Counterfeit kingdom: 10 popular lies the world uses to replace Christ



The reign of Christ represents the ultimate standard of truth, justice, and righteousness.

However, throughout history, various ideologies, practices, and worldviews have emerged as counterfeits of His rule. These counterfeits often appear to address societal needs but ultimately deviate from biblical truth, undermining God’s design for humanity and creation.

Below are 10 prominent counterfeits of the reign of Christ, structured to highlight their biblical contradictions and societal implications.

1. Socialism as opposed to meritocracy based on sowing and reaping

The Bible affirms the principle of sowing and reaping, as outlined in Galatians 6:7: “A man reaps what he sows.”

This principle underpins a meritocratic system where individuals are rewarded for their labor, diligence, and stewardship. Socialism, by contrast, redistributes resources regardless of effort, undermining personal responsibility and the biblical work ethic. While Scripture calls for generosity and care for the poor, these are voluntary acts of worship, not enforced governmental mandates.

Socialism’s overreach becomes a counterfeit of Christ’s reign by placing the state, not God, as the provider and sustainer of life.

2. Binary image of God vs. gender fluidity

Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

This binary distinction reflects God’s image and is integral to humanity’s ability to exercise dominion over creation. The rise of gender fluidity undermines this divine design, reducing the image of God to a subjective construct. Transgender ideologies fail to fully express the complementary nature of male and female in reflecting God’s glory.

This counterfeit challenges the lordship of Christ, as it distorts the foundational aspect of humanity’s role as God’s image-bearers.

3. Man-centered tyranny vs. Christo-centric justice

Human history is rife with examples of man-centered tyranny, from the Roman emperors to modern authoritarian regimes.

These governments often exalt human leaders as ultimate authorities, disregarding God’s justice and righteousness. Psalm 72 provides a stark contrast, portraying the reign of Christ as a rule of justice for the poor, deliverance for the oppressed, and flourishing for all people.

Tyranny is a counterfeit to Christ’s reign because it subjugates people for selfish gain rather than uplifting them under God’s righteous rule.

4. Civic sovereignty vs. Christ-centered republican democracy

Since the days of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-12), humankind has sought to centralize power in defiance of God’s laws.

The Tower of Babel is a clear example of civic sovereignty gone wrong. Modern forms of centralized national or global governance that contradict biblical values are counterfeits to Christ’s reign. A Christ-centered republic acknowledges God’s sovereignty, upholds justice, and limits human power, ensuring that no government becomes an idol that replaces God’s rule.

5. Human autonomy vs. the law of the Lord

The rejection of divine law in favor of human autonomy has led to chaos and moral decay.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 warns, “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Modern movements to decriminalize theft, drug possession, and other crimes reflect a rejection of law and order. This lawlessness is a counterfeit to the reign of Christ, whose law brings peace and order.

Without submission to God’s law, societies cannot flourish under His justice and righteousness.

6. Same-sex marriage vs. biblical marriage

The apostle Paul described marriage as a profound mystery that reflects Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). Biblical marriage between one man and one woman points to this eternal reality. Same-sex marriage, as a counterfeit, distorts this divine institution, replacing God’s design with human preferences.

By undermining the covenantal nature of marriage, this counterfeit challenges the reign of Christ, who established marriage as a picture of His sacrificial love for humanity.

7. One-generation narcissism vs. multi-generational blessing

Western culture often prioritizes individual pleasure and comfort over the biblical mandate to raise godly offspring. This one-generation mindset results in declining birth rates and a loss of vision for the future.

Psalm 78:4-7 calls for parents to teach God’s ways to their children, ensuring a multi-generational blessing. Narcissistic individualism is a counterfeit to the reign of Christ, as it neglects the importance of generational faithfulness and the perpetuation of God’s covenant through families.

8. Workaholism vs. Sabbath-keeping

The French Revolution’s attempt to abolish the seven-day week in favor of a ten-day calendar exemplified humanity’s rebellion against God’s design. Sabbath-keeping is a sign of God’s covenant with His people, reminding us that He is the ultimate sovereign (Exodus 31:13). Workaholism, by contrast, places trust in human effort rather than God’s provision.

This counterfeit denies the reign of Christ by rejecting the rest and worship that acknowledge His Lordship over time and resources.

9. 'My body, my choice' vs. the sanctity of life

The mantra “my body, my choice” epitomizes the rejection of God’s authority over life.

Psalm 139:13-16 declares that God forms each person in the womb, and Jeremiah 1:5 affirms that He knows individuals even before birth. Abortion, as a counterfeit, denies the sanctity of life and challenges the reign of Christ, who is the Creator and sustainer of all life. This ideology exalts human autonomy over God’s sovereignty, leading to the devaluation of human life.

10. State rights over children vs. parental stewardship

Psalm 127:3 states, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

God entrusts parents with the responsibility of raising and discipling their children according to His ways (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). The growing trend of state intervention in parental rights, from education to health care, is a counterfeit to Christ’s reign. When the state assumes the role of primary caregiver, it usurps the God-ordained authority of parents and undermines the biblical model of family stewardship.

Each of these 10 counterfeits reflects humanity’s rebellion against Christ’s reign and the divine order established in Scripture. While they promise progress or freedom, they ultimately lead to chaos, oppression, and brokenness.

As followers of Christ, we are called to discern these counterfeits and uphold His reign in every area of life. By aligning our lives with biblical truth, we bear witness to His kingdom’s justice, mercy, and righteousness, both now and in the age to come.

This article was originally published on Joseph Mattera's website.

The shocking reality I found after investigating claims of miraculous healing



Are miracles real? And do they still happen today?

These questions have dominated my life over the past two years as I’ve traversed America exploring some of the most compelling claims of miraculous healing — stories that seem too bombastic to be believable.

The scenarios I was confronted with were mind-bending.

Yet the evidence in the cases I encountered while making my new documentary, “Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles,” was so compelling that it absolutely demanded a pertinent exploration as well as a verdict.

And if I’m honest, the determination I came to at the conclusion of filming will likely make the heads of some of the staunchest secularists implode.

It’s no secret that the vast majority of Americans believe miracles still happen today. In 2010, the Pew Forum on Religion found that 80% of Americans embraced miracles, and more recent data shows such beliefs continue to be prevalent among the general populace.

There’s a primary reason so many people persist in believing in the miraculous: their personal and lived experiences.

These individuals and their friends and loved ones have undoubtedly encountered inexplicable events and happenings throughout their lives — occurrences that have come to shape and enhance their openness to the supernatural.

Frankly, most people have seen happenings they simply cannot explain. Some have endured even more elevated experiences, including shocking medical healings and other incidents that have led them to definitively believe the divine is actively at work.

But my job in producing and hosting this film wasn’t to take these anecdotal examples of miracle claims at face value. Instead, it was to skeptically explore some of the supposedly ironclad miracle healing stories in a way that left absolutely no room for whims or personal opinion.

My primary task alongside Emmy-nominated director Jarrod Anderson was to examine the evidence and allow viewers to determine whether there truly are credible cases of medical healings that defy skeptics’ penchant for hole-poking.

Despite my staunchest efforts to approach the topic with skepticism and intense questioning, the scenarios I was confronted with were mind-bending, to say the least.

First, I met neuroscientist Dr. Joshua Brown, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, a condition for which there was no medical treatment. With no viable interventions, he and his wife turned to prayer — and his tumor vanished.

Again, it sounds unbelievable. But the medical documentation and experience speak for themselves, all details we unpack in “Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles,” allowing viewers to weigh all of the evidence at hand and decide for themselves what they believe led to Brown’s healing.

Some might seek to dismiss such an experience, but skeptics face an uphill battle, as the neuroscientist isn’t alone in his radical healing journey. In the film, you’ll also meet Bryan Lapooh, a former police officer in New Jersey who was paralyzed in a work accident and embarked on a horrific, 10-year period of paralysis that included excruciating pain and suffering.

During that time, Lapooh and his wife ventured on a monumental prayer and healing quest — but, at first, to no avail. After a decade of praying for healing, his wife, Meg, asked him to attend a Christian conference to try one final time.

At that event, Bryan made his way to the stage, where he was prayed for, received healing, and walked out of the building on his own — something that was deemed medically impossible. It’s a case that shocked his doctors as he, even today, remains out of his brace and fully functional.

The cases only intensify from there, with another man, Jeff Markin, suffering a massive heart attack. After being pronounced dead and remaining clinically deceased for 40 minutes, he came back to life with no brain damage.

Again, these cases seem otherworldly and almost incomprehensible, but our investigation led us to an ultimate realization: Something inexplicable was afoot.

Beyond this obvious conclusion, we were left with the most natural of questions: If tumors disappeared, paralysis was vanquished, and a man came back from the dead, what, exactly, sparked these incredible events?

And if miracles are real, what does that mean for our faith and how do we process the moments when healings don’t unfold, even despite our most fervent prayers?

Exploring these questions through the eyes of those who claim to have experienced miracles was eye-opening, convicting, and transformational, as it challenged everything I thought I knew about faith and miracles and left me with a renewed perspective.

“Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles” will do the same for those who watch. You can stream the film right now here.

War on truth: Why 'science' keeps changing — but the Bible endures forever



What we call "science" in Western culture has been weaponized for many decades to legitimize whatever narrative the powerful want to push.

This should be self-evident after the COVID-19 debacle, where nearly everything that was labeled a "conspiracy theory" turned out to be true, and nearly everything the powerful told us turned out to be false. Remember President Biden threatening us with a “winter of death” or promising that the shot would prevent contracting COVID?

Christianity is a complete, evidence-based worldview that stands on its own

But it goes back much further than that, and it isn't always about following the money, although that's a pretty reliable measure of who's benefitting from any particular research study.

Now, in the "I didn't see that coming" department, there was a recently published peer-reviewed medical journal article that criticizes corrupt medical journals and their corrupt peer-reviewed studies. Um, what?

Since virtually all the "science" that gets reported in the media — the "science" on which public policy is made and the "science" that subsequently affects our everyday lives in countless ways — tends to stem from peer-reviewed research in medical journals, this is a significant admission.

Obviously, our mainstream media has not reported it, but we can come back to that another day. For now, I want to focus on the result of the faulty assumption that "science" provides unassailable answers to any questions — much less life's biggest searches for truth. Because for many decades now, the most unquestionable, absolutely carved-in-solid-rock "truth" from "science" is this: Everything evolved from something else, and we are all a product of nothing but random chance.

But that is simply not true.

God's word isn't fooling around

When Moses, the author of Genesis, wrote the first five books of the Bible, he was not writing metaphorically.

Moses recorded history in great detail, beginning with the origin of time all the way through Israel's exodus from Egypt to God's faithfulness in the wilderness. But what I want you to see is how Moses records the first seven days of creation.

At the end of every divine act of creation, Moses records God uttering a holy declaration over His finished work: "And God saw that it was good," and in the case of humans, "very good." The reality is that until the Fall, described in Genesis 3, there was no death in the world God had created.

This is where the theory of evolution crumbles, according to scripture.

The theory of evolution requires death — and a lot of it — before humans even come on the scene. But if death had been part of God's original creation, He would not have described it as "good." The Bible, therefore, easily discredits the "science" of secularism's evolutionary golden calf.

Our uniqueness in God's creation

But Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 both teach that God made humans in His image. In fact, He made us with His own hands and breathed into us His spirit to bring us to life. In contrast, all of the other creatures and the rest of natural creation were simply spoken into existence.

It bears repeating: God made humans in His image. Animals are not equivalent to humans. Nature is not equivalent to humans. Each and every human being is a precious creature made in the image of God. This is why believers must be pro-life and opposed to any philosophy that places any other creature or creation above human life.

This, of course, has political ramifications.

We are not going to support, for example, protecting a tiny fish with a policy that puts human life at risk (looking at you, California). Of course, if you think you are just an advanced form of a monkey, you don't really have any grounds on which to say you're more important than the little fish. And many people in the world put themselves in that category according to their worldview.

But the scriptural worldview — that God created the world and He specially designed humans — is just one of the preliminary arguments that explain why believers must not try to fit the "evolution square peg" in the "creation round hole."

Do people have to understand and believe in biblical creation to be saved? No, they do not. But once we place faith in Jesus, we want to learn as much as we can about Him, and that means understanding the beginning of creation.

We should not acquiesce to a theory that has never and can never be proven; a theory that tells us we are random cogs in a wheel with no greater meaning; a theory that is presented as “the science” without the evidence to back it up.

I’m confident stating this: Christianity is a complete, evidence-based worldview that stands on its own — and the whole Bible, including the opening chapters, supports that big picture.

This article was adapted from an essay originally published on Diane Schrader's Substack, She Speaks Truth.

Dylan Mulvaney, 'The View' try doing theology — but it goes comically wrong



It should go without saying: Don't tune into "The View" for lessons on God and theology.

But that didn't stop the progressive talk show from recently veering into theology while interviewing transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, using the assertion that "God doesn't make mistakes" to defend and promote transgender ideology.

First, Mulvaney claimed "God doesn't make mistakes" while explaining that his "conservative Catholic" family has come to terms with his decision to be transgender after he allegedly discovered his transgender identity at age 4. Later, while discussing transgender athletes, Whoopi Goldberg doubled down on the astounding theological claim.

  • Mulvaney: "I think my mom said something along the lines of, ‘God doesn’t make mistakes.’ ... I don’t think God sees me as a mistake, and I actually am still really trying to keep a relationship with the higher power because I think that, you know, trans and queer people are entitled to that if that’s what they’re looking for."
  • Goldberg: "I'm not sure what's going on or why this is an issue. The same for me as when people say, 'Oh, you know, I don’t know how I feel about you.' You do. God doesn’t make mistakes. And the challenge is not to the trans people. It’s to the people who are not trans. That’s what God is looking to see, how you treat people."

Not so fast

On the surface, their claim about God is true.

Make no mistake about it: God doesn't make "mistakes." God creates every human being in His image with inherent worth, dignity, and purpose. This is an elementary understanding of Christian theology in general, and with regard to human bodies specifically, the basic claim of Christian anthropology.

Instead of defending trans ideology, they showed how God's perfect design and the trans agenda cannot coexist.

But a closer examination of their assertion reveals a blinding contradiction: affirming trans ideology stipulates that God does make mistakes. That's because the framework of trans ideology is built on the idea that a trans-identifying person is "born in the wrong body" and that their "true" self is distinct (and different) from the truth of their biological body.

Not only does trans ideology assume that God makes mistakes, but the ideology necessarily affirms the idea that human intervention is required to remedy God's "mistakes."

Trans ideology attempts to overturn divine sovereignty and replace it with the secular god of human self-perception, a principle of our post-truth age.

But here is the truth: Our biological sex is not an accident, and our bodies are not mistakes that require human intervention to "correct." And because God is sovereign and because He doesn't make mistakes, it is our responsibility and duty to trust Him — especially when we don't understand or when our internal perception about our identity (and biological sex) is confused.

Every human is fearfully and wonderfully made, crafted by the hand of a loving God.

Commandment, broken

What Mulvaney and Goldberg claimed about God, when analyzed in its context, is a clear violation of the second law of the Ten Commandments.

"You shall not bear the name of the Lord your God in a vain and empty manner," Exodus 20:7 declares.

The command is not limited to our speech acts about God but certainly includes them. To use God's authority, as Mulvaney and Goldberg did, to defend an ideology contrary to God's design is a clear violation of the commandment because they are promoting a lie about God Himself (i.e., that transgenderism is congruent with His will and His plan for humanity).

Saying that "God doesn't make mistakes" in defense of trans ideology is a clear misrepresentation of God. They twisted a divine truth for their own means, ultimately using God as a rhetorical prop for the pro-trans agenda.

In other words, they bore the Lord's name in a vain and empty manner.

Irony alert

Claiming that "God doesn't make mistakes" to defend and promote trans ideology actually undermines the trans agenda.

If God's creation is without mistake, then the core idea of trans ideology — that a trans-identifying person was "born in the wrong body" and requires human intervention to correct the "mistake" — is wrong. If God doesn't make mistakes, then He did not mistakingly put anyone in the "wrong body."

The irony is strong.

Mulvaney and Goldberg want to use God's authority and His perfection to defend trans ideology, but they instead expose a flaw in their own worldview: If God's design of each human is intentional and without mistake, then the idea that a trans-identifying person needs to "correct" their body is an admission that trans ideology is built on a false premise, a lie. If God doesn't make mistakes, then there is no need for trans "corrective" measures.

The weight of the contradiction dismantles their argument.

In the end, their attempt at theology failed and backfired. Instead of defending trans ideology, they showed how God's perfect design and the trans agenda cannot coexist.

The only mistake here is the ideology that demands humans "correct" God's mistake-free design.

How modern art became a freak show — and why only God can fix it



I was in college when I was first introduced to modern art. I don’t remember which museum I was visiting, but I keenly recall one painting that a group of hip-looking art students was clustered around while muttering nonsensical jargon.

Once I nudged my way around the observers, I saw what all the fuss was about. Well, I saw it, as in I looked at it, but I didn’t understand it. It’s been a decade, and I still don’t understand it. The “painting” they were captivated by featured a horizontal purple line bisecting an otherwise blank canvas. That’s it — just a straight purple line.

Once upon a time, art actually had to be good to be considered art.

According to the plaque next to the “artwork,” the artist wanted to capture infinity.

I love the concept of infinity. It speaks of galaxies bursting in starlight, oceans that plunge to unfathomable depths, or perhaps sunbeams fracturing storm clouds with golden radiance.

But a purple line? Is it a stretch to say Buzz Lightyear had a better grip on infinity than this artist?

My mom, who is an excellent oil painter, has an even better story about the modern art world. A few years ago, she decided to go back to school and get her art degree. She lives just a short drive from one of the most prestigious art schools in the state, so her path seemed set. But one semester is all it took for her to drop out of the program.

The most celebrated art at the school, she told me, wasn’t just talentless — it was downright disturbing. One installation that was so prized by the professors that it was put on display showcased a red-spattered pedestal sink filled with faux human teeth and a pair of pliers. A mirror with the word “smile” written in (she hopes) red paint hung above.

The school, by the way, had no shortage of extraordinarily talented young artists. They just weren’t lauded like the ones who specialized in the strange and grotesque.

You know, once upon a time, art actually had to be good to be considered art. And before that, it had to point to something greater than ourselves.

What spurred this seismic shift where suddenly absurd simplicity and morbid depictions of self-torture are not only considered art but are celebrated as tours de force?

I ventured off into the ether seeking answers.

But first ...

I’ve anticipated the question I know many of you are asking: Well hold on, isn’t beauty in the eye of the beholder?

I used to think so because that’s what the aesthetic experts say, the modern ones, anyway. But who’s trusting “experts” these days? Now, I put more stock in my gut. And my gut tells me that it’s man’s hubris that tells him he’s the arbiter of beauty and that what we call "aesthetics" is far more objective than we’ve been told.

After all, aesthetics, at their core, are divine in origin. God, beauty’s source and essence, set the standard long before He created man and gave him, as an imager, an inferior ability to create. Scriptural accounts of the heavenly realm paint mesmerizing illustrations of celestial splendor beyond imagination.

The heavens open before Ezekiel, and he sees God’s sapphire throne radiating rainbows (Ezekiel 1:26-27). John has a vision of God glittering like a gemstone on His throne that emits an emerald halo of light (Revelation 4:2-3).

And then, of course, in Genesis 1, God creates the natural world, which despite millennia of human meddling, is still visually stunning — at least the parts we haven’t destroyed yet.

But even after He was finished creating the spiritual realm, the Earth, and man — the crowning jewel of physical creation — God still had more to say about beauty. There are numerous examples I could cite that capture His clear aesthetic preferences, but none, I think, so persuasive as the instructions He gives David for His temple, which Solomon built.

In accordance with God’s commands, “[Solomon] overlaid the inside with pure gold. He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs. He adorned the temple with precious stones. And the gold he used was gold of Parvaim. He overlaid the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls, and doors of the temple with gold, and he carved cherubim on the walls” (2 Chronicles 3:4-7).

There was “no pragmatic reason” or “utilitarian purpose” for all this ornamentation, wrote American theologian and philosopher Francis Schaeffer in “Art and the Bible.”

“God simply wanted beauty in the temple” because “God is interested in beauty.”

These are some of the ways God set an aesthetic standard for humans to emulate.

What’s interesting is that we actually tend to agree that this standard is a good one. The most obvious example is nature. I dare you to find someone who doesn’t marvel at mountains, starry skies, and melting sunsets. Extensive research in evolutionary psychology has also found that symmetrical faces with balanced proportions are universally considered more appealing. The same can be said for certain musical notes and colors.

The best case for the objectivity of beauty, however, was made by architect and design theorist Christopher Alexander. In “The Nature of Order,” he outlined a simple but powerful experiment: He showed participants two contrasting images (e.g., a colorful slum vs. a stark modern home, a Persian rug vs. a plain rug, a Gothic window vs. a modern square one) and asked them to choose which image had “more life” in it and made them feel “more whole.”

Overwhelmingly, the participants — regardless of age, culture, and background — agreed on which image it was. (P.S. It wasn’t the designer house, the plain rug, or the modern window).

My friend Ren Miller, who’s studied and written about Alexander’s work, summarizes it like this: “There is more agreement on what beauty is when people see it rather than intellectualize about it. ... An agreed-upon hierarchy of beauty exists.”

As it turns out, mankind can’t help but prefer vivacity over sterility, harmony over dissonance, life over death. It's almost as if he were created to be drawn to things that are good — “good” as in they are an outflow of the only One who is good. Funny how that works.

That’s not to say we all want to feature the same kind of artwork in our homes, though. Certainly, there is great variance in what humans find beautiful, but that diversity still exists within the scope of what God has already created and called good. Our personal preferences are not a negation of these foundational aesthetic principles.

Why hideous modern art then?

So if beauty is fairly objective, how, then, does that square with society’s celebration of modern art, which is often characterized by morbidity, nihilism, irreverence, and fragmentation — the very things humans have an innate aversion to?

In my last article, I pondered the potential advantages of welcoming aesthetics back into the low Protestant church, where they’ve been outright forbidden or strictly limited for the past 500 years as a result of the Reformation, which, for all its profound contributions in regard to democratizing scripture and exposing corruption in the Roman Catholic Church, overcorrected in its position on art — especially as it relates to the movement’s iconoclasm.

Scottish historian Peter Marshall called the Reformation an “artistic holocaust."

“Wherever the Reformation triumphed, it ruthlessly destroyed a priceless artistic and cultural inheritance,” he wrote.

But it did something else, too. It forced the church to release the reins on art. And over time, secular society picked them up. Of course it did. Whenever the church goes silent on any matter, certainly other voices will rise to take its place.

This is what they said in chronological order:

The Scientific Revolution (16th-17th centuries):

Reason trumps reverence; science beats spirituality. Beauty is no longer an act of worship but an act of empirical study. Art shall mirror physical reality, not invisible spirits, celestial throne rooms, and chimerical prophesies. What we can see and touch — that is what matters. Sever art’s divine moorings; anchor it to something we can measure.

The Enlightenment (late 17th to 18th centuries):

There is no divine mandate. Rationality, reason, and morals are the virtues of man; he holds the universe on his shoulders, not some obscure deity in the clouds. Forge ahead with intellect, burying superstition and religious tradition as the relics they are. Let art return to classical antiquity when rationality, balance, and order prevailed. Let it tell the story of enlightened man and his vast wisdom through marble heroes, portraits of society’s elite, and manicured landscapes. Embrace the secular, abandon the sacred.

The Industrial Revolution (late 18th to mid-19th centuries):

You see! — Man is supreme. Look at what he’s built: the steam engine, the telegraph, mechanized production — all products of his genius! Let art reflect industry’s gritty might and titan strength. And make it a commodity for the masses. Who needs potters when factories grind, carpenters when assembly lines crank, spinners and weavers when steam-powered mills roar? Churn it out. Let the people gorge.

Modernism (late 19th to mid-20th century):

Now, see, these wars — the death, the brutality, the uncertainty. Who escapes? Better to embrace. There’s no one coming to save us. Create as all goes dark. Let the canvas be a vehicle for the darkness in and around you. Scream. Mock. Rebel. Intuition, emotion, and thought alone guides the artist’s hand.

Postmodernism (mid-20th century to current day):

Everything’s a joke now. We’re all just cogs in a machine grinding ourselves to dust in this meaningless void. Have a little fun before it’s over. Tell your truth. Anything goes. No, really — anything. Art is whatever you want it to be. Gruesome? Sure. Cynical? Absolutely. Silly? Why not? Sanctity, tradition, and objectivity are long dead. We’re in the wasteland now.

Out of the wasteland

It is in this artistic wasteland we find ourselves now — celebrating purple lines and bloody teeth in a sink. But when you look at the aesthetic zeitgeist of each cultural wave following the Reformation, are you surprised? I’m not.

It’s almost mathematical: God’s vision of beauty – the church’s voice + the world’s ever-increasing darkness = total artistic debasement and collapse.

Art is crucial in God’s cosmic story.

I don’t mean to suggest that every one of these secular currents was all bad. Undoubtedly, each era had its bright moments and brilliant minds. I don’t mean to suggest that all post-Reformation art has been worthless, either. That would be absurd. Beautiful works (not all religious) have emerged from every age — even Modernism and Postmodernism — the periods that birthed these strange, warped creations I’ve been condemning.

Yet, none of this changes the truth that art’s sacred anchor is gone — 500 years gone. Are we better for it?

You know my answer.

But can beauty actually become an ideal again?

I hope so. This cold machine-world we live in desperately needs the softness and warmth beautiful art offers. Unwinding half a millennium of aesthetic secularism is no small endeavor, though. But if I had to suggest a starting point, I would say that we ought to fix what broke in the first place: the church’s voice.

Her silence needs to end. She can speak up by reclaiming art as part of God’s plan — and as part of the church.

Art is crucial in God’s cosmic story. Anyone who protests that would do well to remember that the Bible begins with an act of creation. Not only were humans part of that design, but they were also imbued with God’s ability and hunger to make things, meaning the act of creating was meant to continue.

Sadly over time, sin and darkness mutated humanity’s creative bend. You saw the drift. The more the West distanced itself from God and truth, the more twisted and alien the works of our hands became. And all this while, the Protestant church, especially her “low” branches, was quiet.

What would happen if she weren't quiet anymore? What if artistic tradition was revived within her walls so that a world starving for depth and meaning might behold genuine beauty and wonder what other soul-nourishment lies there?

Romantic composer Gustav Mahler said, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

I think that’s often true. Rekindling the sacred art of old isn’t about nostalgia or even reverence. It’s about preserving the spirit and energy of an age that was keenly aware of art’s divine origins and the role it plays in God’s kingdom.

Five centuries of silence left us with blank canvases and bloody sinks. Either the church speaks or the wasteland claims us still.

3 unpopular dating truths I'd go back to tell my younger self



Growing up in the Christian community, girls especially were encouraged to write their list: “What do you want in a husband?”

Like most girls, I listed things like, “godly, tall, handsome, prays without ceasing, plays guitar, drives a truck.”

As I focused on this fictional dream guy, someone asked me, “Are you mirroring those same qualities in yourself that you want in a guy?” No, I wasn’t praying nonstop. No, I could barely play guitar. No, I had a grandma car. No, I wasn’t a bombshell. No, I wasn’t as godly as I apparently expected my future spouse to be. (I was, however, awkwardly tall as a teen.)

The Christian dating world can be a zoo, and I’d argue it’s much tougher now than it used to be. From all the stories I’ve heard, our grandparents' generation tackled dating with directness and simplicity, though I’m sure it was not perfect. I’ve been married for nearly four years, so there’s little marriage advice I can fork out, but I’ve had my fair share of millennial dating experiences. I’ve done it poorly, and I’ve done it well.

Dating doesn’t have to be agonizing, hard, or confusing. Here are the top three pieces of dating advice I’d go back and give myself if I could.

1. Get healthy first

Do all you can to get healthy — spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s that I went to Christian counseling after yet another breakup. My counselor asked me the hard questions. She made me self-reflect and dig deep until we found the root issues.

When I started counseling, I didn’t understand why guys I had dated treated me poorly or didn’t value me or would say rude things to me out of spite. It baffled me that this scenario kept repeating itself like a bad nightmare.

Throughout counseling, I realized this endless cycle was entirely a "me" problem. I wasn’t some limp fish that had no control over my life or dating decisions. I had to take full responsibility for allowing myself to be treated poorly and end the vicious unhealthy dating cycle once and for all. My unhealthy thinking patterns and lack of self-worth played a momentous role in the kinds of men I attracted and was attracted to.

While we date and wait, we should strive to become holier and healthier.

Once I began valuing myself, I didn’t settle for mediocre guys or half-hearted dating efforts. Everything changed once I rooted out the lies that I believed about God, as well as my own unhealthy thought patterns.

Even though I would publicly profess how God is good, deep down I didn’t believe it. I believed the lie that “God isn’t really good. He doesn’t want good things for me.”

It seemed so easy for other girls to get married. After all, most of my friends already were, so I didn’t understand why I had such bad “luck.” I felt like God would dangle a carrot stick in front of me, and when I’d reach for it, he’d instantly snatch it away. It seemed cruel. The waiting seemed endless, and the rounds of dating grew exhausting, especially as I got into my late 20s.

But the moment I realized that I was believing a key lie about God, everything changed. God wasn’t snatching anything from me but rather protecting me, growing me, and transforming me.

A huge burden lifted off my shoulders and chains were broken once I confessed this lie and realized I had been feeding it.

I began to live my life weightless from believing that God didn’t care about my desires to get married and have a family one day. He wasn’t taunting me with these guys I dated. Rather, God had an incredible plan for my future, and it didn’t involve them. I began to wholeheartedly trust in God’s sovereignty and timing, and those couple years of waiting after counseling and before I met my now-husband were some of the best years of my life.

We are called to be faithful before we’re called to be married.

2. Ignoring red flags doesn't make them green

Don’t ignore red flags; it doesn’t make them go away. I learned this the hard way because I didn’t just ignore red flags, I bulldozed right over them.

How many unhealthy and stagnate relationships continue because we ignore the bright flashing lights? Far too many. They are warning signs that beg us to stop and re-evaluate a relationship. Ignoring them is a sign that we are in denial. Call a spade a spade.

No matter how amazing someone might appear or how many good qualities they might have, if there’s a red flag — it’s time to pause.

Not ignoring red flags may seem like such a simple concept, but it wasn’t for me during my dating years, and it’s not for a lot of Christians I’ve talked to. When someone doesn’t think it’s a big deal to have an addiction, that’s a red flag. When someone treats you like garbage, that’s a red flag. When someone has no boundaries with the opposite sex, that’s a red flag.

Marriage amplifies problems we battle in singleness, so we must be hard at work rooting sin out of our lives. One older woman shared with me that she rushed into marriage, ignoring all the red flags because she thought she’d never have another opportunity to get married. She’s now divorced because her husband had been unfaithful most of their marriage, and she now regrets her decision deeply.

I was almost 30 years old when I got married because that’s what God had planned for me. But I can look back with utter thankfulness that I waited instead of rushing into marriage out of fear.

Dating doesn’t have to be a drawn-out affair if you’re intentional about it. But get married for the right reasons, and don’t dismiss those “this seems off” gut feelings and warning signs.

3. Give each other permission to ask hard questions

Have hard conversations: Give each other permission to ask the hard questions in the early phase of dating.

Before our first date, my now-husband asked, “Can we give each other permission to ask the hard questions?” We both were believers who dated for the intention of marriage, so we weren’t interested in wasting time by beating around the bush. Why would we want to ask the deal-breaker questions later down the road when we’re already emotionally too far gone? That would be a waste of time and energy.

Shockingly, I’ve heard of engaged couples at marriage counseling sessions who never asked each other how many kids they wanted or if they had debt.

While dating, my now-husband and I asked each other everything from theology to money to how we wanted to raise our children to what we envisioned the future to look like. Not everything has to be shared in great detail (especially at the beginning), but being transparent and clear with each other from the get-go is incredibly important. Plus, it builds trust.

Money issues are one of the biggest causes of divorce, so we should be open and honest about our finances, too. God (and Dave Ramsey) have a lot to say about handling money in a biblical way. By asking these types of questions, it can help get the hard stuff out of the way and make dating more fun.

Marrying someone who aligns with your worldview and your values is the glue that holds a marriage together. A good marriage can’t be built without it. Beauty fades, attraction can whither, emotions can come and go.

My mentor in college told me, “Don’t ever go down the aisle unless you can run down it.” We shouldn’t have any lingering questions or anything we’re holding back, either. A strong marriage is built on trust, which only comes by asking the hard questions and having those conversations long before you say, “I do.”

As I matured, my spouse “wish list” went from lengthy and unattainable to bare-bones with a few non-negotiables. Oddly enough, I became more selective as I got older. Not necessarily picky, but I wasn’t willing to settle because I knew not being married was better than being in a miserable marriage.

Dating should be fun and for the purpose of marriage, but strong relationships come by putting God first and asking the hard questions and not ignoring red flags.

While we date and wait, we should strive to become holier and healthier. God gives good gifts to us, and waiting for the right person can be one of them.

Don't be fooled: How Jesus' 'refugee' status is being used to manipulate you



Was Jesus a refugee?

The question of Jesus' refugee status once again became topic of debate after President Trump began issuing America First policies on immigration and foreign aid. Curiously, those who definitively assert that Jesus was, in fact, a refugee are individuals most likely to oppose Trump.

It's imperative that Christians learn how to discern when empathy is being weaponized as a tool of persuasion against them.

Russell Moore, editor of Christianity Today, is one such example.

In an essay titled, "Yes, Jesus was a refugee," Moore claimed the evidence that Jesus was a refugee is "straightforward and without any ambiguity." To back his claim, Moore cited the United Nations and Merriam-Webster definitions of the word "refugee" and several (mostly unrelated) biblical stories.

Here is where I stand on the question: It is debatable whether Jesus was functionally or definitionally a "refugee." Both sides of the debate can present evidence to support their case. On one hand, the Holy Family's flight from Bethlehem to Egypt was a foretold prophecy, and they never departed their "home country," as Egypt was part of a the Roman Empire. On the other, Jesus' parents were escaping persecution, and they sought refuge in a distant land to protect Jesus.

Again: Both sides can argue their case.

While I doubt that Jesus was technically a "refugee" — and I find it bizarre when people try to map 21st-century politics onto the Bible — the more interesting question is not, "Was Jesus a refugee," but: Why definitively assert that he was?

Moore gives us an answer.

After citing the evidence that he believes supports his claim, Moore connected the question of Jesus' refugee status to contemporary politics. He asked, "So, what does that tell us about refugee policy?" And although he admitted it's "not very much," Moore mapped his assertion about Jesus onto modern-day refugee policies.

He wrote:

We won’t always agree on how to design a national refugee policy, but we can’t say we haven’t been warned about what happens to us when we learn to harden our hearts to those in danger. We should be so shaped by the story of Christ that we catch ourselves when we hear ourselves saying, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

Yes, Jesus was a refugee. And he is still in their camp. We should be too.

It's now rather obvious that Moore's emphatic declaration that "Jesus was a refugee" is not a simple theological assertion. Rather, it's a rhetorical sleight of hand comparable to emotional blackmail.

The goal, I believe, is clear: Moore wants Christians to adopt a specific stance on refugee policy.

By framing the issue around Jesus and theological ethics, Moore provokes moral urgency for Christians while creating a (false) binary choice: Either you accept his claim about Jesus (faithful Christian) or you reject it (unfaithful Christian).

The rhetorical effect of Moore's identification of Jesus with modern-day refugees is an implicit accusation that if you deny a certain flavor of refugee policy, then you, in effect, deny Jesus.

This argument is designed to evoke an emotional response from the reader. After all, Christians don't want to be found opposing Jesus, right? Right. Moore, therefore, is leveraging (and weaponizing) the emotions of his readers to shift the conversation about refugees away from policy nuances. And by using moral absolutes, he moves the debate from, "How should we help refugees?" to "Because Jesus himself was a refugee, how can we possibly agree with any of Trump's policies toward refugees?"

This type of emotivism discourages good-faith debate and makes dissent seem unchristian. Just as bad, it oversimplifies a serious and complicated issue while pre-empting alternative perspectives.

Even if Jesus were a refugee, the discussion about U.S. refugee policy cannot be framed in moral absolutes only. Obviously, President Trump and lawmakers must take into consideration the economic, national security, and legal implications of their policy decisions.

Don't get me wrong: I do not believe empathy in its purest form is bad. Mature people understand how to relate to people different from them; they know how to put themselves in someone else's shoes. But I fear that empathy is increasingly being used against Christians to steer them in certain directions.

In this case, Christian empathy is being strategically weaponized to push Christians toward a specific political aim: to discourage Christians from supporting Trump's policies on immigration, refugees, and foreign aid. Even worse, by definitively declaring that Jesus was a refugee, Jesus becomes the bait that ultimately pushes Christians toward that specific goal.

It's imperative, therefore, that Christians learn how to discern when empathy is being weaponized as a tool of persuasion against them.

Do Americans, or Christians specifically, have a moral responsibility to care for legitimate refugees? Maybe. We can and should have that debate. However, asserting that "Yes, Jesus was a refugee" and using that debatable claim to create moral urgency and steer Christians toward a specific policy or view is dishonest and manipulative.

Yes, Christians should have compassion for the vulnerable. Yes, we should care for and meet the needs of the vulnerable. It's what Christians have done for 2,000 years. But when it comes to national policy, we must engage these issues with biblical and political wisdom and reality itself. It would not be wise, for instance, to adopt policies that destroy American communities simply because Jesus may or may not have been a "refugee."

Without wisdom to balance empathy, we're just pawns in someone else's game. Don't fall for it.

God's will isn't a mystery: Follow these 3 biblical truths



I believe that walking in God’s will and making decisions with confidence are impossible without the power of the gospel at work in our lives.

Why? Because the gospel is attached to our purpose, and the gospel transforms us. When we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we receive a brand-new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17), and a new heart will supernaturally result in a new direction.

Purpose is found in Christ alone. Keep your gaze fixed on him.

As we reflect on our purpose and the way we approach decisions (with the wisdom of God versus in the foolishness of this world), living out the three truths below will be a game-changer for our past, present, and future.

1. Repent of sin, turn to Christ in faith, and commit your life to God’s glory.

I like to say that no Christian ever graduates from the gospel.

Can I encourage you to go back to the gospel again and again? You need it, I need it, and it takes us back to the foundational reality that we can do nothing apart from Christ (John 15:5). The gospel is a wellspring of living water to the parched soul. The gospel turns the bitter heart sweet with grace. The gospel melts the heart of stone into a soft and submissive vessel. You need the gospel to live out God’s will.

There is no greater next step toward purpose than to turn from sin, put your faith in Jesus Christ, and commit to live for his glory. If you’ve never done that, today is the day of salvation — you can be born again and experience how Christ makes all things new.

If you’ve been saved by his grace, go back to that first love that changed your life and renew your commitment to live for him all the more.

2. Focus on Christ as the key to your purpose.

Identity is everything.

Walking in the will of God starts with walking in your identity. Jesus doesn’t save you and then say, “Okay, now you take it from here. Muster up the strength to be good enough, to stay saved, and get yourself to your destiny.” Instead, the Bible reminds us that growth begins with our gaze. Where are you looking? If not on Christ, you won’t make it.

Do you remember the story of Jesus walking on water and the lesson Peter learned in the process?

Matthew 14:28-31 tells us: “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

Peter started out with his gaze fixed on Christ, even committing to do whatever the Lord asked. Before he knew it, he was walking on water! But the miracle was short-lived because Peter took his eyes off the one who called him out of the boat in the first place. He sank into the waves that the one who called him out of the boat controlled.

How often do we fall into the same pattern? We’re all in, only to take our eyes off the one who calls and sustains us. Purpose is found in Christ alone. Keep your gaze fixed on him.

3. Reject the worldly opinions of fools.

With what Proverbs says about fools in mind, along with Paul’s instruction to put away worldly patterns and walk in a manner worthy of your calling, you can confidently reject the opinions of those who live their lives for self-glory and self-satisfaction and boast that they are self-made.

Instead, choose to heed and treasure the divine wisdom God provides for your purpose.

There will be days when the Enemy will lie to you and put temptations in your path that invite you to take shortcuts, give up, or see God’s will as little more than a cosmic killjoy meant to ruin the fun of life. The devil is predictable, having tempted Christ with the same self-serving routine, only to fail. He will fail with you as well if you stick to God’s word over his wicked lies. One of the primary ways he will assault you is through the peer-pressuring opinions of fools.

Turn down the lies; turn up the truth.

Taken from "Walking in God’s Will" by Costi Hinn. Copyright ©March 2025 by Zondervan. Used by permission of Zondervan, www.zondervan.com.

Oprah's 'Christianity' exposed: A spiritual virus deceiving millions



Depending on who you ask, Oprah Winfrey is either a beacon of wisdom or the most persuasive snake oil salesman of our time.

When you hear the name “Oprah,” different versions of her might come to mind. Are you picturing Oprah, the author and philanthropist, the inspiring woman who overcame hardship and has helped countless people? Or perhaps the talk show host who captivated audiences for decades?

This blasphemy is not new. This is the oldest deception of mankind.

Maybe you think of Oprah, the actress or the savvy businesswoman. Maybe all these aspects blend together in your mind, forming a deep sense of admiration for her. For others, despite her good works, it might be the opposite. Maybe you see a political activist, who has compromised her principles in the pursuit of social justice and identity politics. However you perceive her, that perspective shapes how you interpret her overall character.

But I believe one defining aspect of her stands out above the rest and ultimately shapes them all: Oprah, the spiritual guru.

Oprah says, “I’m a Christian, too.” Millions of people, including many Christians, look up to her as a spiritual authority. She quotes scripture, talks about a God of love, and says she believes in and follows Jesus and the gospel. But Christians all around the world scratch their heads in deep confusion because Oprah also fundamentally denies core Christian doctrines.

This is comparable to people who call themselves vegan yet go to town on extra greasy BLTs with sides of beef stew for dinner every night. How is this possible?

Because in Oprah’s spirituality, the identity of Jesus, the role of the Bible, the gospel — and even truth — have been redefined.

Jesus?

Oprah says she believes in Jesus, but her “Jesus” didn’t come to die on the cross for the sins of humanity.

She says, “I thought Jesus came, died on the cross, that Jesus’ being here was about his death and dying on the cross. [But] it really was about him coming to show us how to do it, how to be. To show us the Christ Consciousness.” Oprah’s Jesus really came to show us our divine potential in the Christ Consciousness — the inner divine spark within us all.

To Oprah, Jesus is the divine Son of God, but this is not a unique title that applies just to him. You are just as much the Christ, the I AM, as Jesus was. The key is to see how powerful and good you are, not a sinner who needs forgiveness from a holy God.

In biblical historic Christianity, Jesus is both fully God and fully human, the unique Christ and Son of God (John 1:1-14; John 3:16). He came to earth to die for our sins and offer us salvation through his death and resurrection, which is the foundation of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

The Bible? Truth?

Oprah says she believes in and reads the Bible, but to her, the Bible is not the exclusive word of God.

She’d agree that “the biblical God is a ‘starter kit’ God.” To her, the more spiritually evolved Christian position is that the Bible is up for interpretation depending on your heart's belief. You rely on the “internal voice of God.” The Bible has some truth in it, but it isn’t the only source of spiritual truth. God speaks to us individually from within. She openly demonstrates this by her numerous endorsements of progressive and New Age leaders.

For Oprah, anything read in scripture is read through a lens filled with feelings of love — with “love” defined subjectively, of course. She sums this up in an interview with Marianne Williamson when she says that “we are either walking in the direction of love or fear.”

Historic biblical Christians see the Bible as God's inspired, authoritative, and inerrant word (2 Timothy 3:16). It’s the source that contains the most reliable documents about who Jesus is, what he taught, and what he did. Understanding God's will and purpose for humanity is central to this. We test claims about Jesus and God against scripture to see what claims align with how God chose to reveal himself (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 4:1). Furthermore, Jesus calls himself the “truth” and Satan the “father of lies” (John 14:6; John 8:44).

When lies look like “love” and truth looks like “hate,” chances are Satan is behind it.

The gospel?

Oprah says she follows the gospel, but Oprah’s gospel is a mixture of self-empowerment, inner divinity, and the idea that thoughts shape reality.

To Oprah, Jesus is not the only way to salvation. She promotes living your best life, believing there are many paths to God, and emphasizing service, gratitude, and personal growth. Basically, it’s a works-based gospel preached with fluffy language.

In Oprah’s view of God and the gospel, we are not separated from God. The core of Oprah’s gospel is recognizing that we’ve never been separate from God and that he (or “it”) is within the heart of each person.

In historic biblical Christianity, the gospel is the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. All humans have sinned and fall short of God’s perfect standard, with sin leading to death and separation from God (Romans 3:23). The Old Testament law showed that sin required atonement through sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice — Jesus’ death on the cross.

Jesus fulfilled the law by offering himself as the perfect sacrifice, taking the punishment for sin, and rising from the dead to conquer death (Romans 4:25). His resurrection proves his victory and offers eternal life to all who believe in him. The gospel is received by faith, not by works, and guarantees salvation, reconciliation with God, and an eternal home in heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16).

Rejecting the gospel means remaining under condemnation, but through Christ, there is no condemnation for those who believe (Romans 8:1).

The stealthy 'Oprah' belief ruining the gospel

It’s clear. Oprah can call herself a Christian and say she believes in and follows Jesus and spreads the gospel, but it’s a different Jesus and a different gospel.

But I believe there’s a deeper issue here: What is shaping Oprah’s spirituality? Where did her views come from? Many Christians understand that she sounds like a Christian and claims to be one, but her beliefs are anything but. Some might assume this is because Oprah is actually a New Ager.

She’s not.

Even she firmly denies being in the New Age. And I agree with her.

This is because she’s actually a follower of a belief system with far more influence than recognition: New Thought. In fact, her most foundational spiritual formation happened from reading New Thought material.

New Thought is much more deceptive than the New Age because it looks and sounds Christian. It’s metaphysical Christianity, a more enlightened, “better” version of Christianity. But it’s actually a stealthy spiritual virus. As you’ve briefly seen demonstrated above in some of Oprah’s beliefs, New Thought redefines core Christian doctrines but uses the same terms. Scripture has a deeper, more esoteric meaning, which explains the redefinition of these Christian terms.

This is precisely why Oprah identifies herself as a “Christian” who “follows Jesus” and “spreads the gospel.” But it’s a different Jesus she’s following and a different gospel that she’s spreading.

And this is how her New Thought beliefs are ruining the gospel. Her influence has led millions to embrace and spread this New Thought version of Jesus, turning it into a widespread spiritual deception.

Though there is no denying that Oprah has done many admirable things, and many might see her as a “good person,” her “goodness” isn’t the standard to be made right with God. Your good works are not enough to save you. Only the work of Jesus is. Nobody is “good.” Only God is good. The standard is perfection, not just “your best.” Perfection is an unattainable standard that nobody can reach, which is why we need Jesus.

But Oprah’s New Thought gospel tells you that you’re already whole, perfect, complete, and made right with God. You just need to realize it as God.

This blasphemy is not new. This is the oldest deception of mankind, that humanity could be like God.

Oprah’s distorted New Thought gospel elevates mankind and demotes God. It creates the illusion that you are good and don’t need a savior. But this is the mindset of the Pharisees, who thought their good works were enough to be made right with God. Jesus rebuked them for their self-righteousness, hypocrisy, and pride. This is why Jesus saved his harshest words for them — not because they were religious but because they refused to come to him for salvation.

The true gospel humbles us before a holy God, while Oprah’s gospel exalts humanity in place of him — offering not salvation but a deception as old as Eden.

Celebrating Saint Patrick, the slave who converted his captors



I remember when I first wanted to move to Ireland.

Oh, I’d seen beautiful photos, like this:

MyLoupe/Getty Images

And in later years I was enchanted by films that painted a charming picture of Irish village life, like "Waking Ned Devine" (highly recommend).

Serve something Irish, and I don’t mean a shamrock-shaped Domino’s pizza. I’m pretty sure there’s a law that you must eat potatoes to truly celebrate Ireland.

But the real reason, held tightly in my elementary school heart, was that I read a story of how Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.

And man, do I hate snakes.

Of course I eventually realized that was a myth, which may have been an allegory for driving pagans out of the Emerald Isle, or something along those lines.

But I still may have to move to Ireland, because — here’s a cool thing — apparently the fossil record shows there never really were any snakes there. That’s my idea of heaven!

In reality, though, it turns out that the coolest thing about all this was Patrick himself. (And I’m going to refer to him as Patrick, because all of us who have been saved by faith in Christ are now saints in Him. Here’s a good explanation of that truth.)

The real Patrick

Patrick was British, born into a Christian family around the fifth century. He wasn’t really a believer himself, apparently, but things changed at age 16 after he was captured by Irish raiders who forced him into slavery in Ireland. The hardships he endured drove him back to God, and his faith deepened.

Six long years later, he managed to escape back to his family in Britain — but after a dream in which he understood God to tell him to return to Ireland, to convert the pagans to faith in the one true God, he did exactly that.

Patrick did not drive out all the pagans (or snakes), but he is reported to have planted churches and made thousands of converts. Perhaps due to his Christian family, which included a deacon and possibly other learned individuals, he also had quite a grasp of Scripture, as theologian and pastor Kevin DeYoung notes:

In his "Confessio" Patrick writes movingly about his burden to evangelize the Irish. He explicitly links his vocation to the commands of Scripture. Biblical allusions like "the nations will come to you from the ends of the earth" and "I have put you as a light among the nations" and "I shall make you fishers of men" flow from his pen. Seeing his life’s work through the lens of Matthew 28 and Acts 1, Patrick prayed that God would "never allow me to be separated from His people whom He has won in the end of the earth." For Patrick, the end of the earth was Ireland.

But what I find most inspiring about Patrick is that he may well have been the first person in Christian history to take those scriptures literally — to understand that bringing Christ to “all nations” meant, as DeYoung notes, “teaching even barbarians who lived beyond the border of the frontiers of the Roman Empire.” And this after being enslaved to them!

What an amazing legacy. If you want the whole story, DeYoung recommends "The Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity," which explains how Christianity swept (slowly) across Europe.

So by all means, celebrate Patrick, on March 17 or any other day. Getting drunk (the traditional adult celebratory activity) doesn’t seem a proper tribute to the man, of course, so here are some better and more family-friendly suggestions.

Celebrating Patrick: History

Celebrating Ireland — just for fun