Opinion
For Change to Occur, The Privileged Must Be Willing to Listen
The profound pain of our times holds the possibilities for profound change if those of us who are privileged will listen. If life is to become more like what God intends, the voices of all those at a disadvantage must be heard.
Project Spreads Roma Music for the World to Hear It
Music is the heartbeat of Roma communities, yet few people hear the music from this impoverished community. The Roma Voices Project seeks to change that. Its website highlights the music of the Roma people for all to hear.
Look Back | Nothing Personal? The Smiling Face of Racism
With the signing of civil rights legislation in the ’60s, many claimed racism had faded from our collective consciousness. However, others say we now have a ‘smiling racism,’ which often masks more subtle forms of discrimination.
Jesus Always Responded to Cries of Those Who Couldn’t Breathe
Jesus repeatedly responded to the cries of those who couldn’t breathe. We hear these same calls for assistance from those we encounter today. Will our hearts and minds be troubled by these cries? Will we be stirred to act?
Brahms’ Requiem Offers Sober Reflection of Our Fleeting Life
Donning headphones, I listened to a recording of Brahms’ Requiem. I came to this work anticipating elevation of my spirit but found it a sober reflection on our fleeting life. Necessary, realistic and matching our times.
President’s Photo-Op Co-opts Gospel for Non-Gospel Agenda
When President Trump used police to disperse peaceful protesters so he had a clear path to walk to the front of a church uninvited and hold up a Bible for a photo-op, he crossed a line. Will his non-gospel agenda bother us?
A Message to Our White Friends: Stop Raising Racist Kids!
White friends, the deaths of unarmed black men and women have revealed the worst tendencies of our white supremacist society. To end white supremacy, we must fight it where it begins – in your homes and your hearts.
Your Biblical Response to Racial Injustice: Don’t Wash Your Hands
The coronavirus and recent police violence have revealed shortcomings in society, which disproportionately affect some racial and ethnic minority groups. We see the pain and the chaos. However, we can’t wash our hands and act like nothing’s wrong.
May Losing 100,000 US Lives Make Us More Compassionate
We all lose things around the house, but they eventually turn up. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we have lost 100,000 lives in the US. They will never turn up. It’s an unimaginable loss for far too many families.
America at a Critical Crossroads
People of good faith need to stand boldly for racial justice and denounce the evils of racism and white supremacy.
Without Justice, Our Prayers for Slain Black Men are Incomplete
Prayers for peace are fine but when men like George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery are slain, those prayers are incomplete without a prayer for justice. And both are incomplete unless we are available to be answers to those prayers.
To Make Sense of US-China Relations, Know Hong Kong’s History
U.S.-China relations have deteriorated in recent months as President Trump has laid much of the blame for the COVID-19 pandemic at China’s door. To make sense of these events, it’s important to understand Hong Kong’s history.
9 Ways You Can Help Promote Racial Justice Now
Becoming a community of peacemakers is the calling of Christians worldwide. The world is crying out for a community of people who can bear witness to how to do this. This is our time to let our little light shine.
U21 | Love Your Neighbors But Don’t Forget God and Yourself
Many Christians focus on loving their neighbors, even sacrificing their own needs. They forget the Bible says to love their neighbors as they love themselves. When they first love God, they can love themselves and their neighbors.
Pandemic Teaches Us How Dependent We Are on Each Other
We are learning from the COVID-19 pandemic that we are dependent upon each other for support and identity. As we approach the summer and consider what might await us this fall, we need to remember how interconnected society is.
COVID-19 Forced Reluctant Churches to Embrace Social Media
Most churches ignored the concept of geo-socialization, which is using social media to connect with your community. They ignored the need to be innovative or dismissed it outright. The COVID-19 pandemic forced those churches’ hands.
Beyond our incomplete prayers
By John D. Pierce Decades ago, at my home church, the pastoral prayer would be followed by the choir’s soft refrain: “Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord; incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace.” Those long-buried words were resurrected from...
God’s Eternal Breath Gives Life, Calls Us to Help the Breathless
With Pentecost celebrated this Sunday, may we remember God gave us breath to live, move and have our being in the world and gave us breath to cry out against injustices afflicted on our sisters and brothers of color.
COVID-19 Makes It Crucial to Be More Thoughtful with Your Words
COVID-19 has increased tension on families who are now with each other all the time. That’s why ‘Say Something Nice Day’ on June 1 and ‘Say Something Nice Sunday’ on June 7 are more important than ever. Let’s be kinder to everyone.
Look Back | Baptists Once Firmly Supported Education for All
For most of our history, Baptists have supported the goals of Thomas Jefferson’s universal education for all and Horace Mann’s vision of the common school. Yet, some Baptists recently have called for the end of the common school.
When Will ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Transform Into ‘We Can’t Breathe’?
As unarmed black citizens are gunned down by law enforcement and others, the silent church must speak up. Our silence conveys acceptance of this injustice. How many more black citizens must die before we actually get enraged?
The Spirit Will Help You Climb the Right Mountains in Your Life
As Christians celebrate Pentecost on Sunday – the coming of the Spirit to the body of Christ – all of us should reflect on the significance of the paraclete, the one sent by God to come alongside us, as we climb the right mountains.
Lockdown Protesters Have Misguided Definition of Freedom
They claim they are defenders of freedom, but lockdown protesters, often armed, demanding COVID-19 restrictions be lifted have a misguided definition of freedom. Real freedom is found as we do what is for the good of others.
Pandemic Grief | Keeping It Together When the World is Crumbling
Like overgrown backyards, most churches have tangles because of all that COVID-19 has halted. We must be self-aware about the impact of our efforts and failings to keep it together amid grief and uncertainty.
How COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Daily Life in Northern Ghana
The West African nation of Ghana has been on partial lockdown since late March. Schools are closed. Many are unable to work. Food costs have increased. As the lockdown continues, the need to help deprived and needy families will grow.
The Real Superheroes in Your Life Don’t Wear Capes or Masks
Our society loves superheroes, but the real heroes are ordinary folks who don’t don capes. They have a moral vision. Their singular superpower is the determination to create a better world through audacious choices and actions.
How Coronavirus Affects Families – Through a 4-Year-Old’s Eyes
As we weather the COVID-19 crisis, research about the impact of unprecedented seclusion upon children is bleak. You can’t help but empathize with children and families. This ‘account’ shares the perspective from a kid’s eye view.
Pandemic of Misinformation Spreads Like Wildfire Across Land
A pandemic is blazing across our society. This one isn’t COVID-19. This virus infects the soul of the populace and blinds it to what in our more peaceful times we embrace as truth. It’s a pandemic of intentional misinformation.
Hardin-Simmons University Should Remember the Widow’s Mite
To honor her late husband’s memory and to recognize outstanding doctor of ministry students, Carol Bratton endowed a scholarship at Logsdon Seminary. With the seminary closing, her refund request was dismissed with laughter.
Look Back | Do You Know What Happens When You Fry Baloney?
Liberal and progressive politicians and clergy are more dangerous to the cause of justice than their neoconservative counterparts. Their fruits may be pleasing, but they can be just as damaging to the welfare of the oppressed.