On Sunday, Sept. 27, 2021, a front-page story in the Winston-Salem Journal by Lisa O’Donnell began by asking, “Who was Jumil Dewann Robertson?” Then offered this description: “He was the grandson who could do no wrong; a cousin in a…
COVID vaccinations, firearms and martyrs: Another American epidemic
Semen est sanguis Christianorum. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Those words, attributed to the third century theologian Tertullian, appear in an Apologeticum written to defend against the many charges — cannibalism, incest, atheism, sedition,…
Why I’m leaving my church: A theology of death
I’m a gun owner and a recreational sportsman. I used to believe in the NRA hype about “good guys with guns” being the heroes America needs and being crucial as protectors of the innocent. Over the past several years, my…
While we’re talking about guns in America, let’s talk about our fear-based theology that also drives gun sales
The sound of skidding tires filled the air as the car spun around, the window rolled down, and an arm reached out. It wasn’t until the third shot that I realized that I was staring down the barrel of a…
As gun sales spike amid COVID-19, we can choose caring over fear | #intimeslikethese
This is not about guns or the Second Amendment. This is deeper than that. This is a spiritual issue. This is about a fundamental cleavage in the soul of America.
Southern Baptist church planter accused of shooting at vehicle in road-rage incident
A Southern Baptist church planter in Louisiana faces up to 15 years in prison stemming from a road-rage incident in which he allegedly fired a handgun at an 18-wheeler.
Another church shooting: Have we become ‘morally anesthetized’ to the horrors of gun violence?
Sadly, West Freeway Church of Christ will not be the last American faith community to endure violent trauma. Yes, religious communities must develop security strategies for protecting vulnerable worshippers, but people of faith must reject any idea that such horror is normative.
Beto O’Rourke’s debate invective and the new ‘Back to School’ video are the jeremiads of our time
Firearms aren’t on the slippery slope; the American people are. We’re the ones whose kids are scared to go to school.
I was terrified. Guns were stashed everywhere, right next door to our home
Beneath this star-spangled net of red, white and blue, we are trapped by hate and violence – and entitlement to our weapons.