Recent Articles
The Monster at the End of Our Book
None of this is to suggest Revelation is off-limits for children. On the contrary. There’s probably no category of human more capable of understanding the true depth and meaning of the book than children. We should actually be letting them lead the way.
Hispanic Heritage Month | Cesario Estrada Chavez, Leading a Revolution of the Mind and Heart
What began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 is now National Hispanic Heritage Month. Beginning on September 15 and ending on October 15, the annual celebration highlights the culture’s beauty and history as well as the influence and achievements of Hispanic Americans.
The Politics (and Religion) of Gen Z: An Interview with PRRI’s Melissa Deckman (Part 1)
I recently visited with Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, about how Gen Z is making its mark on the political arena. Deckman is the author of “The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy.” We discussed some of the findings of her book and how Generation Z approaches issues around faith and organized religion.
“The South Will Rise Anew,” Tennessee State Representative Tells Compassion and Justice Conference
By 2022, Justin Jones had been arrested 18 times for activities related to civil disobedience and was banned from the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol. One of these activities concerned the removal of what he labeled “Idols of White Supremacy,” such as the statue of a KKK Grand Wizard erected in the capitol in 1978.
In Support of Vice President Kamala Harris, Have Progressives Abandoned the Wall Separating Church and State?
With progressive faith leaders and faith-based groups becoming more vocal in their support for the Democratic nominee for president, one question keeps coming to mind: “Have progressive Christians abandoned the wall separating church and state?”
PRRI Report Finds More than Half of Republicans Hold to the ‘Great Replacement Theory’
According to a recent report by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), a third (33%) of all Americans hold to the basic tenets of the Great Replacement Theory. The groups most likely to agree with the statement that “immigrants are invading our country and replacing our cultural and ethnic background” are Republicans (60%) and White Evangelical Protestants (54%).
Majority of Americans Still Paying Attention to the War in Gaza, Israel Retains Support
According to the September 2024 Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, more than half (56%) of the U.S. electorate is still closely following the Israel-Hamas war. Just 16% said they are not following it at all, with 28% “not following very closely.”
Real Listening
No matter where you go or at what position, there will always be those who don’t want you to grow. People will feed you lies and excuses to stop you. They sometimes want you to stay where you are because, if you don’t, they will also have to move and grow.
Good Trouble: The Incident of the ‘Controversial’ T-shirt
It is clear that it is not time to be lukewarm in our current political and religious world. It is time, after your nap, to look around you and remember that Jesus overturned tables when they needed overturning.
Dangerous or Weird?
The Biden campaign wanted us to know how dangerous Trump is. The Harris campaign wants us to understand how weird he is. Both are true. However, after a generation of political desensitization to how “dangerous” this or that politician is, only one strategy has any power left to move the needle.
De-Weaponizing Forgiveness
To expect an abuse survivor to look their abuser in the eyes is not an act of grace; it is an abuse of spiritual authority. To further justify this by weaponizing God’s grace is to compound the emotional manipulation that the survivor has already experienced.
Healing Donald Trump’s Scorched Earth
Trump’s ramblings are incoherent, illogical and incohesive. And here’s the trick: he never intended to make sense. His goal has always been to get away with not making sense. The key is to know this, to understand it, and to refuse to take the bait.
Good Faith Media Announces New Bible Study Curriculum Writers
Good Faith Media (GFM) is excited to announce that Kathy and Nathan Maxwell will be the Bible Study curriculum writers for the new Good Faith Magazine beginning in 2025.
The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality
The Bible consistently teaches that hospitality is not merely a suggestion. It is a divine mandate.
The “Big Lie” of Third-Trimester Abortions
Third-trimester terminations are, in almost all cases, the result of pregnancies being non-viable or a threat to the woman’s life. You do not have to believe me to understand why this is so. Just ask any clergy member from any faith tradition.
International Day of Peace | Don’t Hold Your Peace
International Day of Peace or World Peace Day will be celebrated on September 21st. But with multiple wars and genocides all happening at the same time and thus top of mind for many Americans, it might seem like nothing more than a thought experiment.
“I Know All” Christians
Scripture is not a tool to affirm our biases but a guide that challenges us to grow, love and serve beyond our comfort zones. We must approach it with humility and openness rather than an “I Know All” mindset.
The Precedent for Saying “Enough” Gun Violence
The right to consume this gun culture is not only causing others to sin by killing the innocent but advancing the opposing message to life found in the gospel– death.
Americans Welcome ‘Active Shooter’ into the Classroom
“Students,” the teacher begins, “please welcome our newest addition to class.” The young man sheepishly scans his new classmates, thinking, “How will they respond to me? What will their parents say when they find out?” The teacher continues, “Class, our new student’s name is Active Shooter.”
Gun Reform is Reproductive Justice
The term and framework “reproductive justice” turned 30 this year. Not to be confused or used interchangeably with “reproductive rights,” the framework of reproductive justice invites us to go deeper into dignity.
The First 929 Chapters: The Importance of Teaching God’s Story in the Old Testament
Growing up we very rarely learn the Old Testament outside of the fun Sunday school stories. It’s far more difficult to talk to children about the prophecies of Jeremiah or the condemnation of Ezekiel. While I agree that certain material is not appropriate for a certain age, there is an issue in contemporary Christian culture that needs to be addressed.
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.
Turning Over Tables at One Tree Hill
What becomes the ethical praxis available to the marginalized when all is hopeless? What can they do when there isn’t enough power, profit or privilege to surmount institutionalized oppression?
Questioning Football and Faith
My earliest memories of football have nothing to do with anything that happened on the field of play but rather long trips through the backwoods of East Texas with my dad, going to and from games.
New Research Details American Susceptibility to Authoritarianism
A new Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey finds four in ten Americans (41%) are susceptible to authoritarianism.
Public Education Week | Would Eliminating the Department of Education be Such a Big Deal?
Since the native language of the current Republican nominee for president is lies, it can be tempting for political observers to overlook misleading statements from the other side. But to provide good faith arguments for the most pressing issues of our day, we must be willing to call out bad faith politics wherever they occur.
Wisdom Wherever You Find It | Diamonds Are Forever (Y One)
A long time ago, I had an argument with a friend who worked in the president’s administration. The public assistance program of the federal government was undergoing one of its cyclical reevaluations and a proposal had gained some currency that required recipients without a disabling condition to find work after a period of time or lose their benefits.
Seven Deadly Sins of Leaders
Leadership season is open. We will soon elect a president of the United States and other officials in national, state and local governments. At this time of year, church nominating committees typically start preparing a list of church leaders to be elected. Such times allow us to reflect on what we want in a leader.
New Survey Finds Most European American Christians Will Vote for Donald Trump
A new Pew Research Center survey finds that majorities in three key religious groups, “White evangelical Protestants,” White Catholics,” and “White nonevangelical Protestants,” will vote for Donald Trump in the next presidential election. These groups have traditionally preferred the policies of the Republican Party.
Americans Slightly More Confident about Economy in August
Americans’ confidence in the economy rose slightly in August from the previous month for the first time since March. But the majority still believe we are in economic dark times.