Celebrating Pride, Countering Shame: The Importance of Pride (Month) for Queer Christians
Olivia Yates shares about what Pride means to her as a queer Christian and how, despite the ongoing marginalisation of the LGBTQIA+ community, it can break the cycles of shame and rejection that many queer Christians face.
Have You Talked About Gender and Sexuality Today?
In the spirit of Pride Month, Rosie Fleming shares some resources and a challenge: how can you begin having better understandings and discussions of Queer gender and sexuality in your own life?
So, You’re Searching for a New Faith Community. What Comes Next?
Whether from burnout, spiritual trauma, or just a change of life’s circumstance, you might be searching for a new faith community. Jaimee van Gemerden shares some stories and some advice.
Religious Trauma and the Role of Lament
Amidst the rise of ‘spiritual refugees’ fleeing church scandals and religious trauma, Lindy Jacomb offers a reflection on the biblical practice of lament by which local churches can seek to become places of refuge, wholeness, and healing.
The Dangers of Success: My Time at a Megachurch
Cameron Jones reflects on his time on staff at a megachurch, working through spiritual abuse, and finding hope and sustainability in pastoral ministry.
No More Benefit of the Doubt
In the first of our series considering the fallout of ARISE Church, Stu McGregor argues that it’s time to stop giving the worst excesses of megachurch culture the benefit of the doubt.
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Let’s Talk About [Marital] Sex, Baby! Marriage, Sex, and Perspective
Andrew Clark-Howard reflects on being freshly married, reading about sex in the Bible, and dealing with the hangovers of purity culture as a man.
An Open Letter to David Farrier: When Do Megachurches Become Our Problem?
The editorial team at Metanoia respond to David Farrier’s coverage of the culture of narcissism and exploitation existing at one of New Zealand’s biggest churches, Arise.
Sexual Misconduct in the Church: The Tightrope of Grace and Accountability
Jaimee van Gemerden reflects on two recent stories of sexual misconduct in Christian organisations—Hillsong Church and Christianity Today—and the way they illustrate ongoing tensions between grace and accountability.
Flourishing: A Life Well Lived
Christa McKirland offers a theological reflection on what it means to be human amidst a flawed, but hopeful, world.
Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby! A Personal Reflection on Sex-Talk and Sin
A contributor shares personally and vulnerably about the twisted ideas about sex that they imbued growing up and laments the way it distorted her understanding of sexuality as a Christian.
Life on the Other Side of Death
Colin Gruetzmacher offers a pastoral reflection on the meaning of Easter amidst the difficulties of the last few years.
Let’s Talk about Purity Culture, Baby! Song of Songs and Female Desire
Against purity culture which shames female desire and bodies, Stephanie Chan 陳雪瑩 offers an interpretation of the Song of Songs which celebrates female longing and the physicality of sex and love.
Human Rights and the Gospel: A Practical Tool for Justice in Uncertain Times
Margaret Bedggood explores the foundations of international human rights law and the way offers Christians an important and practical way to enact social justice.
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Let’s Talk about Sex [Toys], Baby! God, Pleasure, and Taboo
A contributor discusses complex, taboo-ridden world of sex toys, pleasure, and masturbation, seeking to explore an honest, realistic, scriptural view of the issues at hand.