Baptist News Global’s most-read opinion pieces this year were connected in various ways to President Donald Trump and authoritarianism. Readers also showed interest in articles about Calvinist preacher John MacArthur and Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk, both of whom died in 2025, and in right-wing Baptist leaders Franklin Graham and Voddie Baucham.
Trump was the focus of pieces on the use of government violence against Christian ministers at immigration protests, his refusal to use a Bible while taking the oath of office, his goal of banning words from the American vocabulary and his status as the standard bearer for white Christian nationalism.
Two most-read articles delved into MacArthur, one about his dangerous and discriminatory teachings, and another about the ordeal of a seminarian who questioned MacArthur’s theology.
One writer took issue with those who compared Kirk to Martin Luther King Jr., while another said it is allowable to criticize deceased people, including MacArthur, for the evils they committed in their lives. Other pieces covered congressional Republicans attempting to punish a bishop critical of the president, and the continuing extremism of Focus on the Family. A question-and-answer with Texas Democratic State Rep. James Talarico explored ways to find hope in the current political climate.
Here are BNG’s Top 15 most-read opinion pieces in 2025:
- “Dear white evangelicals, I was wrong,” by Rick Pidcock, Oct. 8, 2025 — The U.S. government is employing tactics against Christians that evangelicals historically feared, including the use of force against people of faith, book banning and turning neighbor against neighbor.
- “Politics, faith and mission: A conversation with Rep. James Talarico,” by Greg Garrett, March 3, 2025— The legislator said he finds encouragement and healing even in the midst of grief, hopelessness and tears. “I find reasons to be hopeful all the time, even in a difficult place like the Texas Legislature.”
- “Trump didn’t take his oath on a Bible: What that means,” by Brandan Robertson, Jan. 21, 2025 — The president’s refusal to place his hand on the Bible during his inauguration proved he is a leader who talks about faith but has no actual commitment to it.
- “United Methodist pastor violently arrested in Chicago,” by Mara Richards Bim, Oct. 17, 2025 — Hannah Kardon was dragged from a worship service near the Broadview ICE facility in Illinois, then beaten with a baton. If they will do that to a pastor in broad daylight, she warned, imagine what they are doing to immigrants inside.
- “I kissed John MacArthur goodbye,” by Lee Enochs, May 5, 2024 — This writer experienced the wrath of seminary professors and administrators for holding doctrinal positions different from those of the right-wing expository preacher who died in July. This article resurged after MacArthur’s death this year.
- “This is how unhinged Focus on the Family has become,” by Mark Wingfield, March 27, 2024 — According to the ministry founded by James Dobson, children who display an interest in art, who play video games and who attend public schools are being targeted by forces promoting transgender identity. This article resurged after Dobson’s death this year.
- “Plagiarism is the least thing to worry about with Voddie Baucham, who is a threat to children, women and daughters,” by Rick Pidcock, March 7, 2022 — The Southern Baptist pastor once considered a possible nominee to lead the denomination, Baucham preached in support of stay-at-home daughters and submissive women, claimed patriarchy is worth dying for and equated infants with serial killers. This article resurged after his death this year.
- “Here are all the words Trump wants banned — in one article,” by Rodney Kennedy, May 14, 2025 — The president and his allies seek to ban more than 250 words, including “obesity,” “identity,” “trauma,” “indigenous” and “racism.” The attack on words represents a direct attack on democracy.
- “Now the US House wants to censor a preacher?” by Rodney Kennedy, Jan. 25, 2025 — The vitriol from MAGA politicians angry at Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde’s inaugural day sermon illustrates the danger of “having half-ass politicians acting like half-ass preachers.”
- “Another year, another apocalyptic prediction,” by Ken Young, Sept. 22, 2025 — The repeated embrace and promotion of rapture predictions, like one that did not materialize in September, causes a loss of credibility for the Christian witness.
- “Charlie Kirk was no King,” by Joel Bowman Sr., Sept. 13, 2025 — It is a mistake to compare Kirk to Martin Luther King Jr., or to the Civil Rights Movement he helped lead. King preached beloved community while Kirk aligned himself with the rich and powerful, preached division and eschewed mercy.
- “Franklin Graham is the poster child for Christian nationalism — and he’s a liar,” by Mark Wingfield, July 19, 2024 — Graham and President Trump both advocate for religious freedom for themselves and their supporters alone and believe not in “America first” but in “conservative evangelicals first.”
- “John MacArthur is wrong about so much more than keeping women in abusive marriages,” by Mark Wingfield, Feb. 14, 2023 — A man who loves to be hated, MacArthur also was wrong on American history, racism, women in ministry, the nature of salvation, the pandemic and religious liberty. Before his death in July, he was essentially the leader of a Calvinistic cult that caused great spiritual harm to people.
- “When is the right time to speak the truth about toxic people?” by Mark Wingfield, July 15, 2025 — It is important to speak up about the evils done by those who have passed because failing to do so only perpetuates the wrongs they committed.
- “Calling Donald Trump a ‘good businessman’ illustrates the problem of bowing down to ‘business,’” by David Jordan and Mark Wingfield — Claiming the president is capable of governing the nation well is false, because he is actually a fraudulent businessman and because “business experience isn’t enough of a qualification by itself for running the country.”