According to the Barna Group, about 45-50% of U.S. church attenders are self-reported introverts - and about half of those are “ambiverts” (a “best-of-both-worlds” mixture of extrovert and introvert traits). The following are the top ten most common introvert characteristics: Prefers solitude: Enjoys time alone to recharge and reflect. Deep thinker: Processes thoughts internally, often… Continue reading Introverts at Church
Category: Culture
The “Gossip” Problem
According to a survey I found, 61% of Christians who believe they were “forced out of church” blame gossip as the primary cause. Churches all across the nation warn of the dangers of gossip quite often – perhaps more than other sins like drunkenness or fornication. Ask anyone who has been in church for any… Continue reading The “Gossip” Problem
Is Christmas Pagan? (and Should We Care?)
The Christmas season is upon us as we shuffle off to busy stores to purchase presents for our loved ones in hopes that we can see the joy on their faces as they receive gifts that they will treasure for at least a few weeks before moving on to something newer. The yards all around… Continue reading Is Christmas Pagan? (and Should We Care?)
Graven Images
What doth the Bible say? “Image” first mention is the image of God – “our image” (Gen. 1:26) First mention of “graven” image is Exodus 20:4 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that… Continue reading Graven Images
The Family: Biblical Parenting and Godly Children
We began this discussion of the family dealing with the husband’s duty to his wife. We followed up talking about the wife’s duty to the husband. Now, I want to focus on the parents’ duty to their children. There are several variations of homes represented throughout our culture, and many of us have or are… Continue reading The Family: Biblical Parenting and Godly Children
The Family: The Role of the “Help Meet”
We previously discussed how a marriage in God’s eyes is between one man and one woman as they become one flesh. We also looked at several verses detailing how a husband is to LOVE (which is more difficult for men), CLEAVE (hold on to), PROVIDE (be a breadwinner, but also provide emotional/spiritual security), HONOR (respect),… Continue reading The Family: The Role of the “Help Meet”
The Family: Marriage and the Role of Husbands
It is often said that the Lord established three institutions – religion, civil government, and the home. The Devil has sought to destroy these institutions ever since their initiation. We are seeing a real time attack on all of these as we look around society today. Biblically based churches are losing ground to false gospels… Continue reading The Family: Marriage and the Role of Husbands
The Millstone
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. – Luke 17:2 We live in a culture that constantly offends children. Disney came out and said that they want to increase their LBGTQ representation in… Continue reading The Millstone
Culture as Both Product and Practice
CULTURE AS A PRODUCT Hall and Neitz (1993) provide an inclusive definition of culture that describes it as 1) ideas, knowledge (correct, wrong, or unverifiable belief), and recipes for doing things; 2) humanly fabricated tools (shovels, sewing machines, and computers); and 3) products of social action that can be drawn upon in the conduct of… Continue reading Culture as Both Product and Practice
The Case for the Cultural Study of Religion
RELIGION AND CULTURE Rituals, symbols, and myths have been at the forefront of the Sociology of Religion since Durkheim (1915) wrote of the prominence of beliefs, rights, and rituals in the worship of social life. Naturism, animism, and totemic beliefs are mostly bygone religions – relics of a pre-industrialized world, but Durkheim predicted that religion… Continue reading The Case for the Cultural Study of Religion
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