The Practicality of Christlike Headship

Last updated on: September 8, 2014 at 8:20 am By Owen Strachan

It’s no secret that the biblical term “head” and the theological concept “headship” are not popular today. This is true because they elegantly explain the husband’s role in marriage. He is head of his wife according to Ephesians 5:22-33. I just wrote a piece entitled “10 Ways to Exercise Christlike Headship” for the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood that spells out 10 practical, boots-on-the-ground ways that men can exercise Christlike headship in the home. This is the Bible’s summative... Read more

5 Thoughts on the Cal State System Derecognizing InterVarsity

Last updated on: September 5, 2014 at 7:31 pm By Owen Strachan

Just saw this from the Mission News Network: College campuses continue to derecognize any religious organizations requiring leaders to hold a set of beliefs. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has been derecognized by all California State University schools. That means 23 chapters of InterVarsity essentially have been kicked off of campus. Read the whole thing. (HT: Phillip Bethancourt) Here’s what this represents in terms of loss of witness in California: “With 23 campuses, almost 447,000 students, and 45,000 faculty and staff, we are the largest,... Read more

Propelling the Gospel Ahead: David Platt and the SBC’s Future

Last updated on: August 27, 2014 at 12:32 pm By Owen Strachan

Today, the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention announced that Birmingham pastor David Platt–who spoke powerfully on gospel-driven singleness for CBMW at our 2014 Nat’l Conference— is its new President. This is nothing less than tremendous news. Platt is the author of Radical and related books and has essentially inherited the mantle of John Piper as the Christian leader who has given thousands of younger evangelicals a grand vision of God and a big vision of the Christian life. His messages... Read more

How Christian Rappers Are Leading the Way in Ferguson

Last updated on: August 16, 2014 at 12:39 pm By Owen Strachan

I’m hundreds of miles away from St. Louis, but I grieve over the racial strife and civil unrest there. With many others, I pray for an end to this situation. I do know one thing quite clearly: in the midst of this awful turmoil, Christians are speaking out. In particular, two Christian rappers are raising their voice to appeal for peace. Thi’sl, a St. Louis rapper with Full Ride Music Group who was profiled a few years back here, planned a forum... Read more

Church Polity and External Boards: Does the Bible Speak to This?

Last updated on: August 14, 2014 at 1:11 pm By Owen Strachan

Like many, I have been following the events at Mars Hill Church in Seattle with a mixture of emotions. Like many, I love Mark Driscoll and have learned a lot from him. I’ve been emboldened by him (from afar). I’ve reevaluated my identity as a man because of him. He’s instructed me (from afar) in cultural engagement and gospel-driven Christianity. I want Mark and MHC to thrive. I’ve been to a Sunday service at the church, have visited Driscoll in... Read more

Great News from CBMW: Campaign a Success

Last updated on: August 12, 2014 at 11:48 am By Owen Strachan

I’ve got some great news to report from CBMW’s recent matching campaign. We were seeking to raise $25,000 and, by God’s grace, went well beyond that. Here’s the report from Executive Director Grant Castleberry, whose excellent work raised a major portion of the total amount: This summer we launched a giving campaign called Stand Against the Tide. The campaign was started when a donor offered to give $25,000 if other ministry partners would match the gift. So we sought the Lord for clarity... Read more

On Gungor and Whether Doubt Is Okay

Last updated on: August 5, 2014 at 8:02 pm By Owen Strachan

Yesterday, WORLD magazine ran a story on the band Gungor and how the theology it articulates in its music has shifted away from orthodoxy. Michael Gungor in particular now embraces “God as woman” theology (which I recently covered at great length) and is emphasizing the role of doubt in his personal makeup. According to WORLD, Gungor now does not believe in a historical Adam or the flood. He has “no more ability to believe in these things then I do to believe in... Read more

Josh Barro: “Stamp Out” Those Who Disagree with LGBT Advocates

Last updated on: July 24, 2014 at 1:56 pm By Owen Strachan

My friend Andrew Walker and I just wrote a piece for National Review entitled “‘Stamp Them Out’: On Josh Barro and the New Sexual Moralism.” Here’s what it’s about: Last night, New York Times reporter Josh Barro tweeted out a disturbing message: “Anti-LGBT attitudes are terrible for people in all sorts of communities. They linger and oppress, and we need to stamp them out, ruthlessly.” This is rather shocking. Barro is no angry blogger writing manifestos in his basement. He is a respected reporter from a prestigious... Read more

Being Single to Give God Glory

Last updated on: July 22, 2014 at 7:45 am By Owen Strachan

As you might have noticed, the culture is in a state of sexual upheaval: young people are marrying later, having less kids, and embracing lifestyles that would stun their ancestors. In the midst of this turmoil, Christians are having a fresh conversation about singleness. Our take on singleness, after all, differs markedly from the world’s. We don’t live a single life as a man or woman to gratify our deepest urges or shirk responsibility. Whether single or married, we embrace... Read more

Introducing CBMW Longform: The Chelsea Soccer Star Turned Preacher

Last updated on: July 21, 2014 at 7:57 am By Owen Strachan

I’m excited to announce a new project of the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood. Many of us today enjoy “long-form” journalism, the kind that allows gifted writers to tell stories at length, without the crimping of a 500-word article. We’re starting CBMW Longform to do just this: to tell great stories of godly men and women who love the gospel, treasure biblical sexual ethics, and live to God’s glory. Our first story in the series, entitled “Gavin Peacock’s Moment,”... Read more