At her wedding, a teacher was delighted to see special messages of love from her kindergarten class displayed in heartfelt notes. The sweet words from her young students added an extra layer of warmth and joy to the celebration.

Caring for every part of your health is a meaningful way to live out your faith day by day. Here are seven ways to honor God through a healthy lifestyle.

7 Powerful Traits of a Truly Biblical Church

I grew up hearing that “the church is the people, not the building.” And while that’s technically true (the church is the redeemed people of God), the statement came within a broader theology—sometimes stated, sometimes implied—that treated the material realm as secondary and focused instead on souls. Having spent most of my life going to church in (rented) schools, it was easy for me to champion the church’s spiritual nature and downplay the role of buildings. This way of thinking, however, isn’t rooted in Scripture but in Greek Gnosticism—a perspective that sees bodies, buildings, and even creation as insignificant in light of spiritual realities. In Scripture, it’s clear that God cares about the whole creation: not just souls but bodies, not just heaven but earth. The biblical story isn’t about escaping this world; it’s about God renewing it. From the beginning, God’s promises have included a people and a place. What does this mean for church buildings? What role do physical spaces play in God’s mission? I want to offer a vision of sacred space in God’s kingdom. Yes, the church is the people of God. But they’re an embodied people who inhabit space and are called to represent God’s reign wherever they go—places that echo the beauty, peace, and holiness of the kingdom, where heaven and earth meet and where God’s presence is made known. Biblical Vision of Place From the Bible’s first page, it’s clear that God’s plan involves a people (Adam and Eve) and a place (the Garden of Eden). The vision, however, wasn’t for our first parents to merely relax in the garden but to multiply and expand Eden’s borders to the ends of the earth. After the fall, God’s plan continues with a promise to Abraham that includes both a people (his descendants would become a great nation) and a place (the promised land), not as separate realities but as a united vision. God’s people were always meant to inhabit space, to be planted somewhere, and to be a blessing from that place to the nations. From the beginning, God’s promises have included a people and a place. Throughout Scripture, place matters. Much of the Old Testament’s plot line is about the promised land, whether journeying toward it, dwelling within it, or being exiled from it. The tabernacle, and later the temple, provided a tangible, sacred space where heaven met earth, where sacrifices were made to atone not just for the people but for the land itself. Then came Jesus, the true temple, the very presence of God in human flesh. His crucifixion tore the temple curtain in two, signifying that God’s presence was no longer confined to a single location. Yet, rather than abolishing sacred space, Jesus’s resurrection affirmed the material world. His physical, resurrected body is the beginning of the new creation—a sign that God isn’t abandoning this world but restoring it. The end goal throughout the Bible is not an escape to heaven but the renewal of heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1–3). In union with our Savior, the church is called to represent God’s reign and cultivate sacred spaces where heaven and earth overlap. Importance of Church Buildings If God cares about people and place, then church buildings matter. They aren’t just useful spaces for gathering; they’re outposts of God’s kingdom. More than mere brick and mortar, church buildings can be sacred spaces set apart for God’s purposes. No matter what’s going on in the surrounding areas, Christians can say, “This space isn’t just a building—it’s a foretaste of the kingdom, where love reigns, dignity is restored, the weary are embraced, and grace overflows.” Far too often, modern Christians have prized efficiency over beauty. But architecture can help us to gaze on the beauty of the Lord (Ps. 27:4). Vaulted ceilings lift our eyes toward transcendence. Columns stand tall as pillars of strength, reminding us that the church is upheld by truth and grace. Stained glass windows flood the space with a kaleidoscope of color, transforming ordinary light into something radiant and awe-inspiring. Perhaps the greatest example of sacred space, stained glass doesn’t merely display an image—it alters our vision. The light shining through these windows reminds us that when we gather as the church, we don’t merely see Christ; we see everything in light of him. Whatever forms a church possesses––stained glass, expansive ceilings, white walls, a high pulpit––physical spaces help shape us into the worshippers God would have us be. Tragedy of Closing Churches and the Gift of a Building All across America, churches are closing and their buildings are being sold. These once-sacred spaces, set apart for worship, are becoming something else entirely. In my neighborhood in Los Angeles, a Latino storefront church is now a marijuana dispensary. A historic Methodist church has been converted into a Buddhist temple. A Korean church is now an art studio. Each time a church building is lost, it isn’t just a change in real estate—it’s a loss of sacred space in the city, a retreat of visible gospel presence. The church I pastor, Reality LA, started in 2006, and we didn’t own property for our first 13 years. We’ve gathered on Sundays in an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, and rented office space all over Los Angeles. And we certainly felt the limitations of not having space of our own. We lacked a sense of rootedness, space for ministry, and a way to tangibly serve our city. So we started praying. In God’s grace, another church in our city with a small congregation and significant food ministry approached us with the idea of joining together for God’s kingdom. We adopted the congregants into our church, inherited two buildings (a small church building and an office building), and received an incredible ministry providing daily meals to our unhoused neighbors in East Hollywood. Now, while we still meet in a high school on Sunday mornings, we have a home for our church and a hub of renewal for our city throughout the week. We have office space, room for discipleship and fellowship events, and a concrete way to serve our city. Buildings as Kingdom Tools In the several years since we first inherited these buildings, I’ve reflected much on their significance. Getting a building isn’t a silver bullet and doesn’t solve all your problems. In fact, our buildings are in poor condition, and we’re currently running a capital campaign for significant renovations. But despite the headaches of broken pipes and a leaky roof, I can’t underestimate how significant it has been for us as a church to have our own buildings. I’ve come to see that a church building is more than a convenience—it’s a tool for mission, a sign of stability, and a witness to the gospel in the heart of a city. A church without a building can still thrive, but having a place to call our own has deepened our ability to live out our calling. On the corner of Fountain Avenue and Edgemont Street, we preach the Word and feed the hungry. We don’t just talk about community; we create spaces where the lonely find belonging. We don’t simply long for renewal; we embody it in a physical place, welcoming all who enter. A church without a building can still thrive, but having a place to call our own has deepened our ability to live out our calling. Yes, the church is the people, but we’re an embodied people who inhabit real places. In a city like Los Angeles—where everything feels transient and disjointed—having a permanent presence is a powerful declaration that God’s kingdom is here, now, and among us. A church building isn’t just a structure; it’s a signpost of hope, a reminder that God is making all things new. And as we steward these spaces with care, beauty, and purpose, we participate in God’s mission, making earth feel more like heaven as God’s presence is on full display. Cultivating Sacred Space in Everyday Life This vision of sacred space isn’t just about church buildings. It’s about cultivating space in every aspect of life. God calls us to plant gardens in the wilderness, to create beauty in a broken world, and to establish places of peace amid chaos. Whether in a home, a community center, or a workplace, every Christian is called to cultivate a space where God’s presence is experienced. The world needs sacred spaces—places where the kingdom is embodied, our worship shapes our imaginations, the weary find rest. May we steward these places well, knowing they aren’t ends in themselves but glimpses of the renewed world to come.

Looking for a counselor can be overwhelming. How do you know if someone will be good? Is that person properly trained? Is he or she a Christian? If so, how much does a Christian worldview shape that provider’s counseling? One frequent piece of advice I hear is to seek out a licensed Christian counselor. I recently finished reading a book by a counselor I respect, and she offered this advice several times. Near the end, she explained that she urges people to seek a licensed counselor because licensure certifies that the counselor has received proper training and isn’t offering faulty or half-baked advice. It makes sense that you’d would want to ensure your counselor is trained well. When I go to my doctor, I expect she’s received training from reputable institutions, not from TikTok videos. Yet I disagree with this advice. Reasons a Counselor May Say No to Licensure I don’t think your counselor needs to be licensed. Why? Consider a few reasons. 1. Counsel is a broad category. When my children began to launch from their teen years into young adulthood, I sought counsel from godly fathers who were ahead of me in their parenting journey. Only one of those friends was a professional counselor. Their advice has been so helpful to me as I’m developing new skills as a parent of young adults. When I run premarital counseling, I encourage young couples to go out to dinner with godly older couples and ask them for their counsel on beginning marriage. In cases like these, we don’t think twice about a person’s legal credentials; we only want to know if he or she is wise and qualified to offer the advice we need. So it is with counseling. Are you more likely to receive good parenting advice from a licensed 26-year-old who isn’t yet a parent, or from a godly mother of six? I’d choose the latter. I bet you would too. If I were to be diagnosed with cancer, I’d keep seeing my doctor, and I’d go to several brothers and sisters in Christ who’ve walked a smilar path of suffering. 2. Some licensure standards can be problematic for Christians. Licensure has benefits. It confirms the counselor is formally educated, has been supervised by a licensed counselor, and has passed a national exam. However, many of those standards can be problematic for a Christian. The philosophy behind most certification programs conflicts with a biblical understanding of trauma, sin, and healing, and in some respects, the national exam is also at odds with a biblical understanding of anthropology and care. A secular institution’s approach will forefront diagnosing mental health disorders or chemical imbalances and then direct clients toward psychiatric medication and practices that promote self-actualization and emotional regulation. While psychiatric medication may be needed and certain self-actualization and emotional regulation practices can be helpful, they don’t go far enough. Scripture tells us that our propensity toward selfishness isn’t (merely) because of educational deficiencies, childhood trauma, or toxic culture, but especially because of our sinful nature. Paul says, “Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. . .” (Rom. 5:12). This means that to grow in spiritual and emotional health, we must deal with our sin and false beliefs. A counselor who operates with a biblical worldview will tease out what motivates you, what beliefs you have about your identity, and how you’re relating to God. To grow in spiritual and emotional health, we must deal with our sin and false beliefs. As reformed Christians, we believe that all issues are spiritual and some are also physiological, that counseling involves both the mind and the heart. So the philosophies that drive our counseling training matter. If we believe that counseling isn’t merely psychotherapeutic techniques, but must also be rooted in theology, then we should look for a counselor who has a robust Christian worldview and is unwilling to accept practices that violate his or her biblically informed conscience. 3. Licensure places a counselor under the state’s authority. I have trusted friends who are counselors and have chosen not to pursue licensure because of concerns over placing themselves under the state’s legal authority. According to a report by Alliance Defending Freedom, “In 2018, [the state of] Washington passed a law that allows government officials to decide what can be said within the confidential conversations between counselors and their clients. Under the Washington law, [a counselor] can’t mention or discuss anything related to gender, sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, or gender identity that’s not in line with the state’s views.” Kentucky governor Andy Beshear recently followed suit with a similar executive order. I suspect other states will follow. When my wife considered whether to pursue licensure, she and I felt it wasn’t wise for her to put herself in a legal situation where she’d have to practice civil disobedience or violate her conscience. While I respect (and refer church members to) many counselors who have chosen to pursue licensure, I don’t believe that a Christian ought to write off an unlicensed counselor, especially given these grave concerns about what’s required for the process. If Not Licensure, What Qualifies a Christian Counselor? Faithful counselors come from more than one corner of the Christian counseling world. When browsing a Christian counselor’s website, look for statements that explain her understanding of Scripture’s authority as well as her views on gender and sexuality, a factor that often reveals the foundation of a counselor’s approach. You might also look to reputable biblical counseling organizations like the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation or the Biblical Counseling Coalition, which have resources to help you find a counselor. Seek out Christian counselors committed to being clinically informed, but avoid those who merely tack their Christianity onto a secular psychological approach. Such counselors may say they’re willing to offer a Christian perspective if their clients wish them to do so. This approach doesn’t operate from a coherent biblical perspective that relies on Scripture. Avoid counselors who merely tack their Christianity onto a secular psychological approach. The best place to start may be with your pastor, who likely has relationships with counselors in your area and may have a good sense of their counseling philosophies and reputations. It’s been said that counselors are the new priests in today’s culture. That means Christian counselors are the first place many struggling people go for help—often even before they approach a pastor. This also means we need to be careful not to grant the secular world too much power over those serving in this noble role. While believers are free to pursue licensure, we shouldn’t make it essential for a Christian counselor.