As Cooperative Baptists, we know that there is a disparity among men and women pastors within many church traditions. Not only is the gender balance off, but the pay is even more inequitable. What can churches do about this? How can we begin to develop a more equitable culture through spiritual formation? This week’s episode … Continue reading
Let’s do a cognitive visualization activity. Try to relax by putting your shoulders back and firmly planting your feet on the floor, and take a couple of deep breaths. As I guide you through this experience, I want you to pay careful attention to what you visualize. Imagine you walk into an Evangelical church. What … Continue reading
For those that think the Bible is boring, clearly, they have never read about the sea monsters. Apparently, I missed that one, too, in my various Old Testament courses. “In the ancient world, sea monsters were mythical creatures that functioned as forces of chaos, as agents of fear and disorder. They lived in the dangerous … Continue reading
Sometimes, we have more intriguing interviews than episode spots. This week, we are dropping three fascinating interviews. Josh Porter, Death to Deconstruction Everyone knows someone who is formerly Christian. We sat down with Josh Porter, a former musician and current teaching pastor in Vancouver, Washington, the author of Death to Deconstruction. You can learn more … Continue reading
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