“And so it begins.” As nominations for leadership of government agencies are announced by the newly elected American president, the words of Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, written around Christmas 1942, seem startlingly relevant: We have been silent witnesses of evil…
How whiteness protected itself in America’s election
As we close the book on the 2024 election cycle, we should look beyond the campaign promises and headlines to understand what truly fueled this election. It wasn’t just about the economy, gas prices or immigration policies, although these were…
The slippery slope of unchallenged lies
The day after the election, a good friend who is a conservative Republican called to check on me, realizing I would be in a puddle of disbelief. My friend, who is a seminary-educated Southern Baptist and very smart, told me…
A divinity student’s post-election playlist: Hymn-singing through times of tension
Amid all the feelings this past political week has drawn out, several of my friends and colleagues lack words. Or have too many words to make sense of. Or fear their words have been ignored or will be silenced as…
Christians who don’t think much of Jesus
A month ago, Carol and I went to the Paley Center for Media in Manhattan for a panel discussion on “The Media’s Role in Combating Antisemitism: Next Generation Digital Storytellers.” The speakers were fascinating. Tova Friedman is a Holocaust survivor…
False prophets have hijacked the evangelical movement
A group of false prophets, most of them independent Pentecostals, have hijacked the evangelical movement. Historian David Fea identifies this loosely affiliated group of prophets as Independent Network Charismatics. The false prophets have a theological mix foreign to most evangelicals….
If a felon can lead, why can’t they vote?
In the United States, we celebrate narratives of redemption, freedom and equality yet continue to undermine those ideals when it comes to our justice-impacted citizens. This contradiction is laid bare every election cycle when the same citizens who champion “second…
Creating a sanctuary in times of fear
“Can’t we just agree to disagree?” This has been a common thread lately on social media and among conversations with people I know. Certainly, we can. I like vanilla, and you prefer chocolate ice cream. I cheer for my alma…
BGCT: Listen to the women
One week after election day 2024, I found myself in another room where I needed to cast my vote. As a messenger to the 2024 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting, I would need to vote on a motion…
This is a time for our movement to meet the moment
At this point of uncertainty and change for our country, our commitment to religious freedom and the separation of church and state remains the same. I am sad for our country and worried about the impact last week’s election results…
The sacrilegious singing of ‘How Great Thou Art’
Around 3 a.m. Eastern time on Nov. 6, a crowd gathered in the lobby of the West Palm Beach, Fla., convention center where Donald Trump had just delivered his victory speech. The crowd, which included Christian singer Sean Feucht, began…
Progressive white Christian men, it’s time to get some skin in the game
This election has sent a lot of us in the middle and on the left reeling. It’s also reminded me that we have different things at stake. Nearly 60% percent of white men voted Trump. A lot of Black and…