Dying to Live Podcast

Christianity and African culture — must we choose between the two, or can they complement one another?

Africa is rich in cultural heritage, with traditions, customs, music, family structures and community values that have shaped generations. Yet, as Christians, we are called to examine every aspect of our lives through the lens of Scripture.

So, where do Christianity and African culture complement one another? What can we celebrate, preserve and embrace from our cultural heritage? And where do certain customs, beliefs and traditional practices come into conflict with biblical Christianity?

How do we distinguish between cultural practices that enrich our faith and those that compromise it? And how do we remain authentically African while being fully committed followers of Jesus Christ?

But these questions become especially challenging when our faith conflicts with the expectations of our non-believing family members. How do we honour our parents, respect our elders and maintain family relationships when we are asked to participate in practices that go against our biblical convictions? How do we stand firm in our faith without becoming disrespectful, judgemental or disconnected from those we love?

Today, we explore these questions and consider how the Bible helps us discern what to embrace, what to adapt and what we must leave behind — while remaining faithful to Christ and loving towards our families and communities.

Where should my child go to school?

For Christian parents in South Africa, this is becoming an increasingly important question. Should our children attend a government school, private school, Christian school, homeschool or online school?

And with worldviews and values that increasingly conflict with biblical Christianity finding their way into schools, many parents are asking, “Is this the right environment for my child?”

But perhaps we need to start with a bigger question:

Does God care which school my child goes to?

The Bible makes it clear that parents have the primary responsibility for raising and discipling their children. We cannot simply hand that responsibility over to a school. Ultimately, the decision belongs to the parents.

But how do we make that decision?

Perhaps the question isn't simply, “Which school is best?” It is: “God, where do You want me to send this unique child You have entrusted to me, so that their potential can be maximised while they grow in their relationship with You and discover Your plans and purposes for their life?”

Every child is different. What works for one child may not be right for another.

A government school isn't automatically wrong. A private school isn't automatically better. A Christian school isn't necessarily the right choice for every child, and homeschooling isn't automatically the most biblical option.The responsibility is ours as parents to seek God, understand our child, evaluate the options and make a wise decision.

So in this episode, we're going to ask what the Bible says about parental responsibility, education, competing worldviews and how Christian parents can make wise schooling decisions in today's South Africa.

Because ultimately, the question isn't simply:

“Which school should my child attend?

”It's:

“Lord, where do You want me to send the child You have entrusted to me?”

What if the thing you’re doing to make yourself healthier is actually making you less healthy?

What if eating clean, counting calories, weighing yourself, tracking your sleep, exercising every day and constantly thinking about your health has stopped being good stewardship—and has started controlling you?

We live in a culture that tells us to optimise everything: our food, our fitness, our sleep, our weight, our bodies and even our longevity. And wanting to be healthy is certainly not a bad thing.

But when does healthy become unhealthy?

When does discipline become obsession?
When does commitment become control?
When does looking after your body become being controlled by your body?

And perhaps most importantly, where does God fit into all of this?

The Bible doesn’t give us a particular diet, exercise programme or sleep schedule. But it does give us principles about self-control, discipline, stewardship, freedom, priorities and the condition of our hearts.

So how do we pursue good health without making health our god?

How do we recognise when something good has quietly become something that has too much control over our lives?

In this episode we’re going to explore that tension—and look at what God’s Word can teach us about caring for the bodies God has given us while making sure that our pursuit of health doesn’t become an obsession.

Because being healthy matters—but what controls your heart matters even more.

What do you do when your child finishes school and suddenly the big question is staring you in the face: University, a gap year, a discipleship school—or something completely different?For many young people, the pressure is to choose a career as quickly as possible. But is finding a career the same thing as finding your calling? And should we really expect an eighteen-year-old to know what they want to do with the rest of their life?

Perhaps a gap year could be an opportunity to grow in faith, discover who you are in Christ, develop practical skills, and learn to hear God for yourself. But a gap year can also bring its own challenges—especially when a young person goes overseas alone, without the spiritual foundations, accountability, or support they need.

So what role should parents play? How do we encourage our children without controlling their decisions? When should we encourage university or further study, and when might a year of discipleship be the better choice? And how do we build on everything we've taught our children about God so that faith becomes something they personally own, rather than simply something they inherited from their parents?

Ultimately, this isn't just about choosing what to do after school. It's about learning to ask a much bigger question:“God, what do You want me to do with my life?”

Before finding a career, perhaps there is something more important to discover—who you are, whose you are, and what God has called you to become.

“What do you do when the people you love most don't share the values that have become central to your life?

Following Jesus doesn't just change our Sunday mornings—it can change our priorities, commitments and the way we make decisions.

And sometimes, that creates tension.

There’s a family birthday, a weekly dinner or a special gathering, but there’s also a church commitment or Kingdom responsibility that you believe is important.

So what do we do when faith and family collide?

How do we honour and love our families without compromising our devotion to Christ? When should family take priority, and when should our Kingdom commitments?

And how do we navigate these situations without becoming judgmental, legalistic or insensitive to the people we love?

The answer isn't simply, ‘Church comes first,’ or ‘Family always comes first.’ We are called to love, honour, serve and remain faithful to Christ—and sometimes those commitments can pull us in different directions.

So today, we're having an honest conversation about When Faith & Family Collide—and how we can navigate those difficult moments with wisdom, grace and a heart that remains faithful to Christ.”