Whites excluded from the uber rich have more in common with poor and middle-class communities of color than with their wealthier counterparts. But alt-right politicians and pundits succeeded in turning natural allies into mortal enemies.
A long, hard way to reduce gun violence
Religious people have committed terrible acts of violence, but people who feel loved are less likely to hurt others. People who have been taught compassion are less likely to open fire with semi-automatic rifles. Caring for broken people can be scary, but not caring for them can be dangerous, too.
When can I say ‘stupid’? If it’s directed at people, never.
It is OK for followers of Jesus to address incomplete, poor or dangerous ideas as stupid. But it is never OK to decide that a person is of lower worth based on their I.Q.
Roy Moore, Paul Pressler and morals
Rather than presuming to possess the moral high ground, and constantly pointing the finger at those from the other side who are just as bad, or offering forgiveness before taking time to condemn acts of sexual abuse, it’s past time to actually accept the breadth of this problem and do something about it.
A Christmas play with a twist
As preachers and stories go, we tend to pick them up all over and sometimes forget where we got them. I can’t recall the source, but one of my favorite Christmas stories is about a little church that traditionally had…
Liberal Christianity and the scandal of incarnation
The central claim of our faith is: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” Don’t let the poetic familiarity of the language fool you, this is an audacious claim. Christians believe that God looks and loves like Jesus.
Have Evangelicals forgotten the real meaning of Christmas?
Instead of giving up privilege as Christ did, many Evangelicals seek privilege and advantage over others at all costs. Do people who seek their own advantage at every turn — even sacrificing moral authority and prophetic witness for political power — know the meaning of the words, Merry Christmas?
Jesus, Mary and Joseph! American Christianity’s shattered witness
This Advent, the Jesus Story has been sordidly deployed in defense of a political candidate beset by shameful accusations and ineffectual self-righteousness.
Hoping for more ethical national conversation? Read the instructions.
What if we did a non-partisan, year-end inventory of how well our public servants have measured up alongside the Decalogue, God’s Big Ten, found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5?
Congregational serial killers are tearing apart unsuspecting churches
Over the past quarter of a century individuals in the greater Baptist community have used their masks of charm and kindness to prey upon vulnerable Baptist bodies. Congregational serial killers are often pastors, convention leaders and denominational presidents placing themselves in pulpits of power and swinging the emotions of the church to align with their lethal agendas.
On ‘Hope’ Sunday, enough with the future tense. I’m ready for the present tense.
The world is groaning for some prophet to speak a few living and active verbs — three-dimensional verbs, verbs that make some difference in the order of things, verbs that sing like Mary sings, songs that bind up the broken-hearted and set the captives free.
Letters to the Editor
The latest from our readers: • American churches seem to have a flag fetish | Gary Dalton, Keswick, Va. • Evangelicals and the death of Christianity in the U.S. | Gavril Andreicut, Elmhurst, Ill.