Truth is truth, right? In the last several years, it seems as though facts are optional or debatable. Jesus told us that we shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free. But what happens when Evangelicals are associated with a political movement that seems to be bending the truth or accepting alternative … Continue reading
Raised in an Evangelical Baptist tradition, I bore witness to the church’s condemnation of the evils of the world and how culture is misleading us down a road on sexuality, body image, and more. When all along, this same church was dispersing warfare of their own. Among many things, girls were taught to be modest … Continue reading
How comfortable are you with nuance? The pandemic accelerated and forced change upon everyone and every organization. Moreover, we keep hearing more about how A.I. is rapidly changing our present and future. But how comfortable are you with nuance in your understanding of God? How accustomed is the church to shifting its understanding of how … Continue reading
The novelist Rudyard Kipling wrote, “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” Sometimes a word travels through the zeitgeist, drawing the ire of some and delight of affirmation from others. Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is one of those words. When spoken by Conservative White media and politicians, CRT has been … Continue reading
While having a rich history of theological diversity, Evangelicalism tends to skew towards female exclusivity in leadership and places of prominence. If you think this is an unfair assessment, name one female megachurch pastor from this movement… The trickle-down effect of this patriarchal biblical worldview affects how Evangelical women have been given opportunities to have … Continue reading
Stories are powerful. They give meaning and understanding. Stories directly influence how we see ourselves, our neighbors, and the world around us. One of the stories dominating politics and society today is that of chaos. “Chaos breeds cynicism and despair. It pushes us toward withdrawal, inaction. For this reason, those who perpetrate injustice often choose … Continue reading
We believe what we believe. There is no doubt that most of us have a very hard time changing our mind on most things. When it comes to our understanding of the Bible, that might be the most difficult for thing for people to change their mind. When we are confronted with ideas that so … Continue reading
CNN’s John Blake has covered the intersection of race, religion, and politics for decades. His work has won him multiple awards, elevating him to one of the senior writer roles at CNN. Just in the last few weeks, you’ve written on the great Harry Belafonte, the expulsion and special appointment of the two Tennessee state … Continue reading
I wish we could blame the COVID-19 pandemic, political derision, and social anxiety for all of the church’s challenges. But the real culprit is our basic humanness. And the church is full of people. And last time I checked, people are a complexity of differing beliefs, identities, personalities, communication styles, cognitions, and so much more. … Continue reading
Imagine a society where people are sanctioned where to live based on their vocation and economic status. This same society gives a bleak perspective into what is happening in the world around it through television. And those that govern are swayed by special interest. Well, this isn’t science fiction but a reality for many Americans. … Continue reading