By Amy Butler I wish I could say that deep theological reflection spurred my action, but I’ll go ahead and admit that Matt Damon probably had more to do with my inspiration to head to the movie theater to see…
Fasting a Lenten discipline to tame appetites
By Ken Sehested When we hear the word “fasting” — an historic Lenten emphasis — the initial image is associated with dieting. Fasting is a foreign and somewhat threatening notion, conjuring images of self-depreciation and ascetic mortification. In Scripture, fasting…
Lent a season of both sacrifice and joy
By R. Kevin Johnson On Ash Wednesday, Christians around the world seek out churches in order to have the ash from burned palm fronds (generally those used in the church on the previous Palm Sunday) pressed onto their foreheads in…
Heaven, hell and Rob Bell
By Christopher Robertson Rob Bell, pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church, is known by many for his NOOMA videos and progressive perspective, but recently some consider him a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His new book, Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and…
Gunfight at the OK Sunday school class?
By Bill Leonard “It is no longer illegal to carry a gun to church.” Scott Lewis, a Texas community college student, made that point recently as a rationale for his support of pending legislation to allow college faculty, staff and…
Two more myths about the separation of church and state
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last in a series of commentaries is adapted from articles that ran in consecutive issues of Report from the Capital. Previous installments are here, here and here. By Brent Walker (ABP) — Myth No. 7:…
Kicking God out of the public square
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of commentaries is adapted from articles that ran in consecutive issues of Report from the capital. Previous installments challenged myths that the separation of church and state is not implied in…
Life by the clock or life by the compass?
By Bill Wilson Which do you live by: Clock or compass? If the clock dictates, your life is consumed with the immediate and pressing issues of the moment. Clock-life is focused on short-term results. If the clock rules, you find…
Sometimes integrity is who you are when everyone is looking
By Laura Rector “Integrity is who you are when no one’s looking,” I was told as a college student. As an ethicist earning her Ph.D. at Fuller Seminary, I agree only in part. Choices made in private do matter. In…
Religious freedom cuts two ways
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of commentaries adapted from articles that ran in consecutive issues of Report from the Capital. Yesterday’s installment challenged myths that the separation of church and state is not implied in the…
Christianity, Locke and gay marriage
By David Gushee Reading John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government this spring has had a huge and still developing impact on my approach to U.S. public policy. I have always known that the normative posture of the church on an…
Myths about the separation of church and state
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of commentaries adapted from articles that ran in consecutive issues of Report from the Capital. By Brent Walker The United States of America is one of the most religious and certainly…