Some say these two are in constant battle—each pulling in opposite directions.

Others believe they walk hand in hand, offering unique insights into life, the universe, and our purpose within it.

The relationship between science and Christianity often feels like a puzzle. On one side, science dives deep into how the world works through experiments and evidence. On the other side, Christianity (and religion in general) seeks to answer the big questions about why we’re here and what it all means.

But here’s the thing . . .

. . . we believe these two don’t have to be at odds. They can actually complement each other instead.

Whether you’ve wrestled with the tension or are just curious, we’re excited to explore this with you. Let’s unpack the connection between science and religion and see if these worlds are really as divided as they sometimes seem.

Is There a Conflict Between Science and Christianity?

At Reasons to Believe, we don’t see a true conflict between science and Christianity. Instead, we believe any apparent tension reflects misunderstandings or misinterpretations—not an inherent clash.

Relationship Between Science and Christianity

A Shared History of Discovery

When we think about the relationship between science and Christianity, perhaps it’s easy to assume they’ve always been at odds.

But history tells a different story.

Many of the greatest scientific advancements were born out of Christian thought and values.

During the Scientific Revolution—a period that shaped much of modern science—many pioneers of discovery were deeply committed Christians.

• Isaac Newton, often called one of the greatest minds in science, saw studying the natural world as a way to glorify God. 
• Johannes Kepler, who uncovered the laws of planetary motion, famously described his work as “thinking God’s thoughts after him.” 
• And let’s not forget Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics, who was a monk studying pea plants in his monastery garden.

These figures are only a small fraction of influential thinkers who didn’t see a conflict between their faith and their scientific pursuits; rather, they viewed them as interconnected paths to understanding truth.

A Deeper Connection Between Science and Christianity

This connection isn’t just historical, either. If we take a closer look, Christianity played a critical role in the development of science itself. The belief in an orderly, rational Creator inspired early scientists to search for patterns and laws in the natural world. They assumed that if the universe was designed by God, it would make sense.

And remarkably, it does!

Science and Christianity share a foundational belief built on order and purpose—concepts essential for scientific exploration.

It’s clear the two are not strangers to each other. While they may ask different questions, they often meet in fascinating ways.

Science thrives on exploring the how—how things happen, how the world God created works.

On the other hand, Christianity focuses on the why—why we exist, why the universe matters.

Together, these perspectives can provide a fuller view of the world and our place within it.

This is why we believe the relationship between science and Christianity can’t be thought of as completely separate. They’ve influenced each other for centuries and continue to do so. Far from being opposing forces, they can work together to uncover deeper truths about creation and the Creator.

Christian Faith vs. Scientific Research

The key to understanding this relationship between the Christian faith and scientific research lies in how we view science and theology. Both are ways God reveals himself to us. Through the Bible, God communicates specific truths—what we call special revelation. Through nature, God reveals himself in a broader, more general way—often referred to as general revelation

As Christians, we believe both of these are authored by God and, therefore, cannot truly contradict each other.

Here’s the catch, though: we humans are fallible.

Our interpretations of Scripture and our interpretations of nature are imperfect. When a conflict arises—like a disagreement over the age of the Earth or the origin of the universe—it’s a signpost that we may have misunderstood one or both revelations.

It’s not Scripture or nature that’s wrong; it’s how we’ve interpreted them.

For example, early Christians like Augustine warned that we need to approach Scripture carefully when addressing scientific claims, recognizing the cultural context and literary style. Similarly, science often revises old interpretations to account for new data. This back-and-forth pursuit of truth and a growing body of knowledge is what allows us to grow in both faith and understanding.

After all, the God who inspired the Bible is the same Creator who designed the universe. Apparent conflicts can often be resolved not by rejecting either but by refining our perspective.

The Galileo Affair

One of the most well-known examples of the supposed science and faith conflict is the Galileo affair. Galileo Galilei, a renowned scientist of the seventeenth century, supported the idea that the Earth orbits the Sun—a theory originally proposed by Copernicus.

At the time, the church held the geocentric view that the Earth was the center of the universe. Galileo’s findings seemed to contradict Scripture as it was interpreted then, leading to his trial and condemnation by the Roman Catholic Church.

However, many historians now view the Galileo affair more as a clash of egos, politics, and miscommunication rather than a fundamental opposition to Christian beliefs in science. The church leaders of Galileo’s time were grappling over who got to interpret Scripture and with how to interpret Scripture in light of new scientific discoveries. Catholics and Protestants still disagree over who gets to interpret Scripture, but both have developed powerful tools and new perspectives that they use today.

Over time, the church acknowledged its mistake, and Galileo is now celebrated—not as a figure against faith, but as someone who helped pave the way for a deeper understanding of God’s creation.

Modern Science Conflicts

The push and pull between science and religion hasn’t disappeared. Modern science debates often center around issues like climate change, bioethics, or the origins of the universe.

Take, for example, the question of the big bang. While some see this theory as a challenge to Christian beliefs, many others, including scientists who are Christian, view it as complementary. The big bang strongly points to a beginning for the universe—a concept that aligns with the biblical notion of creation.

Similarly, advances in genetics and medicine sometimes raise ethical questions that seem to put science and faith at odds. Issues like gene editing or end-of-life care can feel like uncharted territory. But through open conversation, many Christians can engage with these advancements thoughtfully, weighing the moral principles of their faith alongside the benefits of scientific progress.

Building Bridges

Dialogue is key to resolving conflicts and fostering understanding. By talking openly and listening to one another, Christians are finding ways to reconcile faith with scientific discovery.

Ultimately, such conversations remind us that both religion and science seek truth—they just approach it in different yet complementary ways. Conflict often comes when we limit ourselves to either-or thinking, but harmony emerges when we embrace both-and perspectives, recognizing that God speaks through both Scripture and his creation.

Is There Conflict Between Science and Faith?

At first glance, science and faith might look like they’re standing on opposite sides of a dividing line. Often the perceived opposition flows from the reality that science and the Christian faith both pursue truth but have a different focus. Science usually asks “how” where faith usually asks “why”.

These different focuses can sometimes feel like a conflict between science and Christianity, but really, they offer individual perspectives that complement each other.

Faith provides a foundation for meaning and purpose that science alone can’t supply. Science helps us understand the mechanics of life, but it doesn’t answer the deeper, heart-level questions that faith does.

Take something as simple as a sunset; it’s breathtakingly beautiful. Science can explain the scattering of light through the atmosphere, but it’s faith that moves us to see it as beautiful and as a gift from God.

Similarly, faith can inspire scientific exploration. If you believe the natural world was created by an orderly and purposeful God, then it’s understandable to want to study it more closely. Many science pioneers of old (and even people today) are motivated by their faith to dig into the details of God’s creation.

Rather than being in conflict, science and faith often work in harmony. Together, they can provide a fuller picture of reality. Science helps us marvel at the intricate details of the universe, while faith invites us to connect those details to the broader story of the life we all live and a Creator who cares for us.

When looked at this way, the idea of conflict transforms into a relationship between science and Christianity that adds a richer understanding of how both can serve as tools to discover truth within our shared reality.

Do Scientists Believe in God?

Christian Faith in Science

When it comes to the question, “Do scientists believe in God?” the answer isn’t as one-sided as many might think. While it’s true that some scientists hold strictly materialistic views, many others willingly embrace faith and belief. They see no conflict between the work they do in science and their belief in a Creator. Some even argue that their research and practice deepen their understanding of and connection to God.

For example, physicist Jeff Zweerink shares in his blog post that being a Christian and a scientist isn’t about choosing one over the other. To Zweerink, science provides a way to better understand the intricate design of life, while Christianity gives that design a deeper, eternal meaning.

His insights echo the experiences of countless scientists who—to this day—view the universe as both a physical masterpiece and an expression of God’s character.

Recent surveys have shown that scientists’ beliefs about God are more varied than stereotypes might suggest. A Pew Research study revealed that about 33% of scientists believe in God, while another 18% report believing in a higher power, though not necessarily in the God of the Bible.

Collectively, this is 51%—over half!—of scientists who believe in the supernatural.

These numbers highlight that faith exists within the scientific community—and when we look further, even among those working in fields often assumed to be strictly secular or atheistic.

Prominent Voices of Faith

Scientists like Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project and professed Christian, stand as modern examples of how science and faith intersect beautifully. Collins has shared how mapping the intricacies of human DNA deepened his awe for God’s creative power.

Similarly, John Polkinghorne, a physicist and theologian, devoted much of his life to exploring the harmony between science and Christianity, aiming to demonstrate how the two can work together to reveal profound truths about existence.

Supporting Scholars of Faith

At Reasons to Believe, we value the voices of scientists and scholars who are navigating the intersection of faith and science. That’s why we’ve established the Scholar Community — a network dedicated to bringing STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) professionals closer and showing how science and religion can work hand in hand. This community not only encourages scientific excellence but also allows discussions about the connections that can be made between Scripture and creation.

Through workshops, courses, and mentorship programs, we’re equipping faith-filled scientists to share transformational messages with their peers. The more you explore the growing body of scientists who believe in God, the more you’ll realize that faith and science are not mutually exclusive.

Science Meets Faith in Harmony

Therefore, the question “Do scientists believe in God?” doesn’t have a simple yes or no answer. Instead, it reminds us there is diversity of thought within the scientific community as well as the fact that many scientists do believe in God.

From astronomy to biology, many researchers find that their explorations of the universe confirm their belief in a Creator. For those scientists, faith increases their drive to uncover truths about the natural world, while science strengthens their appreciation for the divine.

Together, these two realms don’t compete—they enrich each other—just as they did for Newton, Galileo, and so many more throughout centuries past.

Science & Faith: A Divine Harmony

Complementary Paths to Truth

Let’s take a minute more to highlight how science and faith can beautifully complement each other. Science lets us explore all of creation around us and reveals breathtaking complexities in areas like physics, biology, and astronomy.

Faith, in turn, offers insights into meaning, purpose, and the existence of something greater than ourselves. Together, they weave a richer, fuller picture of life and the universe.

Think of the astonishing way DNA encodes the instructions for life. Science uncovers the mechanisms at work, but faith marvels at the elegance and intentionality behind it. For many, discoveries like these don’t diminish belief or worse, cause deconversion; they deepen faith.

They bring reverence for a Creator whose handiwork lies in the quantum details happening everywhere, all the time, all throughout the cosmos.

Scientific Discoveries That Echo Faith

One striking example of science complementing rather than deconstructing faith is the big bang theory. The theory describes how the universe we see today developed from an incredibly hot, dense state. That initial state looks a lot like a beginning—a moment when all space, time, and matter came into existence.

For Christians, this idea resonates deeply with the opening words of Genesis, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Far from contradicting faith, the big bang aligns with the belief in a Creator who spoke the universe into being.

Another profound example is the fine-tuning and precision of the universe. Scientists have discovered that the physical constants of our universe, things like gravity and the speed of light, must exist within an incredibly narrow range to support life.

For many people, this precise balance—like computer code that, if not properly scripted, causes the program to fall apart—reflects intelligent design, pointing to a Creator who set everything perfectly in place.

Science Inspired by Faith

Throughout history, faith has often inspired scientific discovery. Figures like Johannes Kepler, who famously said he was “thinking God’s thoughts after him,” saw their work in science not as opposed to their beliefs, but as a continuation of their worship. Their faith drove them to explore the universe, believing it to be rational, orderly, and created by a God who delights in both complexity and beauty.

Even today, the harmony offered by integrating the Christian faith in science inspires researchers to dig deeper. Astrophysicists gaze into the far reaches of space, inspired by wonder at the heavens that declare God’s glory. Medical scientists seek cures for diseases, often motivated by a faith-driven desire to care for others, reflecting the image of a compassionate Creator.

Whether you’re marveling at galaxies or studying the intricate movements of molecules within a cell, these discoveries remind us that science and faith don’t have to be at odds at all—but can be partners, inviting us to explore both the grandeur of creation and the heart of the Creator behind it.

Exploring Deeper Meaning

For Christians, the interaction between science and religion opens the door to profound insights. When we study the natural world through science, we’re uncovering echoes of God’s creative work. At the same time, faith helps us make sense of the moral, relational, and eternal questions that science alone can’t answer. Together, they can truly act as partners in a grand exploration of truth that we all, in some way or another, are seeking.

Rather than asking, can science and Christianity work together?, which positions them as opposing forces, we can see them as two sides of the same coin. Whether observing the quantum superpositions of electrons or reflecting on God’s promises, combining faith and science can lead us toward awe, wonder, and a deeper connection to the Creator. It’s in this divine harmony that we find the fullest understanding of who we are and why we’re here.

Bringing It All Together

When we take a step back and look at the big picture, it’s clear that science and religion–specifically Christianity–don’t have to live in opposition. Instead, they can work together in beautiful harmony to help us uncover deeper truths about the universe and ourselves.

Science explores the intricate details of how things work, while faith helps us understand the greater meaning behind it all. Together, they form a partnership that enriches both our understanding and our wonder.

We’ve seen that the relationship between science and Christianity has historic roots, offering many examples of how these two realms have complemented one another. While conflicts may arise, they often stem from misunderstandings or misinterpretations rather than direct contradictions. By refining our perspectives and engaging in honest inquiry, we can move beyond these challenges.

At its best, the union of science and faith offers a more complete picture of reality. It reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge about the world and the search for spiritual meaning are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they are parallel paths leading toward the same ultimate Truth.

We encourage you to keep exploring—whether it’s the intricate beauty of God’s creation through science or the richness of his Word through faith. Together, they invite us into a lifelong adventure of discovery, awe, and connection to the Creator. Christianity and science, walking hand in hand, have the power to deepen not only our understanding but also the sense of purpose and wonder that makes life so extraordinary.

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So, are Mormons Christian? The short answer is no. The differences between Mormonism and Christianity aren’t minor. The official teachings of the Latter-Day Saints church present a fundamentally different view of God, humanity, and the Bible.

There are deep, foundational divides over the most important questions of faith: Who is God? Who is Jesus? How are we saved? And what is our ultimate authority for truth?

In this post, we’ll explore Mormon theology and beliefs to understand why, despite some shared language, Mormonism and Christianity are two fully separate religions.

What Is Mormonism?

The origin of Mormonism traces back to the early nineteenth century and a man named Joseph Smith. The founder of Mormonism, Smith taught and claimed that God called him as a prophet in 1830 to restore the one true church. According to Mormon teaching, the original church fell into a complete “Great Apostasy” after the apostles died.

This is already a major point of difference. Christians believe the church was never lost. The Bible promises that God’s truth would endure and that no new prophet or special scripture was needed after Jesus and the apostles (Hebrews 1:1–2; Jude 1:3).

What Makes Mormonism Distinct?

At its core, Mormonism introduces new and distinct ideas that, in many ways, conflict with biblical Christianity. Here’s a quick summary of the biggest differences between what Christians and Latter-Day Saints believe:

• A Different God: Mormons teach that God the Father was once a man who became a god and has a physical body.
• A Different Jesus: They believe Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer, created by a Heavenly Father and Mother.
• Additional Scriptures: Along with the Bible, Mormons have other holy books like the Book of Mormon, which they consider to be the word of God.
• Ongoing Revelation: Authority in the Latter-Day Saints church comes from living prophets who can receive new revelations that sometimes change or contradict past teachings, including the Bible.
• A Works-Based Salvation: Mormons believe faith is just the starting point. Salvation requires works, obedience, and special temple rituals to achieve the highest level of heaven after we die.

Key Mormon Beliefs

Now let’s look closer at the specific Mormon beliefs that separate the LDS church from Christianity. The differences start with the most ground-laying question of all: Who is God?

Who Is the Mormon God?

Mormonism teaches that God the Father has a physical body of flesh and bone and was once a mortal man who lived on another planet and progressed to become a god. After becoming God, he then went on to create the world (that we’re on) out of preexisting matter, and populated it with “spirit children” born from sexual relations with his wife.

This idea is often summarized in a famous Mormon phrase: “As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become.” This means faithful Mormons believe they, too, can become gods to rule over their own worlds.

This view of God is fundamentally different, antithetical even, from the God of the Bible. Biblical Christianity teaches that God is an eternal, unchanging spirit. He has always been God and was never a created being.

Here are just a few verses from the Bible about our heavenly Father:

• “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).
• “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6).
• “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

The Christian God is the one and only eternal Creator, and humanity is his creation. We can be saved by his grace, but we can never become gods ourselves.

Do Mormons Believe in the Bible?

While Mormons do use the Bible, it’s not their only source of authority. In fact, they have four main scriptural texts:

1. The Book of Mormon
2. Doctrines and Covenants
3. The Pearl of Great Price
4. The Bible (King James Version)

The LDS church has an official statement of faith that says, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” Notice the distinctions: The Bible is accepted with a condition, but the Book of Mormon is accepted without one. This allows their other scriptures or modern prophets to overrule what the Bible says.

In contrast, Christianity holds that the Bible alone is the complete and sufficient Word of God. It is our final authority for truth, and nothing needs to be added to it (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Revelation 22:18–19).

Do Mormons Believe in the Trinity?

Mormonism rejects the traditional Christian Trinity. Instead, it teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate and individual beings. They are united in purpose and will, but they are not, in essence, one God.

In contrast, biblical Christianity has always held to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity: one God who exists in three co-equal and co-eternal persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). They are not three gods, but one God.

Who Is Jesus in Mormonism?

This leads us to one of the most critical questions: Who is Jesus in Mormonism? The LDS church teaches that Jesus is the firstborn “spirit child” of a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. In this view, all humans, including Jesus and Lucifer (Satan), were created as spirit children in heaven before coming to Earth.

This belief directly contradicts biblical teaching about Jesus. Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is eternally God, the second person of the Trinity. He was not created; he is the Creator—“before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).

1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1–3).
2. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15–17).

In Christianity, Jesus Christ is uniquely divine and eternal, not a created being or the spirit brother of Satan. The difference in who Mormons say Jesus is creates one of the most significant reasons why Mormon beliefs are not Christian.

What Does Mormonism Teach About Salvation?

What do Mormons believe about salvation? Mormonism teaches a works-based path to salvation. While faith in Jesus is a necessary first step, it’s not enough to reach the highest level of heaven, which they call “exaltation” or godhood.

To achieve this, a person must also be baptized into the LDS church, obey its commandments, participate in special temple rituals, and live a life of good deeds. Grace helps people do their part, but ultimate salvation depends on their own efforts and obedience.

Christianity, on the other hand, teaches that salvation is a free gift from God that cannot be earned. The Bible is clear that our good works can’t save us.

• “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
• “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

In short, Christianity teaches that good works are the result of salvation, not the cause of it.

The Afterlife

The Mormon view of the afterlife is also very different from the biblical one. Mormonism teaches there are three levels of heaven, or “kingdoms of glory”:

1. The Celestial Kingdom: The highest level, reserved for the most faithful Mormons who complete all the required temple ordinances, and where they believe they can become gods.
2. The Terrestrial Kingdom: A middle kingdom for good people who were not faithful Mormons.
3. The Telestial Kingdom: The lowest kingdom for those who lived wickedly.

Mormon theology also includes a temporary “spirit prison” where the dead have a second chance to accept the Mormon gospel. A permanent hell, called “outer darkness,” is reserved only for a very small group known as the “sons of perdition.”

This complex system contrasts sharply with what the Bible teaches. Christianity presents two clear outcomes: heaven or hell. Our eternal destiny is based solely on our relationship with Jesus Christ in this life.

• “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
• “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36).

Who Holds Authority and Revelation Within Mormonism?

In Mormonism, the ultimate religious authority on Earth is a living prophet—the current president of the LDS church. Mormons believe he receives ongoing revelation directly from God for the entire church. These new revelations can change or even override past teachings and policies.

In contrast, Christianity teaches that God’s final and complete revelation is found in the Bible. The Christian faith was “once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 3)—meaning the core truths are settled and will not change. God has spoken fully and finally through Jesus Christ, and no new revelation will contradict what is written in Scripture (Hebrews 1:1–2).

Mormon vs. Christian Beliefs

As we’ve seen, while Mormonism and Christianity use some of the same words, they are built on entirely different foundations that define two separate faiths. For easy comparison, here is a chart comparing Mormon beliefs and Christianity.

A Warning Against “Another Gospel”

Let’s be clear—the differences highlighted above are serious. The apostle Paul gave a strong warning to the early church in Galatians 1:8: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!”

Paul’s message was plain: any teaching that adds to or changes the simple gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus as the eternal Son of the eternal God is a false gospel.

When you take a step back and look, Mormonism, with its extra scriptures, temple rituals, exaltation, and works-based salvation, presents exactly what Paul warned against—”another gospel.” It’s a message that departs from the one found in the Bible, even if it claims to come from an angelic messenger, as Joseph Smith did. Indeed, this lines up exactly with Paul’s warning!

A Different Jesus and a Different Spirit

Paul also warned about accepting distorted versions of the truth. In 2 Corinthians 11:3–4, he cautioned against those who preach “another Jesus,” a “different spirit,” or a “different gospel.”

This warning directly applies to what Mormons believe.

• Another Jesus: The Mormon Jesus is a created being who progressed to godhood, not the eternal, uncreated, and uniquely divine Son of God.
• A Different Spirit: The Mormon Holy Ghost is a separate being, not the co-equal, third person of the Trinity who is fully God.

Paul’s point is urgent. Accepting a different Jesus or a different spirit—even if they sound similar to the real thing—leads people away from the truth.

How to Respond as Christians to Mormonism

Critiquing Mormonism can feel insensitive. But knowing the truth will equip us to respond compassionately and with clarity. As Christians, our goal isn’t to win arguments but to lovingly point people to the real truth of Jesus Christ in the Bible.

Lead with Grace and Truth

The Bible calls us to “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). This means we must be discerning and hold firm to biblical truth. At the same time, we must speak this truth in love—for there is a heart and soul behind those ears.

Ask Questions, Don’t Attack

Rather than debate, try asking thoughtful and clarifying questions. This shows you care about the person, not just about being right. You might ask:

• Can you tell me more about who you believe Jesus is?
• What does grace mean to you in your faith?

Focus the conversation on the most important things: Jesus’s true identity as eternal God, his finished work on the cross for our salvation, and the established authority of Scripture.

Pray and Be Patient

And remember, it’s ultimately not our clever arguments that change hearts—it’s the Holy Spirit. God’s power, not ours, brings the dead to life. Pray before, during, and after your conversations, asking God to open doors and grant wisdom.

Building relationships and sharing your faith can take time. It’s often a long journey of patience and prayer. Your calling is to be a faithful friend who reflects Christ’s love—kindness and consistency will often speak louder than any words you say.

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Christian nationalism blends national identity with Christianity, but is that consistent with what the Bible teaches?

Although it may feel like Christian nationalism appeared suddenly, its roots in American culture reach back more than a century. As Christians, we need to approach this topic with a solid biblical foundation. Misunderstanding issues like this can distort how we represent Christ to the world—shaping how non-Christians perceive both us and God—and can distract us from the gospel’s true mission. When loyalty to God’s kingdom becomes intertwined with loyalty to earthly politics, we risk losing sight of where our ultimate allegiance lies: in Christ our King.

This blog will explain what Christian nationalism is, how it differs from historic Christianity. Ancient coins and artifacts illustrating historical links between religion and political authority often discussed in debates about Christian nationalism, and why understanding these distinctions matters. We’ll also explore how you can engage conversations about this ideology while staying faithful to your calling as a follower of Jesus.

Now, let’s begin by defining some key terms and looking at the foundation of nationalism itself.

What Is Nationalism?

To understand the concept of Christian nationalism, it helps to start with the larger question: what is nationalism itself?

Nationalism is more than just love for one’s country—it prioritizes a nation’s identity above everything else. Since this idea can take on many forms and meanings, it’s important to break it down.

Nationalism Definition

At its core, nationalism is the belief that a nation’s interests, identity, and culture should come first. Nationalists often emphasize unity through shared language, ethnicity, religion, or traditions. Compared to other ideologies that may focus on global cooperation or multiculturalism, nationalism emphasizes national unity and can sometimes lead to exclusion.

While pride in one’s country can be positive, nationalism can create an “us vs. them” mindset. This can lead to hostility or exclusion of those seen as outsiders or different.

For example, a nationalist might see global cooperation or diversity as threats to their country’s identity. When taken to extremes, nationalism can weaken relationships between nations and communities by promoting division and suspicion.

What Is a Religious Nationalist?

A religious nationalist goes a step further by intertwining religion with national identity. Instead of viewing faith and nation as separate, they fuse the two together. Religious nationalism is rooted in religious beliefs that shape both personal and national identity. This perspective often includes beliefs such as:

• Their nation is divinely chosen or uniquely favored by God.
• Political power should be used to enforce religious values on society.
• National identity is incomplete without shared religious traditions.

While religious nationalism can seem noble on the surface, it raises serious concerns. The idea of making nationalism a religion can marginalize those who don’t share the same faith or cultural values, ultimately creating division rather than unity.

Religious nationalism isn’t limited to Christianity or the United States. For example, Shinto has historically been linked to Japanese nationalism, shaping Japan’s national identity. Similar movements can be found in other countries, such as Ireland and the Philippines, where religion and nationalism are closely intertwined.

Patriotism vs. Nationalism

It’s easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism, but the two are quite different. Patriotism is about showing love and gratitude for one’s country—rooted in care and appreciation. Think of it as seeking the good of your nation, while still respecting others.

Nationalism, on the other hand, prioritizes the identity and interests of one country above all others. It often appeals to traditional values or roles as a way to define and reinforce national identity. At its core, it often declares, “Our nation comes first, and that’s what matters most.” When nationalism merges with religion, as it does in Christian nationalism, the result is a belief that the nation is morally superior or divinely favored above others.

The Bible speaks to these attitudes and offers wisdom for Christians navigating ideas like nationalism. Scripture calls believers to respect governing authorities (Romans 13:1) as part of God’s design for order and the posture Christians should take.

The Bible also warns against letting pride take root. Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” This serves as a caution against ideas like nationalism, especially as a religion, as it becomes more about self and earthly glory rather than God’s plans.

Patriotism—love for your country—can coexist with faith when it’s balanced with humility and a focus on biblical values. But religious nationalism risks leading us away from the gospel’s message and mission.

By understanding these distinctions, we can better recognize how Christian nationalism makes claims beyond what Scripture teaches and how Scripture calls us to live.

What Is the Christian Nationalist Ideology?

This is a term often heard in discussions about faith and politics. But what is Christian nationalism, and what are its core beliefs? At its core, Christian nationalism merges Christian identity with national identity, resulting in a viewpoint that can significantly influence how people view religion, government, and culture.

Christian nationalism is a political ideology that seeks to integrate Christianity with national governance, shaping both a nation’s identity and its policies. Understanding this definition is central to any discussion on the topic because it raises questions about the role faith should play in civic life and how Christians should live out the gospel in a diverse world.

Christian Nationalism Definition

Christian nationalism is commonly defined by scholars as the belief that a nation, typically the United States, should be shaped and governed by Christian principles. This ideology not only merges Christianity with a national identity but also suggests the two are inseparable. Supporters of Christian nationalism often argue that political power is necessary to advance God’s kingdom.

This belief frequently draws from the idea that the US was founded as a Christian nation, and therefore implies that the government should actively promote and protect Christian values. From this view, enforcing certain laws or policies based on Christianity is seen as fulfilling a divine mandate. However, this merging of faith and national pride can often blur the lines between loyalty to God’s kingdom and allegiance to an earthly nation.

Views on Christian nationalism vary widely among Christians. Some embrace the term and believe that government should actively promote Christian values to fulfill a divine mandate. Others reject “Christian nationalism” as a label altogether, seeing it as an unfair characterization of Christians who simply advocate for religious freedom and moral values in public life. Still others—including many Christian leaders and denominations—oppose Christian nationalism, arguing it misrepresents Christianity by fusing religious faith with political power and national identity. We’ll review some aspects of these below.

Beliefs of American Christian Nationalists

Several core ideals shape Christian nationalism and its influence in politics and culture. Adherence to these ideals can vary, with some individuals demonstrating strong alignment and loyalty, while others show more moderate support. These ideals often go beyond simple acknowledgment of faith and venture into claims of divine purpose and authority tied to the nation itself.

A Special Covenant or Mission from God

A central belief of Christian nationalists is that the nation has a unique, individual, and God-ordained purpose. Some view the United States as a “New Israel,” indicating a special covenant with God. This idea promotes the belief that America is uniquely chosen to fulfill divine missions or achieve spiritual goals for the world.

Defining “True” Citizenship Through Religion and Culture

Christian nationalism often ties cultural and religious identity to citizenship. In this view, true citizens are those who share Christian faith—often evangelical Protestantism—and uphold specific cultural norms. This exclusionary stance can lead to the idea that people who don’t align with these values are less legitimate or even pose a threat to the nation’s stability.

Non-Christians, in particular, are frequently viewed by Christian nationalists as outsiders or threats to the nation’s cultural and religious identity.

Civil Laws Should Reflect Christian Doctrines

Another hallmark of Christian nationalism is the belief that civil laws should align specifically with Christian teachings. This includes legislation related to marriage, sexuality, education, and even national symbols like prayer in public spaces.

Advocates argue that these laws demonstrate moral leadership, but critics warn that mixing religion and government can marginalize those with different beliefs, potentially further alienating them from the gospel. Some Christian nationalists adopt what’s called dominion theology, viewing it as a mandate to exercise dominion over all areas of society, seeing it as a spiritual and political calling to shape laws and institutions according to Christian values.

Understanding these common beliefs of Christian nationalists helps clarify the broader discussion. While many of these ideas may seem rooted in faith, they can stray from the Bible’s emphasis on God’s international mission (the Great Commission) and his calling for Christians that is personal and dynamic.

What Does the Bible Say About Christian Nationalism?

Judging Christian nationalism through a biblical lens helps keep our faith rooted in Jesus rather than cultural or political ideologies. Scripture reminds us that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and that we are called to give God what belongs to God—not confuse His kingdom with earthly power (Matthew 22:21).

It’s important to define Christian nationalism carefully to ensure an accurate biblical perspective. By listening to what Scripture teaches, we can better understand how religious nationalism aligns—or doesn’t—with God’s will.

Is Christian Nationalism Biblical?

One of the key questions Christians should ask about Christian nationalism is: Are the beliefs biblical? That is, do they align with Scripture? While the idea of merging Christian values with government might seem appealing, the Bible offers a different perspective.

• Jesus’s kingdom is not of this world: Jesus himself made it clear that his kingdom operates on a spiritual, not political, level. When speaking to Pilate, he declared, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). His mission was to transform hearts, not to establish a political state.
• The gospel focuses on transformation through Christ: The central message of the gospel is personal and spiritual transformation—leading people to salvation and a relationship with God. Nowhere in the New Testament is political rule or national dominance presented as part of advancing God’s kingdom.
• No New Testament support for church-state merger: Unlike some Old Testament accounts of Israel’s governance, the New Testament portrays the church as distinct from earthly governments. There’s no teaching that endorses merging the church’s mission with the state. Instead, believers are called to represent God’s kingdom within every culture and form of government.

When we look at these truths, it becomes clear that Christian nationalism is not aligned with what the Bible teaches about Jesus’s mission and the role intended for his followers.

At the same time, it’s important to note that rejecting Christian nationalism does not mean withdrawing from political or cultural engagement. Scripture calls believers to be salt and light in every sphere of life (Matthew 5:13–16), to pursue justice and righteousness (Micah 6:8), and to influence society for good. Christians are encouraged to speak God’s truth with grace, participate responsibly in civic life, and advocate for God’s moral principles that promote human flourishing.

Is There Biblical Nationalism?

The ideology behind nationalism raises questions about whether God has a purpose for nations and how believers should view their citizenship. Scripture affirms the existence of nations, but it also points to a greater, overarching truth than nations alone. The Bible recognizes that a diversity of nations exists, but emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all.

• Call to all people: Acts 17:26–27 reminds us that God created nations and set their boundaries so that people would seek him. While God established nations, his desire is for all people, regardless of nationality or culture, to come to know him.
• The church’s diversity: The evidence is clear that the church isn’t tied to any one nation. Revelation 7:9 presents a beautiful picture of God’s kingdom, describing people from every tribe, language, and nation worshiping him together—showing us that God’s kingdom is inclusive and global.
• Our citizenship is in heaven: Philippians 3:20 puts it plainly—“our citizenship is in heaven.” While we live in earthly nations, our primary allegiance is to God’s eternal kingdom. This perspective allows Christians to appreciate and contribute to their countries without letting national identity overshadow their identity in Christ.

The concept of biblical nationalism looks very different from Christian nationalism because it emphasizes God’s sovereignty over nations and the church’s worldwide mission. By grounding ourselves and framing our worldview in Scripture, we’re reminded that our ultimate loyalty isn’t to any political agenda but to Jesus.

A Biblical View of Patriotism

Patriotism can be a beautiful way to honor the country God has placed us in while remaining rooted in faith. Unlike nationalism that elevates national identity above all else, patriotism reflects appreciation, service, respect, and care for one’s country without idolizing it.

By adopting a biblical view of patriotism, we can see how loving our nation aligns with honoring God, as long as it’s balanced with humility. This perspective can improve the way Christians serve and influence their communities by encouraging actions that reflect both love for country and commitment to godly principles.

What Does the Bible Say About Patriotism?

The Bible provides valuable wisdom on how Christians should approach patriotism. It emphasizes respect for where God has placed us, obedience to civil laws, and a commitment to justice and mercy.

• Respect for God’s sovereignty over nations: Psalm 47 reminds us that God is sovereign over nations. “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” This verse encourages respect for where God has assigned us, recognizing that his hand guides history.
• Obedience to civil laws—with limits: The Bible also teaches that obedience to laws is part of living faithfully. Romans 13 describes governing authorities as part of God’s design for maintaining order. However, Acts 5:29 provides a crucial distinction when the apostles declared, “We must obey God rather than human beings,” showing that our ultimate loyalty belongs to God when laws contradict his commands.
• Pursuing justice, mercy, and peace: Biblical patriotism seeks the good of one’s community. Micah 6:8 powerfully calls Christians to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. True biblical patriotism is active—and works for justice, extends mercy, and strives for peace in the places God has called us to serve.

What Does the Bible Say About Democracy?

While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention democracy or endorse any political system, it does offer timeless principles that resonate with democratic ideals. These precepts can serve as a guide for how Christians can engage responsibly with governments.

• Justice, humility, and servant leadership: Mark 10:42–45 highlights the importance of humble, servant leadership. Jesus taught, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” This principle aligns well with democratic ideals that prioritize representation and justice over power and control.
• Responsible citizenship: Regardless of the government system, the Bible calls Christians to act as responsible citizens. Matthew 5:13–16 describes believers as “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” emphasizing our role in influencing society for good. This means advocating for justice, showing care for others, and living out our faith in ways that glorify God and help lead others to him.

While democracy isn’t a biblical term or requirement, its focus on equality and servant leadership can encourage Christians to participate as witnesses for Christ and respectfully debate for Christian values.

No matter the political system, our calling remains the same: to reflect Jesus in the way we engage with others, knowing our true citizenship is not of this world. As voters, Christians can be guided by biblical values when participating in democratic processes, allowing their faith to shape their choices and influence society for good.

A Biblical Call to Public Engagement

While the New Testament never directs the church to seize political power, Scripture consistently affirms the importance of Christian influence in public life. God calls his people to act as agents of truth, justice, and compassion in every part of society—including civic and cultural spheres.

Believers are described as “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16)—images that imply presence, influence, and preservation. Christians are to work for the good of their communities (Jeremiah 29:7), defend the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8–9), and uphold righteousness in ways that bless their nation (Proverbs 14:34).

Christian engagement doesn’t mean imposing faith by force, but living out biblical convictions in ways that shape culture, policies, and public conversations. Whether through voting, advocacy, service, or consistent moral witness, followers of Jesus have a meaningful role to play in promoting what is good, just, and life-giving for society.

What Should We Do As Followers of Jesus?

In response to topics like Christian nationalism, what should we do as followers of Jesus? Ultimately, Jesus calls us to live in a way that reflects his love and prioritizes his kingdom above all else. Our efforts should be directed toward keeping the focus on the gospel and Christ’s teachings—loving our neighbors, serving the poor, and making disciples of all nations—rather than seeking political power or advancing ideological agendas.

Love Without Borders

Jesus’s command in Luke 10:27 is simple yet profound:

This love extends beyond borders, cultures, and affiliations. It challenges us to see every person like ourselves: as someone made in God’s image, deserving of dignity, compassion, and understanding—regardless of their nationality or beliefs. This love should be evident in all areas of life and society.

Loyalty to Christ Comes First

While we may love our countries, our ultimate loyalty belongs to Jesus. When patriotism merges with faith, we’ve created an idol—and idols demand we compromise the gospel. Our identity as Christians is found in him, not in flags or ballot boxes. The early church thrived under Roman rule not by seeking power, but by washing feet. When earthly power becomes the priority, the gospel becomes the casualty.

The Church’s Spiritual Mission

The church is called to be a light in the world, not a tool for political power through beliefs like Christian nationalism. Our mission as the church is not to wield political power but to make disciples and transform hearts through Jesus Christ. While individual Christians can and should bring biblical wisdom into public life, the church’s primary calling is the gospel—not operating as a political force or seeking governmental control. By focusing on spiritual growth, unity, and pointing others to Christ, we fulfill the greater calling God has given us as his people.

For believers, Christian nationalism presents a genuine tension. Of course we long for all people to know Jesus. Of course a nation built on biblical truth and love sounds appealing—even beautiful.

But forced faith is no faith at all.

The gospel has never needed the sword to spread. The invitation of God is personal, not political. When we mandate Christianity through power, we don’t create believers; we create pretenders. And we shut the door on those who might have walked through it freely, drawn not by force, but by the love of a Savior who died for his enemies. The kingdom of God grows through conversion, not through conquest—one disciple at a time.

Go to all nations and make disciples. His kingdom come. His will be done.

Conclusion

Christian nationalism raises important questions about the relationship between faith and government. It can blur the lines between allegiance to Christ and loyalty to a nation, and it can tempt believers to rely on political power rather than the power of the gospel. Scripture reminds us that Jesus’s kingdom is not built by force, legislation, or national identity—but by transformed hearts and faithful witness (John 18:36).

Yet rejecting Christian nationalism does not mean withdrawing from public life. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16), to act with justice and mercy (Micah 6:8), and to seek the good of the community where God has placed us (Jeremiah 29:7). Christians have a vital role in shaping the moral and cultural landscape of society—not through coercion, but through faithful presence, humble persuasion, and courageous truth-telling.

Patriotism, when grounded in biblically informed love for your neighbor, can reflect God’s heart for justice, compassion, and human flourishing. When our loyalty to Christ comes first, we can engage in politics and culture without losing sight of the gospel or compromising our witness.

In an age of division, the church is called to model a better way. By holding our political views with humility, loving our neighbors without exception, and keeping Christ at the center of our identity, we shine the light of God’s kingdom into a world that desperately needs hope. Our mission remains unchanged: to make disciples of all nations, pointing every heart not toward earthly power, but toward the Savior who reigns forever.

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But here’s something important to understand right from the start. This conversation isn’t about whether women are equal in worth, value, dignity, or even ability. It’s also not about whether women can hold leadership positions in business, government, education, or law. And, it’s not about who gets to lead and who doesn’t. Rather, the key issue: What is God’s order and design, and how do we align ourselves with God’s created order?

The Bible and the Christian church are clear on these two points: Women and men are truly created in the image of God, and both are completely capable of leading in many areas of life.

The source of our value comes straight from Genesis 1:26–27. God created humanity, both male and female, in his image. That’s where our worth comes from. It’s not our gender or our role that determines our value. It’s the fact that we bear God’s image.

We also need to clear up a common misunderstanding. Many people mistake submission with “lesser value” or think it means “inferior,” but that’s not how the Bible uses this word. The Bible actually describes Jesus, the Son of God, as eternally in submission to God the Father.

They’re equal in value and worth, but they have different roles. Consider 1 Corinthians 11:3, which helps us understand this relationship better. We need to let the Bible define these terms instead of letting society tell us what they mean.

So what are we really talking about when we discuss women in Christianity? In today’s society, the main conversation centers specifically on the church and, to a lesser extent, the home. However, it’s important to recognize that the biblical text primarily addresses roles of men and women in the home and then how those roles impact the church. So, let’s investigate the question of whether God’s design includes women serving as pastors, elders, or in positions of spiritual authority over an entire church congregation.

This is where Christians have different views. Some are called egalitarian, and others are called complementarian. Both groups base their beliefs on how they interpret key passages of Scripture.

Here’s something important to remember. This is what we call a secondary issue. It doesn’t affect salvation. Faithful Christians who love Jesus and affirm the authority of the Bible land on both sides of this question.

What Does the Bible Say About Women?

The Bible absolutely upholds the equal value of women, created in the image of God. From the very first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, we see God valuing, using, and honoring women. But some people ask, “Is there sexism in Christianity?” It’s a fair question, especially when we look at how some people have acted throughout history.

Some Christians have misused Scripture to justify sexism, but that’s not faithful to Jesus or what the Bible actually teaches. When people twist God’s Word to put down women or treat them as less valuable human beings, they’re not following Jesus’s example.

The Bible shows women as leaders, prophets, judges, and key players in God’s plan. It shows them as intelligent, capable, and essential to spreading the gospel message.

Jesus and Women

Jesus and women had a relationship that was revolutionary for that time period. In first-century Jewish culture, women were often overlooked or undervalued. But Jesus consistently treated women with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Think about how radical this was. In Jesus’s time, women couldn’t even testify in court because people didn’t think their word was trustworthy. But guess who Jesus chose to be the first witnesses of his resurrection? Women. Mary Magdalene and other women got to spread the greatest news in human history to the rest of the despairing disciples.

Jesus welcomed many women as disciples and learners. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna traveled with Jesus and his disciples. This inclusion was clearly countercultural. Women (especially those of low social status) rarely participated in religious teaching, but Jesus included them in his inner circle.

In John 4, Jesus has a long theological conversation with a Samaritan woman. Not only was she a woman, but she was also from a group that Jews typically avoided. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truths to her and used her to reach her entire town.

In Luke 10, we read about Mary and Martha. When Martha complained that Mary was sitting and listening to Jesus instead of helping with dinner, Jesus defended Mary’s choice. He said Mary had chosen “the good portion.” Jesus was saying that women should prioritize spiritual learning, not just household duties.

Jesus also defended women when others criticized them. In Luke 7, a woman anointed Jesus’s feet with expensive perfume. The religious leaders criticized her, but Jesus praised her faith and devotion.

Jesus consistently elevated women, defended them, taught them, and included them in his ministry.

Women in the Old Testament

Long before Jesus walked this earth, God was already showing how much he values women. The Old Testament includes some pretty incredible stories of female leaders and heroes.

Deborah was a judge who led Israel during a difficult time. She wasn’t just a spiritual leader but also a military strategist. In Judges 4–5, we see her making important decisions for the entire nation.

Esther risked her life to save her people from genocide. She used her position as queen to approach the king and reveal a plot against the Jewish people. Her courage and wisdom saved an entire nation.

Hannah shows us what faithful prayer looks like. In 1 Samuel 1, we see her pouring out her heart to God and trusting him with her deepest desires.

Ruth demonstrated incredible loyalty and faith. As a foreign widow, she could have returned to her own people. Instead, she stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi and chose to worship the God of Israel. Her story shows how God welcomes people from all backgrounds.

Rahab was a Canaanite woman who was neither Jew nor following Jewish law. Nonetheless, she helped Israelite spies escape from Jericho. She showed brave faith in a God she was just learning about. She even appears in Jesus’s family tree in Matthew 1.

Miriam was Moses’s sister and a leader in her own right. She led the Israelite women in worship and celebration after they crossed the Red Sea. She was called a prophetess and played an important role in Israel’s journey.

These stories show us that God has always used women in powerful ways. He’s called them to leadership, prophecy, and important roles in his plans throughout history.

Women in the Gospels

Women in the gospels were key witnesses, disciples, and voices of faith. They didn’t just watch from the sidelines, they actively participated in Jesus’s ministry and played crucial roles in spreading his message.

They watched Jesus die, they prepared his body for burial, and they were the first ones at the tomb on resurrection morning. These women were given the job of telling the other disciples the good news.

The woman at the well in John 4 became the first evangelist to the Samaritans. After her conversation with Jesus, she ran back to her town and brought many people to meet him.

Women also supported Jesus’s ministry financially. Luke 8:1–3 tells us that Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other women “supported them out of their own means.”

The Role of Women in the Bible

There are two main ways that faithful Christians interpret what the Bible teaches about women’s roles in the church. Both views love Jesus, respect the Bible, and value women highly. They just interpret and understand certain Bible passages differently.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

The complementarian view says that men and women are completely equal in worth, dignity, and value, but God ordained an order for the family that impacts specific roles in the church. People who hold this view believe that positions of spiritual authority in the church, such as elder or pastor, are intended for qualified men. They base this on what they see as the creation order in Genesis, not on cultural norms that might change over time.

This view emphasizes that male leadership carries the weight and burden of responsibility for spiritual shepherding. They point out that Adam was held accountable for humanity’s fall, even though Eve ate the forbidden fruit first. This responsibility isn’t taken lightly. Scripture reminds us in James 3:1 that those who teach and lead will be judged more strictly.

It’s important to understand that this view isn’t about superiority or hierarchy. Christian men and women who hold the complementarian view are not opposed to female leadership outright—rather they believe that certain roles were designed by God specifically for men to fill.

Complementarians believe that women still lead, teach, and serve meaningfully in many ways. They just see certain roles as specifically designed for men. This view sees these roles as rooted in God’s intentional design for human relationships. They believe this design was established at creation in Genesis 2, affirmed throughout Scripture, and meant to reflect Christ’s relationship with the church.

It’s about aligning with God’s ordained order that, when practiced in love, promotes harmony and mutual flourishing.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

The egalitarian view also says that men and women are completely equal in worth, dignity, and value, and it extends that equality to roles within the church and church ministry as well.

People who hold this view believe that women can serve in any role within the church, including leadership roles such as elder, pastor, prophet, or teacher. They see these positions as equally open to women leaders and appointed based solely on gifting and calling, not gender.

This view sees biblical leadership qualifications as rooted in spiritual maturity and character, not in male or female identity. When they read passages like 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14, they understand them as addressing specific cultural situations in the early church, not universal restrictions for all times and places.

Egalitarians point to Galatians 3:28, where Paul writes that “there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” They see this as applying to church leadership as well as salvation.

This view holds that mutual submission, shared leadership, and partnership between men and women reflect God’s design for human flourishing. They believe that leadership in the church is about using God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ, regardless of sex.

Both views uphold women’s dignity, both reject misogyny, and both are trying to be faithful to Scripture.

How to Understand Difficult Bible Verses About Women

Some passages in the Bible seem confusing when we first read them. People on both sides of the complementarian-egalitarian discussion interpret these verses differently. Let’s look at the main passages and see how both views understand them. We’ll present both views on each passage in no particular order or preference.

1 Timothy 2:11–12

Note: The Koine Greek term can easily refer to wife in this context and man can be husband. This passage is likely more about the roles of husbands and wives and not about broader roles of men and women in the church and its leadership.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

Complementarians see this passage as reflecting a timeless principle rooted in the creation order. They point to verses 13–14, where Paul references Adam and Eve, as evidence that this isn’t just about culture but about God’s design from the beginning.

While women are undoubtedly gifted and equal in value, complementarians believe the role of elder or pastor of a congregation is intended for qualified men. They see teaching with authority in the gathered church as part of this distinction.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

Egalitarians believe Paul was addressing a specific situation in Ephesus, not creating a universal rule for all churches everywhere. They point out that the Greek word “authentein” (translated as “exercise authority”) appears only once in the entire New Testament, which makes its meaning uncertain.

Many scholars think “authentein” refers to domineering or abusive authority, not all forms of teaching or leadership. The context of Ephesus is important here. The city was known for the worship of Artemis, where women held religious authority in ways that might have been confusing for new converts.

Egalitarians also point out that in 1 Timothy 3, when Paul lists qualifications for elders and deacons, he uses words that could apply to both men and women in the original Greek. They believe this passage doesn’t prohibit women from teaching or leading when they’re biblically qualified.

Ephesians 5:22–24

Notice that this passage focuses on marriage and not men and women’s roles in general.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

Egalitarians point out that this passage is framed by Ephesians 5:21, which calls for “submit[ting] to one another out of reverence for Christ.” They see this as the key to understanding the whole passage. The mutual submission comes first, then Paul gives specific examples of how that works in different relationships.

They also emphasize the cultural context of Paul’s time. In that culture, wives had very few rights and were expected to submit to their husbands completely. Paul’s instructions to husbands to love their wives sacrificially was actually revolutionary for that time.

Egalitarians believe Paul’s main message is about sacrificial love and mutual respect, not about establishing permanent hierarchy.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

Complementarians acknowledge that men and women are equal in value, but they see this passage as affirming distinct roles within marriage. They point to the comparison of Christ and the church as evidence that this is about more than just cultural accommodation.

Husbands are called to loving, sacrificial, servant leadership. This isn’t domineering, abusive, or prideful leadership. It’s the kind of leadership that Jesus modeled.

Wives are called to respectful submission, modeled after Jesus’s willing submission to the Father. Complementarians see this arrangement as reflecting God’s design for order, unity, and partnership within marriage rather than conforming to cultural expectations or stereotypes.

1 Corinthians 14:34–35

Notice how the word “women” is used but the context and the concluding part of the verse refers to “husbands.” The Scripture is arguably talking about the relationship between husbands and wives and not broadly about men and women in this context.

Equal Roles (Egalitarian) View

Egalitarians point out that Paul is addressing specific disruptions in Corinth’s chaotic gatherings, not issuing a universal ban on women speaking in church. The context of 1 Corinthians 14 is all about bringing order to worship services that had become disruptive and confusing.

They also note that earlier in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul acknowledges and gives instructions for women praying and prophesying publicly in church. It wouldn’t make sense for Paul to approve of women prophesying in chapter 11 and then completely forbid them from speaking in chapter 14.

Distinct Roles (Complementarian) View

Complementarians also believe Paul is addressing specific disruptions in Corinth’s gatherings, not issuing a universal ban on women ever speaking in church. They agree that the context is about bringing order to chaotic worship services.

Like egalitarians, they point to 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul acknowledges women praying and prophesying publicly. This shows that Paul wasn’t against all forms of women speaking in church.

However, complementarians see this as aligning with their broader view that while women can participate in meaningful ways, including prophecy and prayer, the authoritative teaching and governance roles in the church are intended for biblically qualified men.

Men and Women’s Roles in the Bible

The roles of men and women are typically discussed in the Bible in two main contexts: primarily the home and secondarily the church.

In the Home (Marriage and Family)

The Bible gives specific instructions about marriage relationships. Husbands are called to lead with love, sacrifice, and responsibility, as we see in Ephesians 5:25–33. Wives are called to respect and support their husbands’ leadership, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:22–24.

Complementarians interpret this as meaning that men and women are not just physically complementary but also emotionally. This man/woman distinction leads to a God-ordained order that reflects the relationship between Christ and the church. They see the husband as having the primary responsibility for leadership in the family, while recognizing that this leadership should always be loving and servant-hearted.

Egalitarians see these passages as describing mutual partnership without necessarily fixed roles. They emphasize the mutual submission mentioned in Ephesians 5:21 and believe that both spouses can lead in different areas based on their gifts and abilities.

In the Church (Leadership and Authority)

This is where the biggest differences between complementarian and egalitarian views become apparent.

Egalitarians believe both men and women can serve in any church role based on gifting and calling. They see passages like Galatians 3:28 as applying to church leadership structures.

Complementarians believe elder and pastoral roles are intended for qualified men, based on passages like 1 Timothy 2:11–12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34–35. However, they strongly affirm that women can serve in every other leadership role in the church.

Outside of the Home and Church

Here’s something most complementarians and egalitarians completely agree on. The Bible does not prescribe sex roles for broader society such as business, government, education, or other areas of public life.

Both views affirm that women can and should lead in these areas based on their gifts, calling, and qualifications.

The Role of Women in the Church Today

Looking at women in the early church can inform and provide a blueprint for how we think about the role of women in the church today. Though people interpret these examples differently, they still provide plenty of insight and provide us with examples worth considering.

Women in the Early Church

Phoebe is called a “deacon” or “servant” in Romans 16:1, and Paul commends her highly. Egalitarians see this as evidence of women in official church leadership roles. Complementarians also recognize Phoebe’s important role but may interpret “deacon” differently than the office of elder.

Priscilla is mentioned alongside her husband Aquila as someone who taught Apollos “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Egalitarians point out that Priscilla is often mentioned first, possibly indicating her prominence. Complementarians note that she taught alongside her husband, not as the sole authority.

Junia is mentioned in Romans 16:7 as “outstanding among the apostles,” though there’s debate about what “among the apostles” means exactly.

Women in the Church Today

Across different denominations today, women serve in various ways, but how far these roles extend often depends on the church’s theological tradition.

In complementarian churches, women serve in many leadership roles including teaching other women and children, leading various ministries, serving as deacons, and participating in church governance. The roles of pastor and elder are typically assigned to qualified men.

In egalitarian churches, women can serve in all the same roles as men, including pastor and elder, based on their gifts, calling, and qualifications rather than their sex.

Both types of churches recognize the vital contributions women make to church life and ministry.

Conclusion

Women in Christianity have always played vital and essential roles in God’s plan. From the Old Testament heroes to the women who first witnessed Jesus’s resurrection, God has consistently used women in powerful ways throughout history.

The discussion about women’s or wives’ roles in church leadership is a secondary issue where thoughtful, Bible-loving Christians disagree. Complementarians and egalitarians both affirm the equal value and dignity of women. They both reject sexism and misogyny and they both want to faithfully follow what Scripture teaches.

The difference comes down to how they interpret certain biblical passages and apply them to church leadership structures. Complementarians see distinct roles with certain leadership positions intended  for qualified men. Egalitarians see equal access to all church roles based on gifts and calling rather than sex.

What matters most is that we treat both men and women with dignity as people made in God’s image. We need both men and women working together to spread the gospel and build up the church.

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Whether faith is new or seasoned over the years, knowing the story behind it helps us see where we stand. Christian history isn’t just about the past—it’s about the path that brought us here.

It reminds us that the church is more than a building, more than a weekly gathering.

It’s faith. Forged in trials, anchored in truth, and carried by Christ.

When we belong to the church, we belong to something far greater than ourselves. Our hope rests on the unshakable foundation of God’s Word and moves forward by the power of his Spirit.

As we walk through the pages of history, we find his fingerprints everywhere. In the courage of apostles, the fire of reformers, the sacrifice of martyrs, and the passion of missionaries—his truth has never wavered.

Empires have fallen. Leaders have changed. But the church? It’s still standing, still moving, still his.

Christian history tells a story of God’s faithfulness. A living testimony to the words of Jesus: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

The History of Christianity: Timeline

The history of Christianity is more than a list of dates and events. It’s the unfolding of God’s great plan—sovereign, steady, and full of grace.

It is the story of redemption. Not written with ink, but written with the blood of Christ.

It began with Jesus walking dusty roads and healing broken hearts. Then came the fire of Pentecost that gave the church legs. From there, the gospel spread through Roman cities, across continents, and into cathedrals and cottages alike.

The establishment of the Nicene Creed during the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325 unified Christian beliefs and addressed theological disputes.

Nations were stirred. Hearts were called. The Great Awakenings lit fires that still burn today.

This faith is not tied to one land or one people. It moves, breathes, and lives wherever hearts are willing.

It’s the story of ordinary people trusting an extraordinary God.

Origin of Christianity

It all started with Jesus.

He was not a king in a palace or a warrior on a throne. The founder of Christianity was an itinerant preacher who traveled and taught in the Galilee region, a servant King who walked old roads with calloused hands and a heart full of mercy.

He healed the sick. He dined with sinners. His kingdom was not made of stone or sword, and he spoke of grace, love, and second chances.

His message was radical—sinners could be forgiven, the outcast could be welcomed, and God’s grace was a gift, not a wage.

The founding of Christianity dates back to AD 30–33, and it is marked by a hill called Golgotha, an empty tomb, and a room filled with wind and fire.

It began not with a law but with a resurrection. In the hearts of fishermen, tax collectors, and broken souls who met Jesus—and were never the same.

When Jesus Christ walked among us, he calmed storms with a whisper, cast out demons with a word, and healed the untouchable with a single touch.

Crowds followed him. Leaders feared him.

But still, they didn’t understand him.

They expected a rebel to rise against Rome. Instead, he came to conquer something deeper—sin, shame, and death itself.

And he did.

He was betrayed. Condemned. Crucified.

The sky went dark. The earth shook. Hope was buried in a borrowed tomb. But on the third day, that tomb stood empty.

Jesus Christ had risen. Just as he said he would.

And everything changed.

The followers who had once scattered in fear now stood firm in faith. They had seen him, touched him, heard his voice again. And they couldn’t keep silent.

That was the beginning. That was the spark.

And from that moment, nothing could stop the fire from spreading.

Early Christians

One might think the King of Kings would start with palaces and choose his followers from thrones and temples.

Surely, the polished ranks of the religious elite, those with long prayers and spotless robes, would make ideal disciples.

That would make sense. That would be expected.

But that wouldn’t be Jesus. Early Christian leaders, primarily educated converts, played a significant role in establishing the church’s institutional structures.

Who Were the First Christians?

The first Christians weren’t scholars. They weren’t rulers or people of influence. And they had no cathedrals, no councils, no seminaries.

They had a Savior who had conquered the grave, and that was enough.

The first Christians were ordinary people who had encountered the risen Christ and been transformed.

There was Peter, the fisherman who once trembled before a servant girl. He came to stand before thousands, proclaiming:

The same man who had denied Jesus three times risked everything to declare his name.

There was Mary Magdalene, once bound by darkness, now the first to witness the Light of the world breaking from the tomb.

She was not just the first to see him—she was the first sent to tell others of his resurrection (John 20:17), and she did.

There was Thomas, the doubter and skeptic. He needed proof.

What did Jesus do? He offered his scars. He let Thomas touch the wounds, see the marks, and feel the evidence. “My Lord and my God!” Thomas declared, and he no longer doubted but believed.

And then there was Paul, who made it his mission to destroy the church.

He hunted Christians, dragged them from their homes, and approved their executions. But with one encounter on the road to Damascus, he was changed. The persecutor became the preacher. The one who had tried to silence the gospel became its loudest voice.

The twelve apostles played a foundational role in the development and spread of Christian teachings, particularly during key events like the confession of Peter and Pentecost. But there were many more. The poor, the wealthy, the enslaved, the free, the Jew, the Gentile.

A Roman centurion. A businesswoman named Lydia. A runaway slave named Onesimus. Men and women from every walk of life drawn together by one name—Jesus Christ.

The Spread of Christianity

The spread of Christianity started in Jerusalem after the city crucified Jesus.

But the gospel wouldn’t stay there. It couldn’t.

Jesus had given his followers a mission—a commission that stretched beyond city walls, borders, and anything they had imagined: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

And they did. The significance of missionary work in the rapid expansion and spread of early Christianity cannot be overstated, particularly the efforts of apostles like St. Paul.

At first, they stayed close, preaching in the temple courts, healing the sick, and adding to their numbers daily.

But then came opposition.

Stephen was stoned, James was executed, and the believers were scattered. Yet what seemed like an attempt to crush the faith only became the means of its expansion.

Wherever they fled, they carried the message of Christ.

Philip went to Samaria and preached the good news. He crossed barriers of race and culture, and the gospel took root in unexpected soil.

Peter stepped into the home of a Roman centurion, a place he never thought he’d enter. And there, he watched as the Holy Spirit fell—not just on the Jews, but on the Gentiles too. Grace knew no borders.

And then there was Paul. Once a man who hunted down Christians, now a man who couldn’t stop talking about Christ. He journeyed across Asia Minor, through Greece, to Rome—planting churches, writing letters, and speaking the name of Jesus Christ in cities that had never heard it before.

What Is the History of Christianity?

The history of Christianity is the story of faith that began with a handful of followers and grew to stretch across continents. It’s a faith that endures persecution, shapes civilizations, and changes the course of history.

It’s a story of bold love, unrelenting grace, and a message too powerful to be silenced. During the early centuries, the early Christian community faced numerous challenges, including persecution—but the Holy Spirit was always alive and active, working for the glory of God.

Early Church History

They had no cathedrals. No budgets. No programs or platforms. Just hearts on fire. They met in homes, prayed in whispers, and worshiped with everything they had.

They shared what little they owned, cared for widows and orphans, and healed the sick—not for applause but because love told them to.

And they lived differently. So, the world pushed back.

Religious leaders tried to silence them. Rome tried to crush them. But the harder they were pressed, the more their faith spread.

Their courage caught attention.

Joy in the middle of suffering didn’t make sense, and their forgiveness in the face of cruelty left a mark more profound than any wound.

Early church history reminds us—God doesn’t need crowds or crowns to move. He uses ordinary people, filled with his Spirit, to do extraordinary things.

The gospel spread through persecution and trials, carried not by swords or wealth but faith and love.

The Beginning of the Christian Church

The church was born in fire and faith, in a room filled with ordinary men and women waiting on an extraordinary promise.

Fifty days had passed since the resurrection. Jerusalem was alive with travelers, and the city swelled with people from every nation who gathered for the festival of Pentecost.

In an upstairs room, a smaller gathering waited—not for the festival, but for a promise.

Jesus had told them to wait, to pray, to prepare.

But for what, exactly? They didn’t know.

And then, heaven broke through.

“A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:2–4). The Holy Spirit had come.

They spilled into the streets, declaring God’s wonders to the crowds below. People stopped, listened, and wondered.

And then Peter—Peter, who had once denied even knowing Jesus—stood tall.

His voice, no longer timid, rang out with truth: Christ was crucified, and Christ is risen.

And that day, three thousand believed. The church had taken its first breath, and that was the beginning of the church.

Yet, the age of the apostles would not be easy. Persecution came swiftly, and religious leaders resisted.

Stephen became the first to die for his faith. Paul, once the church’s fiercest enemy, became its greatest missionary. The disciples stood before kings and endured beatings, prison cells, and threats of death.

But they would not be silenced.

They had seen the risen Christ, touched his scars, and shared meals with him. And he had promised them: “You will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

And so, the gospel spread. It leaped beyond Jerusalem and Judea, beyond borders no one thought it could cross. Some went willingly, others were scattered by persecution, but all went purposefully.

Christianity in the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a place of power, conquest, and glory.

It was a kingdom of iron, stretching from the windswept shores of Britain to the sands of Egypt. The Roman emperor ruled. Legions marched. Nations bowed.

And through it all, a small group of men and women carried a message so powerful and world-altering that even the greatest empire on earth couldn’t contain it.

Ancient Roman Church

Christianity arrived in Rome through conviction. It didn’t storm the city with swords; it entered through the testimony of ordinary believers who Jesus had changed.

It took root in the streets, markets, and homes of merchants and enslaved people. The gospel spread through whispered conversations in dark alleys, prayers spoken in underground rooms, and letters carried on the backs of weary travelers.

And before long, the faith of the crucified Christ had reached the capital of the world’s greatest empire.

At first, Rome dismissed it as just another strange belief, a passing moment among the lower class. The Roman state, however, soon saw the growing Christian movement as a threat to its unity and stability, leading to political pressures and persecution.

But when Christianity didn’t fade, when its followers didn’t bow to Caesar, when they chose death over denial—Rome took notice.

Christian Persecution

Faced with the power of the Christian faith, the Roman Empire struck back.

It started with threats, with warnings to stay silent. But the Christians wouldn’t be silenced.

So Rome escalated.

The warnings turned into whips. Christians were arrested, beaten, and stoned. Some were crucified. Others were thrown to lions for sport. Some lit the night sky—burned alive in Nero’s gardens.

And still, they would not deny their Lord.

They were given a choice: deny Christ and live . . . or affirm him as Lord and die.

They chose Jesus. Every time. Many Christians held diverse beliefs and practices, and these variations have shaped the faith over time.

The world had never seen anything like it. Kings and warriors fought for power. But these men and women—they died for love.

They forgave their executioners. They met death with joy because they knew something Rome could never understand—Jesus had already conquered death.

The gospel spread not in spite of persecution but because of it.

As Tertullian, an early church father, wrote: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” (Apologeticus, chapter 50).

Roman Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Milan

Then came Constantine. The Roman emperor looked out at a world in motion, a world he could feel shifting beneath his feet.

History tells us that before a great battle, he saw a vision—a cross in the sky, glowing with the words, “In this sign, you will conquer.” So he marched forward, not with pagan symbols, but under the banner of Christ. And he won.

In AD 313, he issued the Edict of Milan. With it came a sweeping change: religious tolerance for Christians.

Not long after, Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 to address theological disputes and establish key doctrines, including the Nicene Creed.

The persecution stopped. The executions ended. The fear began to fade.

Christianity was no longer outlawed. No longer hunted.

The Roman Empire—the very force that once tried to crush the church—was now welcoming it.

And just like that, the faith that had grown quietly in catacombs and whispered through prison walls stepped into the light.

The Roman Catholic Church

As Christianity gained acceptance, it also gained structure.

The days of secret meetings in homes gave way to gatherings in grand basilicas. The faith that had once been outlawed now found itself welcomed in halls of power.

By AD 380, under Emperor Theodosius, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. The church, once hunted and hated, was now honored and protected.

But with favor came new challenges.

Power brought politics. Acceptance invited compromise.

What began with fishermen and tax collectors now mingled with emperors and laws. Some traditions strengthened the church, while others dragged it away from its simple beginnings.

The purity of the gospel sometimes became tangled in the complexities of religion.

And yet—God was not finished.

Through every debate, every struggle, every growing pain, his gospel endured.

His truth held fast.

And his kingdom kept moving forward, one heart at a time.

The Spread of Christianity Beyond the Roman Empire

But the gospel was never meant to stay in Rome. Jesus had said, “Go into all the world.” And so, that’s precisely where it went.

This message wasn’t anchored to a city or wrapped in a single culture. It was meant for every tribe, tongue, and nation under heaven.

Missionaries crossed deserts and sailed seas, carrying the hope of Christ to Africa, Persia, India, and beyond. Early Muslim conquests impacted Christian communities in North Africa, but Christianity continued to spread in Europe and Asia despite these challenges.

Merchants told the story of Jesus as they traveled dusty trade routes, planting seeds of faith in foreign soil.

Even those exiled or imprisoned—those who had lost everything—found themselves in new places, with new people, holding onto a message that refused to be silenced. What felt like the end became the beginning of something greater.

And so, the gospel continued to move. It leaped across continents, stretched through generations, and weathered empires, revolutions, reformations, and awakenings.

It outlived Rome and outlasted persecution. And it outlives us.

Medieval Christianity: Light in the Darkness

The Middle Ages—often called the Dark Ages—was a time of kings and castles, knights in armor, and battles. Empires rose and fell like waves on a restless sea. The world was uncertain, fragile, and often cruel.

But through the shifting shadows of war and power, one light refused to go out—the church. Muslim conquests affected Christian communities in the Middle East during various significant periods of Christianity’s development.

In a time when most couldn’t read and many lived in fear, the church became more than a building. It became the heartbeat of the community.

When storms came, it stood as shelter. And when bodies broke, it brought healing. When minds were hungry, it offered truth. When hope was hard to find, it became a sanctuary.

In the church, babies were baptized. The sick were anointed. The grieving were comforted. The poor were fed. The weary were welcomed.

It wasn’t perfect. But it was present.

And through its quiet presence, the gospel kept moving. Shaping hearts, homes and history.

But even in this place of light, shadows crept in.

Kings reached for control. Popes sometimes looked more like emperors than shepherds. Politics tangled with piety. Power blurred the purpose. The unity that once defined the church began to crack. Division spread like a slow leak—silent, steady, and hard to stop.

Monasticism: Seeking God in Silence

Not all of the church’s influence came from cathedrals with high ceilings or courts filled with kings.

Some came from quiet places—stone halls, candlelit libraries, and whispered prayers in the stillness of monasteries.

Monasticism, the practice of withdrawing from the public world to worship, took root.

Men and women stepped away from the noise of the world to live lives of prayer, study, and service. They chose simplicity over comfort. Discipline over ease. Devotion over distraction. 

They copied Scripture by hand, one page at a time, preserving God’s Word in an age when books were rare and few could read. They taught the uneducated. Cared for the poor. Healed the sick.

Their hands worked. Their hearts prayed. Day after day. Year after year.

While kings waged war and kingdoms rose and fell, these quiet servants of Christ kept the flame of faith alive.

Hidden from the spotlight, but never forgotten by God.

Feudalism and the Church: A Complex Relationship

The Middle Ages were ruled by feudalism, a system in which kings granted land to nobles, who then ruled over knights and peasants. It was a world of castles and oaths, of duty and hierarchy.

And in the middle of it all? You guessed it—the church.

At times, the church was a spiritual guide, calling leaders to righteousness and reminding them of their duty before God. Other times, it was a political player, influencing kings, settling disputes, and even crowning emperors.

Some leaders sought to honor God in their rule. Others used the church for their gain. Corruption crept in. The line between spiritual authority and earthly power blurred.

Yet, even in the middle of politics and power struggles, the church remained a place where faith thrived, the poor found hope, and the gospel was still proclaimed.

The Role of the Church in Establishing Schools and Universities

Imagine a world with few books, where most people never learned to read, and knowledge was kept behind stone walls tucked away in monasteries and royal courts.

That was medieval Europe.

And then came the church.

Monks became more than scribes. They became teachers. They didn’t just copy Scripture in quiet monasteries—they taught it.

Cathedrals became classrooms, and churches opened doors to young minds, teaching philosophy, law, and theology.

Universities were born. Oxford. Cambridge. Paris. Some of the greatest learning centers began as places to study God’s truth.

For the church, knowledge was more than information—it was a revelation.

God had created the world in order, which meant it could be studied.

Science, philosophy, and theology weren’t in conflict—they were windows into the Creator’s wisdom.

The church didn’t just shape hearts. It shaped minds and raised up leaders, scholars, and reformers who would one day change the world.

The Crusades: Faith and War Collide

The Crusades were a complicated and often heartbreaking chapter in the history of Christianity.

They arose from what many saw as noble intentions—the desire to defend Christian pilgrims and sacred places in the Holy Land.

But along the way, something shifted.

The First Crusade marched toward Jerusalem with passion and purpose. Many knights believed they were fighting for God. And yet, in their zeal, they did things that broke his heart.

As the years passed, the focus faded. Later, the Crusades were less about faith and more about power. Kings saw opportunity, rulers chased wealth, and innocent lives were caught in the crossfire.

Some went sincerely, hoping to honor Christ and defend what they held sacred.

Others, sadly, missed the heart of the gospel in their pursuit of war.

The Crusades remind us of a deep truth: there’s a tension between serving God and chasing power. A battle between what is holy and what is human.

And they leave us with a sobering lesson—not every act done in the name of Christ reflects the love of Christ.

The Great Schism: A Church Divided

The church had been one body, faith, mission, and people under Christ for a thousand years.

But in 1054, the great divide came.

It didn’t happen in a day. The fault lines had been forming for centuries—language, culture, and theology differences widened the gap between East and West.

The church in Rome, led by the Pope, saw itself as the central authority. The church in Constantinople, guided by its patriarchs, held to a more decentralized leadership. They wrestled over doctrine—the nature of the Holy Spirit, the authority of the Bishop of Rome, and even the use of unleavened bread in communion.

Tension turned to conflict. Conflict turned to separation.

And then, the final blow: excommunications were exchanged, doors closed, and a unity once held was broken.

The Western Church became known as the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Church became the Eastern Orthodox Church. The East–West Schism in 1054 marked the formal separation of Eastern Orthodoxy from the Western Catholic Church, significantly impacting the development of Christian theology and practices.

One church became two.

But did the faith disappear? No. Did the gospel stop moving? Never.

The Reformation: A Cry for Truth, A Call to Grace

The church had weathered storms before. The Great Schism had split East from West, dividing one church into two.

But another storm began to stir in the following centuries—this time from within.

The Roman Catholic Church stood as the dominant force in the West, holding both spiritual and political power. But with power came pride. And with pride came corruption.

The gospel of grace—once so clear—began to fade beneath layers of tradition, decrees, and indulgences.

Forgiveness, once offered freely by Christ, was sold for a price. Hearts ached for truth. And in God’s perfect timing, voices rose to call the church back to him.

In 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther walked to the door of Wittenberg Castle Church and nailed up a list—Ninety-Five Theses, words meant to spark a conversation.

What he didn’t know was that this simple act would light a fire that would change Christian history.

At the heart of the Reformation was a bold, beautiful truth: salvation is not earned. It’s a gift.

Through Scripture, Luther rediscovered that righteousness comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Not by works or penance. Not by the decree of any man.

And Luther wasn’t alone. Ulrich Zwingli challenged practices that had no place in Scripture.

In Geneva, John Calvin shaped the theology of the movement, pointing to the sovereignty of God and the authority of his Word.

In England, William Tyndale labored to bring the Bible into the language of the people—because a gospel that’s kept behind closed doors is no gospel at all.

These men, and many more, risked everything so that God’s Word could be heard again.

At its core, the Reformation stood on five truths—the Five Solas:

• Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone is our authority.
• Sola Fide – Faith alone makes us right with God.
• Sola Gratia – Grace alone saves us.
• Solus Christus – Christ alone is our mediator.
• Soli Deo Gloria – All glory belongs to God alone.

The Protestant Reformation was a pivotal event in Christianity, significantly shaping its doctrines and practices. The Reformation placed the Bible into the hands of ordinary people. It reshaped worship, shifting the focus from ritual to relationship. It broke the church’s political grip and gave rise to new denominations—Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and others.

And it spread like wildfire—fueled by the printing press, and by people hungry for truth.

But not everyone welcomed the change.

The Catholic Church fought back with the Counter-Reformation. Reformers were exiled. Imprisoned. Martyred. William Tyndale was burned at the stake for giving the Bible to the people. John Huss died a century earlier for daring to say that Christ, not the pope, was the head of the church.

The cost was high. But the Word of God could not be silenced.

Did the church fall? No.

Did the gospel fade? Never.

Because the truth is not fragile. And grace cannot be chained.

The Reformation wasn’t the end. It was a new beginning. And through every trial, every council, every split and scar—Christ remained at the center.

Faithful to his promise: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

The Great Awakening: When Hearts Caught Fire

There are moments in history when God moves so powerfully, the world can’t help but notice.

Hearts are stirred. Lives are changed. Nations feel the tremble of his presence. The Great Awakening was one of those moments.

From the 1730s to the 1740s, a wave of revival swept across the American colonies and parts of Europe. Churches that had grown cold came alive. Faith that had gone quiet found its voice again.

God used bold, passionate preachers to spark the flame.

Jonathan Edwards stood in New England pulpits with sermons that pierced the soul. His sermons, like ”Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” called people to repentance—not with guilt, but with grace.

George Whitefield, with a voice that could reach thousands in open fields, preached the new birth in Christ. Rich or poor, educated or uneducated—it didn’t matter. People came. They listened. They wept.

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, brought structure to the fire. He taught holiness. He preached grace. And he helped create change that would stretch far beyond his time.

These men weren’t just preaching—they were shaking the foundations. They challenged lifeless religion. They broke through denominational lines. And they reminded the church that salvation doesn’t come through ritual, but through faith in Jesus alone.

The effects reached far beyond Sunday mornings.

The Great Awakening sparked social reform. It stirred hearts to care for the poor, educate the unlearned, reach into prisons, and to speak out against slavery.

Leaders began to say what others were afraid to say: every soul matters to God.

Methodists, Baptists, Quakers—they became voices for the voiceless. The gospel’s call for justice took root in hearts, and the dignity of the ordinary person was upheld.

The revival also planted the seeds of freedom.

People began to see faith as something deeply personal—not something handed down by the government or confined to official churches. This awakening helped shape the belief that religion and state should be separate and that faith should be chosen, not forced.

This idea would one day help shape the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

The Great Awakening didn’t just revive the church. It helped shape a nation.

It helped lay the groundwork for democracy, liberty, and a faith that comes from the heart—not from a law.

Because when God moves, he doesn’t just wake up churches. He wakes up the world.

The Modern Church: A Light in a Changing World

The church has never been tied to one place, one people, or one moment in time. Christianity emerged as an independent religion, evolving from the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and distinguishing itself from ancient Judaism and other cultural influences of the time.

It’s always been on the move—growing, stretching, reaching into new lands and new hearts.

And today, more than ever, the body of Christ stands at a crossroads. A world that’s shifting. A gospel that has not.

The mission remains the same: make disciples of all nations, be Jesus’s hands and feet, and shine light in the darkness.

One of the most remarkable changes in recent years has been the rise of evangelical Christianity. What started as a revival movement has become a global force.

With a deep love for Scripture, a focus on personal faith, and a passion for sharing the good news, evangelicals have filled churches with worship, pulpits with preaching, and the world with mission work.

Yes, churches are still thriving in places like North America and Europe. But they’re also bursting with life in areas that once seemed far from faith.

The center of Christianity is shifting. While some churches in the West face decline, others in the Global South—Africa, Asia, and Latin America—are growing.

In-house churches and open-air stadiums, in cities and villages, in whispered prayers and joyful songs—the gospel is alive.

In Asia, new believers are coming to faith despite persecution. And in Africa, entire communities are turning to Christ. In Latin America, faith is reshaping culture.

Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14). And it is.

But even as the church grows, it also faces new challenges.

Secularism has taken hold in many parts of the Western world. Some say faith has no place in public life. Some see the church as outdated, unnecessary, and even oppressive.

Culture shifts, voices grow louder, and some churches feel the pull to water down what they believe.

But even in the storm, Christ’s promise still stands: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

Through it all, God is calling his church to something greater—unity.

For too long, divisions have weakened the body of Christ. Lines have been drawn. Debates have turned into battles. But the gospel is clear: One Lord. One faith. One baptism (Ephesians 4:5).

Across the globe, believers are setting aside differences to pray, to worship, to serve together.

Calls for unity are growing. Churches from all backgrounds are joining hands to proclaim Christ, feed the hungry, fight injustice, and bring hope to the hurting.

Because, in the end, it’s not about the name on the church door. It’s about the name above all names—Jesus Christ.

And when the church walks in unity, the world takes notice. Walls fall. Healing begins. The gospel moves with greater power. We reflect the heart of Christ not in uniformity but in love. Different voices, one song. Different paths, one purpose. One body, one Savior—forever faithful, always enough.

The modern church is not perfect. But it is alive. And it still belongs to him.

Through trials, revivals, shifting cultures, and new frontiers, his kingdom keeps advancing. The church is still in his hands. It’s still the body of Christ. It’s still his light in a world that needs him now more than ever.

The Significance of Christian History for Us Today

The history of Christianity isn’t just a record of what it once was. It’s the story of what still is—a living, breathing testimony to the faithfulness of God through every age, in every place.

It didn’t end with the apostles or stop with the reformers. And it didn’t fade after the revivals. The story continues—and we’re a part of it.

Every moment of persecution, every spark of revival, every quiet act of obedience is woven into a faith that cannot be silenced. A faith that stretches across generations and borders.

The same Spirit who filled the upper room, who gave courage to the martyrs, who ignited Great Awakenings—is alive in us today.

Christian history reminds us of something beautiful: no empire has crushed the gospel. No opposition has silenced it. No cultural shift has outpaced it.

When Rome tried to break the church, it only grew stronger. Corruption crept in, but reform rose up. And when hearts grew cold, revival caught fire.

The world changes, but God does not. He’s still faithful. Still working and calling. And because of that, we don’t live in fear—we live in hope.

We’re not here by accident. There is purpose—to carry the gospel forward, love boldly, and stand firm in truth.

We may never stand before kings, but we can be faithful in our homes. We may not preach to thousands, but we can tell one person about Jesus.

And one day, when future generations look back, may they see in us what we see in those who came before—a church that would not be silenced, would not compromise, and would not stop shining the light of Christ.

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The very first verse in Genesis 1 tells us: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

This opening to God’s Word declares that there certainly was a beginning and, therefore, a Cause (or Beginner) to the universe. Christians believe that God created everything and that God’s hand can be seen throughout all the amazing architecture in our natural world—from the smallest cell to the vastest galaxies and beyond.

But how did God create the heavens and the earth?

People have asked this question for thousands of years and have come up with many different ideas, including the theory of evolution.

Before we get into this topic, it’s important to remember that each person’s belief regarding evolution is a secondary issue in theology. Thankfully, no matter what your viewpoint is on evolution, it does not dictate if you are (or can be) saved by Jesus Christ. Yes, it’s an important and relevant topic, but it doesn’t impact our salvation.

As a curious person, you might be wondering . . .

Can Christians Believe in Evolution?

Christians can believe in a number of scientific concepts that aren’t explicitly outlined in the Bible, such as cells, molecules, photosynthesis, gravity, etc.

However, some scientific concepts—like evolution—can both align with and challenge the Christian worldview in different ways. When it comes to evolution, the question becomes: Which worldview best lines up with the evidence in nature and the truth of the Bible? Both will give us clues.

Christians hold different views when trying to understand how God created.

The three most common views are:

• Young-earth creationism (YEC)
• Theistic evolution / evolutionary creation (TE)
• Old-earth creationism (OEC)

Each view engages the topic of evolution differently, but all three accept at least portions of evolutionary theory. Reasons to Believe holds an old-earth creationism position and believes it offers the best explanation for what we see in the record of nature and the words of Scripture. RTB also remains skeptical of the extent to which the evolutionary paradigm explains the history of life.

But . . . What Exactly Is Evolution?

The concept of evolution emerged in the mid-19th century to help explain our ever-changing natural world. When it comes to the origin of the universe and life on Earth, evolution remains the predominant idea being taught in schools.

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the definition of evolution is “any change in the frequency of [gene variants] within a population from one generation to the next.” This means that any change in a living organism’s genetics from one generation to the next is within the realm of “evolution” (i.e., plants, animal breeds, eye color, etc.).

More simply put, evolution = changes over time.

The concept of evolution predates Charles Darwin. However, Darwin progressed and popularized the term “evolution” and the theory in connection to natural selection in the 1800s through his writings On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

Images from your high school textbook are probably coming to mind!

Darwin’s ideas led to something called the evolutionary paradigm, which many scientists use in an attempt to explain any biological change or even the emergence of life in the universe. The problem is, this paradigm is a mixture of proven concepts and unproven theories.

Let’s unpack it so you can clearly see which parts are well-supported by science and which ones are not.

Breaking Down the Evolutionary Paradigm

Within the evolutionary paradigm, there are five categories:

1. Microevolution: the idea that gene frequencies can change in a population (like peppered moths changing wing color in response to environmental pollution)
   
2. Speciation: the idea that one species gives rise to a closely related sister species (like the Galapagos finches changing into types of species via reproduction)
   
3. Microbial evolution: the idea that microorganisms can evolve (like bacteria acquiring resistance to antibiotics)
   
4. Chemical evolution/“origin of life”: the idea that molecules can self-organize into the very first cells via repetitive production (like simple chemicals assembling into complex molecular systems on early Earth)
   
5. Macroevolution: the idea that one major group can give rise to another group (like an ape-like creature giving rise to humans)

The first three categories are well-evidenced and noncontroversial. We see them working in our everyday lives when we go to the zoo or are given a flu vaccine at the doctor’s office. Many of us even take delight in microevolution when considering which dog or cat to choose as our beloved family pet!

But the last two, chemical evolution and macroevolution, are proposed concepts and lack full scientific rigor and support. This is why RTB remains skeptical of the full evolutionary paradigm.

Chemical evolution tries to explain how life on Earth began using only natural processes. The main idea behind it is that the basic building blocks of life—the “essential stuff” that’s loaded with detailed information (like DNA, proteins, and cells)—supposedly came together through natural processes, without any outside help. Scientists working in this field are hoping to find a way to explain how this could happen all on its own, to avoid the need for a miracle.

However, current evidence doesn’t support the idea of chemical evolution. Even with experiments in labs trying to recreate the conditions of early Earth, scientists can’t produce life without stepping in and guiding the process. This shows that natural processes alone might not be enough to explain how life started

In What Darwin Didn’t Know, biochemist Dr. Fazale “Fuz” Rana explains:

When we look at the origin of life, it seems that a divine hand is more likely than chemical evolution.

Macroevolution similarly falls short. There’s not enough data to support this idea. For example, macroevolution fails to explain:

• the sudden emergence of complex cells (the Eukaryotic big bang)
• the rapid diversification of multicellular organisms (the Cambrian explosion)
• the rapid diversification and expansion of numerous new species including fish, birds, and mammals (radiation events in vertebrate history)
• the sudden emergence of art, language, and technology (origin of social consciousness)
• And much more

Many supporters of macroevolution suggest that humans evolved from ape-like creatures through a line that may have included Neanderthals or Denisovans. In this model, scientists attempt to explain the origin of humans without the need for a Creator. But there’s not enough evidence to support human evolution, either.

Learn more about the evidence (or lack thereof) for microevolution vs. macroevolution and watch below to hear how Dr. Fazale Rana briefly responds to macroevolution:

So, to respond to the question “Do Christians Believe in Evolution?,” the simple answer is yes and no.

• Evolution, at best, can offer explanatory power for the development of much of the life we see on Earth. 
• Evolution, at worst, attempts to explain away a Creator who seems not only probable but necessary!

Evolution and the Bible

A similar question to the one above is: Can Christianity and evolution coexist? Earlier, we presented three common Christian views on the creation of the universe: young-earth creationism (YEC), theistic evolution (TE), and old-earth creationism (OEC).

Can a Christian hold any of these positions and embrace at least a form of evolution?

Young-earth creationism

Generally speaking, YEC rejects much of modern science concerning the antiquity (ancient nature) of the universe, Earth, and life’s history in order to fit a six 24-hour day reading of the Genesis 1 creation events. YEC would not be compatible with chemical evolution or macroevolution.

Without diverting from the primary purposes of this article, there are many robust biblical and theological reasons to question if YEC is the most accurate reading of Genesis 1–11 as well. We suggest exploring the days of creation or looking at how old the earth is according to the Bible.

Theistic evolution

Theistic evolution (also referred to as evolutionary creationism) accepts the scientific evidence for the antiquity of the universe, Earth, and life’s history and views the fossil record as a reflection of life’s history. But just as the name suggests, this view accepts evolution (including macroevolution), arguing that God created through evolutionary processes. Theistic evolutionists see no conflict between the evolutionary paradigm and Christianity because they believe the biblical creation account is symbolic or allegorical.

Theistic evolution also sees the Bible and nature as separate domains. Though adherents consider both to be valuable, they believe these realms should not necessarily be integrated.

Old-earth creationism

OEC accepts the antiquity of the universe, Earth, and life’s history, viewing the fossil record as a proxy (a representative tool for dating) for a real history of life on Earth. OEC expresses skepticism about the claim that all of biology can be explained as the outworking of evolutionary processes (think back to our conversation about chemical evolution and macroevolution). In other words, OEC would not be compatible with chemical or macroevolution.

Alternatively, this perspective argues that key transitions in life’s history require the Creator’s intervention. Features of biological systems seem to reflect intelligent design and the hand of an all-powerful Creator. OEC sees the Bible and nature as harmonious forms of revelation from God to humanity. When accurately interpreted, both sources point to the same truths since those truths originate from he who is truth.

Biblically speaking, the primary contention between TE and OEC is in regards to the mode of divine action. Does God intervene occasionally when he creates or does he create through natural processes alone?

Fazale Rana shares part of his testimony, why he believes OEC offers the best explanation for life, and why he does not subscribe to the TE position:

This is all well and good, but . . .

What Does the Bible Say About Evolution?

In Genesis 1, we read of key moments in the creation events. Eight times the text expresses that God spoke and then creation responded. Those phenomena include the appearance of light, separation of waters, land and sea, vegetation on the land, separation of day and night, creatures of the sea and air, creatures of the land, and, finally, man and woman.

It’s helpful to understand the verbiage of the original text of Genesis 1. The Hebrew verb bārā’ means “created” and is used three times in the chapter. In its basic form, it refers to only one subject—God—and refers to a type of creation that only God could do. It’s called creation ex nihilo or creation out of nothing. In chapter 1, this term is used when God creates the heavens and the earth, the sea creatures and the birds, and humans (Adam and Eve). In other places in the text, other verb forms are used for the act of creation such as: ‘āśâ (make, fashion, create, execute, manufacture); hāyâ (be, happen, come about); dāshā’ (sprout, bring forth, produce, or spring forth); and others. This means that there are at least three acts of special creation. One involves God creating from nothing (bārā’). A second points to other acts of creation where God’s hand guides the continued development of the earth according to the laws of nature that he had established (dāshā’). And in a third, ‘āśâ, God is directly and personally involved in his creative acts.

We can see this principle (of God’s intervention) demonstrated by findings in the fields of chemistry, biology, physics, and astronomy. A special hand of intervention from a Designer was needed to get the necessary elements for life (such as hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen). From there, other basic chemical structures would appear.

As revealed in geology, paleoanthropology, and biology, creation’s response to God’s divine action resulted in the proliferation and complexity of life. Otherwise, it would be impossible to get the diversity of creatures we see today in a short (from an evolutionary perspective) time.

Creation and evolution (God’s hand guiding continued development) together are fulfilling God’s plan. Evidence reveals the literal “spark” of creative action from God and the guided outflow of natural processes that continue his work. The result is an exquisitely designed, flourishing universe.

Also, Genesis speaks of the personal nature of God’s creation of humanity. The creation of humans is the only time that God creates “in his own image” (1:27) and with his “breath” (2:7). God then gives humans a commission (1:28). This account presents a significant challenge to the evolutionary paradigm since it implies that humans were a special creation, not a continuation of other evolved forms. For more information on the creation of Adam and Eve and the insufficiency of the evolutionary explanation, we recommend Who Was Adam?

How Should I Talk About Evolution with My Friends and Family?

Evolution is a complex subject with a long history and a variety of definitions.

Great conversations start with curious questions. Start by figuring out what your family or friends think “evolution” means and what categories they’re aware of. (For example, some people have no idea that microevolution and macroevolution are two very different concepts.)

Always define your terms—it helps everyone stay on the same page. And recognize that, as truth seekers, we want to follow the evidence.

If you express skepticism toward evolution, you can introduce a discussion based on wanting the “best evidence.” That approach will go much further than a hard statement or closed-minded attitude. If we believe “all truth is God’s truth,” we can be confident in this approach.

And remember, your friends and family may believe the rumor that the conversation is about evolution vs. faith. But you can help uncover the hand of God and separate fact from fiction.

To help you even further in this conversation, download our free ebook What Darwin Didn’t Know, where you’ll learn how 150 years of scientific advancements have impacted Darwin’s theory. Or, if you’re ready for a comprehensive deep dive into this topic, check out our online course, Creation vs. Naturalism, through Reasons Institute.

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At the very center of becoming a Christian lies the key phrase: Salvation through faith, not by works.

This concept is the cornerstone of Christianity—the guiding light for millions around the globe.

Christianity teaches that salvation isn’t earned through good deeds or living a perfect life, but rather through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we dig deeper into how to become a Christian and what faith in Christ means, we uncover the remarkable spiritual and personal transformation that comes with following Jesus. It’s like embarking on an adventure where every step brings new revelations and discoveries.

Following Jesus isn’t just adopting a set of beliefs—it’s what the Bible calls being ‘born again.’ Think of it like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. Just as the caterpillar sheds its old self to emerge as something entirely new and beautiful, following Jesus Christ brings about a profound change in us. Christianity offers a path to spiritual renewal, guiding us toward an eternal life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment.

Steps to Becoming a Christian

Now, let’s unpack two crucial steps on the path to becoming a Christian:

Step 1: Admit you’re a sinner

Imagine you’re standing in front of a mirror, seeing not just your reflection but also the reflection of your inner self—the good, the bad, and the parts you hide from everyone.

Christianity encourages us to confront our flaws and acknowledge our humanity. It’s like stepping into a room filled with light where every shadow is revealed, prompting us to recognize our shortcomings and admit that we’ve fallen short of perfection.

Step 2: Believe Jesus died for you

Believing that Jesus died for you isn’t only about accepting a historical fact; it’s about embracing a profound truth that has the power to change your life. Christianity invites us to lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross. It’s like being offered a lifeline when you’re drowning in an ocean of guilt and shame—Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross is that lifeline, extending to us a priceless treasure that brings hope, healing, and the promise of eternal life.

Prayer to Become a Christian

At its core, prayer is our direct line of communication with God, like picking up the phone and dialing a number that connects us to the heavens. It’s a personal conversation where we share our hopes, fears, gratitude, and desires with the Creator of the universe.

When someone becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit enters their life, guiding and comforting them. It’s like a special bond with God, helping them understand his love and teachings, bringing peace and strength in their journey of faith.

“How do I pray? What should I say?”

These are questions that often cross our minds. The beauty of prayer lies in its simplicity and sincerity. There’s no need for fancy, memorized speeches or elaborate rituals; God desires authenticity above all else. Whether it’s a whispered plea for guidance or a joyful expression of gratitude, every word spoken in prayer carries weight.

Here’s an example of what to pray to accept Jesus and become a Christian:

Dear Father,

I know that I'm a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead.

I turn from my sins and invite your Holy Spirit to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior all the days of my life. Thank you for forgiving me and for the gift of eternal life with you.

Amen

Is God Listening?

The answer is yes. Just as a loving parent attentively listens to their child’s every word, so too does God lean in to hear our prayers with boundless love and compassion.

“What if I don’t feel any different after I pray?”

But what if, despite our earnest prayers, we don’t feel any different? It’s a question that many wrestle with. Remember, the impact of prayer isn’t always immediate or tangible. Like planting seeds in fertile soil, prayer often takes time to bear fruit.

Your Christian Identity

So, what makes you a Christian according to the Bible? John 3:16 is the essence of what it means to be a Christian:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

This verse highlights the core belief of Christianity—that the gift of salvation is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accept him as their Lord and Savior.

According to the Bible, what makes you a Christian isn’t a label you adopt or a set of rituals you perform. It’s about a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about acknowledging him as your Lord and Savior, believing in his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins, and committing to follow him wholeheartedly. In essence, becoming a Christian means surrendering your life to Christ, allowing his teachings and example to shape your beliefs, attitudes, and actions.

Can your sins be too bad for God to accept you?

The resounding answer is no. The Bible teaches that God’s grace knows no bounds. No matter how great your sins may be, God’s love and forgiveness are infinitely greater.

How to Live Like Jesus

Living like Jesus isn’t just a lofty ideal; it’s a practical, everyday pursuit for Christians. It involves emulating his compassion, humility, and selflessness in our interactions with others. It’s like walking in his footsteps, following his example of love and service to humanity. From showing kindness to strangers, to forgiving those who wrong us, living like Jesus requires a genuine commitment to living out his teachings in our daily lives.

Dealing with Doubts and Setbacks

Doubt isn’t the enemy of faith. It can actually be the beginning of a deeper one. We believe truth can withstand every question, every challenge, and every hard look at the evidence. If something is true, an honest investigation will only confirm it.

If you’re wrestling with questions about God, science, the Bible, or the people who claim to follow Christ but give him a bad name—you’re not alone. The good news is, you don’t have to choose between your intellect and your belief.

We’d encourage you to lean into those questions rather than away from them. Seek answers. Read. Ask. Investigate. Test what you’ve been told against the evidence. Christianity, when rightly understood, has nothing to fear from rigorous inquiry. In fact, we’d argue the evidence points straight to it.

And when the journey feels discouraging, remember that doubt and setbacks happen to all of us. Tackling them honestly, with humility and a genuine desire for truth, has brought countless skeptics, scientists, and seekers to a faith far stronger than the one they started with.

Common Questions about Being a Christian

Do Christians need to be baptized?

Christian theological traditions take different positions on the nature, mode, and appropriate subjects of baptism. Many evangelicals view baptism as a symbolic act of purification and commitment to the Christian faith. While it’s not strictly required for salvation, many Christians view it as an important step in their new life, following the example set by Jesus himself when he was baptized by John the Baptist.

What is baptism?

Baptism involves immersing a person in water or sprinkling water over them as a symbol of cleansing from sin and as an identification with Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Is baptism required for salvation?

While some Christian denominations consider baptism a sacrament and essential for salvation, others emphasize that salvation comes through faith alone. However, baptism remains a significant outward expression of inward faith for many believers.

Do you need to be a certain age to be saved?

Christianity teaches that the gift of salvation is available to people of all ages. There’s no specific age requirement for accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and entering into a relationship with him.

Can Christians drink coffee?

There are no explicit biblical prohibitions against drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages. It’s a matter of personal conviction and moderation for each individual believer.

Can Christians drink alcohol?

Yes, moderate alcohol consumption is not prohibited. However, the Bible cautions against drunkenness. Christians are called to exercise wisdom and discretion in their choices, considering the potential effects on themselves and others.

Can Christians get tattoos?

The Bible doesn’t specifically address tattoos. Some Christians believe that getting tattoos is acceptable, while others view it as a matter of personal conviction and cultural context.

Do Christians have dietary laws or restrictions?

Unlike some other faith traditions, Christianity doesn’t have specific dietary laws or restrictions. However, believers are encouraged to take care of their bodies and honor God with their choices.

Growing in Your Faith and Taking the Next Steps

The journey to becoming a Christian is not a one-time decision but a lifelong pursuit of deepening faith and spiritual growth. It’s important to remember that it’s not about achieving perfection but about embracing grace and walking in faith.

Here are two practical steps for new Christians:

1. Join a local church

Hebrews 10:24–25 tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (emphasis added)

The church is an important part of the Christian life because God didn’t intend for us to live the Christian life alone. Through fellowship with other believers, we can cultivate a vibrant relationship with God and continue to grow in our understanding of his love and truth. A supportive Christian community also offers encouragement, accountability, and opportunities for service and outreach. The church deepens our connection to God and others, reflecting the love and compassion of Jesus Christ in tangible ways.

2. Read your Bible and pray

Reading the Bible on a regular basis provides spiritual nourishment and guidance because the Bible is God’s Word that speaks to us and transforms us.

Hebrews 4:12 describes the Bible this way: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Jesus prays for his disciples in John 17:17, “Sanctify them” (or make them holy) “by the truth; your word is truth.”

Prayer goes hand in hand with reading the Bible. As God speaks to us through his Word, we respond in prayer.

Spiritual Growth Is a Process

It’s important to recognize that spiritual growth is a gradual process, marked by both triumphs and setbacks. As we navigate the ups and downs of our Christian walk, we’re encouraged to remain open to ongoing exploration, repentance, and questioning.

Asking questions, seeking understanding, and wrestling with doubt can lead to a deeper, more authentic faith rooted in truth.

To learn more about the truth of Christianity, we recommend two resources from philosopher and theologian Kenneth Samples: 7 Truths That Changed the World and A World of Difference.

Still have questions? We’re here to help. If you’d like someone to pray for the new walk you’re beginning as a Christian, we’d love to come alongside you as your family in Christ. Feel free to contact us.

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These stark statements reflect how many people think, but nothing could be further from the truth. As a devout Christian with a lifelong passion for pursuing science, I contend that not only do science and Christianity work well together, but they also belong together. 

Early Science-and-Faith Influences
Two memories from my early childhood stand out. I remember being three years old, sitting at the top of the stairs in our duplex, and watching my dad perform a science demonstration for a group of my older brother’s friends. That moment marked the start of my lifelong fascination with science. 

A few months later I stood on the banks of the 102 River outside St. Joseph, Missouri, witnessing my parents’ baptisms. My parents’ Christian faith permeated our home, and eventually, I trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior in the fifth grade. Though I became a Christian because what my mom and dad taught me about Christianity made sense, I eventually started investigating the claims of the faith myself. Those studies—which continue to this day—convinced me of the truth of Christianity. 

Finding My Identity as a Christian and a Scientist
Although my earliest memories include a fascination with science, I wasn’t the stereotypical science kid. I never memorized all the dinosaurs’ names and characteristics. The Christmas chemistry set I received sat unexplored on the shelf until my mom eventually gave it away. Playing with my LEGO or Erector sets usually meant building the equipment according to the instructions or occasionally deviating to replicate something my older brother or Dad designed. Though I enjoyed reading mysteries (like the Hardy Boys, which told you what book to read next), I never solved the puzzles until the author spelled them out in the last chapter. 

However, I was very good at math and excelled in my high school science classes—especially chemistry and physics. These disciplines just made sense. I took every advanced science and math class that my high school offered, including two years of a class devoted to a research project. I even took a math class where most of my time was spent researching a specific math topic. Yes, I’m a nerd and spent a year writing a research paper on infinity! 

In all honesty, my interest in science arose naturally and it brought a lot of praise and rewards for my accomplishments and knowledge. My science fair projects routinely garnered top prizes. I often received the highest scores on exams and placed well in statewide STEM competitions. As I started college, chemistry, physics, and math continued to just make sense. Even when upper-level classes became difficult, as I improved my studying skills and worked harder, I continued to excel! 

Looking back on my studies and eventual success in a STEM career, I recognize that for much of the time my identity was an odd tension between being a Christian and being a successful scientist. I enjoyed the accolades that pursuing science brought and was quick to take personal credit. What I failed to fully comprehend until recently was the fact that my success largely stemmed from the abilities that God gave me. Yes, I worked to develop those gifts, but the innate capacity to do math, quickly reason through situations to understand the essential points, and apply those insights to solve complex problems were talents that reflected how God created me. Upon realizing God’s hand in it all, I shifted my mindset from one of seeking recognition to one of seeking to use those gifts to bring glory to God—at least most of the time. 

Thinking Through Apparent Conflicts
My first real experience of any conflict occurred during my sophomore year of college. Having started seriously reading the Bible a couple of years earlier, I began reading through Genesis. Upon reading verse 5, I checked out the footnote in my Bible for that verse. It said, “Evening and morning cannot be construed to mean an age, but only a day; everywhere else in the Pentateuch the word day, when used (as here) with a numerical adjective, means a solar day (now calibrated as 24 hours).”¹

Even though I knew from my many science classes and studies that multiple lines of evidence pointed to a universe and Earth that were billions of years old, I took this statement about the days seriously. I thought that if the Bible states that the earth was formed in 6 solar days a few thousand years ago, then that’s what I believe. What else would someone who places a high value on the authority of Scripture do? 

So, how did I reconcile the seemingly strong scientific evidence for an old Earth with the definitive statement in my Bible’s footnotes of a young Earth? I figured that scientists misunderstood time at a deep level. Though scientists think of time progressing linearly, perhaps time progresses exponentially. 

As it turns out, the apparent conflict I perceived between science and the Bible arose because of a lack of knowledge. When investigating the strength of the scientific evidence, I found it quite strong. Applying that same investigative rigor to the meaning of day, I discovered that Christian scholars (more specifically, those who hold the Bible in high regard) don’t agree on the length of the creation days. Some scholars argue for a solar or calendar-day interpretation, some for a day-age position, others for an analogical day meaning and even others contend that the creation week is a theological framework rather than a chronological calendar.² Sound hermeneutical reasoning stands behind each of these positions. After diligent study, I realized that there was no conflict between the scientific data and the biblical data—only between some scientific interpretations and some biblical interpretations!

This process of conflict resolution happened more than once. I found the same agreement between science and Christianity when investigating whether: (1) a multiverse exists, (2) Mars ever hosted oceans of water, (3) life might live on some other planet, and many other topics. As I experienced each perceived conflict, investigated the scientific and biblical data more carefully, and saw the consistent resolution, my confidence in the truth of Christianity grew stronger and stronger.

I did experience some tension in the church and in the scientific community—but not in the way most people would expect.

Tension in the Church
Both the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA at the time) of my childhood and the Evangelical Free Church of college and graduate school had many members with advanced degrees, including scientists and engineers. Consequently, I never really experienced any conflict with fellow church members until I took my first job and started looking for a good church on my own. I moved several times over the next decade, and the tension arose in varying ways in different churches. 

One church invited a speaker to address scientific topics and help the congregation know how to respond to scientific challenges. Unfortunately, the speaker proclaimed a number of indefensible scientific statements. One particularly egregious claim was that scientists had slowed the speed of light in a vacuum to a value comparable to a minivan driving down the freeway. For an equivalent effect, imagine a scientist presenting at a conference and making the statement that Jesus paid for his sins and ours on the cross. A Christian would recognize that such a statement demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of what Christianity says about Jesus. Similarly, a Christian claiming that the speed of light in a vacuum changes demonstrates a complete lack of understanding about physics. In either case, the listener should be skeptical of any further claims the speaker would assert. 

Everyone makes mistakes. However, when I corresponded with the speaker to offer a better understanding, both the pastor and the speaker stridently stood behind the claim. Each seemed to operate from the position that science was a threat to Christianity and no ground could be ceded. 

Other churches rarely spoke about science-faith issues, probably because they would stir up controversy. A congregant of one church I attended tried to organize a Saturday afternoon event addressing science-faith topics and invited me to present some of the apologetic tools I had been learning from Reasons to Believe. I agreed but on the condition that he received approval from the pastor. In that process, I ended up having a series of meetings with the pastor. During these meetings, the pastor told me that any old-earth position was not a legitimate interpretation of Scripture. He also strongly implied that it was not possible that God could be directing me to work for Reasons to Believe. 

Though I have encountered some people in the evangelical churches I attended who demonstrated hostility toward my old-earth position, those were the exceptions. Most of the time, people were either curious about how I could be a practicing scientist and a strong Christian or were not particularly interested in science at all. Usually, my fellow church members observed my commitment to Christ and active service in the church and placed a higher value on those commitments than on any perceived conflict with science.  

Tension in the Lab
My experience with scientists who were antagonistic toward Christians started during college and continued afterward. Iowa State University had a vocal atheist who routinely spoke out harshly about religion—Christianity in particular. After graduating, when I would bring up Christian ideas around my colleagues, some would take great offense. 

At one conference a speaker addressed the scientific knowledge relating to the origin of life on Earth. During the Q&A afterward, I asked when scientists might be able to distinguish between a created origin of life and a naturalistic origin of life. The question caught the speaker off guard. Yet, he responded by seeking clarity and ultimately said he had never thought about it. However, a couple of other scientists in the crowd vocally wondered if I was “one of those silly creationists.” Even at dinner as my question stimulated a longer discussion, a couple of scientists asserted that such questions don’t belong in science. 

Another time I gave a talk describing how religion, specifically Christianity, could make predictions about what scientists might discover. Although most of my colleagues in the audience were either indifferent or inquisitive about details, a few fellow scientists vehemently argued that religion had no place in science. 

Even though I experienced some tensions surrounding my passion for science and devotion to the Christian faith, the “conflicts” represent a small fraction of interactions. Most of the time my colleagues assessed my scientific accomplishments to determine whether I had a “place at the table” to discuss Christianity. The better my scientific work, the more secure my place at the table.  

Science and Faith Belong Together
There’s no doubt that many people think that pursuing science and Christianity inevitably leads to conflict. Some Christians characterize science in a way that conflicts with Christianity. And some scientists characterize Christianity in a way that conflicts with science. My experience shows a different picture. Being a Christian drives me to pursue my scientific endeavors with integrity and in a way that honors God. Being a scientist equips me to think clearly and understand Christianity in a robust and God-honoring way. This makes sense if Christianity is true because the Bible states that God reveals himself in his Word and in creation. 

As a Christian, I want to work diligently to properly understand both of these revelations. In fact, living as a committed Christian who does science with excellence shows how God’s revelations consistently agree, and it opens up many avenues for conversations with both those inside and outside the church. I hope to continue to open hearts to the gospel by revealing God in science.

Endnotes

1. The Ryrie Study Bible, New American Standard (Moody Press, 1978), 7.

2. For a good resource with respected scholars articulating three of these views (and responding to criticisms from scholars holding differing views), see David G. Hagopian, ed., The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation (Crux Press Inc, 2001).

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Rhett and Link grew up as evangelicals and served with the campus ministry Cru. As a comedy team, they’ve achieved notable success, largely through their YouTube program and channel, both named Good Mythical Morning. The channel has over 18.4 million subscribers and over 8.9 billion video downloads. So, when they walked away from the faith, the reverberations were felt by untold numbers of young people in the church.

According to Christian apologist Alisa Childers, the reason for their deconversion started with concerns about science. Childers writes: 

The stories themselves weren’t so different from others that have lit up social media over the past few years. For Rhett, it started with questions relating to science, the age of the earth, and evolution. It morphed into doubts surrounding biblical reliability, the historicity of the resurrection, and the general idea of hell and judgment. But as both Rhett and Link recounted, something was brewing underneath the intellectual questions. They both felt a deep discomfort with biblical sexual ethics, which they perceived to oppress women and their LGBTQ+ friends.¹

Surveys Say Our Young People Are in Crisis
So, for Rhett and Link, perceptions they had about science and its relationship to Christianity initiated a journey of doubt that came to an end when they walked out the door of the church for the final time. Sadly, their story is typical. A well-known survey published by the Barna Group reports that 29% of young church attendees see churches as out of step with advances in science. Another 25% see Christianity as antiscience. And 23% are turned off by the creation-evolution debate.² In other words, the perception of conflict between science and Christianity is one of the reasons young people leave the church. 

My own experience aligns with this data. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met at speaking engagements who convey to me that one of their college-age children has walked away from the faith because of science. They often explain their heartache with a sense of desperation.

The Barna Group survey isn’t that shocking. A common narrative in our culture today is that science and religion are incompatible with one another. A Pew Research Foundation study discovered that nearly 60% of all Americans see conflict between science and faith. For those who rarely attend church services that number rises to about 72%. Shockingly, for those who attend church weekly, the number hovers around 50%.³

This number is discouraging because it means that half of people in churches embrace a conflict model for science and Christianity. No wonder young people have the perception that Christianity is antiscientific. They’re immersed in that mindset when they’re at church.

How a Creation View Contributes to the Disconnect
In my experience, this aversion to science in the church arises largely out of the influence of young-earth creationism (YEC), the view that God created the earth and humanity about 6,000 years ago. YEC is at odds with much of science. And the only way to maintain this form of creationism is to regard science—at least that which is interpreted from a secular worldview—as hostile to Christianity and, therefore, to dismiss many of its findings. Hence, conflict exists between science and the faith, and Christians must reject the “lies” of science and uphold the “truth” of God’s Word.

Young-earth creationism is pervasive among evangelical churches. A poll conducted by BioLogos determined that 54% of pastors support YEC.⁴ Thus, it’s not surprising that some of the most committed churchgoers see a lack of concord between science and their Christian faith. Their pastor may be proclaiming this message from the pulpit.

The results of the Barna and Pew surveys become more worrisome when we consider another Barna Group survey. Over 50% of young people in churches desire careers in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine) fields. According to the survey results: 23% are interested in medicine and health care, 13% want a career in engineering, 8% will pursue work in the sciences, 5% express interest in veterinary medicine, and 5% see themselves working in technology.⁵

These results make sense. STEMM careers are among the most exciting and lucrative ways to earn a living. In fact, these numbers align with the career aspirations of nonchurched youth. 

In the same survey, the Barna Group learned that only 38% of youth leaders and 36% of senior pastors discuss career interests with students in their churches. And only 1% of youth leaders discuss science-related topics with young people in the church. Yet, half of their students are interested in careers in science-based fields. 

The Need to Learn Other Creation Views
Herein lies the problem. If church leaders have an underlying suspicion about science, then young people in these churches are bound to absorb that mindset. Most likely any exposure that the youth have had to science-faith discussions is from the vantage point of YEC. Many of them go on to college, where they might take a course of study designed to prepare them to pursue a career in STEMM. But this pursuit requires that they take classes in science and math. In the process, they will be confronted by compelling scientific evidence that tells them that the universe and earth are old and life is ancient. They’ll also be presented with scientific claims that evolutionary processes can explain the origin, design, history, and diversity of life. All these claims run contrary to what they accepted on faith to be true. And doubts start to rise.  

These students will also interact with professors whom they likely admire and respect, and peers they want to impress who are more than willing to ridicule their belief in creationism. These professors and classmates will reinforce the students’ growing concerns that science makes belief in God unreasonable and renders the biblical creation accounts unbelievable. I know from firsthand experience as someone trained in the life sciences that this hostility to Christianity is most prevalent in the life sciences. Though I wasn’t a Christian when I was an undergraduate, I recall countless times that the professors in my biology classes went out of their way to say something derogatory about young-earth creationism and Christianity.

Since many churches don’t discuss science-faith issues, and if they do, it’s most likely from a young-earth perspective, these students are ill-equipped to handle this assault on their faith. 

This situation is so unfortunate because other science-faith perspectives exist. In fact, there are good biblical and theological reasons to think that YEC isn’t the best reading of Genesis 1–11. Old-earth creationism (OEC) accepts the antiquity of the universe, earth, and life’s history. It views the fossil record as a proxy for a real history of life on Earth. This perspective (also called progressive creationism) recognizes features of biological systems as reflecting bona fide design, the handiwork of the Creator. OEC expresses skepticism about the claim that all of biology can be explained as the outworking of evolutionary processes. Instead, OEC argues that key transitions in life’s history require the Creator’s intervention. According to the BioLogos survey, about 15% of pastors hold this view. If this view were more prominent in churches, I wonder if fewer young people would deconvert.

Another 18% of pastors embrace theistic evolution (also called evolutionary creationism). This view maintains that God created through evolutionary processes. Like OEC, theistic evolution accepts the scientific evidence for the antiquity of the universe and Earth. It also views the fossil record as a reflection of life’s history that spans 3.8 billion years. The difference between the two views relates to the mode of divine action. Does God intervene occasionally when he creates or does he create through process alone?

Both old-earth and evolutionary creationism find compatibility—even harmony—between science and Christianity, but in different ways. OEC embraces an overlap model, with the biblical creation accounts finding support from scientific advances. At Reasons to Believe (RTB), we employ an approach we call constructive integration in which we seek to integrate scientific findings with insights from the biblical creation accounts to yield a creation model, replete with scientific predictions. 

As a rule, evolutionary creationists employ a complementary (but not overlapping) model. They see the biblical creation accounts and the scientific models for origins as different expressions of truth. Each approach points to the same truth, yet each approach must be kept separate. The scientific insights tell us the how of creation. The biblical insights tell us the why of creation. Evolutionary creationists don’t see any scientific evidence in support of the creation accounts (such as in Genesis 1), because science belongs in a different domain of knowledge than do theological insights that come from Scripture. In other words, compatibility exists between science and Christianity because they speak to different facets of the truth.

These two approaches have different strengths and weaknesses. Thoughtful Christians hold to each of these views for various biblical, theological, philosophical, and scientific reasons. It seems to me that if church leaders want to equip their young people, then they will include presentations of these two views along with YEC. These types of discussions let young people in the church know that they have options when it comes to questions regarding science and the Christian faith. At minimum, by learning other views the students will be equipped to think for themselves and they’ll gain the tools they need to engage scientific challenges to their faith when in college.

Embracing Controversy and Avoiding Deconversion
Sadly, one reason why churches don’t equip students to engage with science is because these topics are controversial and they evoke a lot of passion in some people. This passion is understandable because of the importance of the science-faith discussion and the far-ranging implications that arise out of the various science-faith models. Unfortunately, discussing science-faith topics in churches can become divisive, and pastors and church leaders seek to avoid divisions in their congregations at all costs. They want to maintain peace and unity, which is understandable, but the youth pay the price for this feigned peace. They aren’t equipped to deal with scientific challenges to their faith in college and, worse, they develop the perception that discussions about science and Christianity are dangerous. And when they’re confronted with scientific evidence that seems to run counter to the ideas that they’ve been taught about Genesis 1–11—usually YEC—they conclude that their pastors and church leaders avoided these topics because there really aren’t good answers to scientific challenges. They’re vulnerable to the message of a popular YouTube duo that tantalizes them with the “freedom” of deconversion. 

Even though I have my convictions as an old-earth creationist, I recognize that others have differing convictions. It’s important to debate our differences with vigor but we must also engage with one another in a way that treats others who hold differing views in a gentle and respectful way. Our debates should help people understand the strengths and weaknesses of the positions we hold and the positions that others hold. While we all should advocate for our position, we need to move beyond defending our territory at all costs and consider how we can best serve young people in the church.

It’s been our conviction at RTB to model this irenic, educational approach as we engage young-earth and evolutionary creationists. It has also shaped our discourses with BioLogos and Peaceful Science and will continue to do so in the future.

Though I am an old-earth creationist, I would much rather that a young person embraces a science-faith perspective that differs from my own than walks away from the faith. 

Resources

• Old-Earth or Evolutionary Creation: Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and Biologos (book)

• Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design (book)

• “Christianity and Human Origins,” event sponsored by the Gospel Initiative, Denver Seminary, featuring Fazale “Fuz” Rana, S. Joshua Swamidass, Denis Lamoureux, and Jeffrey Schloss 
  

Endnotes

1. Alisa Childers, “Let’s Deconstruct a Deconversion Story: The Case of Rhett and Link,” The Gospel Coalition, February 29, 2020. 
2. Barna Group, “Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church,” September 27, 2011. 
3. Pew Research Center, “Perception of Conflict between Science and Religion,” October 22, 2015. 
4. Stoyan Zaimov, “Poll: Many Protestant Pastors Lean toward Young Earth Creation,” Christian Post, May 13, 2013.
5. Barna Group, “What Teens Aspire to Do in Life, How Churches Can Help,” June 14, 2011.

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For Christians, we are exhorted to “not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6), so anxiety may cause us to feel subpar as Christians. Should we feel this way? What can we do?

Components of Anxiety
Anxiety typically has two components: the physiological and the cognitive. The physiological component is the higher level of arousal we experience such as an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and dry mouth. The cognitive component is the perception of the anxious arousal and the feelings of worry and rumination. Research suggests that there are biological and cognitive factors that predispose an individual to developing anxiety disorders.

Figure: Symptoms of Anxiety
Credit: Wikimedia commons

Predisposing Biological Factors of Anxiety  
People with anxiety disorders have greater activity in two brain regions: the amygdala and the insula.² The higher the activities in these areas, the greater the emotional responses we experience when faced with negative events. When we feel fear, neurons (brain cells) throughout the brain fire and create the experience of anxiety. Our bodies are also equipped with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that produces a calming effect. When we’re anxious, the GABA system (neurons sensitive to the neurotransmitter GABA) becomes activated and reduces this neural activity associated with fear, thereby calming us down. Anxiety disorders appear to be linked to impairments in the GABA system, which makes it difficult to decrease anxious feelings and return our emotional state to a baseline level.³ Benzodiazepines, a group of drugs commonly used to successfully treat anxiety,⁴ appear to reduce anxiety by increasing the release of GABA.⁵ Similarly, drugs that block the GABA system lead to increases in anxiety.⁶

Predisposing Cognitive Factors and the Biblical Connection
The key fear in social anxiety disorder is that “the self is deficient”⁷ and situations and circumstances that publicly reveal this view tend to be anxiety-provoking. When experiencing social anxiety, believers in Christ struggle with the truth that God loves them as imperfect beings (Romans 5:8) and that they do not need to fear people (Isaiah 51:12–16).

How do they arrive at the view that “the self is deficient”? Unfortunately, people with social anxiety tend to be highly self-critical.⁸ They view themselves as inadequate even in situations where they perform well⁹ and they place less value on their positive characteristics.¹⁰ They not only anticipate negative social experiences but spend much time dwelling on previous ones.¹¹ Cognitive-behavioral models have shown that people with social anxiety tend to be biased toward focusing on negative social information (attentional bias) by interpreting neutral situations as negative and as an index of their shortcomings (interpretation bias). They tend to have perfectionistic standards for social performances, and are highly self-conscious in public. When tackling perfectionistic tendencies, believers in Christ struggle with the truth that they do not need to be ashamed of their imperfections (2 Corinthians 12:9).

To summarize, people with anxiety pay more attention to negative information, misinterpret neutral information as negative, and link these negative assessments to their own weaknesses, which leads to a negative perception of the self that is always below their high standards of social performance. Any situation that poses a risk that the “deficient self” will be revealed to others will provoke anxiety.  

Why Do We Fear Others?
Scripture emphasizes that we are to fear only God and not mankind (Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 51:12). Perhaps, like all other commands from God, this command is also meant to protect us. We see in our everyday life that deviating from God’s command leads to negative consequences, but does that mean anxious Christians are bad Christians?

No, not any more than any one of us (Romans 3:23). We all experience this fear, and most of us do not want to admit it. Some will feel it more than others and they struggle with the biological, cognitive, and social determinants that have shaped them to struggle more with anxiety. Yes, when we feel anxiety, we are being drawn away from the knowledge that as a believer in Christ, our identity is in him (Genesis 1:27). We are all “deficient”(Romans 3:23–24), yet God loves us with all our flaws (Romans 5:8). Scripture tells us that fear of people is a trap (Proverbs 29:25) and God has the power to free us from it (Philippians 4:6–7). Living with anxiety means living with biologically, cognitively, and/or socially rooted drives that continuously attempt to shift our attention away from these truths. What should we do?

If we see a friend or family member struggling with anxiety, it is important to walk alongside them with humility—acknowledging that we all struggle with different challenges. They need us to walk alongside them with grace, recognizing that they’re struggling with biological and other forces that may deter their attention away from the truth that they are loved, valued, and have integrity just as they are (Genesis 1:27). If we are the ones living with anxiety, we need to find compassionate Christians who will do the same for us (Colossians 3:12).

Endnotes

1. Julian M. Somers et al., “Prevalence and Incidence Studies of Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature,” Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 51, no. 2 (February 2006): 100–113, doi:10.1177/070674370605100206.
2. Jonathan C. Ipser, Leesha Singh, and Dan J. Stein, “Meta‐Analysis of Functional Brain Imaging in Specific Phobia,” Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 67, no. 5 (July 2013): 311–322, doi:10.1111/pcn.12055.
3. Thomas R. Insel, “The Neurobiology of Anxiety: A Tale of Two Systems,” in Anxiety Disorders: Psychological and Biological Perspectives, Brian F. Shaw, Zindel V. Segal, T. Michael Vallis, and Frank E. Cashman eds (Boston: Springer US, 1986), 35–49; Hanns Möhler, “The GABA System in Anxiety and Depression and Its Therapeutic Potential,” Neuropharmacology 62, no. 1 (January 2012): 42–53, doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.08.040.
4. Insel, “The Neurobiology of Anxiety,” 35–49.
5. Insel, 35–49.
6. Insel, 35–49.
7. David A. Moscovitch, Martin M. Antony, and Richard P. Swinson, “Exposure-Based Treatments for Anxiety Disorders: Theory and Process,” in Oxford Handbook of Anxiety and Related Disorders, Martin M. Antony and Murray B. Stein eds (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2009), 461–475.
8. Brian J. Cox et al., “Self-Criticism in Generalized Social Phobia and Response to Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment,” Behavior Therapy 33, no. 4 (Autumn 2002): 479–491, doi:10.1016/S0005-7894-(02)80012-0.
9. S. T. Wallace and L. E. Alden, “Social Phobia and Positive Social Events: The Price of Success,” Journal of Abnormal Psychology 106, no. 3 (August 1997): 416, doi:10.1037//0021-843x.106.3.416.
10. Moscovitch, Antony, and Swinson, “Exposure-Based Treatments,” 461–475.
11. S. Rachman, J. Grüter-Andrew, and R. Shafran, “Post-Event Processing in Social Anxiety,” Behaviour Research and Therapy 38, no. 6 (June 2000): 611–617, doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(99)00089-3.

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