Baptist News Global’s most-read opinion pieces this year were connected in various ways to President Donald Trump and authoritarianism. Readers also showed interest in articles about Calvinist preacher John MacArthur and Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk, both of whom died in…
The unholy alliance that’s OK with bringing back slavery
A chilling and terrifying convergence is under way on the American religious right. On one side comes raw, unfiltered and vitriolic bigotry straight from the gutter. The most recent display of this came in the form of leaked Telegram chats…
Chattel slavery: Bad news then and now
I am pleading for my people, A poor, downtrodden race, Who dwell in freedom’s boasted land, With no abiding place. While I bear upon my body The scars of many a gash, I am pleading for my people, Who groan…
Here’s another reason Calvinism is morally bankrupt
Note: This article includes detailed discussion of child sexual abuse in the context of why God allows suffering in the world. Now the TheoBros are using the gospel to spread indifference about the rape and murder of 10-year-old girls….
What’s next for John MacArthur’s church and preaching ministry?
If ever there were a ministry built around one person, it is “Grace to You,” the broadcast ministry of the late John MacArthur. And Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, where MacArthur served as pastor 55 years, is not much…
Evangelical nepo babies
Recently, the passing of prominent evangelical pastor John MacArthur prompted me to reflect on issues concerning American evangelicalism, a movement I’ve been involved in for most of my life. Having attended many of the most prominent evangelical churches and universities…
On not getting over fundamentalism
This past week, I received a link to an article on the Christian news satire website, The Babylon Bee. The article was titled “Baptist Conclave to Choose A New John MacArthur.” It was clever and funny. It pictured 12 older…
When is the right time to speak the truth about toxic people?
As many of our readers know, I officiate a lot of funerals. In addition to nearly 17 years as pastor with responsibilities for such things, I officiate pick-up funerals for families who do not have a church or a minister….
John MacArthur met his own definition of a false prophet
How should we respond when someone who uses theology to promote ignorant, misogynistic, racist, power mongering authoritarianism dies? To use biblical language, we might call these people false prophets, ravenous wolves, deceivers, anti-Christs, evil men, seducers, lovers of self, foolish…
Evangelical firebrand John MacArthur dead at 86
American fundamentalism has lost its prophet. John Fullerton MacArthur Jr., 86, died July 14 after a series of illnesses left him hospitalized. Having served the nondenominational Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, Calif., for 55 years, MacArthur acquired a truly…
Why we can’t convince some Christians to love their neighbor
It shouldn’t be this difficult to convince conservative Christians to love their neighbor. But in seemingly every example of someone in power mistreating the marginalized these days, the Religious Right sides with the person in power. The presence those on…
Megan Basham is lying again
Many of us keep wondering how the evangelical church could have wandered so far into the wilderness of untruth. The answer is evangelical influencers like Megan Basham. She’s not alone, however. She’s in a select group of evangelical liars that…