All Opinion articles
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OpinionThe tragedy of Cindy Crawford’s son: Why having everything still wasn’t enough
Following the death of Presley Gerber, writer Hope Bonarcher reflects on a young man who seemingly had everything the world could offer. Drawing parallels with the biblical story of Solomon, she asks where true meaning, wholeness and hope can ultimately be found.
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Opinion‘I screamed the name of Jesus when the car went over the mountain road …’
Joanna Watson shares her extraordinary testimony of surviving a devastating car accident and discovering God’s miraculous provision in the aftermath. From a terrifying mountain crash to a series of seemingly impossible encounters, she reflects on how the experience changed her life and convinced her that God still works miracles today.
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OpinionI asked male and female theologians: should women lead in the Church? Their answer made me 'think again'
Amy Summerfield asked male and female theologians a simple but deeply contested question: should women lead in the Church? Their answers challenged her assumptions and invited her to look again at Scripture, tradition and what it means to faithfully recognise women’s calling to lead.
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OpinionPete Greig says Christians should ‘prepare for war’ – as an Army wife, this is how I’m responding
Anna Townsend admits that Pete Greig’s warning to Christians to ‘prepare for war’ left her feeling frightened. But as she reflects on what her husband is seeing through his work with NATO, she believes the Church should respond not with panic, but with prayer.
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Opinion“ChatGPT offered to pray for me – and it touched my heart more than it should have”
Jacqui Braithwaite explores what happens when AI begins to feel less like a tool and more like a companion, asking whether Christians could be in danger of allowing technology to replace God and human relationships. After finding herself turning to ChatGPT in a moment of crisis, Jacqui reflects on where our true comfort, wisdom and help really come from.
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OpinionWhat a cathedral hidden in the mist taught me about faith
When Alison Reid found herself regularly driving through the misty Cambridgeshire Fens, a familiar landmark gave her a powerful picture of what it means to trust God when His presence feels hidden. From a childhood connection with Ely Cathedral to the terrifying illness of her baby daughter, Alison reflects on why knowing God in the “easy” days prepares us to trust Him in the tough ones.
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OpinionI watched Practical Magic 2, and here’s what shocked me
Hope Bonarcher explores the portrayal of witchcraft Practical Magic 2, drawing out three striking parallels with themes found in the Christian faith. From generational curses to sacrificial love, she asks what Christians can learn from the occult themes running through this highly anticipated sequel.
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Opinion“I have incurable cancer – but it’s taught me to live with more hope, not less.”
Miranda Adderley, 61, from central Edinburgh, shares her thoughts on how living with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer has affected her faith.
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OpinionI thought my life was falling apart when I had to stop – then I realised God was redirecting me
Sally Williams shares how being forced to stop after a concussion left her questioning the direction of her life – only to discover that God was using the pause to redirect her. As she learned to slow down and listen, Sally found a new sense of purpose and the courage to build a business she believes God had been preparing her for.
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OpinionAt 65, Caroline Quentin is pursuing a long-held dream – and reminding us that with God, it’s never too late
Actress Caroline Quentin is going to university for the first time at 65 to study History of Art. Jemimah Wright reflects on what her story, and the words of Proverbs, can teach us about trusting God with the dreams we carry.
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OpinionVictoria Beckham nearly gave up. What can her comeback teach us about faith?
Jenny Sanders reflects on what Victoria Beckham’s difficult journey from Spice Girl to successful fashion designer can teach us about perseverance. Drawing on her own experiences of depression, grief and financial hardship, Jenny explores what it means to keep going when life feels overwhelming and God seems far away.
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OpinionKatie Taylor’s retirement from boxing – we too can fight the good fight
Joy Roxborough reflects on Katie Taylor’s retirement from boxing and the Christian faith that has underpinned her remarkable career. She considers what Taylor’s example can teach us about perseverance, humility and trusting God when life gets tough.
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OpinionWhat can Christians learn from the death of the pastor’s wife?
Jacinta Read explores the difficult questions raised by the Netflix documentary Death of the Pastor’s Wife. Drawing on her experience working in a church and pastoral care, she asks how Christians can respond with humility while helping to make the church a safer place.
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OpinionWhat if we’ve got Proverbs 31 all wrong?
Nellah Grace looks again at Proverbs 31 and asks whether we’ve misunderstood its message. Could it be less about perfection and productivity, and more about wisdom?
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OpinionEvangeline Lilly: “At my core, the thing that’s most important to me is my faith”
Jemimah Wright explores Evangeline Lilly’s Christian upbringing, her years of questioning and searching, and what she says about following Christ today.
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Opinion“The world is falling apart—but do I have to fix it?” How to fight injustice without being crushed by it
Ann-Louise Graham explores how Christians can respond to overwhelming suffering and injustice without becoming paralysed by guilt or crushed by the sheer scale of the world’s problems. In an age of constant bad news, she asks whether faithfulness means recognising that while we cannot fix everything, we can respond to the opportunities God places in front of us.
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OpinionWhen does respect become complicity? What the Eiffel Tower’s ‘Invisible Women’ row can teach Christians
Becky Hunter Kelm considers the controversy surrounding female staff at the Eiffel Tower being sidelined during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation, and asks what Christians can learn from the incident. As the row raises difficult questions about religious freedom, hospitality and equality, she explores the point at which respecting another faith’s practices can become complicity.
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Opinion'Dancing Queen’ at 50: Can Christians indulge in nostalgia – or should we let the past go?
Writer Sophie Sanders reflects on the enduring appeal of ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ and the powerful nostalgia it can evoke. But as she looks back on her own university days, she asks whether our longing for the past might actually be pointing us towards something much deeper – and towards the future God has prepared for us.
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OpinionI stayed silent because I thought God wanted me to: The hidden cost of faith and abuse
Christian author and educator Lucy D. Ola knows what it is like to wrestle with the tension between faith, marriage and abuse. Here, she shares how the belief that God wanted her to stay silent kept her in an abusive marriage – and how finding her voice helped her begin to rebuild her life.
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OpinionThe Lindsay Clancy mistrial has divided America – but what does it reveal about motherhood and faith?
Hope Bonarcher explores the deeply divisive Lindsay Clancy case and what it reveals about our society’s understanding of motherhood, mental illness and responsibility. As the case raises disturbing questions about motherhood, mental health and the sanctity of life, she asks what the Gospel has to say to a culture desperately in need of hope and light.
