Recent Articles
3 Habits Help Lonely People Feel Connected
Faith communities at large have been feeling the impact of loneliness and isolation in a new way during the pandemic. We may believe online platforms keep us from feeling alone, but the cries of church members tell another story.
Widespread Support in US for LGBTQ+ Rights
By Zach Dawes Jr – More than three out of four, or 76%, of US adults support the enactment of nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBTQ persons, a report found. The support crossed age, gender, political and religious demographics.
March 29, 2021
In today’s curated news and headlines analysis: Georgia Republicans Made a Mistake When They Attacked the Voting Rights of the Black Community, Black Pastors Say; Jacksonville Florida White Residents Defend Robert E. Lee High: ‘Jesus Himself Never Condemned Slavery’; Mass Shooting Survivor: ‘The Thoughts and Prayers … Mean Nothing’; Africa: Sudan and Rebel Group Sign Agreement on Separation of Religion and State; and more.
People of Good Faith: Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer is a retired pastor and campus minister living in Miramar Beach, Florida, near Destin. He is currently serving as the chair of the strategic advisory board for the Good Faith Media experiences division.
Psychological Impacts of Pandemic Distancing Likely to Linger
COVID-19 changed the landscape of ministry, requiring every faith leader to quickly adapt. While pandemic mitigation efforts were essential, we must consider what has been lost without in-person gatherings.
Look Back | ‘Caving into Culture’ Is Often Needed
A common refrain from Christians defending the status quo is that they follow the unchanging Bible, while others cave into modern culture. Here’s why such claims are problematic – and why “caving into culture” can be the right decision.
March 26, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: QAnon and Trump Cult: Expert Steven Hassan on Whether They Can be Saved; Designation of Bible as Tennessee’s State Book to Hit House Floor Following Years of Failed Legislative Attempts; Franklin Graham Advised Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine. His Fans Revolted; and more.
Entering the Darkness of Holy Week
Grief due to mass shootings, humanitarian crises, the ongoing global pandemic and more is overwhelming. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was not all celebration – dark clouds hung over Holy Week then … and now.
Is Health Care a Right?
Is health care a right? Before we can answer that question, we need to be clear about what we mean by “rights.” Here’s a primer on the term and how it relates to health care and human rights.
Racial Reconciliation Must Include Trauma Ministry
How should ministers biblically address racial trauma with Black youth? Part of racial reconciliation is not only educating those who are unaware of police brutality but also ministering to those who live with the effects of it.
March 25, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: White Headmaster of Catholic School Placed on Leave After Telling Student to Kneel and Apologizes ‘the African Way’; Why ‘Islamic’ Trended After a Mass Shooting in Boulder and ‘Christian’ Did Not After One in Atlanta; Americans are Stubbornly Unmoved by Death; Three-Quarters of Black Americans Believe in God of the Bible or Other Holy Scripture; and more.
How Far Is Too Far?
We must be sensitive to how others are negatively impacted by prejudicial stereotypes. Decisions by Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Disney+ regarding content under their purview raises questions about how we engage with historical views that are now problematic.
What Should Cries of ‘Hosanna’ Mean Today?
The cries of ‘Hosanna’ as Jesus entered Jerusalem were pleas for liberation from oppression that echoed those found in Psalm 118. What should such cries mean to us today?
Are U.S. Dollars Supporting Concentration Camps?
Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim people, make up roughly half the population of Xinjiang, the far northwest province of China. One million Uyghurs have been swept into concentration camps and forced labor.
March 24, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Racism, Misogyny, Guns and Religion: Experts Call Atlanta ‘an Unmistakable American Stew’; In Federal Lawsuit, James Huntsman, of Prominent Utah Family, Accuses Mormon Church of Fraud; Will Easter Resurrect Pandemic Church Attendance? Depends on Your Faith Tradition; and more.
Tested by Pluralism, American Christianity Fails
The love of evangelicals extends deep and wide – as long as the people they love on mission trips stay “over there.” Many professing Christians limit their love to protect privileged status and maintain the status quo.
‘Strange Fire’ Fuels Scapegoating of Asian Americans
Scapegoating is a “strange fire,” observed a 13-year-old in his recent Bar Mitzvah Torah sermon. “We need to stand against ‘strange fires,’” he said. “We can no longer afford to be bystanders.”
Christian Patriarchy Is Just Patriarchy
Patriarchy by any other name is still patriarchy. Christian patriarchy models the patriarchy of mainstream society. A new book explores how the church is continuing a long historical tradition of subordinating women.
March 23, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Evidence in Capitol Attack Most Likely Supports Sedition Charges, Prosecutor Says; Preachers and Their $5,000 Sneakers: Why One Man Started an Instagram Account Showing Churches’ Wealth; Black Church Leaders in Georgia on the Importance of ‘Souls to Polls’; and more
Five Things to Listen for in “Raceless Gospel” Podcast
Starlette Thomas – a womanist in ministry – treats these five episodes as five Sundays. Each episode is structured like a church service and features different elements of a Sunday worship hour: welcome, testimony, sermon, call to discipleship, offering and benediction.
Immunity Passports, Vaccination Records and Post-Pandemic Travel
As COVID-19 vaccinations increase, some have suggested the need for immunity passports as a requirement for travel and other activities. What are these exactly? And what are the ethical implications of adopting such measures?
Why You Should View Your Words as Expressions of Love
Our speech has power to build up or tear down. We should see our language as an expression of love, making sure that our words, particularly those spoken to people in a vulnerable state, offer healing and hope.
March 22, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Biden Rescinded the ‘Muslim Ban.’ But Many Families Remain Stuck in the Backlog; Accused Atlanta Gunman’s Church Expels Him, as Local Korean Church Leaders Mourn, Call for Action; The Rioter Next Door: How the Dallas Suburbs Spawned Domestic Extremists; Church of England May Impose Black, Minority Quota for Clergy; and more.
People of Good Faith: Starlette Thomas
Starlette Thomas is a member of the Good Faith Media strategic advisory board and host of the forthcoming GFM podcast, “The Raceless Gospel.”
What Happens When I’m the Problem?
The pursuit of the so-called “American Dream” has resulted in negative impacts on marginalized groups. Being a successful American does not equate to being a good Christian.
Physician Match Day Reveals Health Residency System’s Flaws
Match Day is an annual event that matches medical school graduates with residency programs. There is a shortage of doctors in the U.S. due to a paucity of residency positions resulting, in large part, from a 1997 budget act.
March 19, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: New Report Warns of Rising Domestic Terrorism; Christian Leaders Wrestle with Atlanta Shooting Suspect’s Southern Baptist Ties; South Carolina Pastor Urges American Christians to Prepare for Civil War; Co-Chairs Commission on Historic Representations say Their Research Was Distressing; Beth Moore Shakes up Evangelical Publishing; and more
Finding Healing in My Tribe
In my ancestral language of Muscogee Creek, CVFEKNICETV (juh-fig-nay-je-duh) means “to heal someone or something.” This message greeted my wife and me as we drove up to the Muscogee Creek Hospital in Okemah, Oklahoma, to receive our COVID-19 vaccines.
White Nationalist Christianity Distorts Gospel, Perpetuates Injustice
Jesus’ message of radical solidarity with the least of these, his call for liberation from oppression, has been domesticated by white nationalistic Christianity. The white god that undergirds white supremacy is all better off dead.
Focusing on Heaven, U.S. Churches Forgot the Life of Jesus
In many congregations, “the gospel” only refers to the path to eternal salvation. A return to the biblical definition of the “Good News” is needed — one that is evidenced by Jesus through his words and deeds.