The NFL is in the midst of the playoffs to see who will soon battle in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. As the remaining contenders compete, coaches and players watch hours of film on their opponents…
In defense of DEI: 10 benefits of DEI in higher education
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in higher education are under attack around the country. Conservatives see these programs as purveyors of “wokeism” that limit free speech and teach discrimination, hate and divisiveness. I’ve spent my 37-year-career in higher education in…
Trump’s Groundhog Day, the insurrection that refuses to stop
I planned to write this essay about January 6 as an anniversary piece. Because I am a public speech teacher, it has felt particularly cruel for conservatives to deny what happened on that dark day. When Donald Trump Jr. sarcastically…
What ever happened to Barabbas?
Barabbas! Oh, Barabbas! What happened to you after you were freed from prison? Did you become a celebrity with the religious leaders who encouraged the crowd to call for your release? Did you thank Jesus for his sacrifice? Did you…
U.S. Capitol hosts first screening of ‘God + Country’ documentary
To better understand the events of the January 6 insurrection, you have to understand the role Christian nationalism played in that fateful day. A new film explores the upsurge of religious extremism and its potential dangers to our nation. God…
Where have all the evangelical convictions gone?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary says it like this: A person of conviction means you seriously spend time considering whether what you are doing is right or wrong. People with weak convictions tend to wander into moral ambiguity and end up in a…
Clowns to the left, jokers to the right: Stuck in the middle with (half of) you
In January 2024, a Gallup poll indicated an average of 43% U.S. adults identified as politically independent in 2023. Meanwhile, 27% of respondents identified as Democrats or Republicans, respectively. In other words, roughly half of Americans say they aren’t loyal…
Six things I’ve learned in 30 years as a pastor of a good church
Last summer, Alexander Lang created something of a stir in the world of vocational clergy when he published “Departure: Why I Left the Church” to tell his story of stepping away from parish ministry. BNG readers would find points of…
Christians are preventing America from confession and repentance of racism
It is almost painful to listen to the verbal gyrations of Nikki Haley, who claims Christianity, trying to deny that America always has been, and continues to be, a racist country. Americans need to grow up past their childish fragility….
The post-Christmas story that is relevant for our time
When we talk about the Christmas story, we often think of Jesus in the manger, the angels proclaiming good news to the shepherds and maybe the wise men bringing gifts. It is often easy to miss the next story in…
Politics, faith and mission: A conversation with Jemar Tisby
Jemar Tisby is one of America’s most important prophetic voices, a historian who teaches us how the American church has failed on issues of race and justice, who helps people who look like me wrestle with the truth. His books,…
The church can win against poverty
As my family and I began our short trip to Nashville, Tenn., from Atlanta for the Christmas break, my wife’s work phone began to ring nonstop. My wife works for a nonprofit organization that ministers to and aims to restore…