Diversity, equity and inclusion. DEI. I want to begin this post by reclaiming these words as good, whole and holy. You and I embody diversity, equity and inclusion. As Stacey Abrams recently said in her podcast, DEI is not something…
Exiled
Right now, I’m feeling like I’m in exile — sent there by the last election, sent there by the president’s actions these last seven weeks, driven there by the cruel antics of his sidekick, Elon Musk. Most readers of this…
In New Orleans, Christians form a second line to counter Sean Feucht
On the eve of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the “anti-vaccine, pro-Trump, guitar-strumming preacher” Sean Feucht staged a so-called Jesus March in the French Quarter of New Orleans. In addition to Feucht’s rise to fame for defying safety orders…
The pattern is contempt for the poor
The pattern emerged in the biblical text when the prophet Nathan confronted the king of Israel and said, “Thou art the man.” And in the United States, that very same pattern now has become crystal clear. The pattern is contempt…
‘Woke’ T-shirt gets off to a sassy start
I own an indecent number of social-justice T-shirts. Name a cause and I bet I have a T-shirt to match. At last count, I had at least two dozen shirts with a theme or motto. There’s my indigenous shirt with…
Here’s how faith leaders should address a new era of division in US politics
Since delivering a sermon at the inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde has faced a firestorm of backlash from far-right forces. Pointing to her calls for mercy — especially for LGBTQ people and immigrants —…
A ‘Hallmark Holiday’ might be exactly what we need
I haven’t sent a greeting card in at least a decade. A couple of weeks ago, however, a friend from back home contacted me to ask if I would be willing to help out her neighbor’s child with a class…
Todos somos inmigrantes
“Porque toda la tierra del mundo pertenece a Dios, a los ojos de Dios, todos somos inmigrantes.” (Levítico 25:23) “Because all the land in the world belongs to God, in the eyes of God we are all immigrants.” (Leviticus 25:23)…
Politics, faith and mission: A conversation with Jonathan Eig
Jonathan Eig is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including Ali: A Life, Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning King: A Life. His biography of King is thought of by…
Theology of the smirk
Three weeks into Trump 2.0, and I’m still haunted by JD Vance’s condescending smirk at the National Prayer Service. He wasn’t he only one. The entire Trump team was smirking and squirming. But since, once upon a time, I also…
Manipulating Christian worship for political gain
The inauguration of Donald Trump to a second term as president of the United States was another example of how religion and politics are being blended in America today. This merger challenges the idea that the government should not interfere…
‘Think of your entire financial picture as a giant love letter to God’
The church is bursting at the seams with a fresh vigor for aligning our faith with how we use money — especially how we invest money. New organizations are springing up and thriving, many books are being written, podcasts are…