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Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Religion News Service on July 15, 2024. Did God save the former president, but not those who died instead? (RNS) — I’m…
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Creative Ways of Following Jesus As We Race Into 2024 – a NEW YEAR of Accelerating Change
By Tom SineHere’s your invitation to join others who are creating innovative ways to be a difference and make a difference in the turbulent 2024 and beyond that reflect the ways of…
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Development Without Displacement
One of the most substantial things we do in Philly is turn abandoned houses into homes for families who need one. This year, we celebrated 25 years of life on…
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Subversive Peace for this Christmas Season
By Joel JacksonIt is to this group of social outcasts that God chooses to make an announcement of astonishingly good news—good news in which God declares a true peace that subverts the…
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The Real Meaning of Christmas — God Entered the Crap
God is with us in the struggle to survive, amid the throes of poverty, in the fight for freedom, in a world full of violence.
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Christ in the Rubble: A Liturgy of Lament
By RLC EditorEditor’s note: Below is a replay of the earlier livestream of “Christ in the Rubble” led by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac with the transcript of the talk provided directly below.…
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The “Virgin Birth” and Global Justice: A New Perspective on a Core Christian Doctrine
By Will O’BrienThe “Virgin Birth” and Global Justice: A New Perspective on a Core Christian Doctrine, By Will O’Brien As we celebrate the holy season of Christmas, Christians recall the story of the…
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Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Bio: Carolyn S. Byars, MDiv, is a graduate of Howard University School of Divinity. She is the author of “Is American Christianity Antichrist?” and established Authentic Christian Life Ministry (https://authentic-christianity.life) to…
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Ditching the Myth: God’s Ancient Covenant, English Settlers, and the Ongoing Saga of Misapplied Promises in America
In late 2022, I came across a survey from the Public Religion Research Institute that has lingered in my thoughts ever since. The findings revealed that half of White evangelical…
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If I Knew Then What I Know Now
Former president Donald Trump, in a speech on Veterans Day described people who politically disagree with him as vermin. He said “we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and…
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Challenging War Profiteering with Jesus’ Prophetic Alternative
By Bob EkbladWhen Hamas militants massacred 1200 people inside Israel and carried 240 hostages into Gaza on October 7, they succeeded in provoking the State of Israel to unleash its wrath on…
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Do you know the real St. Nick?
The original “Old St. Nick” who inspired the tradition of Santa Claus… was a bishop of Myra in fourth-century Turkey (Christians around the world remember him on December 6). We…
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Stable Or Home and Why Does It Matter
It’s Advent and Christmas is just around the corner. Here in the U.S. the stores have been full of Christmas regalia for months and many of us are already sick…
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For Susanne
Last night I couldn’t sleep. I was clawing away at a fading memory of something so insignificant: my high school boyfriend’s youngest brother’s name. I finally got it at about…
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Praised by Faint Damnation
Praised by Faint Damnation Why American Evangelical Responses to October 7 are Dangerous Bruce N. Fisk In the aftermath of October 7, many American evangelicals are displaying unwavering support for…
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Finding Christ in the Unexpected: Loving Our Unhoused Neighbors
It was the end of a balmy San Diego Christmas day. My family had just left, and as my kids were winding down from all the excitement, I tackled the…
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Decolonizing Thanksgiving
By Cherise BockEditor’s Note: Previously published on The Watershed Discipleship blog on November 21, 2017. Reprinted with permission. As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the United States, it’s great…
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When Grief and Gratitude Embrace
I am in the midst of what I call my gratitude season. Ever since the year I celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada at the beginning of October, and American Thanksgiving at…
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Evangelical Appeal to Moral Case for Cease-fire
Editor’s Note: Video replay of the vigil is below. ** Transcript of Adam Taylor’s talk is below. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of…
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Lamenting the Cost of Violence
By Bryson DavisMy heart grieves deeply with… Palestinians and Israelis who are being devastated by violence — Jewish, Muslim, Christian…beloved, human. Haitians living in a gang-controlled capital, victims of murder, abduction, extortion,…
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Churches for Middle East Peace Nov. 20th White House Candlelight Prayer Vigil
By RLC EditorWHITE HOUSE CANDLELIGHT PRAYER VIGIL CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE AND END TO VIOLENCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS Candlelight Prayer Vigil Ceasefire Now! All Are Welcome Monday, November 20, 2023 6 p.m. – 7:30…
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Adaptation from “Rethinking the Police”
Adaptation from Rethinking the Police by Daniel Reinhardt (Adapted from the Introduction) I am a white male and was a police officer for twenty-four years in a racially diverse urban…
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Diversity Is God’s Idea – So Why Are Our Differences Taking Precedence Over God’s Word?
By Skot WelchWhat do you think of when you hear the word language? I know what I think of: the funny story my friend Sharon shared with me about her introduction to…
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A Different Way
This is a poem that I wrote regarding the violence in Gaza. I feel helpless to do anything meaningful from so far away, yet am horrified by the footage I…
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The Realism of Retaliatory Love
By Bob EkbladAs I follow the daily news from Gaza, I find myself needing to actively resist feelings of anger, helplessness, and despair. I feel pressured to not only understand but justify…
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Christian Leaders Discuss Peacemaking and a Call for Repentance
By RLC EditorChrist at the Checkpoint Conference On Saturday, November 4, 2023, more than 500 Christians from around the world gathered online with Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters from Bethlehem, Nazareth, and…
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Reconnecting with my Faith
By Ariel GoldI love Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest). I end my workweek in the early afternoon on Friday and bake the challah bread that I will bless. My daughter, who…
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From Information to Transformation: One Parish’s Story of How Unveiling a Painful Past Unlocked the Freedom to Act with Integrity Now and in the Future
Editor’s Note: This piece was first published by The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. This interview was conducted and written by The Rev. Dr. Craig D. Townsend, Historian in Residence…
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Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit Previewed Growing Impatience of Inaction on Climate Change
By Ilka VegaOn September 17, I joined several of my sisters with United Women in Faith at the March to End Fossil Fuels. We hailed from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and all over New York, where our organization…
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“The Stones Cry Out”; an Excerpt
By Chris MabeyINTRODUCTION It’s Easter week and I am re-reading well-thumbed events from the Gospels. Jesus passes the Mount of Olives as he approaches Jerusalem. The crowds are ecstatic, welcoming the Messiah…
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When Religion Gets it Right
I’m not going to lie. I was anxious as we pulled into the parking lot, driving past two large German shepherds who were incessantly barking and running back and forth…
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A Call for Repentance: An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians
By RLC EditorSign On Petition: An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians · Change.org “Learn to do right; seek justice; defend the oppressed” (Isa 1:17). We, at…
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Evangelicals Beware: Our Onesideism about Israel is Lethal
By Jer SwigartOne week ago, I evacuated from Israel. While there, I was outraged by the terror inflicted upon Israelis by Hamas’ insurgents. I witnessed, firsthand, the ripples of violence in the…
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Excerpt from “Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism”
“When the Anonymous Disciple Is a Man:” An Excerpt from “Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism” When I took my first preaching class in seminary, one of our…
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Excerpt from “The Deep Down Things”
Since our young years of learning how to sense the bloom in a wine and how to cross the line just enough to get a good laugh out of a…
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“Ritual Acts”, an Excerpt from “Meaning in the Moment”
Ritual Acts Our bodies are not passive in rituals; they are active, and that increases the transforming power of rituals. In my sabbatical-ending ritual, I used physical things in a…
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Caught Up In The Rapture
By Joel SimpsonChristians have always talked about Christ returning. The earliest creeds of the church talk about Christ’s return. It’s also mentioned in some New Testament letters from people like the Apostle…
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A Word from the Holy Land: Global Immersion
Please watch this conversation with my friend Jer Swigart from Global Immersion — LIVE from Jerusalem. He has been working for peace in the Holy Land for years, and he…
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Excerpt from “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future”, by Robert P. Jones
On May 4, 1863, the steamboat Northerner pushed up the Mississippi River from St. Louis, bound for Fort Snelling, a military outpost north of St. Paul, Minnesota. Just a few…
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Brother Francis
St. Francis of Assisi died on October 3, 1226… So, this week Christians around the world celebrate his life. I wrote this little tribute. Brother Francis by Shane Claiborne Despite…
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St. Francis, Pray for Us
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published on the RLC blog on October 4, 2011. Today (October 4) Christians around the world celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi,…
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We’ve Missed the Point of the Gospel
By Tawnya LayneI like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. –Mahatma Gandhi I love the church. As a member of several different congregations…
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Christian Criminal Justice
By Matt MartensAs I’ve watched the national conversation concerning criminal justice play out among evangelicals in recent years, the focus has typically been either on the system’s inputs or on its output,…
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Everything is Political, oh my! Why Churches Should Build Better Capacity for Political Dialogue
A short anecdote from a podcast I was listening to recently keeps replaying in my mind: a man was walking with his friend and his friend said, “I’m hungry. I’d…
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Connecting With the Good News Generation
By Tom SineI have some bad news and some very good news for Red Letter Christians. Many of you likely already know the bad news, a growing number of those under 50,…
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An Excerpt from “Sacred Belonging”
By Kat ArmasWe got the news late one Sunday morning in mid-July that my father-in-law had died unexpectedly. The phone rang loudly that day. Not only did the noise startle my spouse,…
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A Tribute to Rich Mullins
By RLC EditorTwenty-six years ago today on September 19, 1997, this world lost a musical treasure when Rich Mullins was killed in a tragic accident en route to a benefit concert. He…
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Working on our Posture: Talking about God’s Mission with Shane Claiborne
By RLC EditorIn June 2023, Shane Claiborne paid a visit to Church Mission Society in Oxford UK for a lively conversation about mission with Naomi Steinberg. “I grew up with a version…
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Yesterday’s Jesus
For some Christians, what Jesus expects of his followers is negotiable though his words are written in red. Who these Christians expect Jesus to be is also hit or miss…
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The Fight Against the Execution of Anthony Sanchez in Oklahoma
By RLC EditorFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 13, 2023 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Red Letter Christians unequivocally stands against all executions. We have, and will continue to, stand with advocates on the frontlines abolishing…
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The Rationale for Christian Nationalism
The ideology of Christian nationalism has no connection to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul was extremely upset that the Galatians perverted the gospel of Christ into something contrary…
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Praying with the Street Church of Radical Forgiveness
Praying with the Street Church of Radical Forgiveness by Adam Bucko from his book Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide Each year when we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, I…
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48 Years Wrongfully Imprisoned, Glynn Simmons is now Free
By RLC EditorGlynn Simmons spent 48 years wrongfully imprisoned, the first few under sentence of death. Glynn is now free, undergoing chemotherapy for liver cancer, and he needs our help. Here’s a…
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Who Carries the Vision?
Editor’s Note: originally published on RLC blog on October 14, 2019. Around the moment when the hand of our historical clock was ticking from B.C. to A.D., Herod ruled Judea…
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Remembering We Can Fly
Video Produced by Art Hooker. Mixed and Mastered by Jay Kale. Co-produced by Lisa Sharon Harper and Andre Henry, performed by Andre and written by Lisa with Common Hymnal’s Phillip…
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s visit with Shane Claiborne in Philly
Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of getting to know Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his wife Caroline. As the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin…
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On global warming, yes, there is hope
By Thomas ReeseEditor’s Note: This piece originally appeared in Religion News Service. The good news is there are ways to reduce and eliminate the growth in global warming; the bad news is I am not…
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Global warming is here and it is getting worse
By Thomas ReeseEditor’s Note: This piece originally appeared in Religion News Service. We are like frogs in a pot of water being slowly cooked as the temperature rises. We don’t have the sense to get…
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The Intersection of Ableism and Christian Nationalism
According to Christians Against Christian Nationalism, Christian Nationalism is an ideology that “seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy.” The definition…
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Prophetic Peacemaking: Closing Plenary at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (Chicago 2023)
Transcript: Prophetic Peacemaking: Closing Plenary at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (Chicago 2023) By Shane Claiborne [The Parliament of the World’s Religions was founded in 1893 around a common…
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The World’s Religions Converge in Chicago
By Brian KaylorEditor’s Note: This piece was originally published on A Public Witness, Word and Way and is shared here with permission. “How did someone rooted and grounded in a Baptist version…
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Book Review of Erin Jean Warde’s, “Sober Spirituality”
Melanie Springer Mock Review of Erin Jean Warde, Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol (Brazos Press, 2023) In some ways, the ubiquity of mom-and-wine kitsch reflects the…
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Excerpt from “American Idolatry”
In the summer of 2021, the unmarked graves of hundreds of Indigenous children were uncovered near a Christian boarding school in Saskatchewan, Canada. The graves contained close to eight hundred…
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Where the Wind Blows
Last Easter Sunday we had to hold our service in the park. I remember listening to the sermon with my bare hands sinking into the grass whist birds chirped overhead.…
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My Favorite Part of Summer Break is There Are No School Shootings
By Liz DayeMy favorite part about summer break used to be beach trips with my kids, and lazy mornings baking in the kitchen. But right now, my favorite part about summer is…
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“Yehoshua the Rabbi”, An excerpt from “A God Named Josh”
By Jared Brock“Yehoshua the Rabbi”, An excerpt from A God Named Josh, chapter 4, pages 45-47 It is important to note that Yehoshua—Jesus’ given Hebrew name—was not a Christian, nor a pastor. Indeed,…
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Set Free
By Dean WrightIn 1933, a young pastor and a historian walked through the countryside of Germany, just beyond the city of Finkenwalde. They talked about the experiment this young radical pastor, Dietrich…
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An Excerpt from Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in the Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery
An Excerpt from Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in the Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery, by Caroline Beidler, MSW (Published here with permission.) One of the many things I love…
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Irrelevancy Attracts Irrelevancy
By Bill MeffordRecently, I attended a clergy meeting in order to invite faith leaders to be a part of a national campaign seeking to address the overdose crisis and to create harm…
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The Proud Boys Vandalized His Church … Rev. Bill Lamar Filed a Lawsuit
By RLC EditorShane Claiborne talks with Rev. Bill Lemar about the Proud Boys lawsuit. Great chat. Give it a listen!
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The Liberatory Nature of Religious Freedom
Lately the news has been filled with mentions of religious freedom, how it should be applied, and what, if any, limits it must observe. The Supreme Court recently ruled on…
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Wandering on Holy Ground
Midrash. This was the meandering Sunday morning discussion topic that began in the desert with Moses and ended with a collective witness to the justice work of feminism. Most hadn’t…
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Threshold
Day in and day out-for years-he came into our kitchen holding a can of soup, slowly opening it and then eating it directly out of the container, cold. At…
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I Miss Going To Church
I miss going to church. That might come as a surprise to those who have followed my 3-year journey out of church in general and pastoral ministry in particular. Perhaps…
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A New Story of Transformation
We live in a perilous time. Our world is in crisis. We worry that balloons flying over different countries could start World War Three. According to World Hunger Education Services,…
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Christian Leaders from Around the Country Reading FREDERICK DOUGLASS’ 1852 speech “WHAT TO THE SLAVE IS THE FOURTH OF JULY” (Read on July 3, 2021)
By RLC EditorEditor’s Note: originally published on RLC Blog on July 3, 2021. One-hundred and sixty-nine years ago today, abolitionist, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass gave a speech to the 600 members…
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Excerpt from “The Ballot and the Bible”
A city on a hill. These words have captivated Americans for generations. They encapsulate our sense of collective destiny, divine mission, and moral strength. They pack into one little phrase…
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“God so loved the World”
As we approach July 4, and as many churches around the country host “Celebrate America” services this Sunday… I offer this little reflection. Hope it’s meaningful. Feel free to use…
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Queer Joy of Belonging
By Jenn ZatopekOn the first weekend in June, my partner and I served communion at our friendly LGBTQIA+ church and my heart touched the marvelous love of God in our beloved community.…
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RAW Tools 44K Countdown
By RLC EditorSo far (as of 6/25/2023), 42,940 minutes of forging have been logged, and below are some images of just a few of the creations formed from the heartfelt efforts of…
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A Pride Month Lesson from Ted Lasso
By Jon MathieuThe hit show Ted Lasso recently concluded its third and final season on Apple TV+. I think the most valuable of the ambitious comedy’s accomplishments may be its image of…
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The Mind of Jesus
By Jon CanasAn extract from the essay of the same name from the recently published book, Religion, Politics, and Reclaiming the Soul of Christianity: A Spiritual Imperative for Our Time and Our…
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“God is Justice”, an excerpt from “All God’s Children”
Adapted from All God’s Children by Terence Lester Adapted from Chapter 3, “God is Justice” The word justice appears hundreds of times in the Bible. At its core, biblical justice…
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We May Not Have the Same Responsibility, But We Each Have an Opportunity to Work Towards Racial Justice
Last month, our nation remembered the terrible killing of George Floyd, who died in 2020 after former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on him and suffocated him to death. The murder was…
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Overcoming Shame
By Karen KeenShame is a common experience of marginalized people. Not surprisingly. It does a number on you when others look askance at what makes you different and pull away as a…
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A Psalm of Lament for Gun Violence in America
Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published on May 4, 2023 on the Chasing Justice blog, A Psalm of Lament for Gun Violence in America A Psalm of Lament for…
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Loving: A Poem on Interracial Marriage in America
I grew up in the United States as a biracial (Asian/white) kid in a loving Thai-American family. It was not until my 30’s that I realized how recently my parents’…
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Statement on the Church of Uganda’s support for Anti-Homosexuality Act | The Archbishop of Canterbury
Recently Uganda has passed legislation known as “The Anti-Homosexuality Act,” that penalizes same sex relationships. It was already a crime to be gay in Uganda, but this new law extends…
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Searching for Jesus During Pride Month
In a season of sharp partisan division, much of it centered on sensationalized depictions of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender people and drag performers, June 1 marked the beginning of…
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Why Stay Christian: A Pride Month Pondering
For various reasons, it may come as a shock to you that a church would choose to spend a whole six-week series exploring the question Why Stay Christian. But for…
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An Oldie But a Goodie – Paying America’s Debt on the Backs of the Poor
By Bill MeffordWith talks over raising the debt ceiling at loggerheads, Republicans have turned to a long-time favorite practice of theirs: blaming the poor. One of their demands to pay the country’s…
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It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month
It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, so it’s time for Christians to turn off social media, ignore the news stories, and further entrench themselves in the beliefs they’ve been told. Or maybe…
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Gun Violence Prevention Month: The Work of RAWtools
By Mike MartinAccording to the Gun Violence Archive, over 44,000 people died by firearm in 2022. That’s 120 people per day. Gun Violence is now the leading cause of death for kids…
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RAWTOOLS Guns to Garden Tools Livestream Blacksmith Marathon
By RLC EditorRAWTOOLS NATIONAL 44K EVENT – MAY 31- JUNE 30 Guns to Garden Tools Livestream Blacksmith Marathon in Remembrance of Over 44,000 Individuals Lost to Gun Violence in 2022 Throughout Gun…
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INVITATION: Faithful America Sermon Drive Against Christian Nationalism
Preach and Pray to Confront Christian Nationalism Faithful America is organizing a sermon drive against Christian nationalism for next Sunday, June 11 — the week of Flag Day. We’re calling it “Preach…
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Enemy Love
Excerpt from Lancelot Schaubert’s, Least of these Least, published 2023. Used by permission. The gospel would be easier if it existed just for my buddies, but I’m not that kind…
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Why Christianity is on the Decline in America
Christianity has a problem. In America, the number of people who claim to be Christian has been rapidly declining over at least the past decade or so. At the same…
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It’s Time To Change the Abortion Debate in America
Editor’s Note: Reprinted by permission of NCR Publishing Company www.NCROnline.org Originally published: It’s time to change the abortion debate in America | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org) Photo: A pro-choice and an anti-abortion demonstrator confront…
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White Christian Nationalism isn’t Christian at All: Part 2
The rise of Cotton Mather, Puritan justice, and slavery. To many, July 4, 1776 is the official date of the creation of the United States of America. Colonists, though, had…
