A Discernment Review of Dwell Differently®
By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
This essay reviews Dwell Differently®, examining its theology, practices, and leadership through a biblical lens. While affirming Scripture memorization, it raises concerns about self-centered application, lack of discernment, commercialization, and the implications of corporate motherhood, concluding the ministry is not recommended.
A reader asked me if I knew anything about the ministry called “Dwell Differently.” I receive lots of questions like this, and I was happy to briefly look into it and reply with a bit of information. There are ‘Further Resources’ at the bottom
Looking into it, I got curious, so I did a deeper dive after that. The result is this essay. I am reviewing Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz’s output called Dwell Differently®
It’s just a review. The good, the bad, the concerning, etc. In secular life we review restaurants, cars, movies, and so on. In Christian life, we review ministries, books, teachings, and teachers. We are ALL called to use discernment because we are all called to test ALL things. (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Those to whom the Spirit has given the gift of discernment employ that gift for the edification of the body.
What and Who is ‘Dwell Differently”?
Vera Schmitz and Natalie Abbott are sisters. They are co-founders of this trademarked, Limited Liability For-Profit Corporation titled “Dwell Differently: Overcome Negative Thinking with the Simple Practice of Memorizing God’s Truth”. Vera is Chief Creative Officer, and Natalie is Chief Content Officer. Their have copyrighted all their visual material. (Source).
Because Dwell Differently, LLC (incorporated 2018) is not publicly traded and is not a non-profit, they are not required to publicly disclose officers, earnings, or financial statements to the public (just to the IRS).
Vera Schmitz is married to Matt Schmitz and they have 3 boys. As of 2024 Vera said their ages were 7, 4, and 1. Vera was a dedicated athlete, an All-State and All-American pole vaulter, aiming for a position on the US Olympic team- and very nearly making it.
Natalie has 5 children and husband Jason is pastor of Central Church in Jefferson City MO. (source). Thus, Natalie is a pastor’s wife. Her and husband Jason’s church is part of Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). It is less a denomination and more of a fellowship of autonomous, self-governing evangelical churches united by shared core beliefs, like the Southern Baptist Convention. EFCA emphasizes the Bible’s authority, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and discipleship. If you’d like to know more about the Evangelical Free Church, their history is listed here. Natalie has stated she has led Bible studies for a very long time.
*Be aware that the EFCA has strong roots in Radical Pietism, a movement emphasizing personal experience, heartfelt faith, and holy living over ‘rigid’ doctrine. Kevin DeYoung wrote a piece comparing Pietism and confessionalism at Monergism, here).
In addition to the Founders’ bios and bios of their all-female employees, their Statement of Beliefs is here.
What is Dwell Differently about?
The sisters state that the word of God is all-important and life changing. Their statement:
[W]e share the same passion—helping people connect with God through his Word… we really believe that the God of the universe loves us and has spoken to us in the Bible. And when we are in it, we can know him and experience freedom and life and transformation. (Source)
To that end, the sisters have created a Bible memorization system that relies on temporary tattoos applied to the arm. You access these tattoos each month after paying a membership fee. The sisters also develop Bible studies, have written a book, are active on Instagram, publish a weekly podcast, author their own devotionals, develop Bible studies, and manage their numerous pieces of merchandise and memberships. They are busy.
The Good
Memorizing Scripture: I agree that memorizing Bible verses is good. I must also say that while I am not a fan of tattoos of any kind, temporary or permanent, I realize that the younger generation is used to them and sees no real problem with sporting a tattoo. If this method helps new Christians memorize God’s word, then OK.
Emphasis on God’s desire to be with His people: As they write in their book Dwell Differently, “And the rest of the story of Scripture tells of God’s ceaseless pursuit to be near His children.”
This is true, Biblehub topic page notes, “The concept of God’s relentless pursuit is a profound theme woven throughout the biblical narrative, illustrating God’s unwavering commitment to seek and save humanity. This pursuit is characterized by His love, grace, and mercy, as He continually reaches out to His creation despite their rebellion and sin.”
Memorization of God’s word benefits us: This is also true and good to do. Yes the Spirit will use the word of God to wash your mind.
Tattoos. Natalie said, “we believe that using temporary tattoos to memorize scripture is is okay.” For those who disagree, they offer stickers instead of tattoos that are intended to be work on the arm or hand. This issue is one of personal conviction. The New Testament doesn’t speak one way or the other specifically about tattoos. I respect their attention to both sides of the issue and also respect that they have formulated an alternative for sisters who do not wish to tattoo. They put out a Q&A on tattoos where they discuss their stance and present biblical information on tattoos, here.
The Concerning
1. Memorizing scripture: I know, I know, I said up there that memorizing scripture is good. But the purpose for which we memorize is important. I am concerned that they USE scripture out of context, and for personal/emotional medicine rather than for the true purpose of worshiping Jesus and for pursuing holiness. From their book:
This Book is for you if you need…
Truth to overcome NEGATIVE THINKING
Truth when you feel UNLOVED
Truth when you feel INSECURE
Truth when you feel UNACCEPTED
Truth when you’re ANXIOUS
Truth when you’re DEPRESSED
Truth when you’re AFRAID
Truth when you need DIRECTION
Truth when you CAN’T PRAY
Truth when you need REST
Truth when you have TROUBLES
The very name of their book states the purpose of memorizing scripture: “Overcome Negative Thinking.”
Ahem, I’d like to bring your attention to the following:
They are selling the BENEFIT of scripture and short circuiting the focus of scripture, which is Jesus, who is the ultimate benefit. The purpose and foundation of memorizing scripture is off. God’s word is memorized because it helps YOURSELF. The emphasis is all wrong.
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
2. Our problem: They write, “Our Problem: Negative Thoughts. In each chapter of this book, either Natalie or I will address a particular negative thought pattern. These are things we’ve struggled with too! So, we’ll give you examples from our own lives.” Source- Kindle version location 199.
Our Problem is not negative thinking. Our problem is sin. Negative thoughts are caused by sin. Someone is coveting something, anxious about something, emotionally fearful, prayerless, and so on. Each of the emotional states mentioned above as chapter headings, are caused by sin. In my opinion there is not enough emphasis in their material on our sin. Our problem is NOT negative thoughts. It’s the heart problem of sin.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12).
3. A mother’s place. This is the big one. If you have read any of my essays for very long, you know I abhor when mothers turn into Corporate entities and split their focus from the children they are raising. Natalie is a pastor’s wife, too, which often means she has a second job beyond raising her children & supporting her husband. But with Dwell she also has a 3rd job. She’s ALSO not only a wife, not only a pastor’s wife, not only is a mother of 5, but adds to her life her new job of Content Officer of Dwell Differently, with all that entails, such as authoring studies and books, speaking on her weekly podcast, writing blogs for Lifeway Women, and adding content to her social media. BUSY.
In this example, Vera tells a ‘hilarious’ anecdote as a guest on a Lifeway Women interview podcast,
I’m Vera Schmitz. I create all the content for dwell for our social media and it’s hilarious… like yesterday I was at the office and I was editing a video that was going to be like muted and then have music over the top of it. But as I was making the video and it was like looping, the other two folks I was in the office with, they were like ‘what?! who is screaming?’ I’m like ‘oh don’t worry. I’ll turn the volume off of it and nobody will know that my kid was screaming in the background. I was like maybe I should do one of those Instagram versus reality situations with this one. [laughter from Vera, Natalie, and host Elizabeth Hyndman of Lifeway Women] (Source Youtube).
No it’s not ‘hilarious’. No it is not funny. As a mother of 3 children aged around 8, 5, and 2, hearing them screaming (as boys do, they are rambunctious) but focusing instead on the video editing and reassuring the other people in her home office… is not cool. This what happens when you decide to split your Biblically directed role as wife and mother with also being a corporate career woman.
Isn’t is hard enough to share the Bible with your sons on a daily basis? Isn’t it hard enough to keep a house, tend to the children, and support the husband? Without adding multiple roles that take you away from the boys and husband?
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander. (1 Timothy 5:14)
As is the case so often with these busy mothers of corporations, Vera’s husband Matt Schmitz works alongside Vera at their business, Dwell Differently. I do not know if he has an additional career or if he is full-time at Dwell. He has a podcast of his own called “Dads Who Dwell Differently”. He said on his podcast,
“The beginning story of Dwell was when Vera was competing at a high level of track and field, she had sports psychologists. So much of what sports psychology teaches is about how you talk to yourself. It works! But what we realized at the end of the day is that while it works, it is just a little off. It is not about what I believe I am or who I am, it is about what God believes I am. … It is the full truth where you are saying scripture over yourself in its most practical sense, for your own person, for your family, knowing what the truth is about you and what God says about you.”
Do you catch that? Both Vera and Matt say that memorizing scripture is practical for the purpose of learning about ourselves. The emphasis is always on self. Scripture is so we can learn about what God thinks I AM. ‘God longs to be near us.’ ‘Scripture can help us’. You hear the word God a lot and Jesus a lot but it always comes back to what scripture can do for me.
4. Discernment. This year, the sisters have had as guests on their podcast Raechel Myers of She Reads Truth. Raechel is not recommended. (Source here and here). They hosted David Platt. Platt is a false teacher. (Source, and Source). Also interviewed Jennifer Rothschild. (Not recommended). Since they have had these three on within the last year, then I question Dwell Differently’s discernment.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14).
5. Merchandising. Much what a sister would need to access Dwell Differently’s output costs money. There is the monthly membership for individual or group or leader… There is a shop stuffed with jewelry, Yeti mugs, stickers, tattoo kits, their book, children’s series, key tags, Bible study… There are some free things too, like the podcast, sample from a study | Leader Guide | Scripture Memory Videos | Poster | Bulletin Insert | Invitation Card | PowerPoint.
For $13.95/month which recurs, you get either an INDIVIDUAL KIT containing 4 temporary tattoos, 2 stickers, 1 keytag, 1 print. Or a FAMILY KIT containing 12 temporary tattoos, 5 stickers, 2 keytags, 1 print.
I know a business needs money to stay in business. But don’t you get tired of being made merchandise of? Of a ministry business looking at you like a cash cow? I do.
From their book- “I help people memorize Bible verses. I know how that sounds. Super churchy.”
No, it sounds super juvenile and super dismissive of church.
Conclusion
There are good things about Dwell Differently. Memorizing scripture is good. Reading devotionals or engaging in Bible study is good. Enthusiasm for discipling and evangelism is good.
What I have concerns about are a ministry that uses scripture as a vehicle for self-improvement rather than to mortify sin. A ministry whose foundation was an adaptation of sports psychology because “that works.” A ministry that lacks discernment. And for me, a huge red flag is a ministry where the founders and CEOs are busy married mothers of young children but have all this other corporate and social media business to attend to on a daily basis.
Ladies, be discerning. The Dwell sisters are no doubt enthusiastic, and I am not calling their faith into question. But the foundational principles matter. Yes, if you’re discerning go ahead and use their tattoos to memorize scripture. But at the same time, do you want your tween daughters to see their corporate motherhood model and your implicit acceptance of it? Do you want your daughters to learn from me-centered Bible studies? Listen to podcasts that feature non-recommended Christian celebrities? Constantly sells you stuff? Be careful not to be a stumbling block. Be wise.
My conclusion is that Dwell Differently is not recommended.
Further Resources
Fight Sin with Scripture: The Master’s University:
This is a BETTER approach- “To effectively fight sin, we can’t focus on the negative. It doesn’t do much good to sit around trying to discover and stamp out every sin as it happens. Instead, we must preoccupy ourselves with obeying the Spirit of God by understanding His will expressed in Scripture.“
Remembering and Practicing the Bible, Ligonier. “Some of the best ways to remember Scripture are through reading it regularly, praying it into our hearts, weaving it into family life, and hearing it preached.”
What does the Bible say about tattoos? GotQuestions
