An Outsider’s Encounter with the Psalms
A Sikh scholar reads Psalm 133, but allows himself to consider it as a devotional reader instead of a scholar. And in doing so, he finds the text speaks to him in his current context.
American Exceptionalism Needs a Reboot
On the Fourth of July we celebrate the United States as an exceptional country — at least, we used to. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest, suggests how America can become a more exceptional country.
5 Lessons I Learned from a COVID-19 Spike at our Church
Pastor Derek Allen, whose church has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases among its staff and volunteers, shares 5 lessons he’s learned in the past couple weeks so others won’t make the same mistakes.
Baptist Orthodoxy vs Baptist Heterodoxy: Faith and Fruit Are Inseparable Regarding SBTS Founders
Dwight McKissic responds to Al Mohler’s refusal to remove the names of enslavers from buildings on the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. McKissic argues this isn’t just a cultural war but also spiritual warfare.
Take Out That Flag
It’s not just that we place a national symbol in our sanctuaries while preaching and singing about how God loves the whole world. It’s that with our symbols we’ve proclaimed we’re Americans first and Christians second.
It Goes Without Saying
It goes without saying that we are experiencing very stress-filled and difficult-to-navigate circumstances. But before Christians today focus on answering practical ministry questions, perhaps we should clarify our identity as Christ followers by understanding how the first Christians viewed themselves.
5 Suggestions for These Unusual Times
As church goers, faith leaders, and Jesus-followers, we have had to navigate uncharted territory these last few months. The church questions for the second half of the year remain front and center as we seek to worship and serve together.
What’s in a Name?
Our nation finds itself at a critical moment of wrestling. And it might just lead to a biblical moment. But will Christians lead the way? Will we chart a new course with new names?
Between Two Monsters: The Scylla of the Pandemic and the Charybdis of Poverty
In ancient Greek mythology, Scylla and Charybdis were the names of two sea monsters situated on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Italy. Today those monsters represent COVID-19 and poverty.
Significance of Numbers
A census is not a spiritual matter, but numbers play an important role in church life. Numbers are a bit like a temperature. It is a first line of judgment but not the only one.