A fair number of churches these days are proud of being called “purple” churches, meaning they welcome and celebrate both Republicans and Democrats among their members. That may have been fine in 1990 but means something entirely different today. Now,…
After Primary Day, where are we?
I want to offer a few propositions for where our country is politically after this week’s round of primary voting, mainly in the South. President Donald Trump continues to destroy the careers of those Republican politicians who demonstrate independent judgment….
Remembering Juniper Blessing
On May 10, a 19-year-old student at the University of Washington died in the laundry room of an off-campus apartment complex, Nordheim Court. This student did not die from natural causes, from drug use or cancer. Juniper Blessing died after…
Voting my Jesus values
My religious values guide my voting decisions. More specifically, my Christian values guide my voting decisions. That is likely true of you too. Why do I say that? Because Gallup polling shows that, in the Southeast, 74% of those polled…
The criminalization of the White House
American history has known flawed, scandal-ridden and even disgraced presidents. But no modern American president has accumulated the sheer volume of legal exposure, ethical controversy, civil judgments, criminal proceedings, public deception and democratic instability surrounding one individual quite like Donald…
Malcolm X at 101
If Malcolm X were alive in 2026, he would likely be less shocked by America’s contradictions than many Americans are. Why? Because Malcolm spent his life warning us. Born May 19, 1925, Malcolm X evolved from a street survivor into…
Because I shook John Lewis’ hand
Some of you who have seen the movie Ocean’s 13 may remember the line near the end when George Clooney’s character, Danny Ocean, confronts Al Pacino’s character, Willie Bank, with this gem: “You should know better. You shook Sinatra’s hand.”…
Harry Fosdick wants a word with Seven Mountains Dominionists
On May 21, 1922, Harry Emerson Fosdick broke the spell of Christian fundamentalism in a single sermon, “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” After more than 100 years, his words still sting those of a fundamentalism inclination. In fact, Fosdick’s critique fits…
Postcards from Rededicate 250
My wife, Jodi Kanter, is a performance studies scholar. Over the years, she’s taught me how to read a stage. As I made my way onto the green grass of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Sunday, even before I…
Is the SBC still haunted by the slavery hermeneutic?
Had the holding of slaves been a moral evil, it cannot be supposed, that the inspired Apostles, who feared not the faces of men, and were ready to lay down their lives in the cause of their God, would have…
McDonald’s and the church
I finally gave in. In fact, three times now. I successfully navigated the self-serve kiosk at McDonald’s. With a touch of reluctance, I admit the experience was satisfying. I approached the kiosk, touched the screen, scanned my points code, placed…
Reflections on being made imago Dei
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule. … So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created…