Recent Articles
How Many Americans Drink Alcohol?
More than 60% of Americans drink alcohol, according to a Gallup report released last month.
Putting Away Childish Things
Much of the hostile, grievance-driven ideology that has arisen within American religious and political life today looks absolutely nothing like the kind of love to which Paul speaks — the unbridled love that is the nature of God and is commended for those who follow Jesus.
Embracing Uncertainty
I wonder if there is another way. What if instead of running from uncertainty, we embrace it?
The North American Church Needs a Fresh Pair of Eyes
True prophets call it like God sees it. Their words will make you rub your eyes. Why then are we seeing no difference between American Christianity and the American empire?
In-Person or Virtual Religious Services? A New Survey Reveals Why Some Americans Have a Preference
With the option to attend religious services in-person or online, most U.S. adults prefer in-person, according to a Pew Research survey released on September 6.
PragerU Gotta Be Kidding Me
As part of Pastors for Oklahoma Kids, an urgent message arrived in my email this week: Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters established a new “partnership” with PragerU, a radically conservative media company attempting to provide school resources nationwide.
What Insecurity Can Teach Us on the Anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street Movement
Idolatry is no bull. It is a spiritual and economic reality.
September 8, 2023
Far Right Extremist Christian Lawmakers Push Battle Over Church and State After Roe; Why Some Americans Prefer to Go to Religious Services in Person and Others Prefer to Watch Virtually; Not Religious, Not Voting” The ‘Nones’ are a Powerful Force in Politics – But Not Yet a Coalition (and more)
Seeking Joy in the Land of Despair: Relearning to Color Outside the Lines
I had, for too many days, taken up residence in a land of despair. I sat at my desk wondering if our well-meaning work on issues at the intersection of faith and culture really makes a difference in the world.
10 Benefits of Being in a Pastor Peer Group
In the realm of spiritual leadership, pastors shoulder a weighty responsibility of guiding, supporting, and nurturing their congregations. During this journey, one invaluable resource that can serve as a lifeline is a pastor peer group.
Forced Sterilization in America Is Not a Thing of the Past
Surely, we no longer sterilize women of color without their consent. Right? Wrong!
Wisdom Wherever You Find It: Another Fine Mess
“Honesty is the best politics.” In a world in which fungible facts and alternative truths are commonplace, Stan’s observation seems more naïve than funny. These days, honesty is terrible politics.
Plain Folk, a Plainly Memorable Experience
The deadline is approaching for this year’s Amish Experience on October 11-14 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
September 6, 2023
H.B.O. is Tackling Religion in the Most Remarkable Way; What Really Happens When Americans Stop Going to Church; Mob Attacks on Christian Churches and Homes in Pakistan Set Off by False Implications, Police Say (and more)
Sowing Grievances Produces Violence
It’s not a new idea: We reap what we sow.
Remote Workers Connection to Companies Is Fading
U.S. remote employees’ connection to the company’s mission and purpose is declining, according to a Gallup report published August 24.
September 5, 2023
GOP Sen. Mike Lee Muses About Burning Man Attendees Converting to Christianity Following Disaster: ‘God’s Judgment is Real’; Highways are the Next Antiabortion Target. One Texas Town is Resisting. Washington; Little Richard Struggled With His Sexuality and His Christianity. It Was a Lesson for Many (and more)
U.S. Suicides at All-Time High
September is Suicide Awareness Month. Suicides in the United States hit a record high last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is a public school chaplain? Texas school children may soon find out.
districts the option to hire religiously affiliated chaplains. However, the bill provides no definition, job qualifications, program standards, or guidelines.
Labor of Love
As Labor Day approaches and Americans prepare to celebrate the virtue of working hard, I started questioning the Protestant work ethic’s contribution to the worship of work in today’s capitalistic society.
We Should Not Disregard or Disrespect Cornel West’s Candidacy for President of the United States
Whether you agree with West or not, why should you refuse to consider his candidacy as a prophetic and politically sensible alternative to any of the other candidates?
August 31, 2023
The Christian Home-Schooler Who Made ‘Parental Rights’ a GOP Rallying Cry; The White Supremacist Jacksonville Shooter Killed a Devoted Dad, a Beloved Mom and a Teen Helping Support His Family; 1 in 6 Churchgoers Have Had, Paid for or Encouraged an Abortion, Survey Finds (and more)
‘Barbie’ and Feminine Depictions of Incarnation
More than just a blockbuster movie, “Barbie” is a piece of art that reflects on the story of Jesus. Throughout the movie, Barbie is a bright pink feminine version of the incarnate Christ.
Congregants Express Growing Fear About the Nation and the World
Seven in ten pastors (69%) say their members have a “growing sense of fear” about the future of the nation and the world, according to a Lifeway Research study released earlier this month.
Authoritarian seduction reaches pews and polls
White Americanized Christians are easily seduced. They are drawn in large numbers to authoritarian personalities like squirrels to a freshly-filled bird feeder.
Journeying Through Hozier’s Inferno
In “Unreal Unearth,” the singer/songwriter follows in Dante’s and Virgil’s footsteps through the nine circles of Hell, and we listen from Hozier’s perspective as he wrestles with love, heartbreak, betrayal, and the pressing issues that burden our world.
August 30, 2023
Houston Christian’s Dunham Bible Museum Examines Impact of ‘the Most Important Book in the World’; For Christian Nationalists, Eastern Washington is the Promised Land; Pope Francis Blasts Reactionary American Catholics Who Oppose Church Reform (and more)
August 29, 2023
After the Fires, Native Hawaiians Seek Revival Through Ritual; ‘I’m Disgusted’: Pastors Slam Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for ‘Hidden’ Marker Noting Ties to Slavery; Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old Priest’s Tomb in Peru (and more)
King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech Remains a Prophetic Demand
In 1963, people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to envision and catalyze change. Sixty years later, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream remains unmatched in its prophetic demand.
Sixty Years After the March on Washington: Americans’ Views of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy
The Pew Research Center asked Americans their view on racial equality in a report released on August 11.