Word&Way Voices

Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy tackles the theological and rhetorical problem of dealing with speakers who will say one thing today and another tomorrow and whose words and actions are contradictory. Until we can put language and actions together as a consistent performance, we will struggle to properly understand contemporary evangelical motives.

Greg Carey asserts that democracy in the United States is in a world of hurt and Christians who treasure democracy must make crucial contributions to the healing process. This truth particularly applies to White Christians because they form the political base for the forces that aim to restrict democratic activity and social freedom.

Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy argues that the church has failed to properly denounce greed. Mammon is our national god and greed is our national liturgy. Advertisers have become our American clergy and excessive capitalism has made us more capitalist and less Christian.

Juliet Vedral explores the new Amazon Prime film Don’t Make Me Go starring John Cho and Mia Isaac. The movie is both a feel-good father/daughter road trip film and a poignant tale about the fragility and impermanence of life that resonates with Christian scripture.

Lauren Graeber reflects on how certain Christian teachings on sexuality have impacted her life and what it might mean for how she parents her children, especially now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. She hopes to offer her daughter something more just and independent so she can know that she, fully alive, is God’s delight.

Contributing writer Sarah Blackwell contemplates the seemingly insurmountable task that looms over the Southern Baptist denomination regarding what to do about the recent release of an internal database of abusers. Each of the recommended steps to remedy this problem seems so minor, so insignificant — are they even worthwhile?

Darron LaMonte Edwards offers up some thoughts to consider this Independence Day weekend. The United States is currently divided by political party, white supremacy, and economic depravity. We are a nation in conflict and everybody is on edge. So what can we learn from a king named Asa?

Contributing writer Greg Mamula offers the latest entry in a six-part series on the future of the church. In this third article, he uses the Apostle Paul as a model and focuses on how we should focus on building more and better networks in order to be agile and respond to specific needs in real-time.

Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy offers his thoughts on the controversy swirling around Phil Mickelson and other members of the PGA who decided to join the Saudi Arabia-backed professional golf tour. He argues that when we compare this to the Colin Kaepernick saga, we can see just how much whiteness and greed can warp perceptions.

Contributing writer Sarah Blackwell explores the moment that many Christian parents anticipate from when they first become a mom or dad: their child making a profession of faith. So when her son made his earnest and heartfelt desire to be part of the church global, why did she find a mix of melancholy and even anxiety creep over her?