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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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Following Francis: The Veneration of (Imperfect) Saints
When people find out that I am 3rd Order Franciscan and that I have written a book that reflects on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, it is not…
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Waiting For St. Benedict: Where Does Occupy Wall Street Go From Here?
A couple of weeks ago, the Occupy Wall Street protests looked like a typical gathering of disgruntled young people, not unlike protests outside WTO or World Bank gatherings over the…
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Thanking God for R.E.M.
As soon as the news hit a few weeks back that rock band R.E.M. was retiring after over 30 years together, a call went out to writers to compose tributes…
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Questions for God from Behind Bars
By Morf Morford
Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers. -Rainer Maria Rilke What question would you ask God? I…
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Beware, Or You Too May Be – Left Below! (When the Simpsons and Harold Camping Collide)
By Kurt Willems
Leave it to Homer Simpson to help us understand the “end times” better. Beware, or you too may be – Left Below! This warning filled our TV screens, our newspapers,…
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Hope for Despairing Christians In A World That is Getting Worse and Worse
By Tony Campolo
Buy cialis softg” alt=”” width=”169″ height=”170″ />For many Evangelical Christians, the normative attitude is to view world history with despair. Most have been led to believe that forces of darkness…
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What Would Jesus Occupy? Faith & #Occupy Wall Street
It might sound like a set up for a punchline; two God’s Politics contributors, a Muslim professor, an economist, a theologian and translator of Zizek’s work, and an Benedictine Abbott…
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Anwar Al-Awlaki: Eye For an Eye, or a Third Way?
I’ve been reflecting on the recent killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, an Al Qaida leader operating from Yemen, by American forces. A friend asked me if the fact that al-Awlaki was…
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“If you’re not rich, blame yourself” (Herman Cain vs. John Wesley)
“If you don’t have a job and you’re not rich, blame yourself.” Thus says Herman Cain to the unemployed Wall Street protestors. I understand why he said it. He wants…
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Mustard Seeds of Hope: Israeli’s and Palestinian’s Standing Under the Banner of Non-Violence
By Jon Huckins
My 1 year old daughter is at the stage in her development where she is captivated by anything around her. Whether a shoe, toy or even her own foot, she…
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Evangelical School Cancels Breakfast with Bush
By Will Braun
After news leaked that Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto, Ontario was planning an invitation-only fundraising breakfast with George W. Bush last month, it only took two days for…
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Liberia, the Nobel Peace Prize, and Me
Last Friday, three women were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their commitment to women’s rights. Two of those women, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, were from Liberia, the…
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Why Jesus might be a Republi-demo-liber-green-peace and freed-O-crat
By Kurt Willems
A few months ago there was a provocative article written by Phil Zuckerman and Dan Cady called: Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus. It would be easy for many to be up…
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Living Into a New Story
My wife, Amy, and I just got back from a quick trip to Las Vegas for my 40th birthday. I jumped off a 109-story building, we did the zip line…
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In and Out of the Zoo
By Morf Morford
Where no gods are, spectres rule. Novalis One time I took a group of people in the drug rehab program to the local zoo. Most of our group had been…
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The Growing Impossibility of Interfaith Dialogue
By Tony Campolo
I just returned from the 2011 meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. It is an amazing gathering that brings together heads of state, some of the richest people in the…
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Why Do People In Your Country Think I'm a Terrorist?
By Jon Huckins
Although we had only met each other a few days before, my friend looked at me with tears welling up in his eyes and said, “I am a Christian. I…
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Listening to the Dead
In the fall of 1980, when I was 12 years old, I went with my dad into downtown New Orleans to his office on Magazine Street. Driving down Canal Street,…
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Steve Jobs, God’s Vision & Here I Stand: #OccupyWallStreet NOT Afghanistan
This week marks ten years since the occupation of Afghanistan started. I’ve just sat down to throw some thoughts on paper in between speaking engagements in New Zealand. The news…
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Whose Side Does God Take?
I have a problem that perhaps you can relate to. I’m very good at taking sides according to the lines that the world draws for me rather than taking Jesus’…
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Researching My Sundown Town: What white people can do about racism…
By Chris Lahr
The next step on the path towards reconciliation is an important one. It is at this point that we reach a critical juncture of either rejection or repentance. Racial justice…
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Trolls, Avatars and the Convertible Effect
I remember when I first learned about the atrocities of the Holocaust in school. I could not imagine the type of person who could do such things to another person.…
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St. Francis, Pray for Us
Today (October 4) Christians around the world celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the bright lights of the Church and one of the most venerated religious…
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The History & Modern Manifestation of Christian Zionism
By Jon Huckins
Series Note: This post is the first in a three part series on the topic of Christian Zionism and its implications in Israel and Palestine. There are few topics more…
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I Believe in the “Here and Now” But Live Like I Trust in Escapism
By Kurt Willems
I’ve noticed a trend in my life. When it comes to my worldview, the way I see reality, the way I see the Scriptures… I believe in a faith that…
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Of Politics, Religion, and Gynecological Rockers (Ode to Ted Nugent)
Quickly now, name the first three things that come to your mind when you hear the name Ted Nugent. Wait – make that the first three things that come to…
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Becoming a Fool for Gabriela
“Motion pictures aren’t called that simply because they are pictures in motion, but because they have the power to profoundly move people.” Last week I had breakfast with 14 year-old Gabriela.…
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Constructing an Identity of Lacking to Find God
By Noah Echols
Jesus presented a message that is largely ignored today: the more one lacks, the more likely he/she is to seek God. Jacques Lacan, a French theorist, proposed the idea of…
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Creating a Culture of Life Against Ideology and Capital
I heard a sermon recently on the need to create a “culture of life” instead of the “culture of death” that we currently have in our society. Not only do…
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Southern Baptists, Women and the NIV Bible: This, Too, Shall Pass
The Southern Baptist Convention‘s (SBC) resolution in opposition to the most recent New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible is not surprising to many. By a more than a…
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Simplicity: Relationships Work
By Greg Dill
Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimal means. In the digital and information age we live, things are to be more simple. And, practically speaking perhaps they are.…
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I Am Lawrence Brewer
By Sarah Howell
Two nights ago, the state of Georgia executed Troy Davis, a man widely believed to be innocent. A last-minute delay went to the Supreme Court, where a stay of execution…
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Troy Davis and the Biblical Case(s) for Violence
By Matt Rindge
As I write this article, it appears that Troy Davis will be executed within a few hours. He will join countless others, including Osama bin Laden, who have been killed…
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Judgment's Triumph: The Unjust Death of Troy Davis
By Joe Perdue
On W reading teacher ednesday, September 21 the US Supreme Court chose to deny Troy Davis’ final appeal for a stay of execution. In spite of his claim of innocence,…
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Choose Life for Troy Davis
Despite 650, 000 signatures, a letter from over 50 members of the US Congress, and a personal plea from former Georgia governor and US President Jimmy Carter, the Georgia State…
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End the Silence of the Good People – What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of bad people, but the appalling silence of the good…
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Is Postmodern Christianity Dead?
Some people find great pleasure in being the first to claim the death of the latest thing to capture our collective imagination. You can see it everywhere in the worlds…
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God's Middle Finger – When the Divine Says "Up Yours"
By Kurt Willems
When we cling to the sword, we flip the cross upside down to use it as our tool of death instead of God’s tool for bringing life. And so the…
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Celebrating the Interruption of Death
Editor’s Update: Duane’s story is one of redemption – he has devoted himself to God since his arrival on death row, and he’s even called “Preacher Buck” because he ministers…
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Bible Translation Debates: The Challenge of Changing Language
By Mimi Haddad
Have you ever noticed how every day language is used to manipulate and shape rather than describe reality? Here is one example. I used to swim several mornings a week,…
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Oh Crap I'm White. . .What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
One of the privileges of being white is that you do not have to think about race. On TV if a black person does something illegal you often hear about…
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Requisite Reading for the Squeamish Lightweight
If you don’t know me, or my reading habits, you have no reason to be surprised by the two newest titles on my nightstand. The requisite info is simply that…
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How 9/11 has Shaped our Collective Struggle
The events of 9/11 retain a powerful grip on our collective consciousness. Nearly every American adult can answer “what were you doing during the attacks?” Personally and collectively, we’ve been…
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Letter from a Young Evangelical to the Muslim World
By Aaron Graham
Salaam aleikum, shalom, and peace be with you at the end of your holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of a reflective and solemn moment for Americans on…
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The New “War” on Terror: 9/11 and Jesus’ Approach to Enemies of the State
By Kurt Willems
This past week I was invited to speak at a youth event, which had servanthood and commissioning as its focus. It was organized by three youth pastors that are all…
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Moving on the Block: What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
“What white people can do about racism” as a blog series is not so much a “how to” manual to end racism, as much as it is a reflection on…
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Take A Walk on 9/11
By Bart Campolo
As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, many of us are wondering how best to honor the many victims of that tragedy and its aftermath. Here in Cincinnati, my wife…
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What Does Hip-Hop Tell Us About Faith and Society?
Last week, Rev. Michael Waters wrote a post entitled “An Odd Future for Faith In Hip-Hip.” In the piece Rev. Waters asserts that “I am increasingly troubled by certain contemporary…
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What My Muslim Friend Taught Me About Jesus
By Jon Huckins
Ali is my good friend and one of my hero’s. He has taught me so much. Let me tell you about him. Ali grew up a Shi’ite Muslim in Iran.…
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"Grace"less Christianity
A church called Point of Grace in Iowa that was renting off-site office space to a day care center has taken a rather radical turn. Ironically, it appears they’re offering…
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Is Salvation Through Faith the Core of the Gospel?
By Noah Echols
Many will argue the core of the gospel is found in Jesus claiming that we can only attain salvation through faith in him. After all, Jesus did say that he…
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Joy's Shadow As New School Year Begins
By Kent Annan
My daughter attended her first day of kindergarten today. A poignant milestone dressed up in an exceptionally cute plaid jumper. My wife and I thought we were pretty cool with…
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Anti-Gay?
I was sitting at the edge of my seat, anxiously waiting for Hybels to make his announcement. As a former Starbucks partner (the internal terminology used for employees) and manager, the…
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Hurricane Irene and the Wrath of God
“Do you think God sent Hurricane Irene?” a young man asked me with a curious look in his eyes that was as innocent as it was pensive. My mind flashed…
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The "God" of the Gut: Animals, Faith & Gluttony
By Kurt Willems
Jesus fished with his disciples. Jesus multiplied a few fish into enough to feed a village. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, fell into a trance in which God said:…
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Confessions of a Failing Radical: Challenges of Walking the Way
By Matt Anslow
This post was inspired by an amicable challenge set forth by my friend Simon Moyle, a peace activist and worthy Twitter followee, in the comments section of a recent post of…
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We Are All Illegal
We are all illegal aliens in the kingdom of God granted entry only by the amnesty of Christ’s blood. That is the strange foundational truth of Christianity. There is nothing…
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The Great White Hope? What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
I attend a congregation called, Iglesia del Barrio (IDB), which translated into English means “church of the neighborhood.” The congregation is made up of predominantly Puerto Rican folks who have…
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With Morbid Silence: Christian Denial in an Age of Economic Disparity
By Erin Echols
Whether it is in our passionate recitation from the one line of the one Martin Luther King speech we’ve actually read or the long clap that followed our now President’s suggestion…
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The Face of Privilege in Hard Times
Every industry is getting hammered by the recession, but small nonprofits are getting hit especially hard. I’ve been working mostly by contract for nonprofits for the last eight years, and…
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Hell on Earth and the Kingdom of God
By Greg Dill
In 2008 I had the opportunity to serve the poorest of poor. There is a people group in Honduras known as, “the people of the dump” who literally live, eat,…
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Coming Out of the Theological Closet
By Kurt Willems
I’m told that coming out of the closet involves risk on the part of someone who identifies with the LGBTIQ community. How will my family and friends respond? Will I…
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Jesus the Breadmaker
“Look daddy, ” my two-year-old daughter said on Sunday, pointing to the communion table, “Jesus gave us more food again.” I don’t write nearly as much about little Zoe as…
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"A Trumpet Now Sounds" & "An Unspoken Leap"
A TRUMPET NOW SOUNDS A trumpet now sounds A horn now beckons For all to break free From Babylon The word has been sent From the most holy mountain And…
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The Majority Needs Diversity More Than The Minority
By Chris Lahr
A couple months ago I was at a one-day conference on raising money and sustaining your sport’s club. Working with Timoteo, a flag football ministry in Philly that mentors young…
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Myopically Mothering My Own as Mission?
Within evangelical culture, many mothers of young children have received a blanket assurance that “motherhood is mission.” Maybe when a mother was leaving a job she loved, or wiping human…
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Really!?! Men are the Spiritual Head of the Home?
By Joe Perdue
If you’re like me, you’re a fan of Saturday Night Live. Granted, I usually tune in more during election years than other times, but the show is always good for…
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Jesus, Bombs, and Ice Cream
I was in Baghdad in March 2003, where I lived as a Christian and as a peacemaker during the “shock-and-awe” bombing. I spent time with families, volunteered in hospitals, and…
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"Women Should Remain Silent"?
By Mimi Haddad
Many of us were raised in churches that taught that women should be silent in the church because of the teachings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:34. When we read…
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What if Jesus Meant All That Stuff?
To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends: I feel like I should begin with a confession. I am sorry that so often the biggest obstacle to God has been…
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Like Fish Out of Water. . .What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
Several years ago I was taking an Evangelism class at Asbury Seminary. We had a guest speaker come to our class who was an anthropology/ missiology professor. I was immediately…
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"What is Truth?" in the Midst of Tsunamis and Radioactivity
By John Janzen
Almost six months have passed since the earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan, ending the lives of over 20, 000 people. Reconstruction efforts move steadily forward, even as concerns about…
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Ending Poverty with Global Christianity's Phantom Trillion
In the ’90s, Keith Olbermann was part of a flawless thing called SportsCenter. Even though the political commentary and overall style he’s developed since then isn’t everyone’s cup of tea,…
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Let's Talk About Sex, Baby! (. . .and Consumerism)
By Matt Anslow
Many Christians are very critical of contemporary sexual culture, and rightly so. But what is the worldview behind this culture of so-called sexual liberation? Perhaps, by directly attacking modern ideas…
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9/11 Walks: Remembrance through Reconciliation
By Bart Campolo
OK, so imagine you had this great idea to help people all over the world to do something really meaningful on 9/11/11 and just four weeks to pull it off?…
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Fatalities of Prejudice
By Jon Huckins
Confession: I often fall victim to stereotype and blind prejudice against those outside of my cultural, religious or ethnic circle. I believe many of us have allowed the polarizing and…
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Do Christians Believe in Democracy?
Do Christians believe in democracy? It’s a question we don’t often ask. We often think the answer is an obvious yes. For many people, believing in things like Christianity, democracy,…
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Hiroshima and the Transfiguration: A Meditation
It must be one of the extraordinary accidents of history that the first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, which marks the annual Feast of the Transfiguration for Roman…
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The Myth of the Melting Pot: What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
One thing I know about white people is that we like results (or as Larry the Cable Guy often says, we like to “git er done”). Another thing I have…
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I'm Done With Living Like A Christian
By Kurt Willems
Something happened last week. I went on a retreat with an amazing spiritual director / teacher named Jan Johnson. By the end of our time together I realized that I’m…
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Hipster Pharisees
By Erin Echols
Here in the suburban South, new churches sometimes seem like a dime a dozen with many church plants meeting anywhere from shopping centers and warehouse buildings to schools and homes.…
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An Imaginary Law: the SBC Approach to Undocumented Immigrants
By Tony Campolo
The Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, and pretended to develop a guide for law and/or legislation concerning undocumented immigrants. As one political commentator pointed out,…
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Ayn Rand is the New Jesus: Dave Ramsey’s Gospel of Self-Reliance
As our leaders battle over the budget crisis in Washington, Christian finance guru Dave Ramsey has started a movement called the Great Recovery that is described as “a grassroots movement…
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Forgetting the Poor?
By Roy Goble
There’s a passage in Galatians 2 that has always intrigued me, so this week I’m going to share three posts on the topic. This is from The Message translation of…
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The Great Church Search
By Jason Hess
cialis for sale34″ />A long time ago people would attend the house of worship that was in their neighborhood, our orthodox Jewish brethren still do. But our culture of customization…
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The Pollution of Racism: What White People Can Do About Racism
By Chris Lahr
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the…
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Shocked About New York Gay Marriage
By Andrew Marin
I saw on the news the other day that on the first day of LGBT couples having the right to get legally married in New York, the New York City…
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No More War! Australian Peace Activists Protest Unwinnable War
By Kate Ausburn
As the 28th Australian soldier was killed in Afghanistan, four Christian activists were arrested during a peaceful blockade of the secretive Swan Island military base in Victoria. News of the…
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One Flesh, One Purpose, One Rank
By Mimi Haddad
Summer is the season of weddings! Many of us will have the pleasure of celebrating with family and friends as they join their lives as husband and wife. Though we…
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Obama Visit Challenges 'African Woman' Stereotype
By Enuma Okoro
Last month on her official trip to Africa, Michelle Obama gave a speech of encouragement to 76 young sub-Saharan African women participating in the U.S.-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum…
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C.S. Lewis Should Be An Evangelical Reject Too!
By John Janzen
I am one of the ones who, after reading Kurt’s post on evangelical rejects, felt even more at home [link: article and follow-up]. Coincidentally, I read the post the day…
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Illusion of the Emerging Church
One of the difficulties I think we will encounter in this conversation is – we have lived with the illusion of the “Emerging Church”. Just like those who are defending…