“Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” (Gen. 3:16)
Sin brings sparks of conflict to marriage. Connect jumper cables to a battery and you’ll find flickers and flashes when touching red on black. After the Fall, Eve became like the negative-charge, desiring to usurp her husband’s authority. Adam became like the positive-charge, tempted to rule his wife harshly. Put them together and…boom.
But marriage doesn’t guarantee relational explosions. There is hope. A clear understanding of Genesis 3:16 will save husbands and wives from fireworks and heartaches.
Someone once said, ‘The internet is the only place where someone who does not know you and has never seen you before, can speak into your life’s circumstances and have a profound impact on your life.’ This is proving to be true each passing day, and sadly, the consequences are quite devastating.
How did we get here? Before the internet era, people used ‘brick phones’, and news was not as readily available. In that age, a friend or family member could pass away, and you wouldn’t hear of it for years; a colleague would enjoy a blissful wedding with no camera, lights, live recordings, or choreography.
There are no bible verses that directly address the matters of owning a phone, taking a picture, social media applications, or having a Hollywood-style wedding, but there are verses that address the state of the human heart and the actions of man.
Marriage is a mystery and a remarkable creation of God. On Friday a man could be free and beholden to no one and by Saturday afternoon he’s attached to a woman for the rest of his life. Martin Luther said about the first year of marriage: “One wakes up in the morning and finds a pair of pigtails on the pillow which were not there before.”
The following posts are about choosing your pigtails wisely.
Genesis 4 records the world’s first murder. Brother against brother. Xenophobic attacks and acts of intimidation against African and Asian migrants in parts of South Africa have surfaced again. Xenowatch reports a total of 697 deaths in South Africa over the last 30 years, related to xenophobia.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines xenophobia as a “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.”
Sociologists and politicians often trace xenophobia back to rivalry over limited resources such as jobs, housing, and social services. Here are three reasons this symptom-level sociological analysis offers an unsatisfactory explanation:
James K. A. Smith, in his book You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (2016), observes how shopping malls have become modern-day cathedrals that subtly train our desires, shape our worldviews, and teach us what we ought to value as most important. The South African landscape is littered with these ‘centres of culture’ that promote consumerism and convenience.
If we add to the mix the sort of modern urban lifestyle that thinks of idolatry as the superstition of a bygone era of unsophisticated people, devoid of the advances of the scientific revolution, who bowed down to images made of stone, wood and metal, that means we have a pervasive cultural context wherein Christians should thoughtfully consider how the first and second commands of the Decalogue address the issues of materialism.
The English word “intercede” comes from two words meaning to “go between”. The Greek word means to speak to someone on behalf of another. Intercession is one of the four central kinds of prayer, remembered by the acronym ACTS. In adoration, we praise God in our prayers (Ps. 34:1-3). In thanksgiving, we express gratitude to him (Ps. 9:1-2). In confession, we acknowledge our sins (Ps. 41:4). In supplication, we make requests, either for ourselves or for others—which is intercession.
Scripture is filled with intercessory prayers. Abraham prayed that God would spare the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn. 18). Moses prayed for the people of Israel, that God would turn his burning anger away from them (Ex. 32:11; Ps. 106:23). While the angel was striking Israel, David prayed for them (2Sm. 24:17). Paul prayed for others “constantly”, “night and day” (2Tm. 1:3). Jesus often prayed for others, including little children (Mt. 19:13).
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer is the greatest example of intercessory prayer. In this prayer, Jesus interceded for those who believed in him (v. 20), with requests such as: (1) Knowledge of Christ (v. 3). (2) Eternal security (v. 11). (3) Unity (v. 11). (4) Joy (v. 13). (5) Protection from Satan (v. 15). (6) Sanctification (v. 17). (7) Seeing God’s glory (v. 24).
Postmodern ideologies—socialism, feminism, environmentalism, transgenderism, and post-colonialism—harbour a pernicious hostility toward beauty. Such ideologies have increasingly become a mainstay across the African continent.
This is the legacy of egalitarianism: in its attempt to neutralise, equalise, and androgynize all things, beauty is often the first casualty. Within an egalitarian framework, distinction and excellence are perceived as threats because both are hallmarks of beauty. Under this ideological dogma, standing out is treated as an offence, and excelling as an injustice.
The Triune God is the creator of everything in the universe.
In the beginning (Gn. 1:1), God made “the earth and all that is in it” (Neh. 9:6). He made his creation perfect, “good” (1Tm. 4:4), “very good” (Gn. 1:31), and “everything beautiful in its time” (Ecc. 3:11). “Good” precludes anything evil in creation before the Fall. The living God created the world ex nihilo, out of nothing (Gn. 1:1), without any pre-existing materials (Gn. 3:21).
He did so by a “word” (Hb. 11:3). He “spoke and it came to be” (Ps. 33:9); he “commanded” and the world was created (Ps. 148:5). The creation of the world was immediate, similar to the way Jesus instantly turned water into wine (Jn. 2:1-11) and fed the five thousand (Mt. 14:13-21). God also created the world with maturation, such as fully grown trees and Adam and Eve with the appearance of age.
In today’s African dating scene, many single Christians find themselves caught between cultural expectations, modern pressures, and the timeless call to holiness. From Johannesburg to Lagos, the pursuit of love often feels more like navigating an overcrowded marketplace than building covenant relationships, as this recent article laments. The church has often lacked in providing biblical counsel on how to overcome the challenges. How should single Christians approach the issue of dating and finding a spouse?
Why are single Christians often confused about dating relationships? Here are three reasons:
Suffering should be expected and embraced by Christians.
Jesus promised believers they would be “hated by all” for his sake (Mt. 10:22), delivered up to courts, flogged (Mt. 10:17), betrayed by friends (Lk. 21:16-17), and thrown into prison (Rv. 2:10). Paul said we must enter into the kingdom of God “through many tribulations” (Ac. 14:22).
Jesus warned Paul that he would suffer much (Ac. 9:16). “Do not be surprised,” John said, “that the world hates you” (1Jn. 3:13). “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2Tm. 3:1
2. Suffering began at the Fall and lands upon everyone.
Death is the only way to avoid suffering. Adam and Eve were created posse non peccare (able not to sin) but were told that if they ate of the wrong tree, they would die (Gn. 2:17). They disobeyed, bringing immediate spiritual death. Their sin also brought other forms of suffering, like pain in childbirth to women (Gn. 3:16), difficulty in labor to men (Gn. 3:17-19), and eventual death to all people (Gn. 5:5; Rm. 5:12).
Today, suffering is universal, as common as sparks that drift upwards (Job 5:7). Job, who lost all of his children, possessions, and health, said he was “few of days and full of trouble” (14:1). Jesus said: “In the world you will have tribulation” (Jn. 14:33).
Recently, Die Gereformeede Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) opposed another push for female leadership in their denomination. In their decision, they wrote: “The GKSA are convinced the Holy Scripture does not permit women to serve in the office of minister of the Word and/or elder.”
The GKSA, sometimes called “Doppers,” is a Calvinistic, Protestant denomination that was established in 1859 and includes over 370 congregations across several southern African countries. They are the most conservative of the three, Reformed “sister churches” in South Africa. The other two, the NGK and the NHKA, have long ago succumbed to female church leadership, making the GKSA’s stand all the more remarkable.
Parents and pastors are being asked this question, which begs a few prior questions: ‘Should a believer be a fan of Michael Jackson at all? Should Christians even listen to secular pop music? What does it mean for Christ to be Lord over all my entertainment choices?’
So far, the Michael movie is a huge hit here in Africa and globally, expected to gross over $1 billion. As a father and pastor, I am burdened to help those under my care to honour Christ in these realms of life too easily treated as off-limits, like art, music and leisure, so that we learn to give Christ “first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). None of life is neutral; all of it is full of meaning that must be discerned: “Whether then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
The Scriptures demand that God’s creatures glorify Him in everything. Whether we eat, whether we drink, whether we play, whether we work, whether we sing, whether we compose, whatever we do, we are to praise and give honor to God (1Co. 10:31). Johann Sebastian Bach loved instruments and singing and is known today as one of the greatest composers of all time. He dedicated his life to show the world that music is one of God’s greatest tools to glorify Jesus Christ.
Julius Mkhwanazi squirmed in his seat as he faced questions during the Madlanga Commission. Having been accused of criminality, political interference, and corruption, the suspended deputy police chief was evasive and vague as he was exposed as a liar.
Mkhwanazi is a shocking example of how the natural man twists the truth in order to cover up sin, and such deceit is sadly only too common throughout Africa. But it is also a stark reminder that “time and truth go hand in hand,” that is to say, lies eventually come to light. (Consider the ‘Watergate,” for example, an attempted cover-up in the USA government that was brought to light and resulted in the resignation of the President).
A ‘cover-up’ is ‘an attempt to prevent people discovering the truth about a serious mistake or crime.’ It is not a recent invention. About 3,000 years ago, David was the king of Israel. David had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, and he tried to cover-up his sin, he tried to hide his sin by murdering Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.
Singing belongs to every occasion. We sing in victory, like Moses who celebrated as the Egyptians sunk to the bottom of the sea (Ex. 15). We sing in marriage, like the Song of Solomon which expresses a husband’s love for his wife. We sing in rescue, like David who thanked God for delivering him from his enemies (2Sm. 22).
We sing in big events, like the Levites who rejoiced over the purification of the temple (2Ch 29:27-28). We sing in gratitude, like Mary who exalted the Lord for the privilege of birthing the Son of God (Luke 1:46-56). We sing in praise, like the angels who glorified God at the coming of baby Jesus (Lk. 2:13).
We sing in suffering, like Paul and Silas who cried aloud while shackled to a dungeon wall (Ac. 16:25). We sing in joy, like God who delights in His people (Zep. 3:17). We sing in humility, like the redeemed that fall down before the Lamb of God (Lk. 5:8-9).
In the early 18th century, God used the poetic compositions of Isaac Watts to help the church sing beautiful, doctrinally-rich songs to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On 23 March 2026, in-house lawyer Chinette Gallichan was murdered in cold blood outside the offices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration. In 2025, attorney Bouwer van Niekerk was shot in his own office, and at least 4 other whistleblowers were murdered.
On the heels of Gallichan’s death, the Minister of Justice said, “An attack of this nature undermines the rule of law and threatens the very foundation of our constitutional democracy. Legal practitioners play a critical role in ensuring access to justice, and their safety must be safeguarded at all times.” To that we say Amen. Yet the attacks continue unabated. Just recently, on 30 March, a municipal accountant in Emfuleni Municipality was murdered in another apparent hit.
The Scripture warns that it is far easier to see the faults in others than to observe the blemishes in our own lives. Rare is the man who examines his own weaknesses far more than the foibles of others. Matthew Henry was such an example. Pastor, preacher, father of a large family, and author of perhaps the most popular biblical commentary ever written, Matthew Henry never stopped examining his own heart in pursuit of holiness and Christ-likeness.
The Zimbabwean economy is somewhat of a roller coaster, maybe even a conveyor belt of never-ending outward hardships and trials. One recent addition to the pile was the expected but untimely increase in fuel prices. In Southern Africa, Zimbabwe’s fuel prices tower above those of its neighbours, and what is further perplexing is that the economy is more unstable than those of said neighbours.
The hiking of fuel prices affects numerous factors. Not only is one limited in travel, but all other commodities increase in price because goods and people use fuel to move around. Despite the increase in costs, one’s income rarely follows the same inclinations and often can be reduced, owing to major companies having to adjust their own payrolls.
Tinkering with the grace of God brings great offense to the Almighty. Some of history’s godliest giants at first disdained the Lord’s free gift of salvation, at times nibbling around the edges, seeking to yield only partial allegiance to Christ.
John Bunyan did not convert to Christ in a moment, nor was it an easy journey to the Celestial City. But when he finally saw that grace alone could wash away his sins, he took his place as one of the greatest preachers and writers the world has ever seen.
In Muslim parts of Africa, fierce persecution rages against Christians, even betrayal from their own relatives. But for those of us living in countries (like South Africa) that enjoy religious freedom, what if my unsaved family has not cut me off? Should I ever cut them off?
God’s Word shows that He loves for His salvation to spread through families – from Noah’s family saved with him in the ark, to the gospel reaching entire households in Acts, to an unsaved spouse or child “sanctified” by one believer in the home (1 Cor. 7:14), to sibling evangelism with Andrew bringing Peter, and James and John together following Christ.
Paul counsels us, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col. 4:5-6). How then can we “make the most of the opportunity” in witnessing to our lost loved ones? Here are 10 ways we can build bridges to reach unsaved family for Christ. (For my full audio seminar on this, go here.)
Throughout history, there has rarely been a time of greater persecution upon the church then against the 17th-century Christian minority called the Waldensians. These were peaceable Protestants that learned there was a time to fight.
Like the warrior Joshua of old, Captain Joshua Gianavel was a man of heroic bravery, unyielding resolve, endless energy, and risky creativity.
As a general par excellence, Gianavel was fast to make decisions and quick to carry them out. He knew well Jesus’ words to live as peacemakers but also understood a Christian’s calling to defend himself, his family, and his nation. By this, Gianavel models for believers when they must fight and when they must seek peace.
Christians in Northern Nigeria have been facing perennial persecution. According to a report by Intersociety, over 52,000 Christians have been murdered and 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools have been attacked by Islamist militants in the last 14 years. In 2025, Donald Trump, the president of the most powerful nation on earth, the USA, threatened to deal with the jihadists if they did not stop killing Christians.
On Christmas day in 2025, Africa woke up to the news from Donald Trump on Truth Social “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!…”
How should Christians in Africa react to Trump’s intervention in Nigeria? In this article, I propose two reactions.
Orators in imagery uses word pictures to explain, entertain, and delight. A gifted speakers doesn’t say, “I help people see clearly.” He says, “I am the light of the world.” He doesn’t say, “Fist fights get out of hand quickly.” He says, “A quarrel is like opening a floodgate.” He doesn’t say, “Chasing a wicked woman will get you in trouble.” He says, “Pursuing a harlot is like an ox going to slaughter.”
Jeremiah described rebellious Israel as a donkey sniffing the wind (Jer. 2:24). David said God’s words are sweeter than the prized drippings of a honeycomb (Ps. 19:10). King Solomon compared a scoundrel’s words to a runaway forest fire (Pr. 16:27) and a king’s anger to a lion’s roar (Pr. 20:2). These metaphors and hundreds more in Scripture help people understand the nature of God, the depths of their sin, the purpose of life, and the grandeur of Jesus.
Jesus was the master at imagery, using robbers, crops, weddings, spices, animals, coins and kings to explain the truth. In church history, one of the giants of word pictures was Thomas Watson, who learned that while he preached from the Bible, he could also paint with his words.
Ever since the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in 2008 in South Africa, social activists have been pressuring the church to do the same.
This raises the question: Does the category of “gay Christian” have biblical warrant? Is some form of homosexuality acceptable in the church?
A 2020 survey in the USA noted that among religious LGBTQ+ adults, 77% identified as Protestant, Roman Catholic or other Christian. Statistics for South Africa are unavailable, but are not expected to vary wildly from the USA statistics.
This discussion is important because, within the evangelical church, there are some who are desperate to make peace with the moral revolution and are looking to endorse the acceptance of openly gay individuals and couples within the life of the church. Sadly, many denominations have since accepted same-sex ideology and are even promoting it.
Here are three considerations when discussing the idea of homosexual Christians.
The Bible emphasizes doing tasks completely, heartily, and with all one’s might. John Owen, the great theologian of the Puritan movement, never did his work by halves but embraced the kind of thoroughness Colossians 3:23 promotes: “Work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
Whether it was writing catechisms for children, penning theological treatises, or preaching before Parliament, Owen worked with all his might.
“Stay out of my private life!” We expect to hear that in the world, but not in the church. Unsaved professionals might live a two-faced, double life – shining in public, while masking a home life in shambles. But if there is any one place, amidst this world of lies, where we expect integrity and honesty, it is God’s house, “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
That’s why we are rightly angered and dismayed every time we hear of hypocrites in the pulpit. In recent years in Africa, there have been an appalling number of public scandals of high-profile preachers who are now biblically disqualified by divorce, yet they refused to step down or soon returned to the pulpit: Ray McCauley; Chris Oyakhilome; Enoch Phiri; Joshua Iginla; Aloysius Bugingo, and the shameful list of villains goes on and on.
Visit the market town of Kidderminster in Worcestershire, England today and you’ll notice a statue of a man preaching, his right hand pointing upward and his left hand holding a book. This monument of Richard Baxter, the 17th century nonconformist minister, captures the three items he loved most: Heaven, preaching, and books—ultimately the greatest book of Scripture.
Gifted with a tenacious memory and an incomparable work ethic, Richard Baxter stands as the most prolific English theological writer of all time. A study of his life will illustrate an excellent model of Christians studiousness to the glory of God.
In every age, God’s people have lived within political orders not of their own making. The prophet Jeremiah instructed the exiles to “seek the welfare of the city” (Jer. 29:7), even when that city was Babylon. Likewise, Paul commanded prayer “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:2), even when Nero occupied the throne. Christians, therefore, are neither anarchists nor idolaters of the state.
Today, South Africa’s growing alignment with Iran, Russia, and China requires sober Christian evaluation. South Africa is a leading member of BRICS, alongside Russia, China, and others. In 2024, Iran formally joined this bloc. These relationships are often claimed to be an attempt to balance Western dominance and expand economic opportunity.
In principle, it is not sinful to diversify a nation’s trade relationships. Yet Scripture teaches that alliances are never morally neutral. Psalm 1 warns against walking “in the counsel of the wicked.”
Christians must ask: What kind of regimes are we drawing close to? What moral visions animate them?
John Milton is remembered today as one of England’s greatest poets, second only to William Shakespeare. But unlike the Bard of Avon, Milton was a committed Protestant that wrote with poetic genius, grandeur, and complexity.
Most have heard of Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost,his masterpiece and most famous work. But few know people that he wrote this work while enduring the most difficult trial of his life: blindness. Not one to sulk, Milton altered his course, and devoted himself to the work of his life. In doing so, he leaves the church an example of Spirit-filled adaptability.
