A person close to me who is an ardent follower of Jesus and pretty cynical about church asked me recently, “Can the church practice the virtues it teaches, for example, contentment?” The question set me thinking: Are we ever content…
Words about God matter most
Roy Cantwell was never seen at a church. Roy carried a wound inflicted by one sentence spoken by a minister when he was 7 years old. Roy Cantwell became my dad. Roy wasn’t the only Cantwell who hated the church….
Texas needs a ‘detransition clinic’ like I need a hairbrush
Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott have sold the state of Texas a pack of lies about transgender people, and lives are in danger as a result. Paxton, our controversial attorney general who is running for the U.S. Senate, and Abbott,…
Tennessee gubernatorial candidate would ban mosques
With a toothy laugh, Tennessee GOP primary gubernatorial candidate Monty Fritts defends his pledge to ban Muslim mosques and other “pagan” houses of worship. The primary election is August 6, and state representative Fritts faces two opponents: Sen. Marsha Blackburn…
Where did the evangelism of evangelicals go?
The evangelical embrace of secular politics has changed what counts as evangelism. The cultural wars, with their anger, outrage and hyperbole, have proved intoxicating to the previous heralds of the good news of Jesus. Evangelism has been watered down to…
Building the new world: Pope Leo, ZekeUltra and AI
New York issued the nation’s first statewide moratorium on data center construction. This is the loudest note in a growing chorus of voices demanding accountability from government and industry. Two wildly different voices have reached for the same ancient image. Pope Leo…
What if the voice you are ignoring is God’s?
There is a question many Christians carry, but few are willing to admit out loud: Did I really hear God? It usually comes after the excitement has faded. After the criticism begins. After the doors don’t open as quickly as…
The difference between can we and should we
Modern medicine has a massive array of capabilities and technological wonders to treat illness and sometime extend life. I don’t like the term in medicine that we “save lives” because we don’t. The best we do is help folks occasionally…
Half-truths and the Six Commandments
“The Ten Commandments are displayed in the Supreme Court of the United States.” “There are more trees in the United States today than when the pilgrims first landed.” What do these two claims have in common and so what? It’s…
Letter to the Editor: Southwestern’s Music School endowments?
Dear Editor: The School of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary had, by the time I stepped down as dean of the school, five endowed professorships as well as a $10 million endowment for the ongoing operation…
We have a moral obligation not to move on
A few weeks ago, a candidate for elected office said the wrong thing. In fact, they took a giant swing and missed by a yard. Their campaign went into damage control mode. Meetings were held, community groups vied for their…
Love can call us back
“Fear can make us hide, love can call us back, and sometimes the person who saves us is the one who has known and loved us all along.” — Jamie Gienapp’s review of Frozen at www.theatrecenter.com I remember the…