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By Kathryn Post
(RNS) — ‘The biggest lesson I had to learn is that God’s lack of an answer to my prayers to change me was an answer, because there was…
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Tribalism, Religion, and Violence
By Yaholo Hoyt
Religion is often the scapegoat for violence. Indeed, it is also so often the excused used by those committing violence. The recent violence in Egypt is a fresh reminder to…
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What I Saw in a Prison Inmate’s Eyes
By Ed Cyzewski
What chance would you give a middle-aged African American man who has been imprisoned five times and is about to be released again? I used to write this type of…
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Now on the Red Carpet: Penny and Amy Julia Becker
Today we’re chatting with 7 ½ year-old Penny Becker and her mom, Amy Julia Becker. In Becker’s memoir, Good and Perfect Gift—selected by Publisher’s Weekly as one of the…
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Fight: A Christian Case for Nonviolence by Preston Sprinkle
By RLC Editor
Preston Sprinkle, co-author of Erasing Hell (with Francis Chan), has written a book that ought to be exciting the progressive end of the evangelical world – Fight: A Christian Case…
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Fight: “Erasing Hell” co-author defends nonviolence in a new book!
By Kurt Willems
Preston Sprinkle, co-author of Erasing Hell (with Francis Chan), has written a book that ought to be exciting the progressive end of the evangelical world – Fight: A Christian Case for…
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When Worship SUCKS!
It’s been said that all a worship leader needs to have is a pure and righteous heart, and if they have that quality of holiness, things will magically turn out…
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The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good by Peter Greer
By RLC Editor
Most Christians today are interested in more than just preaching the gospel with words; they also want to serve others. But what happens when Christian service and social justice…
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When Ministry Becomes Your Mistress
By Peter Greer
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club. It is an excerpt from Peter Greer’s latest book, “The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good.” “Peter, I met…
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Interview with Peter Greer
By RLC Editor
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club. It is an interview with Peter Greer, author of, “The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good.” As the president…
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Good Intentions and Naive Behavior Aren’t Enough to do Good in this World
By Yaholo Hoyt
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Peter Greer’s latest book, “The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good.” The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good by…
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We Don’t Get To Sit Back Just Because The System Is F@!#$D: Part 4 Of How I Became A Bleeding-Heart Liberal
By Joy Bennett
It may seem like I’ve been rambling for the past three posts (part 1, part 2, part 3), but I took time to cover all that territory to make a…
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A Tale of Two Churches
The Christian Church is made up of over 30, 000 denominations and millions of congregations, all with their own unique ways of worshiping God. This is what I learned about…
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Poverty, Power, And Misplaced Trust: Part 3 Of How I Became A Bleeding Heart Liberal
By Joy Bennett
I’ve written two posts now focused on my own story and the things I’ve seen. I think it’s pretty clear how passionate and compassionate I am about helping those in need. However, lest…
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Beating AK47s into Shovels
It doesn’t get much cooler than beating an AK47 into a shovel. We are starting to make a habit of it. Our first weapon-conversion was on the 10th anniversary of September…
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Beyond Trayvon Martin and Racism
It continues even now. The group emails and facebook posts spotlighting incidents of black on white violence and the cries, “Where’s the outrage now like there was over Trayvon Martin’s…
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The Dark Side Of Help: Receiving It (Part 2 Of How I Became A Bleeding-Heart Liberal)
By Joy Bennett
This is part 2 of a series on exploring fiscal responsibility, generosity, and social good. Read part 1 here. Read Part 3 here. Look for the final part, tomorrow. I despise needing help.…
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Gandhi-Style Evangelism
E. Stanley Jones, an American missionary to India, asked Gandhi what missionaries could do to make Christianity more accepted in India. He asked, “How can we make Christianity more naturalized in…
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How a Conservative Christian Home-School Graduate Became a Bleeding-Heart Liberal (Part 1)
By Joy Bennett
Labels are helpful, to a point, but they fall short when it comes to teasing out the nuances of an individual person’s positions. Labels depend in large part on context.…
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Now on the Red Carpet: Rachel Held Evans
Named one of Christianity Today’s “50 Women to Watch, ” Rachel Held Evans — the author of and A Year of Biblical Womanhood — is a popular blogger who devoted a…
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If God had my body
By Morf Morford
If God had my body I would have no burden of fear or regret Or shame or disgrace. If God had my body I would know, Really know Forgiveness and…
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Understanding Trauma – How We Treat the Broken Among Us
By Yaholo Hoyt
Until the about the time of the Vietnam War, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was not widely understood. Through WWI and the majority of WWII, symptoms of PTSD were largely…
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Syria is Complicated, War is Not
By John Watson
War is a beast that we are far too eager to feed. The word complicated, in polite and diplomatic society, has come to mean let’s not do anything. It has…
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In God We (Don’t) Trust
We trust in our churches. We trust that the nurseries will carefully and tenderly watch our babies. We trust that the Sunday Schools will lovingly teach our children. We trust…
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Rethinking the $3, 000 Missions Trip
Painfully thin for his age, Martin shivered uncontrollably by the side of the city swimming pool. He held his sides in a futile effort to keep warm. I was puzzled.…
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"God is Innocent" : Rwamasirabo on the Genocide in the Church at Nyange, Rwanda
During Rwanda’s 100-day genocide in 1994, Roman Catholic priest, Father Athanase Seromba savagely sacrificed nearly 3, 000 members of his church in Nyange (a parish in the Kibuye province of western…
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Hiroshima Witness in DC
THIS JUST IN… Dozens of folks gathered in DC on the memorial of the Hiroshima bombing, with nonviolent demonstrations at the Pentagon and at the Enola Gay Museum (which dropped…
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Bill Pelke wants the best for his Grandmother's Killer, Paula Cooper
In 1985, Paula Cooper, then 15, brutally stabbed her Sunday School teacher, Ruth Pelke, 33 times before leaving her for dead. Thirty-two years later she is once again a free…
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Joy in Failure
By John Watson
Life’s greatest lessons often come from children. Jesus taught us that, but sometimes we need reminding. We have flag worship at my church. To some people, the sight of people…
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Peace of Mind and the Prophetic Pursuit of Peace and Justice
I have to confess: I have conflicted feelings about peace of mind. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a fan of inner turmoil. And while I don’t think it is…
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Now on the Red Carpet: Sami Rasouli
He’d been living in Minnesota when, in 2003, Sami Rasouli returned to his homeland of Iraq. Stunned by the destruction he saw there, Rasouli sold his business and returned…
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Let’s have a (Deeper) Conversation about Race
By Kathy Khang
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. Too often conversations…
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Riley Cooper: Is he Good enough for a second chance? YES and I'll tell you why
Waiting for my flight to take off I decided to watch ESPN. The commentators Herm Edwards, Merril Hoge and Ed Werder discussed the racially inflammatory language of Philadelphia Eagles Receiver,…
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Watchman Nee: A Red Letter Christian
When I was thirteen years old, I attended the Christian music festival Creation, held in the Appalachian Mountains. I was mesmerized as Tony Campolo preached about our call to love…
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Is it possible to have a balanced, sane, and useful conversation about race?
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. Is it possible to have…
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A Journey of Recognition: Racism, Prejudice, Sexism, and Hate Do Exist
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. This isn’t a large book,…
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Vanity of Vanities: Does Ministry Really Matter?
Just a couple of days ago, about why some ministers tend to lose their faith. It was part of my weekly lectionary study, and the texts for the week particularly…
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Courage that is Contagious: Take Action Today to Bring Home the DREAM 9
The energy and courage of the DREAM 9 has spread across the country in the past ten days, mobilizing thousands to action. It has been over a week since the…
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But I Don’t See You As Asian by Bruce Reyes-Chow
By RLC Editor
The Red Letter Book Club is proud to debut featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book, But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. In it, Bruce curates…
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"Don’t Be So Sensitive"
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club. It is an excerpt from Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. My…
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Interview with Bruce Reyes-Chow
By RLC Editor
Bruce Reyes-Chow is the author of But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. Who is this book written for? Everyone? While I hope this book will speak to a…
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Acknowledging Our Social Location
By David Ensign
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. The afternoon that…
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Pointing Out the Elephant in Our American Family Room
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. Bruce Reyes-Chow…
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Ignorance Is A Sign that Something Needs to be Done
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. Growing up I…
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A Good Cringe-Inducing Conversation
Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Red Letter Book Club, featuring Bruce Reyes-Chow’s latest book: But I Don’t See You as Asian: Curating Conversations About Race. Think about the…
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It’s NOT the economy, stupid
By Morf Morford
The word ‘economy’ derives from the Greek word ‘economos’ which refers to the care and provisioning of a household. Money is one of the basic elements of a healthy, functioning…
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Are you Involved in Self-Centered Christianity? If not, then you should be!
Earlier today I was on a conference call with the ministry team leaders of a local church. In addition to discussing the new healthy eating and nutrition classes, urban garden…
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An Open Letter to All Christian Theologians
Dear Christian Theologians (and anyone else who discusses theology), Please…. Be Understandable: Theology is worthless if it can’t be understood. There are times and places to use fancy terminology and…
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Ramadan, A Shared Table & Following Jesus
By Jon Huckins
Last night, Janny and I had the honor of sharing a table with a gathering of local Muslim’s for an Iftar meal. It is currently Ramadan, which means the Muslim…
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Now on the Red Carpet: Kevin Palau
If you’ve got a stereotype of an old-school evangelism “crusade, ” prepare to have it dismantled. Under the leadership of Kevin Palau, the Luis Palau Association has produced some…
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Why I’m Fasting with the Dream 9
Friday I decided to join the hunger strike of nine undocumented youth in a detention center in Arizona. Theirs is not the only hunger strike underway right now (I’ve been…
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Is Money The Enemy?
By Micah Bales
For most of my life, I have related to money as an enemy. I viewed finances as a necessary evil, a barrier that had to be overcome somehow in order…
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More than “just”
By Alise Wright
A couple of weeks ago, I received an email in which I was called a gross, disgusting name. I deleted the email almost immediately, but something like that doesn’t delete…
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The SOLD Project: Because Prevention Works
By Rachel Goble
Travel With Us :: A Short Visual Poem from The SOLD Project on Vimeo. It was October of 2007 when I found myself sitting in a brothel in the center…
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The Lion, the Witch and the War
The Chronicles of Narnia, the incredibly popular collection of books written by C. S. Lewis has sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages. The series, which was conceived by…
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Hungry Gypsies and Ragged Prophets
By Morf Morford
Hungry gypsies and ragged prophets Have truths to tell – or find, or barter. They are the jesters of the dangerous Ridiculous and impossible truths, The ones we like to…
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Can Christianity Learn to Say, "I'm Sorry"?
Jesus never said “I’m sorry.” Sure, when He was being crucified He cried out “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (NIV)” But technically He…
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The DREAM 9: Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.” – 1…
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Chat Rooms and Discussion Boards: How Understanding the Internet Changed My Relationships
In 1971, men in the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) invented a way to plug information transfer cables into personal computers. This connected machines like a spider’s web or a…
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White privilege, and what we’re supposed to do about it
The case of Trayon Martin’s death has caused a national conversation around race. People seem to be polarized in their reactions to the recent verdict, and as such I’d love…
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My Response to the Closing of Exodus International
By Tony Campolo
On June 19, 2013, Exodus International President, Alan Chambers, published, “I Am Sorry, “ a blog post on Exodus’ website apologizing to the LGBT community. Over the past month the…
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Time Share Charity and God's Scandalous Grace
By Joy Bennett
I answer the phone and the voice on the other end of the line chirps, “We want to give you 2 nights and 3 days in our luxurious Florida beach-front…
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Hitler in Heaven?
By John Watson
Let me paint a picture: You die. You ascend, or transmute, or do whatever happens, and end up in heaven. You are greeted by angels, ancestors, Jesus, all the people…
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Now on the Red Carpet: Isabel Castillo
Could it be true that a vibrant young woman who graduated Magna Cum Laude from a reputable east coast university is prohibited from working legally in the country in…
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A Hispanic response to the Trayvon Martin verdict
These past few days have been filled with frustration. I was one of the ones who followed the Zimmerman trial closely and patiently awaited a verdict. It was more so…
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Feeling Impatient?
By Micah Bales
I am used to instant gratification. When I get hungry, there is almost always food around. When I am curious about something, I search the internet and can find an…
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Jahar Could Be Your Kid
By Shane Raynor
I turned on a couple of the cable news channels last night and the outrage du jour was over Rolling Stone’s decision to run featuring Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (nicknamed Jahar…
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Christianity's 5 Most Popular Scapegoats
Within Christianity it’s easy to criticize. Here are some of the most common scapegoats: 1) Conservative Fundamentalists Christianity’s negative public image is—often rightfully—blamed on these people. Perceived as being exclusive,…
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Stand Your Ground
“No duty to retreat.” That is the foundation of the controversial “stand your ground” laws that are in effect in over half the states. These laws allow people to “stand…
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Where Is God When We're in Pain?
“Night” is a by Elie Wiesel about his experience in the German concentration camps. “One day, ” writes Wiesel, “as we returned from work, we saw three gallows… The SS…
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No Passengers & No Excuses
By Morf Morford
We human beings have struggled with the place, power and purity of religion and politics since the dawn of history. Whose belief system is ‘right’ and what to do with…
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Is It Harmful to Tell People to Love Their Enemies If You Never Teach Them How?
After hearing a sermon on Jesus’ call to visit those imprisoned, Jasmine signed up as a volunteer for her church’s prison ministry. She was inspired by the vision that God’s…
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What if the World Doesn't End?
By Yaholo Hoyt
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” – Matthew 24:36 ESV Many people seem to…
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A White Pastor’s Miracle in Trayvon Martin’s Church
A thousand things ran through my mind when the news broke Saturday night about George Zimmerman’s acquittal. I was in a bar, meeting a few ministry friends for a drink…
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Trayvon and George: A Tale of Two Americas
The recent “not guilty” verdict out of Sanford, FL, reflects the principle of the American legal system that if there is reasonable doubt, courts will err on the side of…
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Finding justice for Trayvon: seven actions steps for our outrage
“I take for granted that I belong wherever I happen to be.” — Joan Haskins Any plausible deniability about the negative bias that black men face in our country was pulled…
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Trayvon Martin and the American Judicial System
By Andrew Marin
A few hours ago the ruling of “not guilty” by a six-women jury permeated the now infamous courtroom in Stanford, Florida, as George Zimmerman will not serve any jail time for killing…
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Stop Comparing my Christianity to Your Christianity!
My translation of the Bible is better than your translation. Hymns are better than choruses. The Contemporary service is better than the Traditional one. My version of baptism is better…
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EXECUTION ALERT: Warren Lee Hill
UPDATE: Warren’s execution has been moved to Friday, July 19 at 7pm. Please continue to pray for a miracle! A mentally-retarded man is scheduled to be executed in Georgia on Monday.…
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It's Desperate in Guantanamo
The situation in Guantanamo is desperate. Over 100 prisoners are on hunger strike, and the strike just passed its 150th day this week (also the beginning of Ramadan). 45 are…
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Masturbation and the Spiritual Life
By T.C. Ryan
There is a growing conversation around masturbation and relationships. It’s a good thing to have this discussion and I suspect the openness of it is a generational thing. Of the…
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I'm Humbled, Probably Not
By Kathy Vestal
“I am humbled to receive this award, ” we say. Or “I was humbled to be offered that position.” Really? What does that mean? Does it just mean “I don’t…
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Getting Dirty with Jesus
By Nancy Sleeth
It’s summer, and once again my fingernails are a wreck. I’ve got a quarter-inch gash hanging slanted off my pointer finger cuticle, like a bloody Q sign. My left thumb…
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Traditional Ignorance
By Morf Morford
Ignorance may not always be bliss, but it can certainly get comfortable. Simplistic assumptions and familiar slogans become so comfortable and comforting that we just cannot let them go. Each…
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My Weirdest Interview Ever with Jim Wallis
We started a new summer social justice lecture series at our church in downtown Portland this last Sunday. Despite some lingering anxieties from those less familiar with the platform, we…
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July 4th – Independence Day: A Day to Weep, Mourn, and Fast
Independence Day is our country’s oldest holiday. On that day, in 1776, Congress passed the Declaration making the United State’s separation with Great Britain legal effecting our autonomy from the…
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Flag Extremism and Christian Practice
I suspect the wonderful fragrance of the product they make is lost on those working every day in a perfume factory. And the stench is eventually not noticed by those…
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Oh, For A Thousand tongues to sing
By Morf Morford
He comes into my class Wearing a T-shirt that says, In big bright letters, “You’re in America – SPEAK ENGLISH”. And I ask the class To write down at least…
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Marriage Damaged by Porn: A Pastor’s Reflections
By T.C. Ryan
Recently I was asked about a very difficult situation. A woman has been married to a man with a long-term addiction to pornography. The last few years he’s been trying…
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Defending Paula Deen: what the national reaction can teach us about race
There has been a lot of press about the recent lawsuit filed against Paula Deen, alleging (among other things) that she tolerated blatant racism towards the staff in her company’s…
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What If Prayer Lists Were Work Lists?
By Yaholo Hoyt
“Ok everyone, time for prayer requests…” I don’t know about you, but those times always unsettle me a bit. Not that I mind praying, but something just always seemed missing…
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What does it mean to forgive someone?
What does it mean to forgive someone? Before you read this blog, I want you to take a stab at answering that question with someone around you (it’ll be like…
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The Danger of Big Surveillance Government
Sweeping, indiscriminate condemnations of Big Government are, I believe, misguided. But some expressions of Big Government certainly do deserve to be resisted. Sweeping surveillance by the government is one of…
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Should Christians Support Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning and Julian Assange?
Christians have been passionately debating gay marriage, abortion, evolution, school prayer, immigration and gun control for years, but for a religion that is founded on the virtues of truth, honesty…
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Will Texas’ 500th Execution, Kimberly McCarthy, help victims?
By Marty Troyer
Today we Texans will kill our 500th person who was created in the image of God. 500 families and our communities have lived in grief and fear because of the…
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Response to the SCOTUS
This morning, SCOTUS announced that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (ironically signed into law by Bill Clinton during his two-term presidency) is ‘unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal…
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Singing the Virtues of Drones
Let us sing of the virtues of drones! Sure, they can be used to kill and destroy. Still there is a melody in the air inspired by drone warfare. Yes,…
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You Are Not Alone
By RLC Editor
Last week I told you how I met Tony Campolo and how found myself directing Tony’s new initiative, Red Letter Christians. Since that first day 30 months ago Red Letter…
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Parents Just Want their Kids Back
I recently had the opportunity to attend a meeting on messaging strategies that engage people to support stricter gun laws. The goal of these changes is to make it harder…
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Are You Agapephobic?
By John Watson
Do you think God loves you most when you’re good, and less when you’re bad? Do you think God loves you lots, and your enemies a bit less? Do you…