Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
November 13, 2018
First Baptist Charleston Apologizes for its Par in Slavery (WCSC) Even for Christian Combat Veterans, No Easy Answers (Christianity Today) Professor Sues Over Rebuke for Calling Female Transgender Student ‘Sir’ (NBC...
Building Interfaith Relationships Furthers Religious Liberty for All
To protect religious liberty in these challenging times, loving our neighbor is not enough. We must also know our neighbors and be their friends as they face big and small threats to their freedom.
Emerging Voices | God’s Original Intent: Equal Partnership
Many cite the first chapters of Genesis as God’s plan for male and female relationships, namely that women must submit to men, but it’s clear that God’s original intent for humanity was equal partnership.
Trump’s Grotesque Praise of ‘Beautiful’ Barbed Wire
At a rally, President Trump praised “beautiful” barbed wire going up at the border. Barbed wire is among the most lethal and terrible inventions deployed in modern warfare. Beautiful it is not.
November 12, 2018
Southern Baptist Pastor: Democrats ‘Religion that is Essentially Godless’ (KHOU) Tarrant Republicans Met to Discuss Ousting Muslim from Party Post. Here’s What They Did. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Conversion Therapy: A...
How Your Church Can Support Veterans Through Actions
The biggest way your church can honor veterans is not through worship services centered around an unauthentic fantasy of “American exceptionalism” on Veterans Day. Instead, try these 3 ideas.
‘The Hate U Give’
A black teenage girl is the sole witness when her childhood friend is shot and killed by a white police officer in “The Hate U Give,” a film that brings the reality of shooting unarmed black men into clear focus.
Report: U.S. Protestant Pastors Say Giving Has Increased
Nearly half of U.S. Protestant pastors reported increased giving in 2018, a report found, with larger churches the most likely to experience increased giving this year.
November 9, 2018
Trump Bet Conservatives Wouldn’t Denounce His Racist Ad. He Won. (The Atlantic) Interim Attorney General’s Troubling Opinion: Judges Need a Biblical View (Des Moines Register) Religion Causes Violence – Researchers...
Where lessons get learned
By John D. Pierce When parents and church leaders tell children to be honest in word and deed; to not bully or otherwise mistreat others; to trust God and be like Jesus, to love all the children of the world — but then...
Rise Up and Move Forward: Making Our Ill Nation Well
With the polls closed and the elections mostly finalized, it’s time for us to face a reality: Our country is sick and getting sicker. We can no longer sit by the wayside. We must rise up and move forward.
How Can We Nicely Kick Kids Out of Church?
More churches are inviting parents to remove their children from worship services so they’re not a distraction. This trend is unbelievably counterintuitive to a faith literally passed down from one generation to another.
Poverty Decreases Worldwide Except Sub-Saharan Africa
Extreme poverty around the globe decreased from 35.9 percent in 1990 to 10 percent in 2015, except Sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty was about 41 percent.
November 8, 2018
How Religious Groups Voted in the Midterm Elections (Pew Research Center) Ralph Reed: White Evangelical Turnout was Record-Setting in 2018 Mid-term Election (Christian Post) Jeff Sessions Helped Create Trump’s Brand of...
Profiles in Goodwill: Richard P. Olson
Richard P. Olson is retired from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas, where he was a distinguished professor of pastoral theology.
Changing Church Culture to Support Sexual Assault Victims – Part 2
Local churches and people of faith must actively support sexual assault victims and provide safe spaces for those who have yet to share their stories. These 3 things need to be part of your church culture for that to happen.
First Arabic Contemporary Commentary Hits Bookshelves
Forty-eight men and women, theologians and researchers from the Middle East, participated in producing the first Arabic Contemporary Commentary.
November 7. 2018
‘A Sin as Old as the Nation’: Angry White Men (CNN) US Law Enforcement Failed to See the Threat of White Nationalism. Now They Don’t Know How to Stop it. (New York Times) Is it Dangerous to be Jewish in America?...
When You Vote: Choosing This Day Whom You Will Serve
Joshua challenged the people of Israel to choose whom they would serve. As millions of us cast our votes today, we face a similar decision. Will we settle for the gods of fear and privilege?
Changing Church Culture to Support Sexual Assault Victims – Part 1
Far too many stories of sexual assault and abuse have happened among our faith communities. Our churches must be safe havens, where we believe victims and where people know how to respond to them with compassion and helpful steps.
Excessive Air Pollution Impacts Over 90% of World’s Children
More than nine out of 10 of the world’s children live where air pollution levels exceed air quality guidelines, a new report says. The poor air quality causes 7 million premature deaths annually.