John Stonestreet – Page 18

The Benefits of Marrying Early

May 1, 2023John StonestreetMarriageMarriage

According to a recent study from the Institute for Family Studies, “On average, early-marrieds enjoy slightly higher marital quality than later-marrieds” on metrics like “relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, teamwork, and communication.”

Women who marry early, for example, reported an 11% lead in sexual satisfaction over those who marry later in life. For men, the gap is even bigger, at 14%. This supports findings from another IFS study that, “spouses who have only had sex with their current spouse have the highest levels of sexual satisfaction in their marriage.”

These findings counter widespread cultural assumptions that couples should be sure of “compatibility” and that sexual autonomy and so-called “sexual freedom” is the path to personal happiness. God gave marriage to the world as a gift, as the best context for sex, and as a real-life sign of His love for His people.

We shouldn’t be surprised when His way actually works.

What the Popularity of Jesus Revolution Shows

Apr 17, 2023John StonestreetChristianityChristianity

Jesus continues to do pretty well at the box office, not to mention streaming online. The recent movie Jesus Revolution, which tells the story of a 1970s California revival, has so far made double what its critics predicted, grossing over $51 million in domestic ticket sales. In fact, the movie has already grossed more in sales than most of the 2023 Oscar nominees—combined.

Though guardians of high culture prefer movies that demonize Christianity, Americans are hungry for something else. As John Calvin pointed out, humans possess a longing for God. This can either lead to superstition and idolatry, or to the true God revealed in Christ. Jesus Revolution is the latest case study of how artful storytelling can tap into this longing.

The question in any era of human history is not whether we worship, but rather what we worship. The success of Jesus Revolution is a reminder that art can still capture the imagination and affirm the fundamental human desire for God we all share.

China’s Population Drops by Nearly a Million

Apr 10, 2023John StonestreetChinaChina

China is struggling to undo the damage of its former one-child policy. According to a recent report by China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country’s population dropped by 850,000 people in 2022. The last decline was due to the Great Famine of 1961. This one is primarily due to a significant drop in the birth rate, which is only expected to worsen.

According to one official, citizens have lost a “willingness to have babies” and are delaying “marriage and pregnancy.” There’s even been a decline in pre-menopausal women. All of these are marks of a culture whose people were forced to prioritize fears of overpopulation and conformity to the state over the natural order and gift of family.

Ideas, and the policies that flow from them, have consequences. Even if not immediately apparent, policies opposed to life will eventually have significant consequences over the course of time, not only for individuals but also for entire societies.