence of false ideas whether we like it or not. Remember how intentions don’t always matter? Just because you don’t intend to be influenced by an opposing worldview doesn’t mean you won’t be.

Further, if Christians have divine protection from deception or from demonic oppression, why does the Bible repeatedly warn us against being deceived? (See Timothy 4:1, Colossians 2:8, 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Lie #3: Yoga is a black and white issue. Let’s face it, it’s way easier to have a black-and-white answer. As worn-out Christian parents, we’re often tempted to just slap a “safe” or “dangerous” label on things and call it a day! Some people say “All yoga is safe if you refocus on God,” and others say “All yoga is dangerous no matter how it’s done!” But what we need to do is be wise without being legalistic. I think it’s safe to say that yoga in its purest form is not for the believer because it entails participation in the worship of self and of other gods. But neither does Satan own sitting on your knees and stretching your arms out (in yoga called “child’s pose”). Again, it’s not necessarily the poses and breathing; it’s the order in which they are done that conveys meaning.

Argue for a healthier approach(this section written by Hillary Morgan Ferrer)

As a general rule, I’m going to say that it is unwise to participate in something if you don’t know what you are participating in. If I had someone randomly give me a German phrase to go up and say to a police officer, I wouldn’t do it until I knew what I was saying. Likewise, don’t get a cool-looking Japanese tattoo if you don’t know what it means. You can end up with weird things permanently on your body. Furthermore, I have a friend who speaks fluent French. Upon going over to a girlfriend’s house, she saw a throw pillow that read “chair de grandpère.” The friend thought it meant “Grandpa’s chair.” It actually meant “Grandpa’s flesh,” which is not something I’d want on my throw pillow.

So, if we are going to participate in something that has meaning, we must make sure we understand the meaning of it first. If you as a Christian feel like you need some yoga for exercise and wellbeing, here’s a few thoughts on how to achieve the same goals in a healthier way:

Stop using the terminologyAs Christians, we need to remember that Jesus is, Himself, God’s Word. Words mean things. So if we aren’t trying to become yoked with the Brahman, stop using phrases that basically mean “A Christian yoking with the Brahman.” (Aka: Christian Yoga. It’s like Christian Satanism. No literally, it is like that.) Suggestion? Someone out there pleassssse create something called BÄS or something, which could stand for Breathing and Stretching. Pronounce it like “boss.” I’d totally go to a BÄS session! Even a hot BÄS session! And when doing poses, stop using the words that venerate Hindu warrior gods like Vīrabhadra (warrior pose). Don’t pay homage to Sita by doing tree pose. In BÄS, it can be stretching hurdler or flamingo pose. They are great for balance and inner thighs. No accidental worship required!

As we’ve said before, the devil doesn’t own words, but it is unwise to say certain words in certain orders because they mean something. If you don’t understand what the words or the poses mean, don’t use them. I’m not going to chant “Salue le grand serpant qui se déguise en ange de lumière le plus puissant! Viens en moi et donne-moi le pouvoir de tes démons pour accompli tes œuvres” and justify it with “I don’t speak French, but this sounds pretty.” Because what I’m literally saying here is “Hail the great serpent who disguises himself as the most powerful angel of light! Come into me and give me the power of your demons to do your works.” I’m not intending anything nefarious, but I probably shouldn’t say that no matter what language it’s in. And that doesn’t mean that I can’t use the words light, angel, come, or power, but saying those words in that order means something, whether I intend them to or not.

Stop using the order of posesJust as with words, the order matters with what your body does. Don’t do a Kundalini flow if you’re not trying to awaken your 10 sacred bodies. Don’t do the order of the sun salutation unless you are wanting to worship the sun. Stretch and breath and pose–but for the love of all that is holy, just stop doing them in the flows that represent Hindu worship! If you don’t mean it, don’t say it – with your body or otherwise.

Meditation is about filling, not about emptyingYes, interject God into your calming stretches. Use the time to breathe deeply and ponder on his love. Pray while you stretch your calves. It’s okay to quiet your mind without emptying it!

This is not a chew-and-spit situationThe chew-and-spit method is for discerning the good and bad within media and ideas. However, we don’t go practicing other religions to see which parts of it overlap with Christianity. Want to study it to see what they are saying? Sure. Nothing wrong with studying other world religions. Practicing other world religions? No. Not the same.

And as many practicing Hindus (especially those in the East) will tell you, yoga is not separable from Hinduism. Christian baptism is not synonymous with a bath. The Lord’s supper is not synonymous with “a snack.” Yoga isn’t synonymous with breathing and stretching, no matter what the western world is trying to say. Stop appropriating Hinduism. It’s straight-up rude to Hindus.

In the end, Mama bears, this is a wisdom issue, not necessarily a sin issue. Please do not take this article and use it to beat every Christian you know over the head as if they are sinning unless they give up yoga like yesterday. Yoga is unwise, but it is also hyperfundamentalist to heap laws upon laws within Christianity. Use this information to put a pebble in the shoe. Use this information to help people make good, informed decisions and to be more intentional in their Christian lives. Use this information to inform your own practice, but allow the Holy Spirit to convict.

Reinforce Through Discussion, Discipleship, and Prayer1. Ask yourself these questions: * Do you think the enemy cares about your intentions? I recommend you watch our podcast episode where Amy Davison interviews Krista Bontrager, and they discuss ways in which we (or our kids) can unintentionally invite the enemy to oppress us. * Can we really just impose our own meaning onto an ancient Hindu ritual? If so, where does that stop? At what point does practicing a ritual that is intended for worshiping other gods cease to have meaning? For those who know what these rituals mean, what do they see when they see you – a Christian – doing this ritual? What do others see when they observe you doing yoga? Do they see you worshiping the one true God? Or is their perception that you are worshiping other gods or attempting to connect with your “higher self”? What do your kids see? More important than that, when we are performing a highly choreographed ritual, what do the beings in the spiritual realm see? * What does God mean when He tells His people to be “set apart”? Is He only talking about what’s going on in your own private mind? In Leviticus, God tells His people not to follow the practices of the surrounding nations by saying, “Do not do as they do” (Leviticus 18:1-2). In 2 Corinthians we are told not to be yoked with unbelievers. Remember, the word yoga literally means “yoke,” and the purpose is to be “yoked” to the oneness, or the “Supreme Reality.” Scripture says, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). As our bodies are temples, should we be using them to form poses that at the very least pay homage to idols? 2. Make “What you do with your body matters”9 a household phrase and repeat it until your kids roll their eyes when they hear it. It’s a great mantra because it applies to many situations. 3. Take turns with your kids making hand gestures (like a high five, thumbs up/down, praying hands, arms folded, etc.) and make up a brand new meaning for them. After the laughter dies down, discuss how it would work out for you out in the world when you decide to assign your own meaning to widely recognized hand gestures. 4. Model humility by praying with your kids that the Lord will open your eyes to anything that does not bring honor and glory to Him. We should all regularly ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of areas in our life where we are unaware of disobedience to Him. 5. Prepare your kids in case they are asked to participate in yoga in school (or elsewhere). Make a plan according to your family’s convictions. For example, whichever pose the class is doing, find a similar pose that will stretch the same muscle or focus on a similar balancing act. This is where “studying yoga” could actually be beneficial. Figure out which poses they are going to do and in what order, and come up with an alternate order with different stretches that stretch the same things. Also, this is a great time for Scripture memorization. When the yogi asks the kids to have an “intention” like in the breathing in and breathing out, pick a good verse and have your kids focus on that in the breaths. 6. Have a discussion with your kids about friends and family who might be participating in lifestyles or practices that are off-limits for your family. Another phrase you can repeat is, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and explain that not everyone is aware of the spiritual aspects of what they are doing. Talk about how patient and gracious the Lord is with ALL of us, and that we will likely learn about our own blind spots over time.

Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.

1 https://holyyoga.net/what-we-believe/2 https://www.crossroads.net/media/articles/can-christians-do-yoga3 https://yahlight.com/what-is-yoga-phobia/4 https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-power-of-the-placebo-effect5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9877284/6 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/stretching/art-200479317 See “A Crash Course in Yoga,” https://mamabearapologetics.com/a-crash-course-in-yoga/8 Read Ruth Burgess’s story: https://www.thetruelight.net/wp/ruth-burgess-story1/9 Hillary Ferrer and Amy Davison, Mama Bear Apologetics: Guide to Sexuality (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2021), 246.The post ROARing Through Yoga appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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SummaryJoin us for a thought-provoking discussion with Dr. Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries, as we explore the vital connection between a biblical worldview and the flourishing of science, justice, and compassion in society. Listen in as we tackle the myth that Christianity is at odds with scientific progress and uncover how faith has been a driving force behind some of the most significant advancements in history. We also counter common misconceptions about Christian indifference toward life post-birth, justice, and environmental concerns, showcasing how Christian teachings have been integral to shaping a world where every life is valued and cared for.

We discuss the Christian belief in the sanctity of human life and how this has translated into actions that shaped the foundations of adoption, healthcare, and social justice. The role of Christians in art, science, politics, and education is highlighted, revealing an often unrecognized legacy that continues to nurture human dignity and freedom.

Finally, we address the crucial task of empowering our children with the skills to critically assess the worldviews they encounter. Learn how asking insightful questions can guide our children towards critical thinking, discernment, and an appreciation for diverse perspectives. Discover how to equip the next generation with the ability to sift through information with wisdom, and join us as we stand together as Mama Bears, committed to nurturing and defending the truth for our families and communities.

Main Points Covered* How have Christianity and Christians historically impacted the world? * How have Christians historically been pro-life advocates? * How have Christians stood for justice over the course of history? * How is the biblical worldview distinctly different than other worldviews? * How do we engage with kids who are coming home from college with questions or new ideological thoughts?

People and Resources Mentioned

John 8:32
Daniel Kahneman: Thinking Fast and Slow
Truth Changes Everything by Dr. Jeff Meyers
Summit Ministries

Unfamiliar Vocabulary Working Definition of Justice: The idea that we are to treat every person as an image bearer of God. * Tort Law: The concept of tort law is to redress a wrong done to a person and provide relief from the wrongful acts of others. * String Theory*: string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

This episode is made possible in part by the support of Summit Ministries. Our hope, like yours, is that your children will grow up to develop an unshakeable faith, to be followers of Jesus Christ and live out His call on their lives in a way that brings God’s glory and flourishing. That’s one of the reasons we love Summit. Summit takes biblical worldview training and makes it seriously fun. If you have a child between the ages of sixteen to twenty-two, send them to a two week conference in Colorado or Georgia this summer. Learn more at summit.org/roar/. Save $200 when you use the code ROAR24–and another $200 if you register before March 31st. Register today at summit.org/roar/

Quotable Quotes

“You want them to grow as people. You want them to be healthy individuals…Let God take charge of the outcome, you just be faithful in the process.” – Dr. Jeff Myers

“Bad worldviews always end up controlling and devastating people.” – Dr. Jeff Myers

“You can’t refute what you don’t understand.” – Hillary Morgan Ferrer

adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

The post 99. How Christianity Changed the World for the Better. appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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I suspect at least a portion of you already have your minds made up about yoga, but you clicked on this link because you wanted to see what we had to say about it, to know if Mama Bear supports it or not. Am I right or am I right? This is one of those topics that can be divisive. Those who are against Christians practicing yoga accuse them of synchronizing with the culture and other world religions. Those who see it as an area of Christian freedom, practice yoga themselves, or who couldn’t care less if other Christians practiced it, are exasperated by what they see as legalism surrounding this topic. Then, there are the mamas who are genuinely unsure where they should land on this issue or how to guide their kids through it. As yoga is increasingly being taught in public schools,1 Mama Bears should be equipped to think through this ancient practice with wisdom. So let’s talk.

This is going to be a two-parter. In Part 1, we’ll begin with some information about yoga that you might not be aware of, like its symbolism, philosophy, and spiritual ramifications. We’ll especially focus on what yoga is, and where the conflict lies in our list of things you need to know. In Part 2, we will use the Mama Bear Apologetics ROAR method to practice discernment as we think through the information covered in Part 1.

What exactly is yoga?Yoga originated in India and is steeped in Hinduism but the practice has been adapted by several other Eastern worldviews, including Buddhism and Sikhism.2 All that to say, yoga has evolved, and there are various types and subtypes of yoga practice. While researching, I noticed multiple ways in which people seem to interpret the purpose of yoga. For example, some people believe they can attain supernatural powers such as levitation or clairvoyance,3 while others reject that idea in favor of a less fantastical view in which one achieves “enlightenment.”4 So, it’s pretty safe to say that we as Christians can reject these overt aspects of yoga. Duh. No brainer. However, how is it being presented to us in Western culture?

Hatha Yoga is the type of yoga we modern Westerners typically think of. It’s the kind of yoga where you put your body into poses and breathe deeply. So while you may associate this kind of yoga with breathing through downward dog, we need to recognize that it is much more than that. Remember: yoga is a philosophy about reality, not just physical exercise. In fact the physical poses are intended to more deeply entrench you into the philosophy. Regardless of how a person practices yoga, we cannot ignore that the underlying philosophy is present, and that matters. We must acquaint ourselves with the worldview yoga is promoting.

The Worldview Behind YogaYoga is intended to “yoke” you… but to what?If you want a clear-cut explanation of the intention of yoga, just look at the name. The word yoga literally means yoke or union. By and large, the purpose of yoga is to unite yourself (or fully realize your union) with the “Divine Consciousness,” the supposed eternal power that permeates everything in reality and which encompasses all knowledge (of like, everything!). The worldview behind yoga assumes that your inner self is divine, that everything that exists emanates from one impersonal force (Brahman), and that therefore your divine self and this force are connected. Your perception of who you think you are is merely your “ego” and the goal is to gradually detach from it so that you can know your “higher self,” realize your connection to all things, tap into the omniscience of the “Divine Consciousness,” and reduce suffering.

It’s all about Chakras (pronounced shock-rahs)Have you ever heard someone say they need to “balance their chakras”? It’s easy. Just shake your hips because they don’t lie. Oh wait, that’s Shakira… Chakras, on the other hand, are referred to as “energy centers” in the body. They are supposed points in your body in which a mystical (and mythical) divine energy, called Kundalini energy, moves through. Kundalini is often portrayed as a snake and is believed to be “coiled” at the base of the spine, and moves up the spine when activated. (That doesn’t sound nefarious at all? What could possibly go wrong with balancing a snake energy in your spine?)

The aim in yoga is to activate and balance your chakras because you want your sweet little Kundalini snake to be balanced in each area. This is one of the goals of the yoga postures and movements – to direct this energy throughout your body. As your chakras become activated, the Kundalini moves up your spine through each “center.” Many who teach the chakras warn that Kundalini can be dangerous, but not for the reasons that you think. They say that if you get too much “energy” in a particular chakra, it will become unbalanced and negative (and sometimes dangerous) effects can manifest, such as headaches, depression, rage, and hallucinations.5

If your kid watches the television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, you should be aware of an episode in which a guru teaches the main character how to open his seven chakras. You can watch the scene here.

The postures are intended to facilitate worshipIt is often stated that the yoga poses (called asanas) were designed to worship Hindu gods. The truth is that some of the poses are, and some aren’t. According to Marcia Montenegro of Christian Answers for the New Age, “The poses themselves are often depictions of Hindu deities, and the hand positions mimic the hand positions seen on the statues of Hindu gods.”6 Other postures are simply inspired by things found in nature. Let’s look at a few common poses:

Sun Salutations

You may recognize sun salutations as a series of poses which are often used as a warm-up exercise at the beginning of a yoga session. What you might not be aware of is that these poses were designed to worship the Hindu god Surya, which is a personification of the sun (cough pantheism). This asana is also called “Surya Namaskar.” “Namaskar” is a formal word for “namaste,” and similarly means “I bow to you.” Therefore when you perform Surya Namaskar, or sun salutations, you are doing poses designed to bow to the sun.

Warrior Pose

This pose represents the Hindu mythological god Virabhadra. Get ready for this one… In Hindu mythology, Virabhadra is a creation specifically for the manifestation of the god Shiva’s wrath. Shiva (one of the primary gods of Hinduism) made Virabhadra out of a lock of his own hair and commanded him to take vengeance on his dead wife’s father by cutting off his head and destroying everyone else with him.7

Tree Pose

Here is a pose which is supposedly meant to symbolize becoming “rooted,” balanced, and grounded. But it’s also meant as an act of worship to the Hindu god Vishnu. Further, from my research I understand that trees are considered sacred in Hinduism and are often associated with specific deities. Basically, tree worship is a thing.8

Breath control is about alignment more than oxygenIn yoga, breath is important. Remember, yoga is designed to bring your consciousness into oneness with the “Supreme Reality” or Brahman. Pranayama, or the practice of breath control either during still meditation or while performing asanas (yoga poses), is therefore designed to prepare your mind to enter into a meditative state in order to accomplish that goal of oneness with the divine.9

Can we ignore the spiritual aspects of yoga?So far, we’ve gone over some of the very basics of what yoga was designed for. Of course, more questions remain. Are the philosophy and spiritual ideas so deeply ingrained in yoga that they cannot be separated from the practice? A pro-yoga Christian blogger writes, “I personally don’t believe simply putting my body into a triangle shape means I subscribe to an entire belief system. I just think it stretches my inner thighs really well.”10 She makes a point! But, Mama Bears, let’s not stop there. Because of yoga’s spiritual roots, we would be wise not to be so dismissive in our evaluation of whether or not to partake. If we are to grow in spiritual maturity, we are told to have our “powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

Join us for the fun part in “ROAR’ing Through Yoga” where we will engage our critical thinking and work to discern truth from error, good from evil.

Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4831047/2 Sikhism is an Indian panentheistic religion in which salvation entails becoming one with god when we detach from from any earthly desire or attachment.3 https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/laghima4 https://fractalenlightenment.com/41321/yoga/uncovering-meaning-siddhis-can-yoga-give-superpowers5 https://chakrapractice.com/what-is-kundalini-syndrome/#What_Are_the_Dangers_of_Developing_Kundalini_Syndrome6 https://www.christiananswersnewage.com/article/christian-yoga-an-oxymoron7 https://beyogi.com/virabhadra-rise-warrior/8 https://www.hinduscriptures.com/vedic-culture/nature-worship/siginificance-tree-worship/7592/9 https://www.christiananswersnewage.com/article/yoga-training-not-just-exercise10 https://www.crossroads.net/media/articles/can-christians-do-yogaThe post A Crash Course in Yoga appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Ah, February — it’s the season of love, and we here at Mama Bear know that you’re probably busy with class parties, heart-shaped everything (even pizza!), and probably glitter…because really, what says love best than something that sticks around forever? We recently released a podcast about the Four Loves — agape (unconditional, self-sacrificial love), storge (familial love), philia (strong friendship love), and eros (sexual attraction).

What says eternal, you'll-never-get-rid-of-me love better than a card full of glitter?! #valentinesday #love
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But what would you say if we told you that there were more loves than that — eight types, actually! Let’s talk about the four types we couldn’t cover in the podcast: pragma (long-standing practical love), philautia (self-love), ludus (playful, flirtatious love), and mania (obsessive love). Once we’ve covered the love types, we’ll talk about how to discuss love and all its iterations with your kids.

PragmaPragma love is practical and dutiful love (as in pragmatic). It’s the kind of long-lasting love that keeps marriages going through all the things we say in our wedding vows: sickness and health, good times and bad. And it’s not just for romantic relationships, either. Pragma love can exist in working relationships, too. It involves loyalty because of how well a team works together. When we are called to “become one” with our spouse, it’s pragma love that will propel us through the times when husband and wife are barely scraping by as mom-and-dad, tag-teaming with colicky babies, anxious adolescents, or major life upheavals. Pragma love is there, even when the “fire” is temporarily abated. Pragma love can develop into (or be confused for) eros love (as is sometimes the case of people who work closely together) but can also be channeled into philia love, making bffs out of coworkers, or storge love, when bffs become sisters from another mister.

Examples of pragma love: * Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament * Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester * Carl and Ellie in Up * The crew in the Oceans series

PhilautiaIf we’re looking for the opposite of pragma love, philautia is probably it. This is self-love – which can be good or bad. At its best, it produces healthy self-esteem, giving oneself grace and compassion, and can be the drive that helps a person stop at nothing to achieve their goals. At its worst, philautia can be selfish, striving to fulfill one’s own desires without thinking of others; this kind of love takes and takes from others and doesn’t give anything in return. It’s self-seeking. These aren’t generally the most loved characters in films or books (there are exceptions, though!), and the type of person who engages in philautia love is probably successful but also lonely. It’s not always a love to strive for, and Scripture tells us we should avoid the negative version of it in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (the most famous “love” chapter in the Bible).

Our love shouldn't be selfish. #pragmalove #apologetics #love #valentinesday
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Examples of philautia love: * Hercules * The boy in The Giving Tree * Scar in Lion King * Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada * Emperor Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove

Ludus Ludus love is playful, flirty, and not really looking for long-term commitment. It’s a little like eros love, but not exactly. Ludus love is the kind of love we usually see played out in romantic comedies, and typically that’s not the kind of love we’re looking for in real life, at least not for the long haul. Unfortunately, culture sends us the message that one-night stands, casual sex, and excessive flirtation and seduction are normal things people should experience. Worse, it depicts these kinds of interactions as leading to pragma or agape love (which rarely happens in real life).

We’re not saying we shouldn’t flirt with our beloveds (in fact, most love starts with that pitter-pattering of your heart, a sure sign of ludus love), but Scripture discourages other games in relationships, especially when it comes to sex. The Bible promotes modesty and committed love. Ludus love isn’t that. So, maybe your relationship begins there, but it will likely shift from ludus to eros or pragma if marriage is in the cards.

Examples of ludus love: * Andie in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days * Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind * Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (he’d qualify in the philautia section, too) * Pretty much every rom-com ever made

ManiaThe word mania is the Greek word for “madness.” Mania love is obsessive and mad, in a manic sense, not an angry sense. Stalkers are pretty famous for mania love, and it’s not the ideal love for any type of relationship. We shouldn’t be obsessed with or possessive of any other human. That’s not love, especially if we’re looking at Scripture for guidelines. Remember, love in the Bible is not envious or dishonoring (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

Examples of mania love: * Fatal Attraction (yikes!) * Frollo in the Hunchback of Notre Dame * One word: Twilight. Take your pick of characters.

Practical Ideas to Help Kids Understand LoveAs humans, we have a desire to be loved. Maybe it’s why one of the most well-known verses in the Bible illustrates God’s love for us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). For Westerners, though, we have certain kinds of love in mind, usually having to do with attraction, sex, and romance. Kids (and adults) should have a more robust understanding of love, though.

I recently saw a Twitter trend that was encouraging friends to tell one another that they loved each other. That’s philia love in action, and I think we need to see more of it. Our culture also loves self-love (philautia), and although that isn’t in and of itself negative, it can definitely go too far. Our love shouldn’t only be about us and our success.

Our love should be an apologetic for the hope within us. #valentinesday #love #apologetics
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When explaining love to your kids this Valentine’s Day (or any day of the year), here are some good starting points:

Talk to them about the sacrificial (agape) love we see in Jesus. Ask them if they have ever seen sacrificial love in action.
Explain friendship (philia) love. Ask them the traits of positive friendships and how their own friendships may illustrate philia love.
Philautia love isn’t all bad – ask your kids about some positive ways they can love and be kind to themselves. Then, ask them how they can help others be kind to themselves (give compliments, send a gift, smile at them, etc.). Parents, you can cut out some hearts, write some positive things about your kiddo on them, and then post them on their bedroom door. They will serve as a reminder of all the wonderful things you see in them.
Share a little about ludus and mania love, noting the negative characteristics of each. Explain how eros love is typically more positive because, while it’s romantic, it doesn’t focus on casual, uncommitted flirtation, and sex. If you watch a film that illustrates these types of love, don’t be afraid to point them out to your kids.
Give an example from your own life of pragma love. Maybe it’s your marriage or your parents’ marriage. Help your children understand why the love shared in those relationships qualifies as pragma. What struggles or situations have they endured? What highs have they experienced together? Show your kids why this type of love is one worth striving for in romantic relationships.
One way you can practice storge love in your own family is to create a storge love jar. Write love notes or draw pictures for all of your family members and put them in a jar. Tell each other what you love about them. After a month or so collecting notes or drawings (everyone needs to write at least one to every other person in the family), spend time reading through the notes or looking at the pictures as a family.
Our love should be an apologetic for the hope within us. Ask your kids what kinds of love they’ve seen from other Christians, like volunteering for local charities or helping the homeless. Work together to come up with a plan to show love to your neighbors this week, whether that’s by giving them a Valentine’s Day card telling them you’re happy you’re neighbors, taking up their trash can, or baking them a batch of ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies.

So, as you decorate your kid’s Valentine’s Day box or fill out their Valentine’s Day cards for their class party, use it as an opportunity to ask them what they think about when they hear the word love. We hope the information we’ve given you between the podcast and this blog help you understand the different types of love and how they play out in our culture. Because at the end of the day, love really does make the world go round. Go out and love people well.

Lindsey MedenwaldtLindsey Medenwaldt is Mama Bear’s director of operations and our resident expert on world religions. She is a perpetual student, so in addition to her M.A. in Apologetics and Ethics from Denver Seminary, she has a J.D. and a Master’s in Public Administration. She’s been married to another apologist, Jay (aka, the Psych Apologist), for 16 years, and they live with their daughters in Iowa. Her forthcoming book, Bridge-Building Apologetics, will be released in May 2024 (Harvest House).

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SummaryIn this episode, Hillary and Amy address four different types of love in-depth — Agape (unconditional, self-sacrificial love), Storge (familial love), Phileo (strong friendship love), and Eros (sexual attraction). They stress how each type of love is different from the other and should not be confused. Hillary and Amy also discuss how today’s culture is and has been attempting to reinterpret these types of love, often leading to misunderstandings, especially around romantic love. These misunderstandings can lead to confusion in our kids and cause them to have doubts about who they are based on feelings they may have for others. That is why the hosts express how important the ability to differentiate these types of love is. Hillary and Amy conclude the episode by suggesting resources to help illustrate these concepts to children for better comprehension.

Main Points Covered* What are the Four types of Love? + Agape + Storge + Phileo + Eros * What is the danger to our kids if they don’t understand the difference? * Where we see a misunderstanding or intentional twisting of these different types of love in our culture. * Good examples of the four types of love.

People and Resources Mentioned

Hunger Games: Katniss’s Love for Primrose — Example of Agape love
Hacksaw Ridge: Example of Agape and Sacrificial Love
BingBong from Pixar’s Inside Out: Example of Agape Love
Anne of Green Gables: Example of Phileo Love
Jane Eyre: Example of Phileo Love
Pride and Prejudice: Example of Storge Love
Mandalorian Series: Example of Storge Love
Princess Bride: Healthy Example of Eros Love
Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality

Unfamiliar Vocabulary Agape Love: An unconditional, self-sacrificial love. It is the love of God that we see through the cross of Jesus Christ. * Storge Love: Familial love. Storge is the natural love that family members have for one another. * Phileo Love: Friendly Love. It is the love we have for our friends, especially close friends. * Eros Love:* Physical love or sexual desire. Eros is the type of love that involves passion, lust, and/or romance.

Quotable Quotes“All of a sudden they start taking on these I am statements. I am a lesbian, I am bisexual. Because they didn’t know how to differentiate and they need to know.” Hillary Morgan Frerrer

“When we’re encouraging our children to be loving, to be patient, to be self-sacrificial, I mean, those are hard things to do, and it’s only through the power of Christ that you’re able to do those things. But when you can see them do it, you get chills.” – Amy Davison

“We’re losing this beauty simply due to the loss of the range within language, which is why, going back to the original Greek words with your kids, is actually a really good idea and really easy to implement with your kids, so that way they can help differentiate right relationships.” – Amy Davison

“They’re not gonna come out and ask their mom, how do I know if I’m in love with my best friend? It’s not going to occur to them. It’s just something that they will ruminate on and they may Google. And so if we don’t preempt this to begin with, they are going to start going to all sorts of different places for information and all the places on the internet for information are going to affirm yes.” Hillary Morgan Frerrer

adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

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Ephesians 6:12 “Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

If you’ve been feeling like something is “off” lately, you aren’t alone. Tensions at the border, the World Economic Forum plotting world domination… the great Target Stanley cup riot… (seriously!?!) 2024 feels like a powder keg about to go off.

There’s a spiritual heaviness as well. Aaron Renn noticed a remarked shift in culture’s approval of Christianity.1 Back in the day…that’d be the 80s…our culture saw Christianity in a positive light. But right as WWJD bracelets became trendy, America down-shifted to a “neutral” stance. That’s fine for you to be a Christian, just keep your Carman CDs to yourself. Today, social opinion has soured.

Christians are villainized as tyrants in society and media (Fargo season 5 anyone?). Obvious truths like “Men can’t be women” or “We should protect the unborn” are painted as extremist cult teachings. Our inbox at MBA is full of messages from moms feeling the pressure of this world. To this end, the words of Juli Slattery come to mind: “The church has forgotten how to fight.”

In the final chapter of Ephesians, Paul gives believers quite the reality check. To be a follower of Christ isn’t a “Christian walk in the park”; it’s a spiritual battle. Till we stand before the throne in heaven, we are to wear and wield the armor of God, and that includes the pint-size believers running around your backyard.

Proficiency is hard to achieve when we barely know what armor we have, let alone how to use it. That’s why we’re going to do a little field training on each piece with some practical tips to strengthen you and your child’s skills as soldiers in Christ. At the end of this blog, we’ll also offer some great resources to take your training to the next level as we stand firm in Christ.

Belt of TruthAt first glance, this might seem a little underwhelming. I mean, here we are in a battle with the powers of darkness and the first thing we’re told to do is….define our waistlines? Not exactly.

For the ancient soldier, the belt wasn’t a fashion accessory; it was foundational to the integrity of his armor and the security of his sword. Without it, his armor couldn’t stay in place, let alone withstand a hit. In short: without a belt, a soldier was more vulnerable to attack because he’d lose the rest of his armor

In the same way, truth is foundational for the Christian soldier. We put it on first because truth is the only thing that can anchor the rest of our spiritual armor and enable us to wield the sword of the Spirit rightly. Without truth, we can’t wield the sword, we have no idea what righteousness is, and peace becomes some fluffy kumbaya where we are all just trying to not get in fights.

If our children aren’t girdled in truth, they’ll easily get wrapped up in feelings or progressive teachings. Remember, mamas, “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). If we rely on our hearts to determine truth, we’ll be lost. Help your children put on the belt of truth by first teaching them that truth exists and how to discern it. This not only helps them know God better, it enables them to recognize cultural lies and stand firm when they choose to live counter-culture.

Breastplate of RighteousnessTo understand the purpose of the breastplate, we first have to know what it means to be righteous. Righteousness is the ability to be morally correct in deed and action. This is why Paul mentions the belt of truth and breastplate together–because righteousness is only possible when it’s anchored in the objective truth of God.

Symbolically speaking, the breastplate protects the heart and will of the person. When attacks come, they usually appeal to the desires of the heart while doing a frontal assault on truth. (There’s the heart being untrustworthy again!) Think about it: when Satan tempted Eve, he twisted truth and appealed to her desire for power. When Satan tempted Jesus, he took Scripture out of context and tempted Him to avoid the pain of the cross.

Just like wisdom is the right application of knowledge, righteousness is the right application of truth. We can help our little soldiers secure their breastplates by reflecting on God’s Word and asking: How does truth show us how to live? How can we guard ourselves from being corrupted by the world? How do we react when someone challenges our faith or tries to get us to compromise truth? How do we bring others to the foot of the cross?

Then, (and this is an important one) live out what you discuss! (James 1:22-25.) Kids can notoriously spot hypocritical “Do as I say, not what I do” rhetoric a mile away. Remind your child that no one is perfect, but that’s what sanctification is! It is training our minds, wills, and emotions to correspond with righteousness, and that takes practice. With daily discipleship we, too, can become proficient in using the armor of God.

Shoes fitted with ReadinessDon’t let the title fool you, mamas. These shoes weren’t some cutesy pair of “Let me tell ya about my Jesus” sandals. Nope. These puppies have one function: to help you withstand an offensive attack.

Like modern-day cleats, a soldier’s sandals were fitted with iron studs which allowed the wearer to have sure footing in rough soil or when taking a hit from the enemy. They were issued because the general knew an attack was coming, and he wanted his men to be able to stand firm when it did.

Mamas, we and our children are in battle every day–but one that we cannot see with our eyes. It’s raging in our classrooms and warping the minds of our doctors and politicians. Even pastors are falling victim to false ideology and dragging their congregations down with them. We have to be vigilant because a hit is easier to avoid when you see it coming.

We can help our kids don their shoes of readiness when we teach them how to tactically engage culture – peacefully! First, our kiddos need to know how to think well. Can they recognize faulty arguments or are they swayed by the passionate influencer recording in the front seat of their Ford Focus? Second, can they navigate a conversation well? Are they able to point out flawed logic, back up their argument with evidence, and know when to remove themselves from a doomed conversation? Do they know how to affirm the good their opponent is offering and build their relationship first on common ground before questioning a person’s ideologies? If so, then their feet are well prepared for the battle at hand. If not, then you have a wonderful opportunity to equip them for the Lord.

Shield of FaithOften when we imagine a shield, something like Captain America’s pops into our head. That little round shield might look cool and may even be one of the strongest in the Marvel universe, but when faced with a cloud of flaming arrows your body would much rather have Paul’s version.

The ancient Roman shield was 4 feet tall and 2 1/2 feet wide. Its name ‘scutum’ was derived from the Greek word for “door” and when linked with other soldiers, this shield provided an excellent defense against (you guessed it) flaming arrows because it was lined with leather which was soaked in water before a battle.

The shield of faith is even better than that, though. Yes, really. We’re talking about God’s shield of faith, which makes Captain America’s shield and the Roman scotum look flimsy by comparison.

This shield’s ‘faith’ isn’t faith in miracles – it’s fides salvifica, the saving faith that Jesus has reconciled us to God and has empowered us with everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). When the flaming arrows of the enemy come, pointing out all the ways you aren’t good enough, the shield of faith stands between the believer and the lies, reminding them that they are precious creations made new in God. The shield nurtures confidence in God’s Word, His promises, and assures us that our protection comes from Him alone (see Proverbs 30:5 and Hebrews 11:1).

This world is going to sling all sorts of arrows at you and your children, especially as it grows more hostile toward Christianity. What’s a mama bears to do? First, nurture your child’s proficiency in carrying the shield of faith by spending time in the Word of God. Show them how to go to it during times of stress and doubt so that it becomes second nature. Next, even the best warriors need friends to help them. Show your children the importance of godly fellowship by participating in a local family of believers. Go to church, join a small group, or spend time with other Christians.

Helmet of SalvationThis is the only aspect of the spiritual armor that we are told to take, the implication of which is twofold: first, we cannot earn it ourselves, it has to be given, and second, while salvation is offered to everyone, it’s only effective when a person accepts it. And boy, do we need it!

Not surprisingly, a blow to the head is one of the easiest ways to take someone down–just ask Goliath! More often than not, we aren’t going to have literal rocks flying at our heads but we are going to have a heap of discouragement bouncing between our ears, and usually right before or after we step out in faith. The helmet of salvation thus protects the mind and courage of the believer. It reminds us of our security in Christ (Isaiah 59:17, 21). It offers present protections and future hope of salvation, at which point we take off our helmets and don a crown of glory. But until then, it’s best to keep the helmet firmly on your head, mamas. It’s crazy out there!

Battle is as much mental as it is physical. Reflect on where you struggle most and find a Bible verse or chapter to memorize to ward off mental attacks. Psalm 91 is a great one to start with. Once you have one committed to memory, go for another! Have your kids pick their favorites and decorate notecards with the passage. When one of you is struggling, hide a card where they’re sure to find it. Sometimes the best comfort is being reminded that you aren’t alone.

Sword of the SpiritOut of Paul’s list, we only have one offensive weapon–and that is the sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God. Ellicott’s Commentary says the sword is the truth of God in itself, but how often do we take more care in teaching our kids how to wield their Nerf guns instead of the sword?

If used improperly a Nerf dart will sting and maybe knock over a picture frame. If the sword of the Spirit is used incorrectly, it can wound someone who desperately needs the grace of God, potentially driving them away forever. We’re talking eternal consequences, mamas.

This is why we need to be more like Roman soldiers when handling the Word of God. Ancient soldiers had to prove themselves proficient both on and off the battlefield. Only then would they be given a sword and earn the title of soldier.

For believers, we need to train our children (and ourselves!) to use the Word of God with diligence and reverence. We need to know how to read Scripture and properly apply it to our modern world (a skill called hermeneutics).

Children also need to learn which circumstances require compassion and a listening ear (like with a struggling unbelieving friend) and which circumstances require a direct address, like a believing friend leading others astray. They’ll learn this skill first by watching you, so give them a good example to follow!

Final ThoughtsDon’t forget the importance of prayer mentioned in verse 18. While not armor per se, we cannot underestimate its effectiveness in battle. When words fail, there is prayer and intercession of the Holy Spirit. When the battle is waging far away from us, prayer fights on our behalf. When the prodigal won’t return our calls, prayer beseeches God for their restoration. Show your children how to use prayer well, both in praise and in times of trouble because sometimes it’s the only weapon we’ve got, but it’s always enough.

The great news is that we have a book coming out that may help you out in the prayer department! Find out more about Honest Prayers for Mama Bears here.

Other Helpful ResourcesBelt of Truth: The Ology by Marty Mackowski * Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel Bluedorn * The Case for Christ series (e.g. Creation, Heaven, etc) by Lee Strobel * What is Truth?* by Elizabeth Urbanowicz at Foundation Worldview

Breastplate of Righteousness & Shoes fitted with Readiness: How Now Shall We Live? by Charles Colson & Nancy Pearcey * Tactics by Greg Koukl * Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle * Total Truth* by Nancy Pearcey * Lindsey Medenwaldt’s Worldview Series * Playground Apologetics Series

Shield of Faith & Helmet of Salvation & Sword of the Spirit: The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel * Center for Biblical Unity with Monique Duson and Krista Bontrager * Spiritual Warfare by Karl Payne * Person of Interest by J. Warner Wallace * The Deconstruction of Christianity* by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett

Amy DavisonAmy Davison is a former Air Force veteran turned Mama Bear Apologist. She graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an MA in Christian Apologetics. She and her husband Michael (also former Air Force) have been married for over 17 years and have 4 kids. Amy is the Mama Bear resident expert on sex and sexuality, and she’s especially hoping to have that listed on her Mama Bear business card.

saltngrace.com/about/1 Thank you to Pastor Josh Howerton for referencing this article in service!The post Discipling your kids through the Armor of God appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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My 6th grader is a lot like most. His favorite way to unwind is to cruise his favorite YouTube channels for the latest builds, Minecraft commentary, or a Daily Dose of Internet. So, when he told me that he wasn’t going to watch one of his favorite YouTubers anymore, I was curious what had led to this virtual breakup. His answer surprised me.

“The YouTuber said that when a baby is in a mom’s belly then she can get rid of it because it isn’t a person yet. People don’t really believe that, do they?”

This wasn’t the first time he had encountered pro-choice claims. Over the past year, the arrival of his little sister has fostered some great discussions about the value of human life. What I didn’t realize was that he believed the subjects of our talks were hypothetical, only as real as the dragons in his video games. It wasn’t until an influencer shifted from gamer to activist that my son realized that these beliefs are very real. And it seems like, at least based on trends on social media, that the activists are only going to get more prominent.

Teens seek first the kingdom of influencers and everyone from politicians to pop stars is encouraging our kids to be pro-choice. If we don’t disciple our children, the world will gladly take our place, and the results aren’t pretty, just look at Judges 2:6-15.

Our children desperately need to hear the truth regarding the value of the unborn. In this blog, we’re going to debunk the top 2 challenges leveled against pro-life supporters and offer kid-friendly talking points.

“It’s just a clump of cells.”What it means: This first statement is one part biology with a huge dose of materialism — only addressing the physical substance. If we want to get technical, living things are all just ”clumps of cells” at various stages of order and development.

Granted, during the germinal stage of pregnancy (weeks 0-2), the developing baby admittedly looks like a clump of cells. But by the time a woman finds out she is pregnant, the baby resembles a tiny version of its newborn self — complete with a heartbeat, fingerprints, and the beginning of those chubby legs that are so fun to squish.

Calling it a “clump of cells” is easier to swallow during the first trimester (when most abortions take place) because the details of the little ultrasound-bean are hard to see, so the emotional connection isn’t as strong. Sure the fetus is human, but it’s not a person yet, right?

That “yet” is constantly debated. For some people, a baby isn’t a baby until the mother says it is. Until then, it’s just a clump of cells to do with as you please.

The problem: The question of personhood (when a person counts as a person) is a huge problem for pro-choicers. Is it when a woman says it’s a baby? When it can survive outside of the womb? Or is it like one op-ed I read, only when it can contemplate Shakespeare? If that’s the case, then most of us lost our personhood card when we zoned out during sophomore English. And that’s entirely my point! External standards can never determine personhood.

The reality: The “clump of cells” argument is a materialist’s rhetorical tactic used to strip the unborn child of dignity and value by making them sound worthless and disposable. This logic doesn’t just apply to unborn children, mind you, it can apply to a person at any age.

Either every human has inherent dignity worth protecting regardless of his or her physical and cognitive development or abilities, or we can decide by popular vote which humans are worthy of human rights. Take a few moments you refresh yourself with the philosophies behind slavery, the Holocaust, the tribal wars of Rwanda, or the Rape of Nanjing if you think this is no big deal. I promise, you want human rights grounded in inherent humanity, and nothing else.

Talking point: If we allow language to dehumanize unborn children, then we can use language to dehumanize anyone we want. Help your kiddo (especially your teens) see the flaws in this reasoning by discussing whether human worth can come from anything outside of one’s existence. Does it come from reading Hamlet? If so, do we have a right to kill the mentally handicapped? Does it come from making the 9-inch trip through the birth canal? Does that mean it wasn’t a person at the beginning of labor? What about first-breath? Are there human souls floating around in the air, and the first one we swallow becomes “us”? If human worth is determined by one’s ability to survive outside of the womb, then why stop at babies? Why not kill anyone else who cannot survive on their own? Like toddlers or the elderly? It’s a dark but important conversation to have, one that your kids probably won’t see tackled thoroughly on TikTok.

“You’re violating my autonomy and forcing women to be breeders!”What it means: These arguments have become more common since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Pro-choice advocates interpret this ruling as the first step in establishing a modern-date Gilead, a totalitarian society straight out of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Without the right to elective abortion, women will be forced to don the red cloak of reproductive enslavement. We’re not using hyperbole here. This is literally how women are protesting. (See below).

This image was taken from the NY Times article and is available for use under the fair-use guidelines as seen here.

The problem: The reaction against overturning Roe v. Wade misrepresents the most important factor in the case. The Supreme Court didn’t take away a woman’s “right to an abortion,” it recognized that abortion wasn’t a constitutionally protected “right” to begin with. (See our article here.)

This brings me to my next point: sex makes babies. I know I sound like Captain Obvious here, but people keep referring to babies like Bob Ross refers to paint smudges. Newsflash folks: Babies aren’t happy little accidents; they are the result of 3 1/2 minutes of biological cause and effect at work…give or take. This means that when we decide to have sex, then we are choosing to play the only biological game that can win us a 7.2 oz biological prize.

The reality: Let’s be fair. If you were forced to mate for the propagation and profit of selling your offspring then, yeah, you’re a victim of forced breeding. But that is not what is happening. In truth, birth control and the materialistic worldview behind the sexual revolution have made promises they can’t deliver, namely that we can circumvent the natural result of sex — babies. Even if people don’t want a child, sex will still make babies whether we like it or not. The only way to “rectify” this biological fact is through the systematic devaluation and sacrifice of human life — under the guise of freedom and autonomy.

Next, regarding the issue of rape and incest. There is no denying that both are tragic, but we can be so quick to try to “fix” one crime, that we commit another alongside it. Abortion punishes the child for the father’s crime, and that’s unjust. Plus, one tragedy doesn’t dictate another person’s personhood. That is why many states have outlawed abortion in cases of rape and incest.

Talking point: One challenge that your teens will probably hear is that abortion should be legal because one person cannot be forced to donate blood, organs, etc. to save the life of another. This is upheld under the right of bodily autonomy, in the famous court case McFall v. Shimp, which I encourage you and your teen to read the summary of here.

Compare and contrast this case with abortion. What are the differences between a biologically separate, dying person (like a sibling or friend) and a mother carrying a child? Is a thriving infant in utero the same as a dying friend? Did the baby “intrude” upon the woman’s body, or was their conception the result of the actions of the couple? If the conception is a result rather than an intrusion, and if the infant is not dying but thriving, does a person have the right to kill that unborn child for just any reason? How does this impact the abortion discussion?

Final ThoughtsI wish the toughest part of our kid’s childhood was math homework, but the reality is that discussions that normally took place in the courtroom are happening in our kid’s media feeds. The good news is that kids (teens especially) want to think well about these topics. They just need a considerate place to wrestle with what they’ve heard.

Don’t panic if they’ve adopted secular views regarding the right to life. Even yours truly held them at one point. Instead, thoughtfully unpack the implications of pro-choice arguments in truth and love and trust in the Holy Spirit to move. If you want more talking points, you can also listen to our interview with fellow mama bear Jennifer DeFrates on how to have pro-life conversations with family and friends. That interview will drop on Tuesday, so be sure to follow us on social media and YouTube so you don’t miss it!

Editor’s note: To play devil’s advocate, someone might counter the “consenting to sex is consenting to babies” with something like “consenting to driving is consenting to a car accident.” In this vein, abortion is like car insurance, and outlawing abortion is like saying “Only men can have car insurance; sorry ladies, but you have to pay out of pocket.” This points out a valid point, it is not fair/equal that women unduly carry the reproductive burden. No man will ever have to carry a baby to term. While this is true, the unfairness against one person doesn’t justify the death of an innocent party.

Amy DavisonAmy Davison is a former Air Force veteran turned Mama Bear Apologist. She graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an MA in Christian Apologetics. She and her husband Michael (also former Air Force) have been married for over 17 years and have 4 kids. Amy is the Mama Bear resident expert on sex and sexuality, and she’s especially hoping to have that listed on her Mama Bear business card.

saltngrace.com/about/The post Top 2 Challenges About Abortion You’re Going to Hear A lot This Year appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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There are a lot of things that are true but are hard to believe, but the fact that the Creator of our universe has pooped in a diaper is a big one. I mean, really think about that. And if your first reaction is to think that the opening line of this post sounds crass (which is a natural reaction given Who we are talking about), you are only reinforcing the point I’m about to make:

Our all-powerful almighty God entered into this broken and dangerous world as a helpless baby. The One we worship above all else fed at His mother’s breasts and, yes, even pooped in His diaper. Although the song “Away in a Manger” suggests our Savior didn’t cry, I just don’t buy it. He was fully human. He cried, and His earthly parents most assuredly had sleepless nights just like you and I. The Creator who hung all the stars and planets into the cosmos endured the messy and painful experience of birth and just eight days later, circumcision! Our sovereign God chose to be born to a regular family in the small and insignificant town of Bethlehem. What greater example of humility could we ever even conceive of? Humbly our Lord, Creator of all things, became a man.

What exactly do we mean by “humble”?Humility is a culturally-approved trait. For the most part, we all agree that to be humble is a good thing, and to be arrogant is a bad thing. Naturally, this provides a fantastic opportunity for the enemy to step in and engage in a little “linguistic Grinching,” (normally known as “linguistic theft” during non-holiday seasons). This is a sneaky little tactic in which a word is covertly stolen to be used with a new meaning to make the new meaning more acceptable. Since humility is a character trait that Christians are to emulate (Colossians 3:12), we mustn’t become deceived into accepting a different meaning. Let’s first seek a biblical definition of “humble” and then we can take a look at how the word has been redefined.

The words “humble” and “humility” are littered all over the pages of Scripture. While the Bible doesn’t give us an explicit dictionary definition, it does give us plenty of context to present what humility looks like. Some examples are:

Valuing others above oneself (Philippians 2:3)
Submitting to God and being purified by Him (James 4:7-8)
Grieving our sinfulness (James 4:9)
Being teachable to learn and keep God’s way (Psalm 25:9-10)
Seeking God and turning from wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14)

We should also examine what character traits directly oppose “humility”:

Pride (James 4:6)
Exalting oneself (Matthew 23:12)
A haughty spirit (Proverbs 16:18)
Rivalry and conceit (Philippians 2:3)
Confidence in one’s own righteousness (Luke 18:9-14)

Humbling ourselves involves gaining a more accurate view of ourselves. We must recognize our own sinfulness and submit ourselves to God for purification.
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And we must follow God and learn from Him. We must not be haughty or conceited. We must not be confident in our own righteousness nor try to exalt ourselves above others. This is what it means to be humble according to God’s Word. But I am seeing an unrelenting attempt to redefine the word and much of that attempt seems to be coming from leaders within the Progressive Christian movement. How the Linguistic Grinch Stole “Humble”Be on the lookout for using “humility” to replace or imply “uncertainty.” When the word “humble” is misused, those who wish to emulate humility could become misguided. Let’s take a look at three examples of linguistic theft where either the word “humble” has become synonymous with the word “uncertain,” or the word “arrogance” has become synonymous with “certainty.” And as is the Mama Bear way, with each quote we will need to “chew and spit” and discern truth from the lies.

Exhibit #1:

“Pilgrimage is a metaphor for humility. Pilgrimage encourages us to let go of the need to have final certainty on how we understand the Bible and be less prone to put up walls of division because we are more willing to discuss, explore, and change rather than proclaim, conquer, and defend.” ― Peter Enns

The idea here is that the uncertainty of our beliefs allows us the freedom to journey through our faith with an open mind, which in turn promotes unity rather than division. This pits absolute certainty (which is seen as divisive) against uncertainty (which is seen as humble). I have experienced the process of letting go of false beliefs and allowing God to give me a new worldview. And there are those who, in their pride, are too stubborn to thoughtfully consider a challenge to their firmly held beliefs. So, learning and growing are good things that we can affirm! But does that mean that we are to wander aimlessly changing our beliefs in any direction for our entire lives to remain humble? If in our experience certainty increases with learning, does that necessarily mean we are becoming increasingly prideful and arrogant?

“Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Exhibit #2:

“If whatever communities we find ourselves in, we refuse the notion of “I’m right and you’re wrong,” and we come with a posture of humility and healing is our end goal, it changes everything.” ― Esther Joy Goetz

Here, we need to look at the difference between the “notion” of being right or wrong with the haughty attitude of someone who wants to be seen as “right” and humiliate those who they deem are “wrong.” How can anyone discuss or debate anything if they rid themselves of the “notion” of being right or wrong? How could truth vs. falsities ever be established? What we can affirm, though, is the rebuke against anyone who approaches others with arrogance. Having a “posture of humility” should be about one’s heart, not about their beliefs.

Exhibit #3:

“But, certainty is not what we should seek as Christians. It is comforting but diametrically opposed to faith. Certainty is merely hubris and arrogance masquerading as discernment.” ― Ashley Darling (Red Letter Christians)

In this quote, I want to focus on the word “arrogance” because it is pitted against certainty. Since arrogance is the opposite of humility, this is another way the enemy tempts us to embrace uncertainty as somehow virtuous. This quote requires some “chewing and spitting” especially when read in the context of the full article. The reason is that there are some good points made within the article, and we Mama Bears need to be careful not to reject the good along with the bad if we are to use proper discernment. That being said, for this post, I want to bring our attention to the blanket statement that Christians are not to seek certainty.

According to Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” If assurance and conviction are words that biblically define “faith,” it seems obvious to me that God’s Word directly opposes the idea that certainty is “diametrically opposed to faith.” I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go with God on this one.

Why the Linguistic Grinch stole “Humble”It’s one thing to know what tactics the enemy uses against us. It is another to understand why he uses them and why they are so effective. We need to understand what happens when we uncritically accept new definitions of biblical words, whether due to ignorance, pride, or apathy. Here is why I think linguistic theft of the word “humble” is very dangerous:

Suppose you can convince someone that it is arrogant to become too certain about their theology or beliefs and that it is humble and virtuous to remain uncertain. In that case, that person will likely live with a vague and confused sense of who God is and what he commands of us.

Mama bears, we don’t want that for ourselves or our children. We know that God does not want that for us either. He is a good Father, and He wants us to know Him and to live in peace, not confusion.

Our humble Savior’s gift of certaintyAs we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we worship the God who entered our world in perfect humility. God did not have to do it this way. If He truly wanted His creation to journey through mystical spiritualism where questions mattered more than answers, then He could have remained in the spirit realm. Instead, what did He do? The Word became flesh, entering into world history, and providing His people the means to verify His claims objectively. Jesus embodies the Word of God, shows us the way, gives us life, and provides us with objective truth. We can be grounded in the certainty of His love because we can be certain of His claims. And as we draw near to Him, His Spirit transforms our hearts to conform us to His humble image. This is a certainty that does not bring pride and division, but peace and unity to those who love Him. Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King!

Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.

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It’s that time of year again. The family is gathered around the table. Grandma asks each person to say what they’re thankful for – “And you’re not allowed to simply say ‘God’ or ‘Family’ or ‘This food’!” The kids (and some of the adults) roll their eyes while racking their brains for something to say. The economy is down, World War III is probably about to break out, and the world is on FIRE – but it’s Thanksgiving SO JUST BE GRATEFUL DAGNABBIT! Scenes like this have created a new cultural phrase – and one that we at Mama Bear wish to avoid: Toxic Gratitude. Toxic positivity? Yeah, that’s maybe a thing. You know, when a person isn’t allowed to grieve or have a bad day. There’s no verse anywhere declaring that “Thou shalt be chipper every day.” But toxic gratitude? Nah, brah. Now you’re just putting the word “toxic” in front of anything good to make it bad. Stop trying to make “fetch” happen. It’s not going to happen.

What the heck is “toxic gratitude”?First, let’s take a look at what people mean when they say “toxic gratitude.” It’s important to note that “toxic gratitude” is supposedly a subset of “toxic positivity,” which describes covering up or suppressing one’s authentic negative emotions to always have (or appear to have) a positive outlook. An example of toxic positivity is telling a friend to “look on the bright side” when they have experienced a true loss, rather than validating their pain.

In the articles touting “toxic gratitude,” I noticed a very important theme: gratitude is being defined as an emotion. To the authors, being grateful is the same thing as feeling grateful. In fact, kidshealth.org defines gratitude as “when you feel thankful for the good things in your life.” Therefore “toxic” gratitude is meant to describe a situation in which a person is told (or tells themselves) that they should feel grateful and suppress any negative emotions, including pain or justified anger.

This is where we ask ourselves: Is it true that gratitude is merely an emotion?

What is the truth about gratitude?The Oxford Dictionary definition of gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” Showing appreciation and returning kindness are actions, not emotions. When we see charges of “toxic gratitude,” we’re not dealing with gratitude at all, because what we are actually dealing with is an emotion. Someone might use the phrase “Just be grateful,” but what they really mean is, “Just be happy.” And that is when we might put on a happy face and stuff down our negative emotions as deep as they can go. But thankfully, the Lord does not ask us to do that. (Want proof? Read the Psalms and Lamentations).

Biblical gratitude does not require forcing or faking happiness. Biblical gratitude is never toxic.
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True gratitude is acknowledging the good gifts in our lives and especially the Gift Giver–God who brings about good in every circumstance for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We don’t have to fake or force the emotion of happiness. All we are called to do is confess the truth about our good God – even if we do so while crying…

And this is what is so brilliant about gratitude: more than just acknowledging the good that comes from God, the practice of gratitude aligns our minds with truth. Whether we are feeling down or downright suffering, the enemy will use whatever he can to discourage us and tempt us to wallow in self-pity while ruminating on the bad. But when we give in to this temptation, we are not recognizing the truth. We are giving in to the lie of hopelessness and despair. We may suffer, yes, but we need never despair. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to remain grounded in the truth that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). If we keep our minds not on this earthly kingdom (which is ruled by “spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12), but on Christ’s heavenly kingdom (which is not of this world – John 18:36), we are reminded that our life is now hidden with Christ and we patiently await appearing with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3-4).

The objective truth that God will redeem all things for good is something we can cling to, declare, and rest in. This produces true gratitude in our hearts, even when life isn’t peachy.
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How do we advocate for biblical gratitude?Unfortunately, our culture isn’t too keen on the idea that truth is objective. In our postmodern culture, “perception is reality” and many people believe that the way a person subjectively experiences something is simply “their truth.” If, by secular standards, we create our own values and even shape our own realities, then it follows that we decide whether a person, thing, or circumstance is a blessing or harm. Some people caught up in New Age practices even attempt to “manifest” blessings, which means to bring them about, by attracting them through speaking self-affirmations. This comes under the guise of positive thinking, but in reality, it merely provides an illusion that one is in control of life’s circumstances. It also bypasses any need for giving thanks to a sovereign God and keeps their focus on the self. But here’s the truth: a blessing from God is objectively a blessing, whether or not someone recognizes it as such. By failing to show gratitude to the Lord, people are missing out on another blessing – the encouragement and joy that gratitude produces in our hearts!

If the Bible is our source of objective truth, then we know that all good things come from the Father (James 1:17). And we know that good is produced from every circumstance (James 1:2-3). What amazing news this is! This is far from “toxic positivity.” No matter what we are going through, we truly do have something to be grateful for. That is the goodness of our God. If Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” let us align our minds with truth and continuously give thanks to Him.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

Three ways to promote biblical gratitude with our kids1. Make Giving Thanks a HabitA really simple way to do this is to start every prayer to the Lord with thanksgiving. Remind your kiddos each time you bow your heads to pray to thank God for something specific before making a request. Something I often do with my kids is I pray in the car as we are driving out of our neighborhood, and I begin by thanking the Lord for the sunshine or the rain or for whatever is in my heart at the moment. We can both model and teach this habit of gratitude to our children.

Model Gratitude in GriefRecently my family experienced the heartbreak of our beloved fur-baby leaving us for doggy heaven. While grieving, I made sure to emphasize how grateful I was that our pup did not suffer like some do with drawn-out illnesses. I did this while also validating my family’s feelings of shock and pain. Apparently, the kids were influenced positively by this because a sweet neighbor informed me that my kids told her they were sad about their dog but happy she didn’t suffer, and that she lived a good long life. My neighbor was impressed and called them “well-adjusted.” I say this to remind you, Mama Bears, that our kids are watching us. modeling the fruits of the Spirit has a greater impact on them than we realize.
Motivate Generosity through GratitudeHelp your kids understand that ultimately every gift comes from God. Even when we give to others, we give out of what the Lord has first given us. If you ever participate as a family in a charity drive, you can remind your kiddos that you are simply giving out what God has given you. This type of gratitude frees us to be more generous so that we may in turn be a blessing to others.

So, when you find yourself at Thanksgiving dinner, don’t roll your eyes at Grandma! Let us align our minds with truth through the practice of gratitude, which honors our Lord.

May we recognize God's goodness and allow the Holy Spirit to produce true and lasting joy in our hearts despite whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.
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Happy Thanksgiving from the Mama Bears! Alexa CramerAlexa is a homeschool mom of two. She became obsessed with apologetics after a season of doubt that nearly stole her faith. Alexa has a background in film and video and will willingly fight anyone who doesn’t agree the DC Talk is the best band that ever graced the earth.

The post What Biblical Gratitude Is (and Isn’t) appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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I am a Mama Bear, but my three girls are grown. They’ve made me Nana to ten (so far), eight biologically and two by adoption. I pray my grandchildren will trust Jesus as Savior and face life’s challenges with bold and unshakeable faith. But changes in the spiritual climate, cultural language, and technological amenities of my grandkids’ era have produced a world alien to me as a grandparent. It’s a challenge to communicate truths about what Jesus has done in my life, what Scripture means and how it applies to current life, and how Christianity’s answers are relevant to the issues my grandkids face.

But we Nana Bears don’t give up when it comes to our cubs. We will fight for them in prayer and in our words. To know how to pray and what to say will require sacrifice on our part. We might even need to learn a thing or two. But that’s part of embracing God’s call to us to disciple our grandchildren. Are you up for it? Here are three steps you can take to start building the bedrock of your grandchildren’s faith.

We are called to disciple our grandkids. Are you up to the task? Here are three ways you can begin sharing the Christian faith with your grandkids today.
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Become a confident contender for the faith.If you want to talk with your grandkids about faith issues, you need to know what the issues are, how they present themselves in the lives of your grandchildren, and how to respond with truth. What’s that I hear? You can’t learn things anymore? Your memory isn’t what it used to be? Look. I get it. At least once a day I walk into my pantry to get something, then stand there blankly surveying my shelves because I can’t remember what it was. Short-term memory fails us more as we age, but if you are reading this post, it’s a good sign that you can still learn. While you can’t learn everything, you can learn something.

Action: Invite your grandchild to read a kids’ apologetics book with you. Some great authors who write to kids about evidence for the truth of Christianity include Elizabeth Urbanowicz, Frank Turek and Hanna Sims, J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace, JD Camorlinga, and Lee Strobel. They all have great books or interactive workbooks you can read and work through with your grandkids. Read together in person, on the phone, or by long-distance video call (you may need to buy two copies!).

If you want to prepare before talking with your grandchild, read an apologetics book from our resource list such as Mama Bear Apologetics or one of Natasha Crain’s books like Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side. However you do it, take one action to prepare yourself to be a confident contender who passes on the truths of the Christian faith to your grandchildren.

Become a memorial stone stacker.In Joshua 4, Israel’s new leader led God’s people on dry ground across the Jordan River into the Promised Land as God miraculously pushed back flooding waters with an east wind. Once across, Joshua stacked up memorial stones in the dry riverbed. Once the waters returned, the stacked stones jutting out of the water bore witness that God loved and provided for His people. As aging brings aches and ailments, we can avoid complaining by recounting to our grandchildren examples of God’s goodness and power displayed in our lives.

Action: Tell your grandkids about a time when God intervened in your or your family’s life unmistakably. Explain what the event teaches about the nature of God. In a later conversation, ask them to retell the story so it gets embedded in their long-term memory. As you think of more memories, write them down, and share them with your grandkids. When they experience suffering, they will recall how God has shown faithfulness and love to their family in the past and be assured He will bring them through whatever crises they face.

Become a biblical truth tracker.I recently looked through old letters my mom had saved, each recording a piece of our family’s messy love story. The stories are monuments to human weaknesses and God’s greatness. The Bible records God’s work throughout history, often through messy stories like our own. Despite human failure, nothing could stop His loving plan of redemption. How about writing down truths you’ve learned from Scripture for your grandkids to read and learn from long after you’ve gone?

Action: Purchase a journaling Bible with wide margins for note-taking. Write notes for a year or more, then give it to a grandchild on a special occasion, such as an 18th birthday. What kinds of notes should you take? Write devotional, Bible study, and sermon insights. Write personal prayers and encouragements, addressing your grandchild by name. Write personal experiences in which scriptural truths became real to you. Write evidence supporting Scripture’s truth claims. Explain the meanings of words, phrases, sentences, and passages.

Putting It All TogetherDoes the action list look intimidating? No worries. Pray about one thing you can do to invest in the spiritual lives of your grandchildren. Here are a few things to consider. Becoming a confident contender for the faith requires time, study, and purchasing a book or two. Becoming a memorial stone stacker takes time to think through what you will say and when, and getting a notebook for writing down new memories as they come to mind. Becoming a biblical truth tracker takes time, purchasing a journaling Bible your grandchild would like, and taking notes during your devotionals and Bible studies, as well as during sermons.

Is the sacrifice worth it?

The time, money, and effort invested in the spiritual lives of our grandchildren yield benefits that far outweigh any entertainment gadget we could buy them. We’re impacting their eternity.
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By Tricia Scribner

The post Calling All Nana Bears: Three Ways to Build a Bedrock of Faith in Your Grandkids appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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SummaryThis week we are joined by Krista Bontrager to discuss how the occult is becoming more popular among younger generations, what that looks like and what parents should be on guard against. Krista has a wealth of knowledge on this topic and we are grateful for the wisdom she shares with us.

Main Points Covered* How the occult is becoming more attractive to younger generations * How boys and girls are seduced into the occult differently. + For girls, it is usually through empowerment from witchcraft. + For boys, it often comes through horror movies, anime, and supernatural shows. * How interacting with the occult can result in demonic oppression. * Practical resources to help your kiddos and how to speak truth to them about the spiritual realm.

People and resources mentioned* Theology Mom * Center for Biblical Unity * Spiritual Warfare by Carl Payne * The Bondage Breaker by Neil Anderson * Douglas Geivett on The New Apostolic Reformation * Krista’s Youtube Playlist on Spiritual Warfare and The Supernatural * Mama Bear Apologetics: Crash Course on the Enneagram

Unfamiliar Vocabulary The Occult: In the broadest sense, is a category of supernatural beliefs and practices that encourage the interaction with demonic spirits and forces. * Astral projection: (also known as astral travel) a term used in esotericism to describe an intentional out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of an astral body or body of light, through which consciousness can function separately from the physical body and travel throughout the astral plane. * Multiverse theory: Multiverse theory suggests that our universe, may not be the only one. The theory suggests that there are actually millions of other universes that are parallel to each other. * Shifting: A combination of Astral projection and Multiverse theory to where any sort of universe can exist and you can shift your consciousness to any of those universes or realities. * Cosplay/cosplay culture: The practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game. Many times, the cosplayer will actively “assume” the identity of the character and set aside their own. * New Apostolic Reformation (NAR):* The New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, is an unbiblical religious movement that emphasizes experience over Scripture, mysticism over doctrine, and modern-day “apostles” over the plain text of the Bible.

Quotable Quotes“The spirit realm is real and your children are interacting with it on a daily basis. For example, if you’re teaching your child to pray, you’re teaching them how to engage in the spirit realm.”
Krista Bontrager

“Christians are uniquely positioned to explain the spirit realm.”
Krista Bontrager

“Because we are created in the image of God, there is a spiritual component to us and a longing to understand the spirit realm. So that is not inherently bad. We want to disciple [our kids] in how to interact with the spirit realm so that they don’t get hurt.”
Krista Bontrager

“The most common scheme that the enemy uses is messages to our thoughts. The fiery darts of the enemy.”
Krista Bontrager

adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

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In Part 1, we may have virtually scared the pants off our readers with our semi-dystopian view of the future. But everything’s going to be okay, mama. You’re fine. I’m fine. Everything’s FINE!

No, really, we’re all fine.

Let me ask you something: can you give me an example of any time the future wasn’t scary? I doubt it. On this side of heaven, the future will always be uncertain. So, what we can do is cling to that which we are certain of – absolute truth. And that truth is found in a person: Jesus. Seek truth, and you’ll find Christ and His promises. Seek Christ, and you’ll find truth and clarity.

Consequently, it’s no surprise that God’s number one enemy is working relentlessly to distort our view of truth. Because that’s ALL he can do, Mama Bears – he can’t touch truth itself. So, we need to get to work to protect our kids from the enemy’s schemes. I can’t emphasize how important this is. Sports and extracurriculars are wonderful but our primary responsibility during this small window of raising children is to train them up in the way they should go (see Proverbs 22:6). We understand how overwhelming all of this can be, so we came up with a short list of foundational lessons to help you out.

5 practical ways we can prepare our kids for AI:#1 Teach them the habit of asking “Is this true?”I am convinced that the enemy loves to exploit our natural tendencies so that we take them too far. If you are a mom of multiple children, you already know how each child is wired so differently! Some kids are naturally trusting, so our job will be to teach them not to be gullible. On the other hand, we need to teach our doubting children to walk that fine line of shrewd skepticism without slipping into the pitfall of cynicism.

That being said, we have a real problem in this culture with people believing something is true merely because, to them, it’s believable (or by the mere fact that it’s on YouTube!). I remember having a conversation with a friend during a highly controversial and widely publicized hearing. She told me she believed the man was guilty simply because she would not be surprised if he were! What?! Mama Bears, that is not how we establish truth.

Here are some questions you can teach your kiddos to ask when trying to determine if this piece of content is true:

What is the purpose of this content?
- Is it to sell me something?
- Is it trying to persuade me to agree?
- Is it trying to get me to click on something?
What are the sources used?
- Are there multiple sources or just one?
- Are the authors/creators credible?
- Can you find this information on other credible sites as well?
Does the content creator acknowledge their own biases?
- What worldview, religion, or political aisle is the author/creator coming from?
- Do they present a balanced perspective on the issue? (legitimate pros and cons)
- Who is funding this content and what is their goal?
Am I being presented with data or opinions (or a mix of both)?
- Are there statistics or facts included that can be verified?
- Is the author/creator making inferences on information? If so, are the inferences actually reasonable? Look for logical fallacies (or errors in their reasoning).

2 Teach them to be slow to speak…and slow…to share

Social media is designed to trigger our emotions and get us to act - even if that’s just to engage with a post by clicking “like” or “share.”
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How often do we take the time to process the actual reason we want to share something (whether that’s an online or in-person conversation)?

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

We should ask ourselves: Is what I’m about to share truly edifying to the body of Christ or is it just building up my own image? Is it truly informative or is it propaganda? (See point #3 below) Will this help people prepare for the lies of the enemy or is it merely a way to humiliate my ideological enemy? Remind your kiddos not to allow internet algorithms to manipulate them into playing their game.1 #3 Teach them to recognize propagandaPropaganda is a tactic used to influence the public to buy into a specific point of view or political ideology. The strategy promotes emotionalism (getting people to form their opinions based on their emotions as opposed to using critical thinking) and presents information in a biased and often misleading way. Propaganda is everywhere — politics, social media, advertisements, etc.!2 In politics, we should learn to recognize it on both sides of the aisle. When your kids come across something in the news or even a video (ahem TikTok) or image (we see you Instagram) that seems to be promoting a particular narrative, remind them to evaluate whether or not they are being presented with actual information. What are the details of this story or event? What actually happened? Is the story providing information or merely someone’s emotionally charged opinion? If you’re not getting actual information, you’ve probably encountered propaganda.

4 Teach them proper expectationsDepending on the age of your kids, they are either using AI software or they will be eventually. Users need to understand the limits to this technology so that they are not deceived by it. In Part 1, I explained that not everything ChatGPT spits out is actually true information. There is good reason for this. As Rodney Brooks, Australian roboticist and AI expert, explains, “What the large language models are good at is saying what an answer should sound like, which is different from what an answer should be.”3

You see, a software program is spitting out an automated response based on complex algorithms. ChatGPT was designed to respond in a way that sounds like a human response. But it does not have reasoning capabilities like a real human. If you don’t keep that in mind, you could be easily fooled into thinking the response is true merely because it sounds correct. And it doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about ChatGPT or another AI tool. Because no matter how well AI will be able to imitate humans, it will always be something other than human.

5 Teach them to writeHumans have a tendency toward convenience, whether or not it’s good for them in the long run. This AI language bot stuff is relatively brand new, yet the amount of articles released expressing how high school and college students have already adapted to using AI to write their papers is staggering. One article from the Chronicle is titled, “I’m a Student. You Have No Idea How Much We’re Using ChatGPT. No professor or software could ever pick up on it.”4

Aside from the obvious ethical concerns, most students are not aware of how important the process of writing is to our brain development. Writing develops your ability to think critically. You have to plan, organize, develop, and reflect on your thoughts.

According to Dr. M Cecil Smith,

“Writing is a significant literacy activity in modern life that enables individuals to accomplish a variety of personal, intellectual, occupational, and recreational goals. It has been demonstrated, across a variety of investigations, that writing activities yield a number of intellectual, physiological, and emotional benefits to individuals. These benefits include improved [sic] memory function, decreased symptomatology [define], and greater feelings of happiness.”5

The temptation to abuse ChatGPT and other AI tech out of convenience (and intellectual laziness) is going to be strong. What we need to drill into our kiddos is the fact that if their critical thinking skills are not constantly being sharpened, they will be vulnerable to being manipulated and controlled. No one wants to be controlled. Help them to understand the importance of writing and developing their OWN thoughts, so that they can recognize when politicians, the media, or any other person is trying to manipulate them.

Final thoughtsIt might be tempting to shield our kids completely from the dangers of the virtual world – and there is totally a season for that. For those mama bears with littles, the young years are a good time to lay that foundation of critical thinking skills. But the world we live in is becoming increasingly dependent on technology and, at the appropriate age, our kids will need to be trained and prepared for it.

Consider how much of what makes up our worldview is now being delivered to us digitally. Mama Bears, this kind of training is not optional. Evaluating every message that we encounter can be exhausting. But it’s like strengthening a muscle – the more you practice it, the more you strengthen your mind and it becomes natural. Keep in mind that we are not designed to be informed about every single possible event or new piece of information on the planet. Because of the internet we have access to it all, but remind your kiddos that they are in control of what they allow to take up mental space.

We are not obligated to know everything about everything, and God never intended us to. But we would be wise to hold our opinions loosely on the things we haven’t been able to thoroughly research.
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When considering AI and how it will impact our kids’ futures, there is so much more to consider than we can cover here. AI tech is being used to scam people. It is raising serious ethical concerns. It could impact future employment opportunities. People could even start developing relationships with AI bots. (Super weird but not unheard of).6 We can see that awareness is undeniably important. But don’t let it completely overwhelm you. The world has always been a scary place with many uncertainties. But Jesus told us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
By Alexa Cramer

1 We recommend the film, The Social Dilemma (2020).2 A classic example of propaganda is the Uncle Sam poster stating “I want YOU for U.S. Army!”3 Rodney Brooks, quoted in Victor Tangermann, “AI Expert Says ChatGPT is Way Stupider Than People Realize,” The Byte, May 21, 2023, https://futurism.com/the-byte/ai-expert-chatgpt-way-stupider?fbclid=IwAR3bU81sys9tSkoX_7q3lWA0pnMI3pD5UPwV-60rOczsYyBFgTmKVF8-zm0.4 Owen Kichizo Terry, “I’m a Student. You Have No Idea How Much We’re Using ChatGPT,” The Chronicle, May 12, 2023, https://www.chronicle.com/article/im-a-student-you-have-no-idea-how-much-were-using-chatgpt.5 M Cecil Smith, “The Benefits of Writing,” Northern Illinois University, https://www.niu.edu/language-literacy/_pdf/the-benefits-of-writing.pdf.6 Maria Noyen, “A woman who ‘married’ an AI chatbot is open to finding love in the real world, but says a future partner must accept her virtual husband is here to stay,” Insider, June 15, 2023, https://www.insider.com/woman-who-married-ai-chatbot-open-to-real-world-dating-2023-6.The post Is AI Dangerous? (Part 2) appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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A TikToker programs himself a virtual AI girlfriend and decides to “euthanize” her when she becomes less responsive, and he falls into depression. Entire porn sites are dedicated to stealing the images of female online influencers (specifically Twitch streamers) using AI to create “deepfake” pornography. And creative things that we typically perceive as uniquely human, […]

The post What the heck is Artificial Intelligence and why does it matter? appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Your kids need a dose of Reality – the Reality Student Apologetics Conference! According to the Fuller Youth Institute, 70% of Christian high school students have serious doubts about Christianity. In fact, 3 out of 5 Christian students have checked out of their faith by the age of 15 . . .15! Gone are the […]

The post Why your teens need a dose of Reality! appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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This week social media has been abuzz with the story of the OceanGate submersible Titan. Their mission was to investigate the wreckage of the Titanic on the ocean floor. The sub lost contact with the surface less than two hours into its journey. And a rescue mission has been the focus of my newsfeed for […]

The post How Not to Respond Online to Tragedy appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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[This is part 2 of our coverage of the IF: Gathering. You can read the first blog here.]

Being in ministry is amazingly challenging in the social media age. People often have keyboard courage to say whatever is on their minds. They take statements out of context or misrepresent ideas, knocking down the strawmen1 they just created. We Mama Bears understand the kinds of spiritual warfare that can plague a ministry, so we want to make sure everything we do is in love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will do our best to charitably represent concerning ideas we hear and—in this article– specifically regarding issues we have seen with the IF: Gathering.

As we discussed in our first installment, we see some good things coming out of IF, like a passion for making disciples of Jesus who will reach into their churches and communities and serve Him. And we never want to tear down something in which God is working. Most of these teachings we mention in this article are subtle. They are not overt. As we mentioned in the first article, it’s often a situation where you think “Do they say what I thought they just said? Did I hear that right?” Or, they are messages that we’ve heard the speakers platformed overtly affirm in conferences outside of IF:Gathering.

So while there are many good things to affirm with IF, we’ve also heard things that make us want to practice some cautious discernment. Because we are passionate about raising the next generation of discerning believers, we’re going to focus on equipping you to recognize issues for yourself rather than doing deep dives on every issue. (We may have articles on some of these ideologies in the future.)

First, we want to emphasize that a speaker’s message for IF is usually fairly neutral, and hosts of streaming events can select which speakers they show. An IF: Local could potentially only show biblically solid presentations, but it would be extremely challenging, especially with live-streaming.

There are many great things that have happened through IF:Gathering! Buuuuut... here's a few messages for which to to be on alert. #discernment
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Now for the hard part. As easy as it would be to give you a list of people we think have questionable beliefs or are possibly heretical, that wouldn’t be preparing you to discern false doctrines for yourself.

Some speakers from past conferences appeared relatively solid and drifted into progressive Christianity later. (To be fair, when speakers like Jen Hatmaker openly accepted LGBTQ-affirming theology, they were no longer platformed by IF.) But just naming names leaves you vulnerable to missing those kinds of shifts.

We are here to help you tear down arguments, not people. So, let’s walk you through a few of the most concerning ideologies and doctrinal issues that are connected to either one or multiple speakers at IF.

1. “What number are you?”If you hear talks about numbers at the conference, they are probably referencing the Enneagram (unless it’s your lunch order). We just finished a series on the Enneagram, so we won’t review all of it. The Enneagram is marketed as a Christian personality assessment tool, but upon deeper review, the founders themselves were rooted in occult practices (automatic writing). (No, seriously. Don’t take our word for it. Go look at the primary sources we link to in the Enneagram article.)

Some of the buzzwords you might hear are your “types,” your “number,” your “wings” (or secondary types), “true self,” basic desires/fears, your core virtue/counter virtue, stress/security, and core sin. These buzzwords relate to the ways you self-identify your strengths, weaknesses, propensities, needs, general personality, and tendencies about how you view the world and your place in it.

When you hear these terms relating to the Enneagram, ask yourself these questions: 1. Are people being excluded or shamed or even praised based on their number? Are there jokes being made about certain “numbers?”

Do they camp out longer in pop psychology than in Scripture?
Is the number being presented as someone’s “identity” (i.e., a part of themselves that they cannot change)?
Is anyone using their number to excuse themselves from certain ways of serving? Or, on the flip side, is anyone using their number as conferring upon them special qualifications to serve? (Sweeping the floor isn’t a spiritual gift folks; just do it.)

Personality assessments might have a place in the church to help you understand how you think and process the world in order to better understand how to love and serve God and live with one another in understanding. But personality assessments should never be the basis for one’s main identity. All tools should be used in submission to God’s authority first. (And for heaven’s sake, people. Use one that has testable validity so it’s reliable across the board!)

2. “Social Justice = the gospel”Social justice is a focus on caring for the oppressed and impoverished members of society. IF: Gathering may mean justice in the exact way Scripture defines it (i.e., caring for the poor, sick, orphans, and widows like in Isaiah 58:1-10 James 1:27), but we cannot ignore that our culture has linguistically thefted the term justice, sometimes championing the very things God calls sin.

Caring for the poor, the orphan, and the widow are definitely a result of repentence and obedience, but they are not synonymous (or interchangeable) with the Gospel proper.
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A couple of quotes from IF: Equip,

“Seeking justice for all of humanity is gospel work and therefore, it matters. It’s not social, political, or trendy work but gospel work.”

“As followers of Christ, we strive to help build God’s just kingdom here on earth.”

Primarily listen for these terms: justice, just (as an adjective), good works, oppression, equity, and the gospel.

When you hear these terms relating to social justice, ask yourself these questions: 1. Is Scripture referenced and if so, used correctly and understood in full context?

Is it clear who qualifies as oppressed based on individual circumstances, or are whole identity groups, regardless of their specific situations, deemed “oppressed”?
Can you easily distinguish clear and specific ways to alleviate the oppression, or is it just a vague idea of “justice” without specifics?
Is the mission of justice considered to be on equal footing with (or supplanting) the gospel of repentance and salvation?
Are good works being praised above correct theology?
Is there “justice” being requested for anything God calls sin? (Remember, the Greek word for “justice” and “righteousness” is the same word – dikaiosuné.)

In James 2:18, we’re instructed that good works flow from our faith and a heart aligned with God. But good works aren’t synonymous with the gospel.

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for accepting another gospel message in 2 Cor. 11:42 or. 11:4. Let’s be careful not to do the same.

Remember: secular humanists are just as capable of the same charitable acts that Christians are. What makes our message different is the message of the cross and being set free from the oppression of sin!

For more on social justice and Jesus, read this article by Greg Koukl from Stand to Reason.

3. The sin of whitenessWhere there has been racial unrest, we want to be agents of peace. We love this particular explanation of racial reconciliation from the IF: Equip study Arise – “To live out this ministry of reconciliation, we must be aware of our own need for restoration with God, as well as all of humanity’s need for restoration with God. He is calling us to restore the image of God stamped on every human.”

We wholeheartedly believe everyone is made in the image of God, and every one of us should recognize that image in every other person, no matter our skin color. And every Christian should agree with this comment from an IF roundtable, “God is the creator of everybody and we’re all equal.”

The primary voice of IF’s racial reconciliation model is Latasha Morrison, author of Be the Bridge and founder of a ministry of the same name. She rightly points out that if we’ve always been part of the dominant culture, we should examine areas where we might be blind or oblivious to issues between ethnic groups. But we have some serious concerns about the recommendations made by Morrison and others as the path forward–most of which we address in the questions to ask yourself section below. (We also recommend Neil Shenvi’s review of the book here.)

Words to listen for are privilege, whiteness, white fragility, oppressed/oppressor, intersectionality, positionality, and microaggressions.

When you hear these terms relating to racial reconciliation, ask yourself these questions: 1. Is someone being elevated, shamed, or found guilty (or innocent) based on their God-given genetic heritage?

Are people being encouraged to repent for their own sins or for the sins of others?
Is one’s skin tone being held more responsible for reconciliation than the other, or are the various skin tones encouraged to see themselves as equal at the foot of the cross and to truly reconcile?
Is the sin of partiality being called out everywhere it occurs?
Are all parties being asked to submit to Christ and think of others more highly than ourselves (Phil 2:3)?

It’s important we recognize that every conversation about race is not destructive. Don’t let that pendulum swing too far the other way! Sometimes necessary conversations toward unity are awkward or emotional. Don’t let fear stop you from having them! Entering these discussions with gentleness, humility, and the willingness to listen can shrink the elephant in the room down to a manageable size.

On the flip side, be patient with those who may unintentionally offend. Extend grace and invite honesty. Fear of making mistakes keeps too many of us from trying. We have to find ways to walk across the bridge of unity provided by Christ’s sacrifice (Gal. 3:28). We absolutely need to address the sin of partiality and how it affects the body of Christ. When we live in correct alignment with God, we should not see ANY partiality in the church, no matter who it comes from. We should also deal with it correctly, if and when it surfaces.

For more resources on dealing with racial conversations in a biblical, gospel-oriented way, please visit the Center for Biblical Unity.

4. “I declare. . .” Certain theological systems believe that we have the power to make prayer declarations or that we can “manifest” earthly circumstances by commanding God to do our will. Some believe that a new group of apostles will be given authority over every Christian church and will use supernatural powers to usher in God’s divine kingdom in this world.2

You will hear terms like declare, casting visions, being, releasing, decrees, shaking or shifting, agreement or alignment, apostle, and prophesy.

When you hear terms like these, ask yourself: 1. How is this term being used? Is it clearly defined? Is this term being used in a way Christians would have historically understood it?

What am I being asked to come into alignment with? If it’s Jesus, is He depicted as both savior and judge (1 Cor 5:10)? Would anyone object to this view of Jesus? Remember: He wasn’t killed for no reason, and neither were His followers.
Are you being told to declare what God “will do”? Does the prayer feel more like a humble request or a demand? Jesus never demanded things of God. He only commanded unclean spirits or the waves (and even that was supposed to be an allusion to God’s power in Psalm 107:23-31). In every other circumstance, Jesus petitioned God with humility (see Matthew 26).
Is the Holy Spirit portrayed as a holy member of the Trinity or like a magic genie?
Are people taught to seek out miracles or to seek further understanding of the gospel? Remember, Jesus generally performed miracles to affirm His deity and message of salvation and forgiveness of sins, but He tended to chastise those who just sought the miracles. In Matthew 16:4, Jesus refuses to give the wicked generation a sign, except for that of Jonah.
Are your health, wealth, or answered prayers considered contingent upon your faith?
Are you being told you can “learn” how to have supernatural gifts? Acts 8:18-20 is a great reference to consider on this point.

Keeping clarity on what the Bible says about prayer, the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, etc. will help you sort out ideas that sound Christian but aren’t quite right. The best place to start is to read your Bible so that you can spot the lies when they come your way. If you don’t know what’s in the Bible, you won’t be able to see falsehood.

For more details on Word of Faith, click here. If you want to learn more about the New Apostolic Reformation, you can click over to Holly Pivec’s blog or get her new book Counterfeit Kingdom.

4. Fluffy TeachingA fluffy talk is one that feels good, like floating on a big pink cloud, but ends up like cotton candy in a puddle, dissolving into nothing. Or worse, many fluffy talks demonstrate a speaker is sliding into progressivism, which ends up in a version of “Christianity” that denies virtually every unpopular aspect of historic Christianity.

How to tell if something is fluffy: 1. May use little Scripture or none at all.

Takes Scripture out of context or improperly explains the biblical text.
Takes a single verse or short passage and then adds ideas or meaning into the passage that wasn’t originally intended.
Focuses on inspiration and emotionalism over substance: feelings over facts.
Christian word salad – say a lot of Christian”y” sounding things, but you’re not exactly sure what you were supposed to have learned. Sometimes this is called the fallacy of ambiguity, deliberately being vague to avoid being held accountable for faulty doctrine.
There is absolutely nothing in the message that any good, sane, ethical, person would disagree with. If the general message (God/Jesus language aside) could equally be affirmed by secular humanists, you probably have a fluffy talk on your hands. Gentleness and respect are important (see 1 Peter 3:15), but we have to speak the truth, too, and sometimes the truth is hard.
Reduced reverence for the Bible or claiming that some Christians “worship the Bible.” Sometimes they will try to separate Jesus and the Gospels from the rest of the New Testament as if the teachings from Paul are secondary to the Gospels. Or there’s a disconnect from the Old Testament. Remember, Jesus affirmed the Old Testament throughout His ministry. And 2 Tim. 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”Now, not every talk that uses little Scripture is wrong. For example, testimonies can be powerful and glorify God without using Scripture. Apologetics presentations sometimes use no Scripture but are very grounded in logic and reason with clarity and purpose. But make sure anyone who is using Scripture is handling it properly with reverence for God’s Word.

If someone uses a single verse and then expands upon it in a way that sounds good to every listener – regardless of the context of the original verse – you might have a fluffy talk on your hands.
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ConclusionMany different ideologies are presented at IF. While speakers do their best to give lectures that are for a general non-denominational audience, sometimes questionable viewpoints find a way into their presentations.

Pay attention to how words are used and meant.
Always read referenced Scripture for yourself in context. Is this passage saying what the speaker suggested it is? Did the speaker add to the passage? (Bring your Bible with you so that you can check it when a speaker refers to it. You should do this at church, too.)
If you hear something unfamiliar or that doesn’t sound biblical, research it for yourself. Open Bible has a neat resource to search verses on various topics, but be sure to read them in context before applying them.

We would never want newer believers to be led astray from sound doctrine because they followed a speaker they believed was sound due to implicit endorsement from being platformed as authoritative.

Remember, before you start following the speakers of IF or any other conference, we recommend researching a few things: Go visit their personal website, blog, podcast, and social media. Look at their personal statements of faith. Consider what churches or pastors are their authority or if they have one. Read their work or listen to lectures at other events and test them against Scripture. Remember all truth is God’s truth. Someone can say something true even if the rest of their theology is not quite right.

Again, we celebrate that some women will encounter God in very real ways at IF, and we don’t want to discount God using this conference for His purposes. And just because something isn’t perfect, doesn’t mean God isn’t there calling His own.

We hope this helps you Mama Bears be discerning whenever faced with messages that usurp or detract from the gospel. The Bible calls us to examine God’s Word for ourselves in Acts 17:11. No one should abdicate that responsibility to any ministry, not even ours.

By Jennifer DeFrates

1 Hillary has written about it this way: “The Straw Man fallacy is a logical error in which someone creates a parody of their opponent’s position, exaggerating it in such a way that no reasonable person could agree with it. This makes it easier to refute.” See Hillary Morgan Ferrer, “The Enemy’s New Playbook: An Attack on Our Kids & Their Identities,” August 4, 2022, https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/blog/the-enemys-new-playbook-an-attack-on-our-kids-their-identities for some examples. 2 For more information on this, see Holly Pivec’s books God’s Super Apostles and Counterfeit Kingdom.The post IF:GATHERING part 2: What to know before you go appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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I had never been to a Christian women’s conference before I attended my first IF: Gathering live stream at my church in 2018, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t familiar with any of the speakers. I took some notes from the videos, and enjoyed the table talk sessions, but left unsure of what the exact takeaway was. Was I missing something? I left being told to “step into my calling,” but I didn’t know what that meant. In fact, I didn’t really know anything about IF at the time; few people did.

The first year the entire conference was shrouded in mystery; you had to hear about it through blogs and social media, and the speaker’s list was kept secret until the event. Apparently, the tickets for the first in-person conference sold out in 42 minutes.1

After talking with our Mama Bear team, I realized none of us really know much about IF, despite this being its tenth year. Their websites are beautiful. Their marketing is captivating. Their messaging is on point, but we want to know what they’re selling. What do they believe? What is the message? Who are the speakers? What is their mission?

If you’re going to follow a movement, you should probably know who you’re following and what you’re being discipled into.

After some background, we can ROAR together through the IF: Gathering so you can know what to expect if you’re considering attending (pun totally intended).

What the Heck is the IF: Gathering?IF: Gathering is an increasingly prominent women’s discipleship ministry founded by Jennie Allen. She is a NY Times Best-Selling author of several Christian books. IF is most well known for their annual Texas weekends loaded with popular speakers and worship leaders.

IF: Gathering also has several different arms of ministry: IF: Local, IF: Equip, IF Table, IF: TV, IF: Lead, and IF: Pray. Each of the IF ministry branches serves a slightly different function, but they are all part of the founder’s mission to make disciples and unleash them into the world.2 According to the website, through these ministries (and technology), IF has reached over 1 million women in 179 countries for Jesus since 2014.

IF: Local’s mission is “Together, we’re reclaiming discipleship as God’s means to change the world.” Local is more focused on gathering women where they already are (in the local church or community groups) and equipping them to have an impact. “We want to give them what they need to come around tables and to eat together, dream together, hope together, and lift up each other’s heads, and remember the story we’re a part of,” says Allen in a promotional video.

IF started when Allen heard a voice from the sky say, “Gather and equip your generation.” a few years before the first conference.

So why is it called IF anyway?The name comes from this idea, “If God is real, then what?”

Allen says, “If God is real, then we want more than anything to live like it. We want to be a part of this epic story, even if it is in the smallest of ways. Every one of our souls aches to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We just have to remember that we already are.”

Allen is also very passionate about the Bible as shown with IF’s partnership with illumiNations “a collective impact alliance of Bible translation partners and resource partners working together to eradicate Bible poverty in this generation.”3

IF also has quite the list of sponsors and speakers each year. Some of the prominent past speakers include Jen Hatmaker,3 Sarah Bessey, Christine Caine, Lauren Chandler, Francis Chan, Latasha Morisson, Lysa TerKeurst, Priscilla Shirer, and even Joni Eareckson Tada. We will talk more about the speakers in the next installment. Not all of these speakers are currently part of IF. These are just some of the most familiar names.

With some basic background on the IF: Gathering, let’s ROAR through what we know together.

R – Recognize the MessageBecause the IF: Gathering is a multi-year event stretching back ten years, they’ve shared a lot of messages, but we’ll just review what’s stressed repeatedly. And we agree with most of them!

If God is real, then our lives should be focused totally on Him, living radically for Him.
We should be in our Bibles daily and deeply.
IF wants to be part of equipping women to live out their purpose, making disciples.
Discipleship is how the world will change.
We can be part of changing the world through good works.

O – Offer discernmentIn true Mama Bear spirit, we encourage you to be discerning whenever you encounter a movement or a message (even ours) that claims to be Christian. Nothing–Christian label or not–is all safe. Just because they mention Jesus or the gospel, we can’t get complacent and check our discernment at the door.

Discernment is like a mental muscle. We need to practice it to stay sharp.

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14 ESV

That is why we wanted to help you chew and spit through the IF: Gathering, holding fast to what is good and discarding what is not.

Truth #1 – God is real, so we should live radically for Him. Agreed!We love that IF is full of women who are passionate about Jesus, God, and discipleship. What better message for us to unite around? And the message is wrapped in the flesh of story. Many shared beautiful testimonies about how Jesus stepped into hearts and lives to radically transform them. I’ll admit, I cried more than once.

Truth #2 Be in your Bible – YES!Reading the Bible daily is one of the most important habits any Christian can cultivate. Learning how to understand it takes time and dedication, but it’s so worth it. We definitely want more people in their Bibles!

This is why IF’s partnership with illumiNations 12 Verse Challenge is so inspiring. The world’s most important Bible translators and publishers have come together to make sure that every person on the planet has access to a copy of the Bible in their own language by 2033. (I had no idea 3700 people groups still do not have access to any Scripture in their language.)

However, we would love to see IF speakers more clearly demonstrate how to correctly interpret and understand the Bible. Verses are sometimes taken out of context or read through a modern lens.

The Bible was written for us, but not to us. Understanding each passage in context both literarily and historically is important. I was sometimes concerned that speakers read too much extra-biblical perspective into the text that was not intended by the author.

Truth #3 – We should be about making disciples and equipping them to follow Christ. Hey, this is one of our primary goals too!Matthew 28:19-20 is known as the Great Commission – that we are to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to follow what Jesus has commanded.

IF does a great job of encouraging every Christian to remember that this world is not ultimately about us. And IF emphasizes how crucial fellowship and discipleship are for uplifting each other to remain faithful in difficult times. Literally, a million women have tuned in to hear about Jesus, to learn how to follow Him, and to live in Titus 2 relationships.

In whatever way that IF: Gathering is truly equipping women to live knowing that God exists, we’re here for it!

Truth #4 – Changing the world is an outcome of being changed, but not the purpose of discipleshipDisciples will live in counter-cultural ways that may change the world as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in our lives. (Hello, William Wilberforce anyone?)

And we’re not sure we disagree with IF here, but we’d love to see more clarity on what Allen means when she says, discipleship is “how Jesus said the world would change.”

Is she referencing a specific Bible passage? What does she mean by changing the world? The passage from Matthew doesn’t seem to speak about changing the world but changing people through discipleship.

One reason this triggers our discernment meters here is out of caution that we are not focused more on this present world than the eternal kingdom of God. Some progressive belief systems believe a just and peaceful human society is the whole message Jesus really came to preach, so we want you to be aware of those kinds of beliefs.

Truth #5 We are to do good works.Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

But we would also like to see clarity on what they mean by good works. I’ve seen self-identified Christians be on both sides of the abortion issue, LGBTQ issues, or political issues, all believing they are doing God’s work.

Attendees should learn the biblical relationship between faith, good works, and discipleship. They need to learn how to understand our purpose as image-bearers of God. If they don’t get solid direction in these areas, they could miss the real gospel altogether.

Because we want to be part of building up ministries, we want to argue for a healthier approach and make some constructive suggestions.

Argue for a healthier approachWhen we argue for a healthier approach, we want to take the good that we’re seeing and make it even better!

Suggestion #1: Dig deeper into the “If God is real” sectionAs apologists, we LOVE the premise “If God is real… then what?” We want more ministries trying to open the minds of people who aren’t sure what they believe! We just wish IF gave them something a little more solid to close on. IF focuses on the “then what” part while not equipping women with answers for the most important part: is God real?

What a missed opportunity! The most important question anyone can ask themselves is, “Does God exist, and if so, which God is the real one?” How truly powerful this conference could be if the women left equipped knowing not only that God does exist, but that we can be reasonably certain that it is the Christian God of the Bible.

We would love to see the women attending equipped with apologetic answers about how we can know God is real, but this question doesn’t seem to get answered. (We know it’s not an apologetics ministry, but as apologists, we see the need every day for women to be equipped in this way. Perhaps the ministry could platform some apologists in future gatherings?)

The “then what” (radically living out our beliefs) would be even more powerful with women who are confident that what they believe is true. That is the kind of belief that the Apostles had, the kind of belief that affects not just this life, but eternity.

Suggestion #2: More Scripture and solid theological instruction.We need more solid Christian teachers, not just motivational speakers. Some of the IF presentations I heard were excellent, peppered with good, down-to-earth, and even some Godly wisdom. For example, one of the talks about nutrition focused on having a solid identity in Christ that fulfills the aching in our souls because our weight or appearance never will. Some of the talks about discipleship had tangible suggestions about how to find a discipleship relationship and what that should look like.

However, many of the IF talks, while inspiring, were too focused on us and emotionalism4 and how to live some grand adventure rather than teaching women how to be more deeply rooted in the Scriptures. We’re all for timely encouragement, but we also need solid theology.

Suggestion #3: Define your terms clearly and oftenDefinitions matter and clarity is kindness. Always assume some people in your audience have never heard any of the words we’ve mentioned above clearly defined. When teaching apologetics, we clearly explain how we define our terms and why we define them that way.

Good teachers do this often with important concepts. And nothing is more important than how we understand God, Jesus, the Gospel, and God’s purpose for our lives. With so many diverse speakers from different denominations and perspectives, clarity on these things is crucial before we can unify around the message.

If an attendee has accurate definitions of Christian tenets already, then great! She may leave the conference being encouraged to preach the true Jesus and share the true gospel. This is why one person could attend and see all sorts of red flags while another person leaves hugely edified.

But what about those who came with questions, doubts, or a background of bad theology? Were they given a solid explanation of the gospel? Did they meet the real Jesus? Do they know what they are supposedly being discipled into?

Allen herself has made some curious statements about Jesus.

On her website, Allen writes,

“Jesus is the friend you have always craved. He is the smile you would be looking for in a room because He isn’t worried about the messes in your life. He is more interested in talking, being, knowing, helping, freeing, serving, empowering, and releasing. That’s who He is, and as you go with Him over time, that relationship will grow.”

While I love how inviting this is, we never want to win people to an unclear version of Jesus because our real Savior is so, so good.

Jesus does desire a close relationship with each of us that satisfies the core longing of our souls, but is He not worried about the messes in our lives? This is a Mama Bear pet peeve; we’re not “messy,” we’re sinful. Our sin doesn’t stop Him from loving us, but He doesn’t leave us in it. It was big enough deal for him to die to save us from it.

And is Jesus more interested in being, empowering, and releasing? Whenever you see statements like this, stop and ask yourself what the speaker means. Being what? Empowering us to do what? Releasing what? Not only are these terms vague, but they are potentially troubling. We will talk more in our next installment about why we need to be wary about vague terminology.

That’s who He is? If I had no idea who Jesus is, this paragraph would leave me more confused than I started.

Now for the stuff that raises a red flag.

Red Flag #1 Many speakers hold concerning views on some crucial doctrines.While IF: Gathering.com uses the Nicene Creed as their primary statement of faith, some of the prominent speakers hold to some biblically unsound beliefs (like Word of Faith or New Apostolic Reformation), so we’re left wondering if they require speakers to hold to the statement of faith.

Also, since most people access the conference through videos or speakers, very few will even encounter the statement of faith, so it’s crucial speakers or conference materials clearly define the core beliefs of historic, biblical Christianity because we can’t unify as believers around unclear definitions of God or Jesus, especially when it comes to how we are called to live in light of the Gospel.

As I’ve attended the virtual conference a few different years, I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable, struggling to put a finger on exactly what is troubling me. But as Natasha Crain and Alisa Childers just discussed in their most recent Unshaken Faith podcast, this is how attendees often feel when a Christian organization shifts focus or slides into progressivism. It’s subtle at first. Did I hear that correctly? They probably didn’t mean it like that. But before you know it, the slide is unmistakable.

But honestly, in between my first time attending and my last, what changed the most was me. I read the Bible multiple times, got involved in apologetics, and become more aware of different ideologies and doctrinal issues. I was able to recognize some troubling phrasing that hinted at speakers’ beliefs outside of their IF presentations.

We don’t want to tear down the work of fellow believers who believe they are doing what God called them to do. But as a ministry that “chews and spits,” we recognize the good but also point out things that may cause misunderstanding or confusion, especially when it has to do with the gospel. While some ministries might make a list of speakers to mark and avoid, we would rather critique arguments than people, so we will address how to discern these beliefs for yourself in the next installment.

R – Reinforce the Message Through Discussion, Discipleship, and Prayer1. When you and your children hear terms like “Jesus” “gospel” “unity” “God” or other biblical terms, ask them to pay attention to whether the speaker defined these terms, or if they have assumed that everyone understands what they mean. Then practice defining them together. Having theologically sound definitions handy in this culture is like having an escape route planned in a fire. Be prepared to take every thought captive 2. When you are with other ladies and hear vague terms or Christian buzzwords coming from the speaker, ask those around you if they know what it means. Can they define it? If your IF: Gathering has table talk, use this as an opportunity to find out what everyone at the table means by gospel, discipleship, or Jesus, etc. 3. Work with your kids and friends, practicing how to read the Bible in context, doing our best to understand each passage fully. Find verses that are regularly taken out of context. Ask your child to tell you what they think the verse means just by itself. Then go back to scripture and read it in context. Did the context change how they had originally interpreted the single verse? How did context change their interpretation? (FYI, Matthew 4:9 or Luke 4: 7i are great ones to start with!)

Nailing down issues with the IF: Gathering was really challenging. With hundreds of their videos on YouTube channel, there was so much to sift through, and I honestly saw a lot worth celebrating. Jennie Allen is a dynamic and passionate speaker. If we were certain we were on the same page about what we believe Jesus has called us to do, we’d be excited to join her.

But as one of my favorite quotes from Charles Spurgeon explains, “Discernment is not the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”

IF: Gathering has a great mission, some impressive goals, and some really charismatic speakers, but we also saw some concerns that make us suggest you have your mind and heart prepped for discernment if you plan to attend.

Hopefully, our ROAR has helped you see how to recognize true messages and when something is almost right.

Please join us for part two of our series What to know before you go – IF: Gathering

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the work that you do among the diverse body of believers. Please grant me wisdom as I seek to grow in my faith and understanding. Help me recognize solid doctrine. May I have your eyes to see and ears to hear so that I may discern what is good and true from what is incorrect or false. Give me a humble and teachable spirit so that I continually grow as a follower of Jesus. Help me know how to make disciples and spread the true Gospel message.

In the name of Jesus, I ask these things,

Amen

By Jennifer DeFrates

1 “‘IF:Gathering’ Of Evangelical Women Focuses On Social Justice In Austin, Texas,” The Huffington Post, February 13, 2014, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/if-gathering-evangelical-women_n_4776930.2 Ifgathering.com/our-vision/3 Although Jen Hatmaker spoke for IF in the past, she no longer does. Jennie Allen wrote about this here: https://churchleaders.com/news/289924-the-founder-of-ifgathering-responds-to-jen-hatmakers-position-on-same-sex-marriage-jennie-allen.html.4 See the Mama Bear Apologetics book chapter 10 on Emotionalism.The post The IF:Gathering: What the heck is it? (Part 1) appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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In this episode, Amy talks with Katy Faust, founder and director of the children’s rights organization, Them Before Us, about how children have a right to both their mother and father, how God’s design for marriage protects children, how divorce impacts children, and how to help kids understand why marriage is important. (Note: If you watch the vlogcast on YouTube, Amy’s video is frozen for a while. It’s a glitch on our end, not yours. :))

Main Points Covered* Them Before Us (TBU) makes a secular case for the rights of children by appealing to God’s Word, which is universal to everyone regardless of whether they are a believer. * TBU seeks to demonstrate that parenting laws cater to the desires of adults rather than the best interests of children. * By middle school, your kids need to know the why behind what we believe, especially regarding marriage. * Seeing, modeling, and teaching the beauty of God’s design is important because you become what you behold. * Children of divorce are more likely not to marry because they’re unsure if marriage can last. * Marriage is more than just a piece of paper. * Children born out of wedlock aren’t doomed, but they will have significant obstacles in their path. + In the Christian worldview, we don’t make kids sacrifice for us [adults]. + How to help your children have a healthy worldview of marriage + Preschool through Elementary: Expose them to as much truth and beauty as possible. - Uphold the complementary differences between mom and dad. - Tell them how you are committed to each other even through hard times. + Middle school - Introduce challenging topics to the kids: sex, marriage, parenting, fathering, etc. without fear. If you aren’t speaking, someone else will. - Explain the biblical versus the secular definition of marriage. * Practical tips for if you have gone through divorce + When possible (and safe) nurture a good relationship with the divorced spouse + Don’t vilify/ bad mouth in front of the child. + Children naturally feel protective of their parents. + Even in cases where one parent is clearly at fault, it’s important to explain the situation carefully so as not to hurt the child in the process. + It’s okay to validate the feelings of loss the child might have.

Mentioned ResourcesThem Before Us

Mama Bear Apologetics (book)

Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality

Quotable Quotes“Being able to appeal to natural law, social sciences, and the testimony of people allows [kids] to stand firm even if they’re standing alone,” Katy Faust

“Understanding the ‘why’ behind what we believe inspires reverence.” Amy Davison

“Praise God for step-parents who step into the place of an absent parent.” Katy Faust

“Keeping kids from being taken captive by the lies of culture doesn’t happen on accident, it happens on purpose.” Katy Faust

“Whenever possible, allow your children to behold the beauty of marriage within your home so that they know what to become in their own marriages” Katy Faust

“You become what you behold…and culture is forcing us to behold all manners of dysfunction.” Katy Faust

“God’s world will always reinforce God’s Word.”

Questions or ideas? Send us an email at askthemamabears@gmail.com.

Donate to the podcast on our website.

adminWe are all in this together, so sometimes our posts are a bit of all of us.

The post 82. The Impact of Marriage and Divorce on Children: A Conversation with Katy Faust appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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(Welcome to Part 3 of our Enneagram series! If you haven’t done so, check out Part 1 where we give a “Crash Course in the Enneagram” and Part 2 where we ask “Is The Enneagram Even Accurate?”)

Let’s face it. Personality tests are fun. Even the cheesy Buzzfeed quizzes that tell you things like “Which fast food restaurant matches your personality?” are amusing. (Mine is KFC.) So it’s not really surprising that the Enneagram has gained so much popularity. It is entertainment mixed with the promise of enlightenment and life change. Even more, it makes thinking (or in some cases obsessing) about the self a virtuous spiritual practice. But since learning about ourselves and why we are the way we are is not in and of itself a bad thing, the messages of the Enneagram can be confusing! As usual, there are truths mixed with lies. So, join me as we ROAR through the Enneagram.

RECOGNIZE The Message – What statements are the authors trying to make?1. Want to know God? Know yourself.The Enneagram is based on the foundational assumption that at the soul level, every human is pure and good. The idea is that by better understanding that pure, untouched part of you, you will be able to see how God sees you. Since God is perfect, you (at your core) are His perfect creation, and when you understand yourself in that way, you will be able to see that perfection in God.

When we discover our true selves, we are told we will have deeper insight into what it means to love others. We will supposedly better understand grace and compassion. Since these things originate with God, we will in turn know God better.

Want to know your “true self?” Identify your “false self.”If the big idea of the Enneagram is that people are inherently good, how does it explain your tendency to struggle with sin? Easy! Your negative personality and character traits are not a part of who you truly are. That is just your “false self” peaking through. (Phew! What a relief!)

This (mythical) “true self” is steadily tainted beginning in childhood as life knocks us around. If you think about it in terms of nature verus nurture, this philosophy assumes our nature is all good and how we were nurtured determines which bad habits and traits we adopt.

A foundational claim of the Enneagram (whether it is being taught by a professed Christian or not) is that every person has ONE main sin/fear/weakness since childhood, and it can be pinpointed by their Enneagram number. The information that number reveals is meant to help you understand how this weakness motivates everything you think and do.

For example, let’s say you get angry and yell at your kids. Your number will supposedly reveal to you why that emotion was triggered. Perhaps you were trying to accomplish something good, but your children kept interrupting you. Maybe you caught them doing something a bit dangerous, and you overreacted in fear. Underneath the negative reaction, you should be able to look past your “false self” and see who you really are, which is the good intention behind the action. The idea is that the “false self” gets triggered by your fear or weakness when trying to protect your “true self’s” good intentions.

When the Enneagram is being couched in Christian language, teachers often relate the discovery of your “false self” to humble yourself before God. They might explain that understanding our own shortcomings increases our appreciation for God’s grace. But beneath these notions is the underlying idea that our sin is not part of who we truly are. (Ahem… Psalm 51:5 “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Just sayin.)

Want to be your best self? Manage your sin.The point of using the Enneagram and identifying your number is so that you can recognize the root of your sin patterns and struggles. Once you understand why you do the things you do, you are supposedly empowered to break free of those cycles. Then you may follow your path to the healthy version of your number by working to develop those healthy traits. According to Ian Morgan Cron and Susanne Stabile, “Learning to manage your deadly sin rather than allowing it to manage you is one of the goals of the Enneagram.”1

OFFER Discernment – What the authors got right… and what lies snuck inAs is true of most of the messages we encounter in this world, these messages contain a mix of truths and lies. Let’s first affirm the truths that are taught in the Enneagram:

Truth #1: Knowing God involves knowing and confessing your sinThe Christian worldview does not holistically affirm the idea that “knowing yourself” is the way to know God. But there is a partial truth there because being able to recognize our personal sinfulness can help us to better understand who God is.

Think about it this way. If the Fall never happened, and humanity was able to live blissfully in the Garden of Eden forever, there is much about God we would never understand. We would never be able to grasp the concept of His grace. We would not have learned of His justice. We would not understand sacrifice or the depth of His love for us by what He would be willing to do in order to redeem us. So, even after the Fall, those who never recognize their sin will likewise never understand those aspects of who God is.

The more we become aware of the darkest parts of our soul, the more appreciation we have for the character and attributes of God.
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When I recognize how far I’ve fallen, I am all the more in awe of God’s grace for me. As I acknowledge my sin before the Lord, I gain an increasingly intimate relationship with Him. In other words, I know Him better. Truth #2: Some sin patterns do originate from childhood experiencesThe enemy preys on the vulnerable and exploits our weaknesses. We do not need to buy into the entire philosophy of the Enneagram to recognize that sometimes our sin is a response to being sinned against. Even personality traits may be developed as a result of experiences earlier in life. For example, when I was a child, I was extremely gullible. I had a huge imagination so when someone tried to trick me, I often fell for it. I also became embarrassed REALLY easily. At some point, I had enough of being embarrassed and I decided never to fall for someone’s tricks again!! I allowed myself to become suspicious of others, always assuming that someone was trying to pull one over on me. In some ways that “suspicious” attitude carried over into adulthood. The point is, part of what makes us who we are today is definitely developed through life’s circumstances. Being able to acknowledge those experiences that influenced certain character traits or sin patterns in our life can help us break free of them.

Some Christian proponents of the Enneagram justify its use because they believe a Christian uses the Enneagram differently than, say, a New-ager. They believe that if you are purposely using it to seek Christ, then it is safe to use. The problem is that any use of the Enneagram promotes false ideas. These lies are inherent in the “tool” itself.

Lie #1: You have a “false self”Remember at the end of Moana when (spoiler alert) the monster version of Te Fiti is about to attack Moana until she sings “This is not who you are”? The idea was that Te Fiti wasn’t really a monster. She was just acting like one! She was living in her “false self.”

But do we have a false self? As believers, we know that our identity is found in Christ. We gain an entire spiritual family. We are called to love our spiritual brothers and sisters, and to live in unity with them. We are to live a lifestyle of obedience to God. It’s not just a hat you wear, like “mom” or “wife” or “insert job title.” It is a WHOLE thing. But we also know that we go through moments and seasons of life when we do not act like our identity is in the Lord. We still sin and often need a reminder of who we are. Christians using the Enneagram are told that sinning is what it means to live in your “false self.” But the “true/false self” dichotomy poses some problems with a Biblical worldview:

Problem 1: The Enneagram does not distinguish between believers and non-believers. It assumes that everyone has a “true self” that is inherently good, whether or not they love the Lord. But why would God have any wrath or punishment at all for humans if at our core we were good? We were all made in His image with the capacity to love and do good works, but our sinful nature is just as much our “true self” as any good character traits we exhibit! Let’s look at what Scripture says:

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
“Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (Yikes!)

Our sinful nature is a part of us, for better or worse, until those of us who put our trust in the Lord receive our redeemed bodies (1 John 3:2).
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No, we are not inherently pure and perfectly good. Thankfully, though, Christ offers to cover us in His own righteousness. Problem 2: The Enneagram uses “true/false self” language, but the Bible uses “old/new self” language. Rather than passively discovering the “good” within us, we are told to “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:24). It is a daily and active pursuit of rejecting our old ways of sin and walking in our identity as saints.

Problem 3: The Bible reveals that sin comes from a hardened heart (Ephesians 4:18), not a false identity. If the root of our sin is misdiagnosed, we will not receive the correct solution.

Lie #2: “Managing your sin” is the same thing as ridding yourself of sinThe Enneagram is said to be a “map” that guides you into awareness of when you are operating in your “false” versus your “true” self. You are always somewhere on the map, and you are never free of your “false self.” Rather, you need to keep it in check, or “manage” it. While the quote from The Road Back To You unapologetically uses the phrase “managing your sin,” other “Christian” Enneagram influencers sometimes use language that is biblical-sounding but they mean the same thing. So imagine Jesus healing the man by the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) and then saying, “See you are well again. Go and manage your sin better!” No! He told the man to “sin no more” (v. 14).

In a biblical worldview, sin is humanity’s problem. So it is more than slightly important how believers view the definition of sin. (It’s like… really important actually). In The Road Back To You, we get to witness the blatant “linguistic theft” of the word sin. Cron and Stabile quote Richard Rohr’s new definition of sin as, “…fixations that prevent the energy of life, God’s love, from flowing freely. [They are] self-erected blockades that cut us off from God and hence from our own authentic potential.”2

Ummmm… no.

Underneath this new definition is the assumption that sin doesn’t really have anything to do with God other than blocking his love energy from getting to us. And the result is that we fail to meet our potential. It’s all about “me.” This doesn’t sound like New Age self-help talk at all…

The Bible, on the other hand, defines sin as “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). It is breaking God’s Law and rebelling against Him, bringing forth death (Romans 6:23). We are told to leave our life of sin, to put off the old self and put on the new self. Jesus gave us this graphic illustration in Matthew, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29). When you manage something, you are attempting to keep it under your control. It’s kind of like if you decided not to have sex until marriage but you’re okay with fooling around because it’s not as bad. But that’s not how it works. Jesus calls us to do whatever it takes to rid ourselves of sin, not to merely manage it.

Finally, notice that with the Rohrster’s definition of sin, there is no need for a Savior to atone for our sins. There’s nothing about Rohr’s view to account for God’s justice and our standing before God. Without a proper understanding of what sin is, you actually lose the Gospel.

Lie #3: If you find it helpful, then it’s usefulThis lie doesn’t necessarily come from the Enneagram itself, but it is an assumption made by those who teach it. This particularly comes from professed Christians who try to justify the use of the Enneagram. Many people seem to not care where the Enneagram came from. Nor do they care whether it is accurate or Biblical as long as they feel that they benefit from using it.

Relevant Magazine (a Christian magazine) has published several pro-Enneagram articles on its website. One article reads, “The question is not where did it come from, but to what end is it put? Is this wisdom in the service of Christ or not? Is this insight helping you love God and your neighbor more or not? For the Christian, this is the decisive question.”3 In other words, you must try it first, and if it helps you love God and your neighbor better, then keep using it!

People don’t normally go straight from church to seances. #enneagram #church
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Typically, a person will begin with mere curiosity but become hooked when their experience seems to affirm the “truth” of whatever it is that they are dabbling in. Someone might visit a psychic just for fun, but they might find the “insight” they received to be surprisingly helpful. It just takes one good experience for the enemy to get a foothold and without realizing it you can begin walking on a path deeper into the occult. Likewise, for many people, the Enneagram starts out as a fun personality test. But from curiosity to fascination, in consuming books, podcasts, and sermons centered on it, the Enneagram can take the form of an entire worldview. A worldview that is not shaped by the truth of God’s Word and contradicts it (as we have demonstrated in lies 1 and 2) is not useful for the Christian.

But what is the risk, in practical terms? Professed-Christian Enneagram authors and coaches use your supposed number to explain to you why you struggle with sin, and how to stop. Some of them, like Beth McCord, will use the Christian language of putting that sin to death and allowing Christ to bring you to life. It comes across as theologically sound! But these “coaches” are using a tool to diagnose sin that is not at all based on truth. (See “Is the Enneagram Even Accurate?”) So even if you feel that your “coach” (or author or podcast host) is hitting the nail on the head, you risk forming a false perception of yourself and your sin. The enemy would love for us, for example, to identify as an Enneagram 6 whose core “sin” is fear and completely ignore our actual sin of gluttony.

ARGUE for a Healthier Approach – What does God’s Word say about the truths we identified?For the mama bears who have young kids, you might not worry about them trying to use the Enneagram anytime soon. In fact, by the time they grow up, the Enneagram might be totally uncool and outdated. Be assured, though, something else will come along to distract Christians by then! There is nothing new under the sun. The point is, we need to prepare ourselves and our kiddos to think critically about whatever we are allowing to take space in our minds. We are not magically protected from being deceived just because we are Christians. There are plenty of warnings in the Bible for us to be discerning and to test everything against Scripture.

That being said, God gave us a sense of self, so it is natural to be curious about ourselves! Seeking to recognize how He wired us with different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses is a worthy goal. Being able to self-assess and acknowledge patterns of sin in our lives is necessary for growth. And it is not inherently wrong to use tools to assist us in these efforts. The Strengthfinders assessment is a wonderful (paid) option. It can help you identify both your strengths and the potential pitfalls of those strengths. Each strength exists on a spectrum, so you are not boxed into a particular “personality type.” Bonus point for Strengthfinders: It is NOT in fact a product of automatic writing. We also recommend the Spiritual Gifts test, which is free. (Yay!) This test will help you identify which areas the Lord may have naturally gifted you for joyfully serving in the body of Christ.

Let us not, however, forget the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. At times, the Spirit will gift us with the ability to complete a specific task or project that we are not naturally suited for. And as far as dealing with our sin, He offers us something so much better than the Enneagram. Since the Enneagram claims you are “one number” for your entire life, it is actually claiming you will have to deal with your particular “sin” forever.

But ask yourself, where is the work of the Holy Spirit in this belief system? Where is freedom from our sin? Believers, we have a Helper! #enneagram
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An Advocate who works in us to renew our hearts and our minds and transforms us from the inside out! The Enneagram fails to account for the Holy Spirit, and I would argue it seeks to replace Him. How? Users claim that the Enneagram can convict you, guide you, increase your knowledge of God, and grow your compassion for others. Remind you of someone you know? It should. All of those things are roles for the Holy Spirit. Can the Holy Spirit use things like personality tests? Sure He can. But let’s get real: He’s probably not going to use one that has occult ties and came to someone by automatic writing while they were in a trance. That’s just straight-up demonic.

So let’s remember that we are not on our own here. We are not left to follow some arbitrary number chart to work ourselves into becoming better people. We have God Himself working in our hearts and guiding us. That is awesome!!

REINFORCE through discussion, discipleship, and prayer– Make it stick, yo!1. Some people engage in practices that feel helpful but ultimately cause harm. Ask your kids how many examples they can come up with. (Emotional binge-eating, drugs, alcohol, hiding a lie, joining a cult!!)

Talk with your kids about similarities between yours and their personalities. Discuss ways that their differences have been a blessing to your family.
As humans, we are made in the image of God but we don’t always reflect that image perfectly. Ask your kiddos, does a toddler need to be taught how to throw a fit? (No!) What are things we do sometimes that don’t reflect God’s image but that come naturally to us? (Lie? Hit our sibling? Steal a cookie?) Is it easier to do that or to do the right thing? Recognize that in our fallen self, we will always have to deal with that nature, but the Holy Spirit helps us. (Quick note: Always having to deal with our “sin nature” is not the same thing as being told you will always have to deal with a particular sin or struggle.)
Do a fun scavenger hunt in the Bible searching for mentions of the Holy Spirit, and make a list of the different roles He plays in our lives. Here are some verses to get you started: John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Romans 15:13, Ephesians 1:17-20, and John 16:7. (P.S. There are a LOT more!)

By Alexa Cramer

1 Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2016), 31.2 Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2016), 30.3 See Todd Wilson, “When the Enneagram Goes to Church,” Relevant Magazine, March 18, 2021, https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/christianity-and-the-enneagram/.The post The Enneagram Part 3: Let’s ROAR, Mama Bears! appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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In the first part of this series, we looked at the history of the Enneagram. Many people are unaware of how the Enneagram was developed and how it made its way into Christian circles. We encourage you to check out “A Crash Course in the Enneagram” if you haven’t already. In it, we showed you that the Enneagram was not in any way designed by means of science or psychology. It was created through mysticism and divination. Regardless of its origins, however, many Christians claim that the Enneagram has greatly helped them because it seemed accurate. But does it really work? Is there any objective reason to believe the Enneagram is accurate? Before we dive into scientific studies, let’s first consider whether that answer even matters.

Does it matter if the Enneagram is valid?When asking if it works, we need to define what we mean by that. Clearly, the writers of The Road Back To You believe the Enneagram works if they decided to write entire books dedicated to how it works and how it will benefit the reader. Yet, take a look at these quotes from their first book:

“If its sketchy origins weren’t enough to spook the mules, there is no scientific evidence that proves the Enneagram is a reliable measurement of personality. Who cares that millions of people claim it’s accurate? Grizzly Man thought he could make friends with bears, and we know how that turned out.”1

“At best, it is an imprecise model of personality… but it’s very useful.”2

Evidently to Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, it is unimportant whether the Enneagram is an accurate assessment of someone. They believe it is still worth using. The question is why. The book operates on the assumption that the Enneagram is useful. I am finding the same thing from other Christians who promote the Enneagram. No one seems to have an answer for why they trust it.

In fact, Richard Rohr (read more about him in the first part of this series) says, “I know some of you won’t like the determinism of this but – and I don’t know why it’s true but – you’re one number and you’re gonna be that till the day you die. I don’t know why.”3

But if a tool is to be accurate, it must be based on truth. #enneagram #science
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But if a tool is to be accurate, it must be based on truth. If it is not based on truth, how can it guide the user in any meaningful way? Further, it is one thing to admit that this “tool” is not scientifically supported; it is another thing to learn whether the science debunks it entirely. If it can be proven that the Enneagram does not accurately assess a person’s traits, then it cannot be any more helpful than vague horoscopes which sound close enough for the person to read into the situation and “be helped” by them. The Enneagram Institute contends, “…if people misidentify themselves, the Enneagram will do them little good. It will be no more than a fascinating curiosity — or, worse, a way of obtaining insight into others while avoiding insight into themselves.”4 In other words, a person must properly identify with a number in order to make use of the Enneagram. Therefore, whether the Enneagram is accurate should absolutely matter, because if it’s not, the numbers would have no significant meaning for anyone.

Let’s take a look at what we can learn from actual scientific studies that have been done on the Enneagram.

Is the Enneagram accurate?The Enneagram makes many claims that can be scientifically tested. With this information, we can determine whether it actually works. The few scales that have been developed to evaluate the reliability of the Enneagram types have yielded poor results, except supposedly for one. According to The Enneagram Institute, they have had the Enneagram “independently scientifically verified.”5 In the process of this “verification,” however, scientist Jay Medenwaldt notes: “Not only did several questions fail to group with other questions for that type, some grouped with the wrong type. Rather than stating that The Enneagram Institute incorrectly predicted personality for those types, [Sara Ann Scott] simply used these questions as items for the other type and The Enneagram Institute did not change any of their claims.”6

In short, the 9 Types are not an accurate way to categorize people for one very important reason: the traits within the types overlap, showing that the 9 Types are not distinct from each other like they are presented. That in itself debunks the entire claim of its usefulness.

Claiming that a person is one number and not another is the foundational claim of the Enneagram.
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Further, any attempt to demonstrate the consistency of test results (whether people get typed as the same number consistently) has failed. (Our very own Mama Bear-in-Chief, Hillary Ferrer, can attest to this. She’s taken the Enneagram three times and has been typed as a different number each time.) People receiving different results is no surprise because, as stated above, the types are not actually distinct categories that people typically fit into – which again, is the main claim upon which the “usefulness” of the Enneagram is based.

According to Medenwaldt, who is working on his Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Baylor and writing a book on the topic that will be published by Lexham Press next year,

“The Enneagram system, the experts who profit from it, and the scales used to type people have been tested in several ways and every single test contradicts the grand claims of the Enneagram. The types seem to correctly identify how some people are, but in general, they are inaccurate and overly simplified descriptions of people. The secondary aspects of the system, including the directions of growth, which is the alleged mechanism for spiritual growth, seem to be no more accurate than random chance.”7

What if my experience contradicts the science?For people who have used the Enneagram and found it to be insightful, the scientific results mentioned above may not be incredibly convincing. It can be difficult to override personal experience with data. Some people may genuinely be able to say that certain aspects of their life have improved since beginning to use the Enneagram. That being said, consider whether a good experience necessarily means that God has given you permission to continue. As Hillary Ferrer writes in Enneagram Shaming is Not the Way Forward, “There are almost always short-term ‘benefits’ to dabbling in the occult. It wouldn’t entice anyone otherwise.” The enemy is not opposed to hooking us in with something genuinely good if it means he can entice us onto a destructive path. This is why as Christians, we are called to submit to Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). But since the word “truth” is too often a victim of “linguistic theft” in our culture, let’s take a quick look at what the Bible means by “truth”:

The New Testament word aletheia (or truth) and its derivations retain the Hebrew idea of “conformity to fact” expressed in ‘emet (or truth). According to New Testament scholar Roger Nicole, “The primary New Testament emphasis is clearly on truth as conformity to reality and opposition to lies and errors.”8

In a word search through the Lexham English Bible, we find the word “truth” translated from aletheia 153 times in the New Testament alone. Suffice it to say, truth should be an important part of being a disciple of Christ. Why does God’s word put such a strong emphasis on truth? I believe it is because the truth is freeing (John 8:31-36), and also because it protects us from manipulation. When we are rooted in objective truth, it is much more difficult to draw our minds toward “hollow and deceptive philosophy” (Colossians 2:8).

When we don’t take the time to slow down and ask critical questions, we might miss our own biases. #enneagram
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We live in a chaotic culture where we are constantly having to process new information and make quick decisions. Sometimes our brains like to take shortcuts to help us out. When we don’t take the time to slow down and ask critical questions, we might miss our own biases. Many psychological phenomena are happening that work together to give some people a strong sense that the Enneagram works. In his article, “The Enneagram, Science, and Christianity – Part 2,” Medenwaldt lists several types of biases that may contribute, including coincidence, confirmation bias, and poor self-evaluation.

But it’s not just our own biases that we have to battle. We must also be watchful for manipulative tactics that some teachers of the Enneagram might be using. (In fact, we should be watchful for manipulative tactics that any teacher might use about anything!) In the “Crash Course in the Enneagram,” we uncovered the true recent history of the Enneagram despite several teachers claiming it has ancient roots. Claiming something has ancient roots is actually known to be a tactic used by so-called “psychics” because it “steer[s] the client to view the reading as a psychic experience, involving some precious source of wisdom.”9

Another strategy that “psychics” use during cold readings that the Enneagram also seems to use is something called “The Rainbow Ruse.”

“The Rainbow Ruse is a statement which credits the client with both a personality trait and its opposite…Rainbow Ruse statements are wonderfully safe, since the majority of personality traits are neither static nor quantifiable. Very few people are outgoing all the time, or introverted all the time. Most of us manifest both tendencies from time to time according to circumstances.”10

Here is an example of how “The Rainbow Ruse” is applied using the Enneagram in The Road Back to You:

“Remember that Eights are imposing, commanding personalities who need to be ‘the boss’” (53).

And on the next page…

“Eights have a tender side. If you’re fortunate enough to have an Eight in your life, you know that beneath all that intensity and anger energy there is a heart brimming with tenderness and love” (54).

Part of the appeal of the Enneagram is that it supposedly accounts for our fluid personalities. This makes it very relatable! I wonder if any mamas can relate to this: Before I was a mom, I was quite extroverted. Now that I am almost always surrounded by littles, I’ve become more introverted. Anyone else? Different seasons of life or even just different circumstances can bring out opposing personality traits. This is a principle that is generally true. But if you’re not thinking about that general principle, these statements can feel like they are specifically describing you or someone you know. It then becomes much easier to buy into the Enneagram’s explanations for why someone acts the way they do.

ConclusionIn the first installment of this series, we looked at the New Age origins of the Enneagram and its sketchy development. In this second post, we confirmed that there is no objective reason to trust it. Stay tuned for a third post where we will ROAR through the worldview behind the Enneagram. We will evaluate the messages and discern the truths we can affirm from the lies hidden (or not-so-hidden) within.

Mama, in this world we are constantly being tempted to become distracted from truth and from the Lord. We are sheep that tend to stray! We cannot become complacent and be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14) We need to consistently practice tuning up our critical thinking so that we can model that for our kids. Yes, it can be mentally tiring. We are bombarded by messages left and right almost every minute of our day. And it gets worse over time as tech companies figure out how to get more media in our faces (and in our kiddos’ faces). It is critical for our kids to be in the habit of evaluating the messages they hear, and “monkey see, monkey do!”

Objective truth protects us from being manipulated. It is a gift of common grace that the Lord provides for us all.
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We have the ability to evaluate the truth as revealed in both nature and in His Word. Praise God for that! Let us be people that care about what is true.

Stay tuned next week for our final installment in this series! We’ll be ROARing through the Enneagram!

By Alexa Cramer

1 Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2016), 11.2 Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2016), 20.3 Richard Rohr, “The Enneagram: The Discernment of the Spirits (Introduction),” beginning at 20:00, YouTube, December 18, 2018, https://youtu.be/AmZnedWQGM0?t=1199. 4 The Enneagram Institute, “Misidentifications of the Enneagram,” https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/misidentifications-of-enneagram-personality-types.5 The Enneagram Institute, “The Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator,” https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/rheti.6 Jay Medenwaldt, “Is the Enneagram Legitimate for Spiritual Growth?,” November 16, 2021, http://www.jaymedenwaldt.com/2021/11/enneagram-spiritual-growth.html. Jay spoke on this topic at the 2021 Evangelical Theological Society meeting.7 Jay Medenwaldt, “Is the Enneagram Legitimate for Spiritual Growth?,” November 16, 2021, http://www.jaymedenwaldt.com/2021/11/enneagram-spiritual-growth.html.8 See Douglas Groothuis, “The Incompatibility of Standpoint Epistemology with the Christian Worldview,” The Center for Biblical Unity, https://www.centerforbiblicalunity.com/standpointepistemology?fbclid=IwAR2gBQXS4ZRJk1cDRQL7a7vrUIdl6nGsuDZe0rJuo1EZjX0WpjQeOoxnlLA.9 Ian Rowland, The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading (London: Rowland Limited, 2005), 27.10 Ian Rowland, The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading (London: Rowland Limited, 2005), 32.The post The Enneagram Part 2: Is It Even Accurate? appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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We interrupt our regularly scheduled 3-part series on the Enneagram to address some hurts that may be caused by the timing of this series. We had no idea it would turn into such a cultural moment — thanks in no small part to Jackie Hill Perry publicly announcement about the Enneagram days before we released the first blog. We are still going to talk about the scientific validity of the Enneagram (part 2), and we are still going to do a final ROAR through the Enneagram (part 3). But before we do, I feel a burden to speak to our mama bears who are feeling hurt, ashamed, angry, or even stupid at the sudden outcry against the Enneagram. To you, I want to say: “There is therefore now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Repeat it until you believe it.

Make no mistake, I do think the Lord is breaking a stronghold within the church that has been there for far too long. But in the midst of this, we need to address the Christian who asks, “What do I do if I feel like I was really helped by the Enneagram?” The enemy loves to jump in on what God is doing and surround it with a cloud of confusion and shame. If you, or someone you love has been a champion of the Enneagram and feels like someone just released a tsunami of condemnation on your head, here are some thoughts for you.

I do think the Lord is breaking a stronghold within the church. But in the midst of this, we need to address the Christian who asks “What do I do if I feel like I was really helped by the #Enneagram?”
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1. Occult temptations always start by “working”There have been a few times in my life when I dabbled in things that I later concluded to be occult. Each time, I forged ahead because there was just enough science (or theoretical science) for me to justify my interest. Each time, in His own way, the Lord made sure that I was no longer able to justify my study. I remember when it finally occurred to me that “occult” doesn’t mean “not true.” It’s not synonymous with “doesn’t work.” Occult means secret or hidden. There are almost always short-term “benefits” to dabbling in the occult. It wouldn’t entice anyone otherwise. Don’t feel ashamed because you were enticed by something that seemed good and true. Know that…

Remember: #occult doesn't mean 'not true' or 'doesn't work.' It means hidden (or even forbidden).
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2. God can reap where He doesn’t sowI have heard from a few friends saying that they felt like the Enneagram saved their marriage. They had gone to church classes and counselors and conferences trying to better understand themselves and their spouses. The Enneagram was like this “aha” moment where they could finally connect. To this, I want to say “Praise God that He reaps where He does not sow!” When a marriage is saved or a relationship is improved, all glory goes to God. God can use all things. However, we need to be aware that this is a grace that was extended to us because we serve a good God, not because God is giving us permission to follow something that is not from Him. And as we saw in part 1, the origins of the Enneagram have all the earmarks of occult activity through trance and automatic writing.

3. It’s not what you did, it’s what you do nowIf you have felt helped by the Enneagram, be grateful to God… and move on. As I said in point #1, occult fascination always begins by hooking us in with things that feel true, good, beautiful, or that “work.” Pay attention now to how difficult it is to take the information that God revealed to you about yourself, and disconnect it from the Enneagram. Yes, it may have been during your time studying the Enneagram that you had aha moments. The question is, do you believe that it was the Lord who revealed those things to you or the Enneagram? If you are trusting God, you can trust that He will continue to refine you without any more help from the Enneagram. If you keep feeling pulled back to the Enneagram, ask yourself why? What are you trusting in? Pay attention to how often you still want to assign people a number or how often you excuse something because of your number. This isn’t to shame you. It is to help you realize that there may have been a bigger spiritual stronghold than you realized. Any tool that is truly of God will push us back to Him and His Word, not back to the tool.

How do you help people in your life who are feeling shamed for studying the Enneagram?I know it can be tempting – especially for those who were uneasy from the start – to yell “HA! I KNEW IT! Told you so!!!” to someone whom they’d previously debated on the topic. But that is not how we as Christians should engage with those who are just escaping deception. Be honest: did you stay away from the Enneagram because you were sooooo much more spiritual or because it didn’t work for you to begin with? We’ve all been deceived at some moment or another. Be kind to others, for you have no clue how long it will be until you will look the fool. Treat them the way you will want to be treated when you are blinded by something that you thought was good. Do not rub each other’s faces in folly. We all need God’s kindness which leads to repentance. Whatever you do, do not make repenting more difficult for someone. Trust me, you don’t want to tempt God to unsaddle you from that moral high horse you’re on.

Instead remember, mama bears, “Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). For it is love which binds us all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:15).

We have all been #deceived at one time or another. Don't rub each other's faces in it. Rather put on love, which binds us all together in perfect #unity. (Colossians 3:15)
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Hillary Morgan FerrerHillary Morgan Ferrer is the founder of Mama Bear Apologetics. She is the chief author and editor of Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies and Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: Empowering Your Kids to Understand and Live Out God’s Design. Hillary has her masters in Biology and has been married to her husband, Dr. John D. Ferrer, for 15 years. Don’t let her cook for you. She’ll burn your house straight to the ground.

www.mamabearapologetics.comThe post Enneagram Shaming is Not the Way Forward appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Personality assessments are often used for career advice, relationship advice, to help work environments, and for self-improvement. In recent years, the Enneagram has sky-rocketed in popularity, especially, it seems, in the evangelical church. Even prominent Christian influencers like Beth Moore1 and Andy Stanley2 have shown their support for it. The reason? The Enneagram aims to fulfill not only the typical uses for personality assessments but also to serve as a guide in spiritual development. It has been embraced by many Christian individuals and even entire churches. We’ve seen a boom of Christian-labeled Enneagram books, including Bible devotionals based on it.3 We also see a growing number of podcasts devoted to the Enneagram.4 And to top it all off, those seeking a career in it can now become certified Christian Enneagram coaches.

Christians run the gamut when it comes to their opinions on the Enneagram. Some passionately use it, study it, and preach it like it’s Scripture. Others believe it is straight-up demonic. And a whole lotta people are somewhere in between who don’t know about it or just don’t care one way or the other. Unfortunately, misinformation about the Enneagram abounds. More importantly, this entire Enneagram movement is revealing some underlying ideas that many Christians seem to have adopted uncritically. In this culture of information overload, it’s very easy to buy into false ideas without realizing it. So, while we’re talking through the Enneagram, this series is really about worldview training.

We’ll start out with this crash course so you know what the Enneagram is and where it came from. Then, stay tuned for a post on whether the Enneagram is scientifically accurate, and a final post where we will ROAR through its messages.

Christians run the gamut when it comes to their opinions on the #Enneagram. Some preach it like it’s Scripture. Others believe it is straight-up demonic. Unfortunately, misinformation about the Enneagram abounds.
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What is the Enneagram?Today the Enneagram is typically viewed as a personality typing system like the popular Myers-Briggs or Big 5. According to Enneagram proponents Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, “The point of it is self-understanding and growing beyond the self-defeating dimensions of our personality, as well as improving relationships and growing in compassion for others.”5 What makes it unique, supporters say, is that it does not focus merely on personality traits. Rather, the goal of the Enneagram is to help you discover your main motivation – the part of you that drives your traits and your decisions. This part of you is said to be false. You need to learn to see your true self so that you can better connect with God.

How does the Enneagram Work?The Enneagram is a diagram composed of nine points that look sort of like a star. Each point is assigned a number one through nine. Each number represents a “type,” which is associated with a supposed “sin” that is said to be the main driver of our personality. (Some Enneagram teachers prefer to use the words “vice,” “passion,” or “weakness” instead of sin.) Each person has one main “sin” that drives all of their personality and behavior for life – apparently regardless of sanctification.

Along with that “sin” comes a list of typical personality traits. So, every human can supposedly identify with one main number. Each number, however, has “wings.” You may only have one wing that accompanies your main number, and that just means you might share some of that number’s characteristics. Your wing will be either the number before or after your main number. For example, if you are a “7,” then you could either be a “6 wing” or an “8 wing.” A 7 cannot be a “9 wing.”

Further, depending on whether you are “under stress” or feeling “secure,” you may exhibit traits from other numbers as indicated by the arrows. The arrows are meant to guide you to become the healthy version of your number by showing your Direction of Integration and your “Direction of Disintegration.”

So, how does this practically play out? Once you know your number, if you are exhibiting the negative characteristics that are typically associated with the number as indicated by your Direction of Disintegration, you know you are in trouble! You can follow your Direction of Integration arrow to see the traits you are supposed to develop.

According to the Enneagram Institute: “Ultimately, the goal is for each of us to “move around” the Enneagram, integrating what each type symbolizes and acquiring the healthy potentials of all the types. The idea is to become a balanced, fully functioning person who can draw on the power (or from the Latin, “virtue”) of each as needed.”6

Where did the Enneagram come from?Hell.

Just kidding. But I’ll be honest with you, the origin of the Enneagram is quite – uuh – sketchy! Contrary to popular belief that the Enneagram is ancient, the furthest back we can trace it is to George Gurdjieff, an Armenian mystic who died in 1949. (The exact year of his birth is unknown but it is was probably the 1860s or 70s.) Gurdjieff believed that one must experience an “awakening” in order to behold true reality. (That doesn’t sound like literally every New Age teaching ever, does it?) While he never actually wrote specifically about the Enneagram, his mentee P. D. Ouspensky took Gurdjieff’s ideas about the Enneagram and expounded upon them in two of his books.7

So, what the heck was the Enneagram at its inception? Gurdjieff saw the Enneagram as a super-duper mystical tool for understanding all of reality. He believed all the laws of the universe are contained in this diagram. Gurdjieff used the diagram to create mathematical formulas, a musical scale, and even a series of dances.8 At its origin, The Enneagram had nothing to do with personality types. I know, I just blew your mind.

Enter Oscar Ichazo (1931-2020). Oscar Ichazo was a “philosopher” who employed the use of psychedelic drugs in order to have spiritual trips. He spoke of receiving instructions from an entity named “Metatron.”9 Alarm bells should be ringing, mama bears! It is unclear exactly how Ichazo encountered the Enneagram, but he had a profound influence in how it is used today. Ichazo believed that each of us has a divine essence, our true self. He believed that from childhood as we experience life, we develop aspects of our personality, or “ego fixations” as Ichazo named them, in order to protect our true essence. These “ego fixations” give us a false sense of self, and our goal should be to find the path back to our true self, which is pure and good. Ichazo assigned an “ego fixation” to each point on the Enneagram.

Now here’s where the gossip gets juicy. Claudio Naranjo (1932-2019), Oscar Ichazo’s student, took the Enneagram and added personality types to the nine “ego fixations” on the Enneagram. So, just to be ultra clear: the personality typing system of the Enneagram was not added until the 1960s. What’s more shocking is the method Naranjo claimed to come up with the types. Brace yourself! In a video interview, Naranjo says he used automatic writing, a self-induced trance for the purpose of spirit contact. This is where he claims most of the typing information came from and, of course, he used observation to confirm it. Sounds legit, right? Yeah. I don’t think so, either.10

How did the Enneagram turn into a “Christian” thing?Two words: The Rohrster.

“The Rohrster,” as I like to call him, refers to Franciscan Friar Richard Rohr. But let me back up a minute first. For many years, the Enneagram had gained popularity in the New Age Movement.11 Books had been written about it, but mostly by New Age authors. It wasn’t until 2016 that Christian publisher InterVarsity Press released Cron and Stabile’s book, The Road Back to You, which introduced the Enneagram to the broader evangelical church. The real explosion in popularity happened the next year when a second Christian publisher (Zondervan), put out The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth by Christopher L. Heuertz. Fun fact: all three authors of the first two Christian-labeled Enneagram books are disciples of Richard Rohr.

Richard Rohr learned about the Enneagram from Bob Ochs, a Jesuit priest who was a student of Naranjo. Rohr is Roman Catholic, but his teachings are problematic – and that’s putting it lightly. Here are just a few examples:

He is a perennialist: He believes all religions lead to God.12
He is a universalist: He denies the need for salvation, insisting all are already saved.13
He is a panentheist: He believes God both transcends creation and is also in creation itself. Essentially, everything in nature is god.
Finally, related to his panentheism, he sees “the Christ” as something separate from Jesus. He writes: “Christ has existed ‘from the beginning,’ so the Christ cannot be the same as Jesus.”14

These are foundationally unChristian beliefs. They actually fall right into the New Age Movement, which Mama Bear Lindsey Medenwaldt wrote about on our blog. These beliefs are contradictory to what the Bible teaches about God, His nature, and our need for salvation. Many people are understandably unaware of Rohr’s heretical beliefs. Rohr comes across as gentle, kind, and positive (and we should all be like that, see 1 Peter 3:15). He seems open-minded and radically inclusive. Unfortunately, Rohr and his mentees are experts at using Christian words but with their own redefined meanings. This is what we at Mama Bear like to call “linguistic theft.” (We’ll break down an example in a future post). But the point here is that The Rohrster’s teachings are not leading people to the God of the Bible.

Further, Rohr doesn’t seem to care about objective, verifiable truth. He and other Enneagram proponents continue to claim that the Enneagram has ancient roots in Christianity and other “traditions,” a word Rohr prefers over “religions.” They claim this even though there is no evidence to back it up. What’s worse, Naranjo admitted in a video from 2010 that he and Ichazo purposely misled their followers (to put it nicely) about the Enneagram’s ancient origins because their followers would “trust it more.” Facepalm.

All that being said, Rohr is at the root of the Enneagram being “Christianized.” That in and of itself is a problem. And to exacerbate the issue, many Christians are not aware of the need for discernment when it comes to books labeled “Christian.” But just because a publisher says something is Christian doesn’t mean it is.

Caution about taking personality assessments too farSome people might check out the Enneagram, get assigned a number, and then never think about it again! But there is a growing number of people who use the Enneagram as a tool for spiritual formation. Some read books, listen to podcasts, and even use Bible devotionals devoted to the Enneagram (as if the Bible reads “differently” for a 1 than a 6 or something…?).

It can be helpful to have ways to describe ourselves to others so that we can promote empathy and understanding when another person is wired differently than us. But we need to always first be calibrated to God’s truth. Our identity is first and foremost not in any of our personality features but in Christ.

And, of course, the next question we should be asking is, “Is the Enneagram accurate?” If it’s not even accurate, then why engage with it in the first place? We’ll be answering that, along with other questions in our next blog, so stay tuned!

By Alexa Cramer

1 E.g., @BethMooreLPM, Twitter, Nov. 23, 2022, https://twitter.com/BethMooreLPM/status/1595516482955497474.2 “June 2019: Enneagram for Leaders, Part 1,” Andy Stanley, June 7, 2019, https://andystanley.com/podcast/enneagram-for-leaders-part-1/.3 See Tyler Zach, The Gospel for Helpers: A 40-Day Devotional for Caring, Empathetic Supporters: (Enneagram Type 2) (Enneagram Series) (2022); Elizabeth Bennett, The Individualist: Growing as an Enneagram 4 (60-Day Enneagram Devotional) (Whitaker House, 2020); and Eve Annunziato, Jackie Brewster, Hearing God Speak: A 52-Week Interactive Enneagram Devotional (Ink & Willow, 2021).4 See e.g., The Christian Enneagram Podcast; Enneagram and Christianity; Typology; Love Thy Neighborhood Presents: The EnneaCast; Your Enneagram Coach, The Podcast; and The Enneagram of Personality.5 Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery (Westmont, IL: IVP Books, 2016), 24.6 “How the Enneagram Works,” The Enneagram Institute, https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/how-the-enneagram-system-works.7 P.D. Ouspensky, In Search of the Miraculous (Harper 2001); P.D. Ouspensky, The Fourth Way: An Arrangement by Subject of Verbatim Extracts from the Records of Ouspensky’s Meetings in London and New York, 1921-46 (Vintage, 1971).8 Gurdjieff Movements, Konya performance, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740PhEOdx1M.9 Don Venoit, Joy Venoit, Marcia Montenegro, and H. Wayne House, Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret (Wonder Lake, IL: MCOI Publishing LLC, 2020).10 For more details on the origins of the Enneagram, see Marcia Montenegro, “The Enneagram GPS: The Gnostic Path to Self,” Christian Answers for the New Age, March 2011, http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Enneagram.html.11 You can read more about the New Age Movement on our blog here and here.12 “The Perennial Tradition,” Center for Action and Contemplation, 2017, https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-perennial-tradition-2017-12-03/.13 “Universal Salvation,” Center for Action and Contemplation, 2017, https://cac.org/daily-meditations/universal-salvation-2017-04-07/.14 https://universalchrist.cac.org/.The post The Enneagram Part 1: A Crash Course appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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I’ll never forget the Christmas I turned 9. That spring, an American Girl® catalog made its way into our mailbox. When I spied Molly with her glasses and brown fringe bangs, a staple of my 90’s girlhood, I knew I had to have her. So, my mom and I made a pact. If I read every book in the American Girl: Molly series (I was a struggling reader at the time), I would get the doll.

I devoured every single page a dozen times over that year. The “Look back in History” section at the end of each book sparked a fascination about World War 2 that even my own children share. No six books marked my childhood more deeply than the adventures of Molly and, as promised, that Christmas I found her waiting for me under the tree.

As I grew, so did my collection of accessories and books. The official American Girl guides taught me everything from how to handle bullies and babysitting to understanding my developing body. I looked forward to the day when I could make that same pact with my daughter. But God made me a boy mom, so the adventures of Molly, Felicity, and other original American Girls remain a cherished memory on my shelf while Diary of a Wimpy Kid reigns supreme at my home now.

But it isn’t those books that are caught in the cultural crosshairs. American Girl’s newest book, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Body Image, follows in the footsteps of its predecessors by giving girls practical tips on how to deal with everything from diets to clothes to body boundaries.

Only now there’s more on a girl’s plate than bullies and pimples. Our daughters are now faced with a new battlefield: the question of their identity.

Throughout Body Image, ideas that once moonlighted in the lecture halls of a women’s studies program are now pumped straight into the hands of first graders. Girls ages 7 to 11 are taught that gender expression is how they dress to match a masculine, feminine, or in-between stereotype. Their gender identity (their internal perception of themselves) might differ from their biological sex that had been “assigned” (via chromosomes and affirmed by a doctor) at birth.

Nothing says 'American Girl' these days more than teaching girls as young as 7 how to ask for puberty blockers. #AmericanGirl
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Girls who are sure they’re transgender (though they don’t explain how a girl comes to know this) are then encouraged to speak to a parent, a trusted adult, or a school counselor who can connect them to a doctor to help them decide what’s best for their bodies. The book says that it might start with changing clothes to match what feels most “true to you.” Then, if they haven’t started puberty, they can start “medicine” to delay development. Even if puberty has begun, “…doctors can still help.” So can the organizations listed at the back of the book.

What most girls won’t notice is the careful balance of doublespeak. On page 68 they’re encouraged to love their bodies which, “isn’t [like] a dress you can trade in for a trendier version, it’s the only one you’ve got!” Only after telling our daughters that it’s ok to want to change them (p. 38). Sure, Body Image denounces diets as “toxic” and ineffective (stop fat-shaming you bigot!), but hormone blockers and irreversible surgeries with life-long side effects? Nah, that’s embraced as part of the process of accepting your true self!

In one section they tell girls how to accept their bodies and just a few pages later, they instruct them on how to permanently alter their bodies if they are not happy. Doublespeak much? #AmericanGirl
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But what is true? What, then, is a girl? The book doesn’t say. That’s the problem. When womanhood is reduced to a cultural stereotype, it’s obliterated altogether. Being a girl becomes a caricature, a fantasy. One that comes with clothes and accessories, just like the doll under my Christmas tree all those years ago. But side effects are too numerous to be swept under the gender-affirming rug: infertility, painful sex, later inability to orgasm, cancer, depression, altered vocal range, and more. (That baritone voice does not go away, ladies.) And remember, these are “medicines” that are being given to a healthy body. Healthy bodies should not need medicines.

Parents are rightfully outraged, but we can’t let our frustration distract us from the fact that there are people who genuinely believe that gender theory is true. Not because of politics, but because affirming-only doctors and psychologists assure them that it’s the only option. For many, the arguments sound right.

While reading the outraged comments following the 1-star reviews for the guide, I was struck with a sobering aspect of being a faithful witness. We have to be careful that we don’t allow our haste to stop the chaos to blind us to the captives lost in its midst.

There are a few things we Christians need to remember:

We can’t expect the world to reflect the WordI get it. Back in our day, the biggest girl issues were teen pregnancy and bulimia (which are definitely big issues), but this isn’t 1995. The only reason the world seems more wholesome in the rearview mirror is because of a combination of childhood ignorance and the fact that the majority of kids’ entertainment reflected Judeo-Christian values of the body and family. Boy, has that changed! And most parents didn’t see it coming.

The world acting worldly, however, was no mystery to the early church. In John 15:18-19. we’re warned that followers of God are aliens in this world.

Just like we need a map to navigate a new city, our families need the shrewdness of a serpent so as not to fall victim to false and worldly teachings found in the media–all of which are conversations the world is already having with your children.

If something is of the world, we should expect it to conform to the world’s pattern, which American Girl has done. In reality, this latest book shouldn’t have shocked us. If anything, we should have wondered what took them so long.

Christians can shape cultureArt reflects culture, but it also shapes it. Why, then, do we feel like we are bound to the world? Just as the church needs an apologetic revival, so, too, do we need a revival of Christian art.

Clothing designers who can make attractive outfits that don’t objectify women and girls, we need you. Artists and writers who can make a clever plot line that doesn’t involve degrading jokes and porn scenes, we need you. Creators who can make toys that nurture the imagination and uphold the beauty of God, we need you. Investors who see the need to shape culture and can support those artists gifted by God to do so, oh, how we need you!

I once had a friend explain that a calling is found when we see a need and are able to meet that need. Our culture desperately needs Godly influence. There are countless people able to fill that need. It’s time for the church to start fulfilling that calling.

Righteous indignation doesn’t replace Christ-centered outreachThere is nothing wrong with being grieved at the state of the world, especially with regard to the aggressive promotion of secular culture to our children. But even righteous indignation has to be kept in perspective. Yes, we can be angry. But in our anger, sin crouches at the door (Psalm 4:4, Ephesians 4:26).

There is nothing wrong with being grieved at the state of the world, But even righteous indignation has to be kept in perspective. Yes, we can be angry. But in our anger, sin crouches at the door. #AmericanGirl
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For one, being willingly ignorant isn’t just for the ungodly. Christians, too, can make wrong conclusions based on false assumptions. We have to realize that these companies are operating from a worldview entirely different from Christianity. And sexuality is a huge cash cow. This is just the first time our kids are being marketed to as consumers. We cannot be silent, but we also must take care that our approach reflects Christ.

We cannot be silent, but we also must take care that our approach reflects Christ. #AmericanGirl
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When Jesus dealt with unbelievers, He exercised great patience, but He never compromised truth. It’s only with believers who manipulated the church for their own gain that He flipped tables and used a whip. But in reading many of the comments in the reviews of the newest American Girl book, some of us have gotten this backward.

We can’t expect secular culture to submit to a standard they never agreed to. We can show them how their standard doesn’t accomplish the love and protection of a girl’s body that they claim to promote. We can graciously point out the faulty logic of using gender stereotypes to ground gender theory. We can show how the suicide rate within transgenderism is often misrepresented and based on false metrics.1 And that hormone blockers nearly always lead to artificial hormones. Whereas if children are allowed to progress through puberty normally most will naturally accept their biological sex.

True, this doesn’t have the immediate cathartic effects of beating someone over the head with online holy outrage. It requires patience, the willingness to listen, and to recognize hurts and needs while seeking to love according to 1 Corinthians 13. This also raises an important question: will we continue to ring like a clanging gong when the world acts worldly? Or will we use this opportunity to spark conversations that have been needing to happen for a while now? Will that talk reflect the truth and grace of Christ? Or will it reflect the same anger on which the world is currently fueled?

Perhaps this isn’t the answer you were expecting, but that wasn’t my goal. My goal was to put to use some of the skills I learned from a story about a girl who had to be brave during war. A girl who learned to sacrifice for others and stand up for what is right even when it seems like the world was falling down around her. To stand for truth in a time of uncertainty.

These are the thoughts of an American Girl.

Amy DavisonAmy Davison is a former Air Force veteran turned Mama Bear Apologist. She is currently a grad student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary studying apologetics and philosophy. She and her husband Michael (also former Air Force) have been married for over 15 years and have 3 kids. Amy is the Mama Bear resident expert on sex and sexuality, and she’s especially hoping to have that listed on her Mama Bear business card.

saltngrace.com/about/1 There are often comorbidities within mental health that aren’t considered while attributing all suicidal thoughts, self-harm, suicide attempts, and completed suicides are assumed to be the same thing. See Appendix in Preston Sprinkle’s Embodied, 227-41.The post Thoughts from an American Girl about American Girl® appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Mamas, can you believe that we’re in the Christmas season already?! If your kiddos are like mine, they are counting down the minutes ‘til Christmas break allows them to sleep in and shlump around all day in pajama pants.

As much as I love the baking and the bustle of holiday shopping, each year I struggle with letting the busyness of the holidays crowd out the joy of Jesus. Perhaps this is why I decided one year to mimic how the Victorians used to celebrate. With twelve days of fun, parties, and plum pudding!

Oh yes, I totally made plum pudding one year. (I lit that sucker on fire and everything!) Though the pudding was a bit too…unique…for our family (but if you want to try it, here’s a recipe), spreading out the celebration helped us remember that Christmas isn’t a twenty-minute unwrapping frenzy on the morning of the 25th. Rather, it’s a way to slow down and appreciate the moments leading up to the birth of our blessed Savior – which is our hope for you, too.

If you’d like some help slowing down the season, Mama Bear has got you covered! Below you’ll encounter twelve people, one for each day of the season, who will help you keep the Christ in Christmas. Each entry comes with a passage to read, a song, and a suggested activity for you and your children to celebrate your way to the manger this holiday season. Participate in all twelve or only one or two. It’s truly up to you. I promise it’ll be less work than finding room for eight maids a-milking, and quieter than a twelve-man drum corps, too!

The Prophets: Mark 1:1-13 Talking Point: As we read to account of Jesus’ birth, it’s important that our kiddos understand prophecy.

A prophecy is a divine act of knowledge that a person could not otherwise have known outside of the will of God. It isn’t a lucky guess, like when your hubby picks the winning fantasy team.
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Nor is it an act of trickery, like how a street magician can pick the card only you saw. Prophecy is a specific piece of knowledge that is consistent with the nature of God that always, always, always comes true. Activity: Gather as a family and discuss what makes for a prophecy. No, it isn’t quite the same as when Aunt Betty somehow ‘knew’ your child would be a great artist or have a natural talent for sports but feel free to share if anyone had a hunch that would later prove true in your kiddo.

Next, check out this list of some of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled here. There are hundreds of prophecies made about His virgin birth, life, death, and resurrection. Jesus fulfilled over 300! And some were made close to a thousand years before He was born!

Did you know that the chances for Jesus fulfilling just eight of these is 1 in 10 to the 17th power?1 That’s 1 in one hundred quadrillions!

How could one man fulfill so many prophecies? The answer: He couldn’t….unless He was God Incarnate.
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Song: Christ is Come by Big Daddy Weave and/or Light of the World by Chris Tomlin

Prayer: Thank you, God, for your divine provision. For knowing the beginning from the end, for giving your people the hope of a Savior hundreds of years before He was laid in a manger. We thank you for still working in our lives today. We are grateful that in a world of chaos we know you are in control. We know that our hope rests in you and praise you this wonderful Christmas season. Amen.

Zechariah: Luke 1:8-25, 57-80Talking Point: Gabriel’s punishment of Zechariah can seem a bit harsh at first glance. Especially when we notice that Mary didn’t get muted when she expressed her doubts at a similar message. But there’s an important difference kids should know.

Zechariah was a believer who didn’t think God was powerful enough to enable him and his wife, Elizabeth, to have a child. He scoffed at Gabriel and even demanded proof that their old selves could still make a baby. Boy, did he get it! Nine months of forced silence.

Mary, on the other hand, knew that God could make her conceive, she just didn’t understand how. Whereas Zechariah doubted God’s omnipotence (power), Mary just wanted more details. As we ladies usually do 🙂

Activity: In honor of Zechariah, do a doubt-friendly check-in with your kiddos.

What’s something about God or the Christian faith that has them scratching their heads?
What challenges have their friends raised that they don’t know the answer to?
Is there anything going on in the world today that has them feeling in need of reassurance of God’s power, wisdom, and sovereignty?

Once you’ve discussed the questions, share a time when you were struggling with a particular doubt and how you came to understand God’s will through that time of wondering. Then,

Remind your children that doubts are just questions waiting for an answer. Thankfully, we have a mighty God who can handle any question we have.
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Next, pick a time to play Zechariah. During a car ride, a trip to the grocery store, or a dinner out, play the quiet game while you (mom) pretend to be Elizabeth or his priestly friends. Let your kiddos figure out how to communicate without words. Who was able to be Zechariah the longest? How would they feel if they had to play this game for nine months straight? Then, enjoy the temporary silence as my gift to you!

Song: This I Believe (The Creed) by Hillsong Worship.

Prayer: God, you are the maker of heaven and earth. You set the planets in motion, you told the seas where to stop. You are the author of the universe, and we are so grateful that no question is too big for you. Thank you that we can worship you with our minds. For making us capable of wrestling with the big questions in life. Please give us wisdom as we learn about you, peace as we wait on your guidance, and the boldness to speak the truth in grace to those around us. Amen.

Elizabeth: Luke 1:8-23, 39-66Talking Point: Can you remember a time when you got something that you had been hoping for for a long time? Perhaps it was getting a part in the play, making the team, or even a fun vacation. It probably didn’t take long for you to share the good news with those around you. But oddly, Elizabeth was different.

Perhaps she, too, struggled with Gabriel’s message. After all, a post-menopausal woman wouldn’t have had any evidence of conception until her growing belly made God’s miraculous work obvious. Maybe she wanted to spend those first months in private worship. Or maybe she was empathizing with her suddenly silent hubby, Zechariah. Regardless of the reason, Elizabeth is a great reminder to spend quiet moments each day with God giving thanks for the blessings He has given.

Activity: Elizabeth may have hidden her news from her friends and neighbors at the beginning of her pregnancy, but there is joy and fellowship when we come together! In honor of Elizabeth, make a point to reach out to the neighbors on your street.

Bake a batch of cookies or make a homemade Christmas card and introduce yourselves when it’s delivered. Be safe, of course, but don’t cop out of your local mission field just because it might require you to get out of your comfort zone…your front door. God put you on that street for a reason. Not to idolize privacy, but to make disciples. Perhaps right on your block.

Song: Elizabeth by Keith & Kristyn Getty, Ellie Holcomb

Prayer: Lord, we are called to shout for joy at the works of your hands, and we do so gladly! Praise you for your miraculous work in the world. For making the barren conceive, the orphan find a home, and comfort to the needy. Thank you for equipping us with the ability to see the need in our own community. Help us be bold as we minister to those around us and open their eyes so that they see you in the process. Amen.

John the Baptist: Luke 1:39-41Talking Point: What a sweet truth found within the early days of Jesus’ mountain-man-of a cousin: that all of creation cries out to the glory of God, from the rocks to the unborn. His joyful little kicks joined his mother’s gratefulness that spilled out into a beautiful song of praise. Amen!

Cuddle your little ones close and share how excited you were when you felt those first movements. Did they wiggle when music was played? When a cold bowl of ice cream was balanced on your growing belly? Did one of their left hooks send you running for the bathroom? (Been there!) Take time to marvel in the precious blessings of an unborn child as you acquaint your kiddo with the gospel’s youngest worshiper.

Activity:

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of presents and visiting relatives, but the real joy of the season is celebrating the joyous arrival of the newborn King.
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Make a paper chain garland of your favorite Christmas colors with a loop for each day leading up to Christmas. Then before your kiddo goes to bed, rip off a loop as you count down the days to Jesus’ birth. They’ll love seeing the chain get smaller while keeping the focus on Christ during this wonderful season. And this can remind kids that Jesus is the one who breaks the chains that bind us!Song: Joy to the World by For King and Country

Prayer: Oh, how precious are you, Lord. How amazing that from the rocks and trees to the smallest of babies, all of creation cries out to the glory of your handiwork. Our excitement for Christmas morning is nothing compared to the joy we will have when we get to run into the arms of our Savior. Until then we thank you that each little baby we see reminds us of the gentle way you came to us. Amen.

Joseph: Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-23Talking Point: Joseph’s story is one of the best displays of godly manhood. Instead of bending to the status quo, he submitted to God’s direction even when it wasn’t easy.

Think about it. Gossip would have followed Joseph and Mary’s every move. And I’m willing to bet a stack of Christmas cookies that he had more than one nosey relative telling him he should take a wife with less ‘baggage.’ But Joseph loved God more than the praise of his community.

He took Mary as his wife and adopted Jesus as his earthly son, nurturing and protecting them for all of his days. What a beautiful picture of the love God has for us as His adopted children!

Activity: In honor of Joseph’s loving adoption of Jesus, consider sponsoring a child overseas through organizations like Compassion International. If you already have a sponsored child, have each member of the family create something to send over to him or her. You could also reach out to your church to see if they have any ties to adoption ministries that help offset adoption fees for Christian parents.

As my pastorJosh Howerton said, your family may not be called to adopt yourselves, but you can help others fulfill that calling by making an offering.
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. Another fun activity might be to create bags or do a fundraiser for foster kids in your local community through an organization like Together We Rise.Song: Joseph’s Lullaby by MercyMe

Prayer: Thank you, God, for fathers. Thank you for men who defend the weak and the small. Who stand firm against the waves of culture to protect and nurture little ones. You, Lord, are a good Father. Despite the brokenness of this world, you are faithful, loving, and gracious. And we are your children. We pray for the fathers and grandfathers in our family to be bold, loving, and faithful defenders within our community. Submissive to you and fearless before culture. Amen.

Mary: Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-7Talking Point: How would you respond when your faith is put to the test? It sounds dramatic but Mary’s divine message wasn’t an easy one to hear. As an unwed mother, she was in a dangerous position. If her parents or Joseph didn’t believe her, they could have shunned her or worse! Even with the quiet divorce that Joseph was planning, she would have been a pariah in her community with little hope of acceptance, let alone a future marriage. But Mary knew God was in control.

Today, it’s more common to cave to culture than stand firm in the faith. Encourage your kids to be rooted in God’s will, like Mary, by recognizing that God’s nature makes Him worthy of our trust and confidence – especially when…
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Activity: Being an expectant mother is one thing, but going on a long journey while pregnant only to find that there’s no place to sleep?! Talk about stress! Since Mary and Joseph were without a proper room for their stay in Bethlehem, seek to bless a local ministry that reaches out to the homeless.

For families with older teens, you could volunteer at a soup kitchen and food pantry. For littles, perhaps make a hot chocolate stand with payments accepted as cash or canned goods. Then, donate the proceeds.

As the Bombas commercial states: the most needed items at shelters are socks, t-shirts, and underwear. So celebrate the season by covering someone’s back (and backside)…literally!

Song: You’re Here by Francesca Battistelli

Prayer: Thank you, God, for mothers. For women who do the hard thing and sacrifice for their children. Whose faith in you makes them fearless before culture. Thank you for placing a picture of your care and gentleness in the women in our family. We lift up the mothers and grandmothers this Christmas season, so that they will find their peace, hope, joy, and trust in you, who never fails. Amen.

Jesus: Luke 2:1-21Talking Point: Most of us would gladly exchange our middle-class life for high-class living. Maids, mansions, and no discomfort in sight? Sign me up! But how many would choose to give up those marble floors for ones made of dirt? Or trade a life of comfort for cold nights and uncertainty? Yeah, me neither. Yet that’s exactly what Christ did for me and you.

Christ gave up the glory of heaven to be born in a weak vulnerable human body. Dependent on others for protection and life, only to sacrifice it all for the least of us. Not because we deserved it, but because He says we’re worth…
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Activity: There’s nothing more vulnerable than an infant. In gratitude to the King who came as a baby in a manger, involve your children in donating to a local crisis pregnancy center or pro-life ministry. These organizations accept donations of diapers, wipes, clothes, money, and baby gear to be given to mothers in need. This will show them how Christians aren’t just pro-life in words, but pro-life in deed, as well. Another option is to “adopt” a family with a newborn in your church. Offer to DoorDash a meal their way or give them a gift card to Starbucks. Write notes of encouragement telling them that they’re doing great and they’re not alone.

Song: Sing Lullaby (The Infant King) by Libera

Prayer: Lord, how wonderful you are! You gave up the riches of heaven for a broken world. All to save us while we were yet sinners. You gave us the only gift that matters, which cannot be bought or earned. You gave us eternal life. So that everyone who believes in You will never be lost but saved and adopted in You forever! We lift up our friends and family that do not yet know you as Savior. Help us be a loving witness to them not just this Christmas but all year long. Amen.

Angels: Luke 2:8-20Talking Point: Movies and artwork love to portray angels as pretty winged ladies with golden curls, but the truth is way more interesting. Angels are about as diverse as you can get. Some give worship to God (Revelation 5:11-12). Others, like Gabriel, deliver messages. And then there are the celestial bouncers of the group, who come down to kick some butt like Lot’s heavenly visitors (Genesis 19)! And let’s not forget the fact that pretty much every time an angel appears to someone in Scripture, the person is terrified, and the angel has to tell them, “Do not be afraid.”

No, we won’t become angels when we die, but for fun, ask your kiddos which type of angel they like best and why. Then create their favorites through the activity below!

Activity: It’s no wonder that angels top the majority of Christmas trees. Who better to celebrate the arrival of the King of Kings? With wooden clothespins and coffee filters, kids big and small can cover the boughs of your Christmas tree with these heavenly homemade beings. Craft stores have feathers, glitter, and even scraps of fabric can make beautiful wings and fun memories for your family. Bonus points if your tree has a fighting angel or two! Be as detailed as you’d like and make sure you tag us on Instagram with your creations!

Song: Angels We Have Heard on High by Libera

Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending angels to aid your people, deliver messages, defend the weak, and sing praises to the newborn king! You have given them power to do mighty things, but it is you who is all-powerful. We’re grateful that every time we see an angel this season it reminds us of the wonderful message Gabriel brought: that a Savior would be born who would come to save the world. Truly the best news the world has ever received. Amen.

Shepherds: Luke 2:8-20Talking Point: I’ve heard more than a few sermons describing shepherds as the outcasts of ancient East communities. This, however, isn’t entirely accurate. Shepherds were a vital part of the economy. Manage your flocks like Jacob and you won’t just have a big herd, you’ll earn wealth and power ta-boot!

True, the shepherds who first heard the news of Jesus’ birth probably wouldn’t have been on Bethlehem’s Forbes list, but their inclusion wasn’t random.

By including the shepherds in Christ's birth, God not only foreshadowed the purpose of Jesus’ life but His death as the perfect and final sacrifice for the repayment of our sins.
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And us? There’s a reason why we are compared to sheep throughout scripture. Just like sheep we’re often stubborn, helpless, cling to groups, and aren’t the brightest. Yet we all are in desperate need of a Savior. Praise Jesus for being the Good Shepherd!

Activity: To foster an appreciation for the shepherds, try visiting a petting zoo or a local farm, or watch a herding video on the YouTubes to see what it takes to tend these animals.

If it’s too snowy to go outside, host a front room campout so your little shepherds can keep watch of their “sheep” (or the family cat) by night. How would they have felt if all of a sudden they were surrounded by a chorus of heavenly hosts singing praises to God? What would they do next?

Song: The Shepherd’s Song (God with Us) by Hearts of Saints

Prayer: Lord, you are the Good Shepherd. Oh, how we need you! We are so good at getting ourselves into trouble, but you are faithful. You will come find us. You will rescue us from our sins and lead us in truth. Thank you for wanting us. As we grow, help us become like shepherds., watching over the believers around us. Tending to them and defending them when wolves try to divide and take them away. For you didn’t give us a spirit of weakness, but of boldness. Amen.

Wisemen: Matthew 2:1-12Talking Point: Little is truly known about these ancient visitors. We know they came from the East and because of the number of gifts given it’s generally assumed that there were only three men present (though that cannot be said with certainty).

What we do know is these wise men (or magi) were studiers of the cosmos and nature. They interpreted dreams, and possibly even dabbled in magic. They were most likely men of wealth and status, which would help explain why Herod took their claims of the newborn king seriously.

Regardless of their background, they were united in their mission: to find the baby foretold in the prophecy and worship Him as Lord.

Activity: Just like the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, your children can play the wise men by making an offering to help someone in need. Allow them to purchase a toy to donate at a local toy drive. If you’d like a more global outreach, you can use ministries like World Vision or Samaritans Purse and purchase livestock or poultry for an overseas family in need. Whatever you choose, allow your kids to be front and center during the process so they can experience the joy of using God’s care for them to bless someone in need.

For littles, play Follow the Star. Cut stars out of construction paper and have one child tape them up around the house to lead the others to a doll or family pup posing as the baby Jesus. Take turns and use fewer stars to up the challenge level. If an infant sibling is playing Jesus make sure you, mama, place the pint-sized savior at the end-point. Otherwise, you might be following the star to find your own little one!

For older kiddos, check out Lee Strobel’s film, A Case for the Creator (Pure Flix), which shows how cosmology (the study of the universe) cries out for a divine Creator.

Song: Song of the Magi by Good Lovelies.

Prayer: Father God, we are grateful for the wise men. They remind us that faith in you is reasonable and accessible for everyone of all nations. Thank you that the evidence of your power is found in your creation. We love that the study of nature points back to you. Help us see that science can be an act of worship to you and draw us closer as we look at your creation. Amen.

Simeon: Luke 2:22-35Talking Point: Do your children know what a bucket list is? For most of us it’s a list of life goals and things to do before we die. Simeon’s bucket list had only one thing on it: to see the Savior face-to-face. And he had assurance from God that he wouldn’t be called home until his bucket list was complete. Talk about going out with a bang!

As you read Simeon’s story, ask: Would it be easier or harder to wait for something if you knew that it was going to happen? As Christians, our goal is to love God and make disciples around us. In what ways are we living that out well? In what ways could we improve? It’s not a competition, but the right mindset to make the most of the time we’re given.

Activity: It isn’t just the young that need to meet Christ, but the elderly too. Take time to help your children appreciate the wisdom of the grandparents of your community. If there is an elderly neighbor, see if your family can help them in any way.

Pull the trash cans to the end of the street, rake the leaves, or share a cup of cider as you swap stories. You and older kiddos can even volunteer at a local retirement home and have a visit with someone who would be spending the holidays alone. Even thanking an older member of the church or those friendly folks at the entrance of Wal-Mart is a wonderful way to make someone’s day.

Song: While I’m Waiting by John Walker

Prayer: Thank you, God, for answered prayers. Sometimes the answer is no or wait, but how wonderful it is knowing that you always keep your promises. Father, we are like Simeon, only we are waiting for the return of the Savior. In our wait, help us make the most of every opportunity to share with others about our faith. Remind us of the grace that you have given us so that we extend grace toward others. Amen.

Anna: Luke 2:36-40Talking Point: Anna was amazing. This gal ate, slept, and breathed the church. She lived at the temple as if she was one of the Levite priests and was blessed to be one of two witnesses to the dedication of the infant Christ.

She was recognized as a prophetess and, according to Ellicott’s Commentary, was a member of the tribe of Asher, which had been carried off into exile back in 2 Kings 17:6. Yet, here she was in the temple praising God as she beheld the promised Savior, a symbol that even the lost can be found through Christ.

Activity:

Anna was the first woman to truly grasp who Jesus was and His purpose on earth, and she told err’body! Mamas, we need to have and nurture that same excitement and understanding!
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Pick up a box of mini candy canes (or big ones if you like) and help your kiddos color a label that says “Jesus is the reason for the Season!” and your fav Bible verse (John 3:16 is a great go-to) on the back. Then, when your child sees another child at the store, they can pass along the fun Christmas treat. With the parent’s permission, of course!

For older teens, challenge them to be bold before Christmas. We’re talking about the boldness Paul asks for in Ephesians 6:18-19: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

Have your teen pick a friend or a classmate and pray for a divine appointment, the wisdom to see it, and the boldness to share how Christ has made a difference in their life. It may not be an alter-call conversation, but it might just open the door for great fellowship.

Song: Jesus My Redeemer by Chris Tomlin

Prayer: Praise God that no one is lost in you! Thank you for sending your Son to save the world. Thank you for the prophets who spoke of His coming and ministry. Praise you for giving Him an earthly family, one of your greatest institutions. God, your wisdom and glory is seen through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Because of you, we live, and we are in awe of you! May our reverence never grow tired as we enter into 2023 knowing that you, God, are in control. Amen.

Ways to CelebrateFor Victorians, the twelve days of Christmas started on Christmas Day (sometimes Christmas Eve) and went ‘til the Epiphany on January 6. Here are a few ideas for your family.

Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas: Start December 20. This would have Jesus land on December 25 and carry you right up until New Year’s Day.
Buddy the Elf’s Christmas Countdown: Start December 13. You’ll have almost two weeks of fun daily activities leading right up to Christmas Eve. Then eat a whole roll of cookie dough and snuggle.
The Cousin Eddie Surprise: Ambush your family with a start date and cherry-pick your favorites. Be random, wear an ear-flap cap, but please don’t kidnap anyone’s boss.

Final Christmas Wishes If you participated in any of these activities, be sure to tag us on Instagram so we can celebrate along with you! From all of us at Mama Bear to all of our Mamas, Papas, Grandmamas, and Grandpapas out there, Merry Christmas! Glory to the King of Kings!

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Note: This blog is about having children, but we here at Mama Bear recognize that married couples without children are families. Children are not required to make a family complete. We are simply noting the decline in birth rates and some lies and truths related to that trend.

By: Bonnie Robinson

A staggering number of adults today are veering away from having kids. The birth rate has been trending downward since 2019, according to the Pew Research Center. They also report a significant uptick in people of childbearing age who say they probably won’t have any kids. What’s influencing their decisions? Well, there are the usual deterrents: kids cost a lot, kids are a lot of work, kids are a life-long commitment, etc…, but there is another force at work. When we analyze this trend, we uncover a heap of lies that Satan has been propagating for a few decades.

It’s common for young people today to put off having children, claiming they want to “experience life first.” They have been deceived into believing that life without children is more fulfilling; in fact, that life with children isn’t really any life at all. Some adults might want children, but they’ve been bullied into believing having children is selfish and are shamed into a life of childlessness. They’re told that having children is adding to an already overpopulated earth with depleting resources and dangerous climate change. Anyone who openly champions traditional views about having children and raising a family might be accused of misogyny and trying to force women back into the 1950s.

How did having children become such a heated controversial issue? I don’t know, but somehow, here we are. The attacks against children are intensifying.

Lie #1: Families with Children are for Losers We’ve seen a steady degradation of fathers in the media for decades; Ward Cleaver and Andy Griffith were replaced by Al Bundy and Homer Simpson. Fathers have been reduced to bumbling buffoons; just dad bods with dad jokes.

Mothers, especially stay-at-home moms, are seen as “not college/career material” and therefore “less than” as if moms become moms because they can’t figure out any other way to contribute to society. Most recently, culture has been trying to erase the identity of mothers altogether by redefining and reassigning the title with more “inclusive” terms such as “birthing person.”

Kids have sadly taken the brunt of this degradation; they’ve been depicted as snotty little brats that suck the life out of you and ruin all your dreams – and much worse. I’ve seen comments on social media refer to children as “viruses,” “parasites,” and — perhaps the most disturbing because it is borderline obscene – “crotch goblins.”

Mothers, especially stay-at-home moms, are seen as “not college/career material” and therefore 'less than' as if moms become moms because they can’t figure out any other way to contribute to society.
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Lie #2: Families with Children are for Racists? (Well, that escalated quickly)Single and childless is viewed by our culture as the superior life choice for those who wish to be carefree, empowered, and successful. To choose marriage and family makes you a loser, and even worse — a racist. Author Andray Domise claims the nuclear family is the “most brutal social structure…force[d] on the present-day Black family.” Domise continues to describe the nuclear family as a “colonizing force of white supremacy.” Non-traditional families are embraced and celebrated, particularly families in the LGBTQ+ communities; but one father, one mother, in a monogamous relationship, raising a houseful of littles is apparently one of the most oppressive forces in Western civilization and must be dismantled for the good of society and the environment.

Raising a houseful of littles is apparently one of the most oppressive forces in Western civilization and must be dismantled for the good of society and the environment?
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Lie #3: Procreation is Not only Immoral, It’s CriminalEnvironmental activists go beyond depicting kids as booger-nosed, vomit-producing, stinky-diaper factories intent on destroying their parents’ careers. They now claim that bringing children into this world might even be immoral! In an article called “Why Choosing to Have Children is an Ethical Issue,” philosophy professor Christine Overall argues, “When it comes to choosing whether to have children or not, there is a moral right and wrong to the choice…”

Stop Having Kids, an antinatalist group that promotes procreation as an immoral and unethical choice, claims, “None of the unborn wish to be born, but plenty of the living wish they were dead.” According to their mission statement, they “advocate for focusing time, energy, and resources that would have otherwise been allocated towards supporting new life into caring for and improving the lives of already existing individuals and places.” Their homepage says, “There is an unconscionable amount of needless suffering, injustice, and death in the world — with birth serving as the catalyst for it all.”

The BirthStrike Movement, another antinatalist group, was started by a husband and wife team in Ontario in 2021. The U.S. Sun quoted co-founder Spencer Rocchi as saying, “Having a child, especially in the developed world, is one of the most harmful things you can do, if not the most harmful thing you can do.” According to his wife, Agnieszka Marszalek, “There’[s] climate change to think about, world wars, fights over resources like water in years to come, rising political tensions…” The growing child-free movement suggests having children is not only immoral, it’s criminal. Children are a threat to society. Their solution? Total bans on reproduction.

The growing child-free movement suggests having children is not only immoral, it’s criminal. Children are a threat to society. Their solution? Total bans on reproduction. #family
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It’s sobering to recognize that children are being viewed this way by a growing segment of our population. These anti-birth views are having a major influence on the pro-life movement as well, attempting to bring a supposed nuance to what it means to be “pro-life.” They advocate that the more “pro-life” position is to abort the pre-born in favor of the already born and in favor of the mother. Even some professing Christian communities are beginning to embrace the killing of unborn babies as a moral alternative to giving birth. Rebecca Peters, a Presbyterian minister, asserts, “…there is certainly nothing Christian about forcing women to continue pregnancies against their will.” While these lies have deeply infiltrated our culture, we can be thankful we do not have to live by lies; we can know the Truth. God speaks clearly on the issues of family and children.

Truth #1: God Invented Families with ChildrenNewsflash: marriage and family were God’s designs from the beginning of creation. The very first instruction given to Adam and Eve was to have children (Genesis 1:27-28). In fact, genealogies make up a significant number of pages in both the Old and New Testaments, demonstrating how important the family is to God and His plan. Scripture also reveals how the God-given roles of dads, moms, and children are used to exemplify Christ and the gospel to the world.

Fathers should strive to be like Christ, leading, protecting, providing, serving, loving their wives (Ephesians 5:25-33), and diligently discipling their children with compassion (Deuteronomy 11:18-21 and Ephesians 6:4). Mothers, likewise, are called to love, serve, and respect their husbands, taking care of their homes, and faithfully instructing their children in the faith (Titus 2:4-5 and Proverbs 31:26-27). Children are to obey and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3, Deuteronomy 5:16).

We cannot let the world convince us that the nuclear family is oppressive or an extension of white supremacy. On the contrary, safe, loving homes build safe, supportive communities. The nuclear family is not a product of colonialism or Western civilization. It is the absolute first institution both created and blessed by God. As stated in the Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality, it’s a great design… when followed!

We cannot let the world convince us that the nuclear family is oppressive or an extension of white supremacy. #family
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Truth #2: God Has Plans for Children (both Born and Unborn)Despite much debate in our society about when life begins, the Bible teaches that God cares about babies even before they are born. The stories of many biblical heroes began at the earliest stages of life. God doesn’t just express His plans for children who are born (Jacob, Samuel, David), but also children in utero (Psalm 139:16), and sometimes even before conception, like Isaac, Samson, John the Baptist, and Jesus (Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 44:28)! Faith hall-of-famers — Esther, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — were young people “born for such a time” (Esther 4:14). God foreknows the events surrounding our lives and uses obedient followers, no matter how young, to further His plan and bring the message of salvation and redemption for all people.

Truth #3: Children Make Everything “Extra” – in a Good WayIf we return to the story of Adam and Eve, we learn that children are a direct gift from the LORD (Genesis 4:1). Many people don’t understand the unexplainable joy that children can bring. Experiences we might take for granted — like fuzzy caterpillars, puppies, and ice cream cones — are magnified when seen through the eyes of a child. These continue to multiply as children grow up and produce grandchildren and even great-grandchildren! Did you know that the Bible describes children as an inheritance from the Lord (Psalm 127:3)? Parents get to enjoy this amazing blessing from the Lord not only here on this earth but for all eternity if their children walk with God.

So take heart Mama Bears! Wise King Solomon said that having many children brings much happiness (Psalm 127:5). Let’s learn to recognize and reject these secular views and seek to restore a biblical perspective on children. They are a treasure worth investing in — whether they are biological, foster, adopted, or spiritual.

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Introduction: Kristen Jensen, author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids, joins Amy to talk about how we can protect kids from pornography. Main Points Covered: Kristen shares how she was motivated to write this book Average age kids are exposed to porn: 8! More about Good Pictures Bad Pictures book Will […]

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by Alexa Cramer SPOILER ALERT! This article contains aspects of the plots from each of the three Zombies movies, including several spoilers. If you don’t want the ending of each movie revealed, we suggest you watch them before reading on. Synopsis: Growing up in the town of Seabrook, a town where everything and everyone is […]

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For the past month, our local stores have been gradually stocking gear for the next holiday: Pride Month. Rainbows have become the pumpkin spice of late spring. Your toddler can now rock a trans rights tee-shirt. Even Mittens the cat can have an oh-so-fabulous scratchpad to boast their owner’s pride. Cuz nothin’ says equality like […]

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Two days ago, a judicial cowpie hit the proverbial fan when a supreme court justice document in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked to news outlet Politico. This 98-page behemoth (which you can read here) was written by Justice Samuel Alito. He argues that the right to abortion passed under Roe v. Wade […]

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Oh Lord, my God. My rock. My redeemer. We have so much blood on our hands. You say in Your Word that the blood of the innocent cries out to you (Genesis 4:10). Bloodshed pollutes the very land in which we live (Numbers 35:33). Oh, my God, our land is polluted with the blood of innocent […]

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A Twitter post caught my eye a while back from a brother in Christ who was fed up with his church’s take on biblical manhood. Manhood, it was implied, was a burly trinity of plaid, football, and Clint Eastwood. As if the lost 11th commandment was: Thine beard shall be like Jesus, and thou shalt […]

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What does the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill really say? You might have heard of a bill that was recently passed in Florida which has been pejoratively dubbed as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill by LGBTQ+ activists. (The official name is ‘Parental Rights in Education Bill’, or HB 1557.)  As always, we encourage our mama bears to […]

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By Guest Author Jennifer Gross SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t want to know the plot about Encanto, we recommend you do not read this review. We give away quite a bit. As always, we encourage you to #ROARLikeAMother with films and television shows. Not everything will be appropriate for your family. Be willing to talk […]

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I don’t live my life super publicly, but neither am I overly private. John and I joke that if my mouth doesn’t say it, my face will. And in this new world of communication — screens, social media, etc. — if my mouth and face are saying it but there’s not enough discussion for my […]

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Since the launch of Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality, we have seen dozens of questions from you, our amazing Mamas and Papas out there. We love this aspect of ministry because our calling has always been to meet you where you’re at and, through God’s wisdom, get you to where you’re going! One […]

The post When Adam and Steve come to Dinner: How to explain Same-Sex Marriage to Kids appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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Discipleship is not a word you hear that often outside of the occasional sermon series on the Apostles. In fact, I’m willing to bet an overpriced latte that you’ve never heard your church use it to refer to how we should shepherd our children’s understanding of biblical sexuality. But parents, there is no better way! […]

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Join Hillary, Amy, and Lindsey as they reflect on 2021 and get excited about 2022! We’re so grateful for all of you and your support of our ministry! Follow us on social media – YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/MamaBearApolo… Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamabearapol… Twitter: https://twitter.com/MamaBrAplgtics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamabearapo… Buy the Mama Bear Apologetics book here (affiliate link): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073… Want to […]

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What do you think of when you hear the word tradition? Your great aunt’s famous casserole? Opening a single gift on Christmas Eve? Watching that creepy claymation Rudolph film? (You know… the one with the elf who wants to be a dentist?) Most of our families have some sort of tradition — some that are […]

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The world has watched in horror as Afghanistan, a nation in which we have invested for decades, has toppled in a matter of days. Over here in the West, school is just starting. The COVID-19 Facebook debates are making me want to give up social media altogether, and now we have this new atrocity unfolding […]

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When we started our series on Islam what seems like ages ago (here’s a link to the crash course), I promised that I’d address the most pressing questions you and your kids have about the religion. I received many questions from you in the comments on the website and through social media, and this article […]

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We had quite the year here at Mama Bear. To get a complete wrap-up, check out our 2020 summary blog here. This blog is to celebrate our top 5 posts in 2020. From discipling your kids during the pandemic to pop-culture sensations like Cuties and The Chosen, our top 5 blogs cover it all. We’re […]

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2020 — who could have predicted it? It didn’t catch the Lord by surprise, though, and we are so grateful for His provisions at Mama Bear Apologetics this year. As we were preparing for this wrap-up piece, we re-read our goals for 2020, and wow! What did we want to accomplish in 2020? Check out […]

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Welcome to our first ever Mama Bear book review! This is where we will give you a digest of carefully chosen, wonderful books. These essential reads will not only equip you and your cubs as you work to fulfill 1 Peter 3:15 but will surely enrich your personal spiritual life and walk with Christ, as […]

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This has been quite a week, has it not? Or heck, this has been quite a year. Even the weather is rebelling. I’m sitting outside in short sleeves and flip flops, and I’m hot… in Iowa… in November. John is usually snow blowing the driveway by now. (Not that I’m complaining! This Texafornian girl is […]

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For the past month, #cancelnetflix has been trending on social media. Why? It all comes down to a new French film titled Cuties. (A grand jury recently issued an indictment against Netflix because of this film. Read about it here.) I read many of the reviews, but one of the curious things that I noticed […]

The post Cuties: 5 Lessons We Totally Lost in Our #CancelNetflix Culture (And no, we are not endorsing Cuties) appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.

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So you want to watch The Chosen, but aren’t sure if it’s legit? That was the main question that I had when I first saw The Chosen advertised on my Facebook News Feed. (If you haven’t heard of The Chosen, it’s a multi-season series about the life of Jesus. The first season was released in […]

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Uncategorized Archives - Mama Bear Apologetics: Recent Episodes

Uncategorized Archives - Mama Bear Apologetics

2 Teach them to be slow to speak…and slow…to share