Opinion

Editor Brian Kaylor reflects on Jesus’s parable in Luke 10 about being a good neighbor after learning of the death of a man in the roadway on Christmas Eve just blocks from his church.

History teaches that messianic hopes lead to poor outcomes for the societies that embrace them. Yet, they continue to surface — even today, with the elevation of Donald Trump by some to messiah-like status.

The coronavirus restrictions placed on houses of worship by the state of New York — which the Supreme Court blocked in a recent 5-4 decision — is back under consideration. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to record gruesome new highs. How should Christians react?

Advent and Christmas remind us God can still surprise us, surprise us with mystery, and surprise us with love. Advent and Christmas are an invitation into the surprise mystery that is God. 

This year more than others there could be an understandable tendency to seek distraction. But as further spikes are driven by observance of the holiday season itself, our choice is whether to look away or to face death as an inevitable part of the 2020 holidays. 

Columnist Heather Feeler says she made a list of the things she loves about Christmas and the things she just trudges through because, well, it’s “tradition.” And this year she is only going to do the love list.

When did the theological architects of American slavery develop the moral character to tell the church how it should discuss and discern racism? When did those who have yet to hire multiple Black or brown faculty at their seminaries assume ethical authority on the subject of systemic injustice? 

In this terrible moment, the vaccines that have been developed are nothing less than a modern miracle. America’s diverse faith communities can play a central role in facilitating the distribution and administration of the vaccines.

Columnist Christopher Dixon writes that while we want to enjoy the Christmas season, this year it brings no reprieve from the heaviness that we’re all enduring. Thus, we need to keep our mental health in check.

John C. Dorhauer, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, thanks the baseball team in Cleveland for deciding to change its mascot away from Native American imagery.