Theology Archives - Mama Bear Apologetics: Recent Episodes
Theology Archives - Mama Bear Apologetics
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?
Click To Tweet
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!
Click To Tweet
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.
The post My kid stumped me with a theological question! Now what? appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
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
Click To Tweet
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
Click To Tweet
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.
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.
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.
The post Episode 87: The Rise in Occult Fascination Among Youth with Krista Bontrager appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
“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 I was invited to attend a women’s conference with some ladies I’ve met through Mama Bear. They’ve been such wonderful friends that I wanted to make the trip to attend. I asked one of my local best friends to join me for the drive because everyone knows that a road trip is always more fun with friends!
We enjoyed a day of excellent fellowship and wisdom from our guest speaker, Teasi Cannon,1 but what struck me most was how different it was from the, let’s say, “fluffy” conferences that are too common in women’s ministry. To help our fellow Mama Bears, I wanted to share the top four things to look for or plan for in a women’s conference.
- Worship is God-focusedNot every conference includes worship, but we love it when they do! We came together and sang songs centered on who God is. The songs were primarily hymns about God’s nature and Jesus being our anchor, the firm foundation of our faith. We miss the point of worshipping God for who He is when we only celebrate what He has done for us.” Us-focused worship also misses understanding God’s very nature is worth worshipping even when our personal circumstances are not pleasant.
Singing songs that focus on what we’ve seen God do in our lives is important too. We need to thank Him and recognize how much we’ve changed through the process of sanctification. But modern worship can sometimes spend too much time looking horizontally at ourselves, focusing only on getting our miracles. (Since my husband passed traumatically, worship centered around all the miracles and wonders God does for us is sometimes painful. I didn’t get my prayers answered in this wonderful perfect movie ending. God didn’t “move every mountain” the way I prayed for, that doesn’t mean God wasn’t good, or can’t move mountains even if He didn’t move this one.)
God is still sustaining me in my grief. I’ve clung to the truth of God’s faithfulness despite my heart being broken because I know who God is. That is what vertical worship is, it allows us to focus on Him and His attributes. The circumstances in our lives cannot be the measure of if God is good. We worship because He alone is worthy and good.
The circumstances in our lives cannot be the measure of if God is good. We worship because He alone is worthy and good.
Click To Tweet
- Limited EmotionalismThis women’s conference wasn’t devoid of moments that appealed to our emotions, but they were limited and purposeful.
When I experienced emotional responses, it was because something resonated with me, convicted me of my own sin, or gave me hope that God is still working in my difficult circumstances. My feelings were a response to who God is, not cleverly orchestrated moments designed to elicit emotions.
God created our emotions because He wants us to have them. Our feelings can be wonderful indicators when something is going sideways. Righteous anger or frustration can help us take action against the sin we see around us personally or globally. Happiness, joy, and love connect us to our children, spouse, and friends. Empathy inspires us to do more for the people in our lives who need the support or love of Jesus. But we all know emotions can also be fickle and fluctuate.
Our speaker started by reminding us that emotional needs are real needs; infants die when their emotional needs are not met! Yet, feelings cannot be the answers themselves. Subjective and relative answers are not freeing! We cannot be both the problem and its solution. And when our emotional needs don’t feel met, we often seek counterfeit answers that leave us lost and empty.
This weekend our emotions were the icing on the cake, not the main course. In fact, we were reminded that the true cure to the rampant spiritual depression ravaging our country is belief in Jesus as the anchor of our hope.
A women’s conference that focuses too much on hyping our emotions leaves us primed for a crash when we return to reality without enough solid knowledge for continued growth on our own. Speakers who correctly center our focus on God will be emotional and encouraging, even convicting, but won’t leave us standing in a puddle of feelings. They will always bring us back to God’s word.
Speakers who correctly center our focus on God will be emotional and encouraging, even convicting, but won’t leave us standing in a puddle of feelings. They will always bring us back to God’s word.
Click To Tweet
- Appropriate use of Personal AnecdotesOur speaker used some personal stories in her presentations. She was open, funny, and sometimes raw. And her stories helped clothe the message with authenticity, but they weren’t the focus.
She gave us some background about her past and present to help underscore her authority in different areas. We were able to laugh with her, commiserate with her, and see ourselves in different places alongside her. She spent more time telling us about God and who He is than about herself.
The masterful use of personal details put flesh around her theme that Jesus is the anchor of our faith, but they brought us back to the main message, they were not the main message.
- Theologically SolidBy “theologically solid,” we mean that Scripture is interpreted properly and in context. The meaning of a passage is consistent with the teaching of the whole Bible on that topic. Scripture is used to define terms and explain who God is and what our purpose is. The message correctly defines biblical terms, like salvation, truth, the gospel, grace, and sanctification. All exhortation (encouragement) pushes us to run the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
Every topic point was made with a passage, in context, even when discussing apologetics issues like creation and worldview. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1. Who is Jesus and why is He important to our faith? Hebrews 1:1-3. Why can we come to God as our Father? John 14:18. He won’t leave us as orphans.
Even in the Q&A, every question was taken back to the verses and passages we were discussing. It was clear she knew Scripture thoroughly and was able to reference several passages from memory to answer our questions.
As our meeting concluded Saturday, I was struck by how well this conference fed the attendees spiritually (although the delicious lunch provided by the gentlemen also fed us physically). In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a conference with such a meaty message. We read through large chunks of Hebrews and related passages as a group, learning how to clearly read and interpret the verses in context.
Conclusion
Women are hungry for truth. When the world is busy feeding us counterfeit answers for our very real problems, we need the authentic answers only found in Christ.
Click To Tweet
Women are hungry for truth. When the world is busy feeding us counterfeit answers for our very real problems, we need the authentic answers only found in Christ. If we’re going to take time and money to create or attend an event, make sure it’s giving you the good stuff and I don’t just mean the poppyseed chicken casserole (yum!) A women’s conference can be fun and encouraging, have beautiful table decorations, delicious food, and be a solid ministry event. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive. But the outer trappings should be wrapped around meaty teaching that convicts and inspires us to love God more deeply and imitate Jesus more closely.
Looking for a solid women’s conference to attend? An excellent conference is coming up THIS weekend, the Women in Apologetics conference in California, AND you can stream from home in your sweatpants too! (Better yet, get a whole group of women in sweatpants, and watch it together!) Make sure and tag WIA and Mama Bear in a photo!
By Jennifer DeFrates
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.
1 Teasi is a Mama Bear Apologetics Board member and also contributed to our first book.The post What to look for in a Women’s Conference appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
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 […]
The post The Importance of Christmas Traditions appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
Before we start diving back into the Richard Dawkins book, Amy and I felt it necessary to address a heartbreaking, but concerning cultural issue that cropped up over the holidays. On December 14, 2019, Bethel worship leaders Kalley and Andrew Heiligenthal’s two-year-old daughter stopped breathing in her sleep and was pronounced dead by doctors at […]
The post MBA Episode 42: The Unfortunate (and Painful) Lessons We Learned From #WakeUpOlive appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
John and I were at the Iowa State Fair this weekend. (My husband loves all the fried food. Calories at the fair don’t count, right?) Among our scheduled stops, we wanted to see a band that advertised itself as a mix between Stomp and Accapella. Sounds cool right? We sat down with whatever artery-clogging victual […]
The post Teaching Our Kids to Spot Empty Statements appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
The internet has been abuzz with Joshua Harris’ announcement that he and his wife are separating AND that he is no longer a Christian. In case you missed the whole I kissed Dating Goodbye craze in the late 1990’s, let me summarize: Joshua Harris was a prominent voice in purity culture (which Amy has […]
The post 4 Good Things That Go Bad When They Are Idolized appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
Up until about six years ago, I couldn’t have told you what a progressive church looked like. If you had asked me, I maybe would have told you that it was a liberal church, but that would have been about the extent of it. And then, in 2018, I heard former ZOEgirl member, Alisa Childers, […]
The post Progressive Christianity (and How to Spot It) appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
At the outset, I want to say that I have never been a Jehovah’s Witness (JW), and no one in my family is/was a Jehovah’s Witness. This is important because JWs are not permitted to read anything by ex-members of the church. Therefore, any JW who has stumbled upon this article should feel free to […]
The post What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe? appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
When you think about Judaism, what comes to mind? When I was growing up, we had a menorah in our house that we’d light for Hanukkah even though we weren’t Jewish, and I remember Adam Sandler’s famous song about all the famous people who are Jewish (which we included at the bottom!) As a child, […]
The post A Crash Course in Judaism appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
Before we start diving into world religions, it’s important that we have a firm grasp of what Christianity teaches. It is fairly common knowledge that when federal agents train to spot counterfeit money, they study the real thing first. The theory is that if the agents become very familiar with genuine money, they will be […]
The post A Crash Course in Christian Doctrine appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
I cannot count the number of times that I’ve had someone tell me that “all religions basically teach the same thing.” Really?! Do they? This is a difficult assertion to refute if you don’t actually know what other religions teach. When I met Lindsey Medenwaldt, I was ecstatic to learn that her passion was […]
The post Ever Wondered, “What do Other World Religions Actually Teach?” Good News! We’re Going to Have a 20-Part Series on it! appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
Do you sometimes wonder if bad things happen to you because you “don’t have enough faith?” If you do, chances are, you have heard a sermon or two (or more) based on the “gospel” of health and wealth. God wants you to be healthy! God will heal every time. . . as long as you […]
The post MBA 29: Does God Heal Every Time if we Ask in the “Right Way?” appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
In my previous post, I partially answered the question, “Why did God create the tree in the first place?” This question is a big one for little minds to wrap themselves around. For a child, creating the tree in the first place sounds like God was just asking for trouble. For the hardened skeptic, it […]
The post Did God Give Adam and Eve Enough Information to Make an “Informed Decision?” appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
One of the most common objections skeptics raise to the deity of Christ is the idea that Jesus never actually claimed to be God. Sure the church ended up worshiping Him as such, but this was a later development that was projected onto Jesus but wasn’t something He intended to claim for Himself….or so the argument goes. If you are […]
The post But Jesus Never CLAIMED to be God? Actually, He Did—3 Times appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
The other night, as I was tucking my five-year-old son into bed, I was encouraging him to pray. He asked Jesus into his heart nearly a year ago and has such a passion for studying the Bible, but he still struggles with the concept of prayer. And I have to admit, this has been a […]
The post Helping Our Kids to See God… When They Can’t Actually SEE Him appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
If you have never read the “resolutions” of Jonathan Edwards, you are missing out! As Rebekah and I discussed in our last podcast, Jonathan Edwards was an early-mid 18th century revivalist preacher. He is (unfortunately) best known for “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon, which– to understand the context — please listen […]
The post MBA 14: Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions Can Beat-up Your Resolutions appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.
In editing the most recent podcast, I realized that Rebekah and I threw the word “legalism” around a lot but never really defined it. Since I grew up in the church, the lingo is second-nature to me and I forget that not everyone knows what we are talking about. So, as an addendum to the podcast, […]
The post What Exactly do You Mean by “Legalism?” appeared first on Mama Bear Apologetics.