Recent Articles
Slight Decline in U.S. Protestants Who Say Tithing Is a Biblical Command
Fewer U.S. Protestants say tithing as a biblical command now compared to 2017, according to a LifeWay Research report. The church they attend is the most likely organization to which they send their tithe.
May 1, 2023
Why Are Americans Shooting Strangers and Neighbors? ‘It All Goes Back to Fear.’; Baltimore Church Hosts First Social Justice Sunday Discussion; ‘People of Hope and Resurrection’: Mississippi Church Commits to Rebuild After Roaring Fork Tornado (and more)
A Tribute to the Prophetic Life of Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte died on April 25, 2023. He will be remembered for many things: thespian, Caribbean folk singer, motion picture actor and highly paid artist. I prefer to remember him as a prophet for our time.
A Question We Should All Be Asking
Earth Day initially emphasized conservation. Five decades later, with incontrovertible evidence of climate change and its impacts, the focus is on whether future generations will have a livable future at all.
Look Back | The Challenge in Challenging Cultural Christianity
My minister friends can relate to this scenario: Following a sermon, a listener tells the conveyor of the message just how wonderful and touching were the words they heard. The conversation lingers and then redirects.
Global Implications of the Conflict in Sudan
The conflict in Sudan over control of the government is not making headlines to the same degree as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is confusing and troublesome because there are significant global impacts that could result.
Most U.S. Christians See Predatory Lending as Sinful
While one third of U.S. Christians say payday loans are helpful and beneficial in an emergency, many more advocate for governments to protect borrowers. These were key findings from a recent LifeWay Research study.
U.S. Adults: Religious Studies Degree Interesting, Results in Lower Earnings
Religious studies are perceived by U.S. adults to be an interesting degree to purse, but one that typically leads to lower-than-average earnings, according a recent YouGov report.
What the Nose Knows
Our sense of smell is a powerful thing, able to bring back memories and emotions. Some researchers are seeking to recreate smells from the past.
By the Way | The Luxury of Sadness
A question following a recent lecture about the significant shifts in U.S. evangelicalism caught me off-balance. What gave me pause wasn’t a lack of familiarity with the changes, but the adjective my inquirer used.
Majority of U.S. Christians Open to Building-Less Approach to Church
A majority of U.S. Christians are open to being part of a faith community that does not meet in a building, according to a Barna Group report. Even so, most also say that various ministry efforts are more meaningful in-person.
Grateful for the Kindness and Generosity of Roy McCall
P.L. (Roy) McCall Jr. was a kind and generous man — exemplified in his life and legacy. He was a person of high character, exemplary leadership and a gracious personality.
Exposing a Culture of Cruelty
Arkansas has a problem. Actually, we have multiple problems. But this one is fixable. Unlike many problems, this one is not partisan, and I believe would carry the support of more than 90% of our citizens.
Dangers Surround Judge’s Ruling on FDA Approval Process
The approach of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine to restrict access to abortion medications might be shrewd legal maneuvering but it is also deceitful. And dangers surround a judge ruling on FDA’s approval process.
Faith Seeking Understanding | How We Treat the Past Matters
Sacred Catholic Heart Church in Bowie, Maryland, was once White Marsh Plantation. One of five large Jesuit- owned slave plantations in the state now a place of worship, its members embody a faith that seeks to understand its past and to give it a fitting memorial — instead of trying to bury it.
All Losses Matter
Without a doubt, it’s important for people who are dealing with a particular kind of grief to have a place of their own. Yet, there is also a benefit to gathering people with differing reasons and levels of grief together.
Handling Conflict Is an Area of Concern for U.S. Protestant Pastors
U.S. Protestant pastors wish they had more preparation in handing conflict, according to a Barna Group report published April 19. Younger pastors are more likely than older pastors to cite handling conflict as a key area of concern.
Watering the Land
Ownership of water has become an urgent concern as climate change requires better stewardship of existing resources. With the climate changing faster than earlier imagined, water remains at the center of ecological concerns.
Three New Titles Available From Nurturing Faith Books
New titles on standing up to hate, finding truth in parables and preaching sensible sermons are now available from Nurturing Faith Books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
Look Back | Four Stumbling Blocks to Action on Global Warming
On the environmental front, we know scientists are speaking with near consensus about climate change. We also know that there are stumbling blocks that keep us from engaging in constructive and corrective action.
April 21, 2023
Texas Judge Who Suspended Abortion Pill Failed to Disclose Interview Discussing Biblical Worldview Social Issues; Public Schools Would Have to Display the Ten Commandments Under Bill Passed by Texas Senate; Oklahoma Baptist Preacher’s Blackface Social Media Post Spreads Viral Outrage; Christians in the Holy Land Say They’re Under Attack as Israeli-Palestinian Violence Soars (and more)
Indigenous Origin Stories: A Symbiotic Relationship
My ancestors, Muscogee Creeks, passed down a story about how the world was covered with water except for one mound, Nunne Chaha. This was the home of Hesaketvmese, meaning master breath, who created humanity.
Would Jesus Invest In Our Planet?
The theme of Earth Day 2023 is using business language – “Invest In Our Planet” – to promote sustainable development and care for Earth. At first, this seemed like a poor choice. Upon further reflection, perhaps it is a fitting theme.
Natural Disasters and Our Collective Sin
I was a high school freshman in Tennessee when Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana. I’ll never forget what my immediate neighbor said to me when I stopped by his house to ask for donations to help hurricane victims.
April 20, 2023
Church Discovers it Paid More Than $67k in Power Bills for County Soccer Field by Mistake; Study: Only 30% of Young US-Born Latinos are Catholic; Scholars are Learning More About What the Catholic Church Did – and Didn’t Do – to Save Jews During the Holocaust; Any Religion Allied with Nationalism is Dangerous
Killing Children and Women: When Pro-Life Ideology Becomes a Death Cult
Sacrificing Black bodies on the altar of power and greed. That was white Christian nationalism of old. Today, the focus is on sacrificing the lives of women and children to protect and expand “gun rights.”
We Cannot Live Without Earth’s Bounty
Some Christians are anxious about celebrating the Earth, fearing that it shifts our reverence from the Creator to the creation. But precisely as a Christian, I hold two very simple convictions concerning our relationship to the Earth.
Will Humanity Heed the Warnings and Rise to the Occasion?
Eurocentric thought is rooted in the belief that man (specifically cis-gendered males) is the pinnacle of creation. This has fueled a mindset of domination and exploitation of Earth and its resources. Will we change course before it’s too late?
April 19, 2023
‘Is This When We Disappear?”: Rapture Triggers Haunt the Left Behind Generation; Young, White, Female and Dying of Despair in Rural America; Arab Americans are Not a Monolith (and more)
Confessions of a Jesus Freak Poser
Movie theaters became expensive nap spots for me about six or so years ago. But “Jesus Revolution” intrigued me enough to venture into the unfamiliar land of senior rates and assigned seating.