Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Reducing the Gospel to Magic Formula, Instead of Calling
Following Jesus has gone from being a sacrificial, ongoing calling to a sure-step, definable formula, in which one is free to ignore all kinds of things Jesus said and did – and still claim to be Christian.
Church Changes Name to Stand with First Nations Community
Cornwallis Street Baptist Church in Nova Scotia took a bold stand against injustice by severing ties with its street’s divisive name that had honored a British officer whose legacy included genocide against the Mi’kmaq Tribe.
Look Back | When Facts Outlive Their Usefulness
Our society no longer values facts. Holding an opinion in defiance of the tools of logic is our new norm. And many Christians, who claim to hold to Absolute Truth, are first to ignore mounting evidence and its logical conclusions.
August 23, 2019
Evangelicals Tell Trump He Was ‘Chosen’ by God; Now He Says it Himself (Salon) Trump and the Politics of the Messiah (Religion News Service) I’m an Evangelist and a Trump Supporter, But Blasphemy is a Step Too Far...
What is truth?
By John D. Pierce Sometimes country music gets a bad rap (pun intended). And like any musical genre, some of that is well deserved. However, there are prophetic, progressive messages — even among country classics — if...
Forest Fires and New Life
A forest fire seems to be a picture of destruction, but unseen seeds are being planted for new life to spring up. So too must the church allow the divine fires to consume our old ways in order for God’s new seeds to be planted.
People of Faith Must Speak Out on Danger of Climate Change
Many people stay silent about climate change, preferring to avoid conflict. However, when danger is imminent, it’s time to speak up. And so it is time, as people of faith, to talk about the climate crisis.
Young Adults Have Less Confidence in Religious Leaders
The percent of U.S. adults under 30 who have confidence in religious leaders lags well behind older adults, with 50% of adults ages 18-29 expressing confidence compared to 71% of those 50 and older, a report says.
August 22, 2019
‘I am the Chosen One’: Trump Again Plays on Messianic Claim as he Embraces ‘King of Israel Title’ and ‘Second Coming of God’ (Oregon Live) ‘I am the Chosen One’: With Boasts and Insults, Trump Sets New Benchmark for...
Profiles in Goodwill: Miguel De La Torre
Miguel A. De La Torre is professor of social ethics and Latinx studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.
10 Reasons Why U.S. Flag Should Not Be in Your Sanctuary
Although many American Christians will insist the U.S. flag belongs in their churches’ sanctuaries, displaying the flag in church compromises Christianity. It’s worth the fight to remove the flag from your sanctuary.
US Public Views on Abortion Largely Stable, Report Finds
The US public’s views on abortion have remained largely stable over the years. Those who think it should be legal in all cases rose to 23%, while those who believe it should be illegal in all cases dropped to 15%.
August 21, 2019
Local Churches Join Simmons College of Kentucky to Observe the Birth of Slavery in North America (WDRB) Mississippi Church Votes Unanimously to Kick Out Lesbian Couple For Refusing to ‘Repent’ (Newsweek) Southwestern...
Resting in Deeper Roots of Hope in Our Troubled Times
Daily reminders of the breakdown of community and its many causes leave little encouragement for a reconciliation of opposing commitments and a refocusing on a common good. There is hope, but it may be different than what we think.
White Christians Must Step Up to End Racial Injustice
White Christians have played an undeniable role in the perpetuation of slavery and other structures that have kept black people in bondage. It’s time to step out of our silence that continues to perpetuate the status quo.
People Are Six Times More Likely to Discuss Politics than Religion
The old saying goes never discuss politics or religion, but a recent Gallup survey discovered that people are six times more likely to talk about politics than religion with friends and family.
August 20, 2019
Man Accused of Threatening an Ohio Jewish Center Called Himself a White Nationalist (CNN) The Family’s Big Secret is Hiding in Plain Sight (New Republic) New Federal Rule Legalizing Religious Discrimination Against...
Creating Space for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Your Church
For too long, survivors of sexual violence have been silenced, dismissed and even shamed by the church. Here’s what happened when one church created space for survivors to share their stories on a Sunday morning.
Public Often Overlooks Domestic Labor Trafficking
Domestic labor trafficking in the U.S. is often overlooked by the public, and U.S. labor laws that protect workers generally exclude domestic laborers, a new report says.
Croatian Baptists Make Progress Spreading the Gospel
With the founding of two Baptist churches in the 1890s, Croatian Baptists today number some 2,000 members in four dozen churches and mission stations comprising the Croatian Baptist Union.
August 19, 2019
Be Aware of Those Fancy Coffee Drink, LDS Church Warns Church Members (Salt Lake Tribune) Church in a Gay Bar: Queer Chicagoan Find Ways to Merge Religion and Identity (Chicago Tribune) New Trump Rule Allows...