The media is abuzz with a newly published report from the Vatican regarding the inclusion of divorced Catholics, homosexuals, and those who use birth control. Traditionally, those groups of people inside and outside the Catholic Church are persona non grata of…
Seeking the welfare of the city
By Molly T. Marshall As a child, New York City seemed to be “the uttermost parts of the world.” Textbook pictures of the Empire State Building, Times Square, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty confirmed how important and busy…
Evangelicals must learn from Vatican report
By Alan Rudnick The media is abuzz with a newly published report from the Vatican regarding the inclusion of divorced Catholics, homosexuals and those who use birth control. Traditionally, those groups of people inside and outside the Catholic Church are…
Sacred clowns and cusswords
Tony Hillerman writes about Native American culture, mostly about the Navajos. He writes mysteries. I learn a lot about cultures different from mine when I read his novels. For example, in Sacred Clowns, a few folks are watching a Hopi…
Transformative encounters and paradigm leaps: The LGBT issue, part 15
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee In the last few essays I have gradually sought to reveal why traditionalist ways of connecting the biblical dots on the LGBT issue no longer are compelling to me. It could seem as if…
Discussing ‘Left Behind’? Don’t leave this behind
By Kevin Glenn Internet and social media outlets are alive with links, shares, posts, comments and other sorts of communication surrounding the release of the film Left Behind, starring Nicolas Cage. Everything from the film’s quality, to its theology, to…
If spiritual gifts are from God, why do they make you uncomfortable?
Many years ago when walking down the hall in the building where I worked, I decided I would stop by Ken’s office and ask about him. It was discovered several months earlier that Ken had a growth behind one of…
Praying the Jesus way
By Doyle Sager Once upon a time the citizens of a small town decided to merge churches, Methodists and Baptists combining their sparse attendance and modest offerings in order to provide one vital congregation. All the negotiations regarding membership, polity…
Keep love flowing, even when it seems ineffective
By Joseph Phelps It felt as if I’d taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Minutes before Sunday’s service began a worshiper reported to me that the young man sitting next to him the previous Sunday became the self-confessed murderer of…
Discussing “Left Behind?” Don’t leave this behind
Internet and social media outlets are alive with links, shares, posts, comments, and other sorts of communication surrounding the release of the film, Left Behind starring Nicolas Cage. Everything from the film’s quality, to its theology, and even the presence…
Tebowing 2.0: Prayer, the NFL and religious diversity
By J. Andrew Daugherty Tim Tebow is long gone from the NFL, but his on-field prayer posture (called Tebowing) that generated so much media hype has made a resurrection. This time, the player’s name is not Tim Tebow nor is…
World Communion Sunday leads across the divide
By Terry Maples Last Sunday, I worshipped at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where my wife, Joan, serves as minister of music. All worship elements focused on and celebrated World Communion Sunday. Music included Love in Any Language, He’s…