Recent Articles
When Nonviolent Protest Worked
More than a million peaceful protesters in East Germany helped bring in freedom in 1989. What they did then, we can do today. Any church or group of believers can protest for justice and change peacefully. God will provide the power.
Taking Steps to De-escalate Abortion ‘Wars’
Abortion is extremely contentious. For more than 45 years now, there has been considerable ‘warfare’ between pro-choice and pro-life people. Is there any way to de-escalate such negative polarization? Some folks are trying just that.
October 1, 2020
Today’s curated news headlines include: Christian leaders’ reaction to Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacy; Black churches mobilize against alleged voter suppression; A counter to Confederate monuments, black cemeteries tell a fuller story of the South; and more
Trump-Biden Debate a Presidential Debacle
The first debate of the 2020 U.S. presidential election quickly devolved into a debacle. Good people must start acting with compassion and kindness if we want to set a better course for the nation.
Can These Seeds Grow?
Nearly 2,000-year-old date palm seeds were discovered and later cross-pollinated to grow and bear fruit. Imagine if people who hold strong differences were able to come together and compromise. How much fruit would they produce?
For Judaism, Why Nonviolence Doesn’t Work All the Time
While Jewish tradition does not counsel violence in most circumstances, it also does not counsel nonviolence in all circumstances. However, it is fair to say that Jewish tradition rejects violence borne of anger.
Why Americans Often Mistrust Vaccines
Over half of US adults say they are likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine, a more than 20-point drop from the same survey done in May. Americans have an often-irrational mistrust of vaccines, but rumors and fear cannot guide our decisions.
White Evangelical Support of Trump Remains Strong
Nothing seems to dim support for Donald Trump among white evangelical Christians. Nearly three-fourths of white evangelicals plan to vote for Trump this election, while 18% plan to vote for Joe Biden, a LifeWay report said.
September 30, 2020
In today’s curated news headlines: Poll says a majority of Americans don’t want Roe v. Wade overturned; Evangelical Biden voters straddle partisan divide; How ‘Save the Children’ is keeping QAnon alive; ‘We have been blind to our white privilege,’ evangelical pastor says at racial justice event; and more
Why Does ‘Pro-Life’ Work So Well Politically?
Abortion has become a singularly defining issue in recent decades, spawning legions of single-issue voters. But why? A closer look reveals two distinguishing marks of many single-issue voters who label themselves ‘pro-life.’
Resolving Conflicts Through Nonviolent Means
Just War Theory sets high standards for a legitimate entrance into war. Since those criteria are almost never met, it’s time to accept that conflicts must be resolved through nonviolent means. We must consider Just Peace instead.
Do Christians have a Stake in Democracy? – Part 2
As Christians, our ultimate loyalty is not to any single government, but that does not mean we should not seek the welfare of the nation in which we find ourselves. To do that, we must exercise Christian practical wisdom. Here’s how.
September 29, 2020
In today’s news and analysis headlines: Meet the anti-abortion Republicans defecting from Trump; analysis of Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court nominee; Southern Baptists preparing meals during hurricane response; and more
Until Black Women’s Lives Matter
It’s a few hours after the announcement about Breonna Taylor in Louisville. No officer was indicted for the six bullets that went through Breonna Taylor’s body. When will Black women’s lives really matter?
Do Christians have a Stake in Democracy? – Part 1
Should Christians care if democracy survives? While there’s no biblical, historical or theological case that Christians have a stake in democracy, democracy is not necessarily antithetical to Christian convictions.
Family Practices to Make Advent Sacred
Advent is a season of waiting and preparation before the birth of Jesus, a time to prepare our hearts and our homes for the arrival of the baby Jesus. Here are a few practices you can do with your family to create holy moments.
How to Put an End to Election Angst
No matter who wins, a lot of people are going to be disappointed with the Nov. 3 election results. We believe voting on issues resolves tension. It does not. We can only resolve these issues by seeing one another as connected.
September 28, 2020
In today’s curated news headlines and analysis: Does having churches as polling stations sway the ballot?; Trump’s support from evangelicals and Catholics is dropping; Baltimore church, formed as a ‘Memorial to Slaveholders,’ seeks to atone for its past; and more.
People of Good Faith: Jackie Riley
Jackie Riley is senior copy editor for Nurturing Faith Journal and Nurturing Faith books and handles customer service for Nurturing Faith books.
David and Colleen Burroughs Honored with Judson-Rice Award
David and Colleen Burroughs, who founded Passport Camps in 1993, providing mission opportunities for thousands of children and teenagers, are the recipients of this year’s Judson-Rice Award.
October Good Faith Forums to Focus on Faith, Politics
A series of three Good Faith Forums in October will engage in conversations about faith and politics. The first will be held at 1 pm EDT (noon CDT) Thursday, Oct. 8, focusing on how God is not a Republican or a Democrat.
Between Two Crosses: To Which Do You Bow?
Americans stand between two crosses. If they bow to one, they must by necessity turn their back on the other. One cross stands for redemption and calls us to submission. The other stands for conquest. To which one do you bow?
September 25, 2020
In today’s curated news headlines; Christian leaders are speaking up about the Breonna Taylor case; Trump is authoritarian, and so are millions of Americans; the five electorates of 2020; German Church is losing priests and parishes; and more
Can Christianity Be Saved?
While many people are leaving behind evangelicalism, others are leaving Christianity altogether. Is Christianity killing itself in an attempt to ‘save’ the world? For Christianity to survive, the church must succumb again to death.
Immigrant Sterilizations Damage Health Care’s Integrity
News that women at an immigration detention center in Georgia were receiving hysterectomies without consent should rock us to our core. These allegations should cause all of us to question the safety of our health care system.
Civil Dissent: Can US Politics Return To It?
RBG was known for her civility yet she still wrote dissenting opinions on the Supreme Court. How can both dissenting opinions and civil behavior live within the same person? It used to happen all the time in US politics.
Pandemic Pushes 1.5M More Kids into Several Measures of Poverty
An additional 1.5 million children have entered a state of multi-dimensional, or more than one measure of, poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a report found. Without further intervention, this number is expected to increase.
September 24, 2020
In today’s curated news headlines: People who have lost loved ones to conspiracy theories; anti-mask evangelical pastors; Gallup polls says world less tolerant of immigrants; trauma-informed ministry; and more.
Snakeskins and Metaphors
Like a snake shedding its skin, we may wish we could grow younger or change into different people. More often, our growth opportunities come more gradually. Whatever the timeline, we have to give up the old to move on to the new.
Sidestepping Palestine Won’t Foster Real Peace
The Trump administration has heralded a so-called peace accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Palestine, which suffers the most from no peace, was urged to sign on. Here’s why the deal is bad for them.