Inspired by Mark Wingfield’s recent description of a poignant movie scene, I recently watched the 2011 award-winning film The Help. The movie highlighted a top-tier cast including Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Cisely Tyson, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburg, Jessica Chastain…
‘Confession of Evangelical Conviction’ puts Jesus ahead of politics
A new confession of conviction to counter the politicization of evangelical congregations will generate pushback from Christians convinced their preferred political candidates are chosen by God, faith leaders said during an online briefing about the document. The “Confession of Evangelical…
Baptist churches join NRB lawsuit seeking freedom to endorse political candidates
Two Texas churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention have joined the National Religious Broadcasters and Intercessors for America in a lawsuit that seeks to do away with any federal limits on politicking by tax-exempt religious nonprofits. Sand Springs Church…
The politics of joy
While having lunch at a restaurant the other day, I overheard a college-age server behind the counter telling co-workers she wished her friends wouldn’t get angry every time politics comes up. “Why can’t people just be positive for a change?”…
Faithful Politics examines 10 ways Christians do politics
Theology professor Miranda Zapor Cruz was raised to believe one American political party could save the country and the other was evil. Her new book is created to give readers a better education on Christian civics than the one she…
What your pastor can’t tell you but really wants you to know
Your pastor wants you to know, but just can’t tell you. Your pastor knows too much transparency can be vocationally dangerous, depending on the level of honesty allowed in your church. At the same time, if you knew these things,…
Two assassination attempts 50 years apart and miles apart in responses
Witnesses at the campaign rally said they thought they heard firecrackers. Then the screaming started, and they realized the truth: a young man in his early twenties, a troubled loner, had out maneuvered security and was attempting to assassinate a…
Here’s HELP for navigating a ‘purple’ church in an election year
In every election year, pastors face the reality of political conflict and tension in their congregations. This year is that and more. For 20 years, I served as pastor of what some call a “purple” church — a mixture of…
One more day: Resetting the smile on our faces
A friend at the YMCA where I work has some struggles with his hip. Even so, he is regularly in the gym building muscle, the pain notwithstanding. He smiles on the way into the gym even though he is hurting….