Is Vacation Bible School Too Old School?
While the topic of VBS may seem like old/tired news to some, the reality is that for many churches it may the proverbial church rock star that we take for granted, right in front of us.
Willow Creek’s Crash Shows Why Denominations Still Matter
Christians want our first loyalty to be to Jesus, not a particular institution or tradition. But does anyone follow Jesus in some pure, individual way, free of institutional ties or a larger and longer tradition?
How Fan Fiction Gave Millennials Power Over Their Spirituality
The sense of consumer ownership found in fan fiction has, in turn, influenced millennials' “mix and match” approach to spirituality more broadly.
An Immigration Story
Much of today’s news is about immigration. Perhaps we should focus on the immigrants rather than rules and regulations. I must admit I am biased, since two of our four children came from Korea.
Religious Unaffiliation is Growing in the U.S. Why Isn’t It in Congress?
(RNS) — Just over 2.5 percent of those serving in Congress identify to an untraditional theistic faith or no faith at all.Compare this to the general American public: fewer than half consider religion to be an important part of their lives. Why?
It’s Time for Women Pastors
It’s time for women to have equal access to pulpit ministry and to be called as pastors of churches. For some, that sentiment is old news, settled long ago; for others, it is offensive or just plain wrong. But many believers are somewhere in between.
Why Churches Should Not Measure Their Growth Against the Economic Boom
(RNS) — Despite the fact we are living through a truly epic economic boom, the average congregation in the U.S. has 70 regular participants. But anyone who understands congregations will recognize at once why market solutions will not really work here for struggling churches: Most
What Gun Would Jesus Pack?
The number of civilian-owned firearms has surpassed the U.S. population. With all of these firearms in the U.S., if the idea that “good guys” with guns stop “bad guys” with guns were correct, then gun-related violence should be trending downward. It's not.
We’ll Never Know the Whole Truth of Southern Baptists’ Sex Abuse Crisis
(RNS) — When I was a child, church was one of the only safe spaces I knew. At home, violence hid behind closed doors. Meanwhile, the church’s doors were open to me. That sense of peace and security wouldn’t last.
The Cruel Practice of Using Language to Dehumanize Others
Depending on who is doing the name-calling, the use of demeaning language to describe others, to name them in a derogatory way, is but a first step that may ultimately lead to suffering and death. Much of our nation’s history illustrates the truth of this claim.