• Let the Cultural Christians Come unto Jesus

    Let the Cultural Christians Come unto Jesus
    The world is realizing anew that our faith has tangible benefits. This is an opportunity for the gospel.As Christianity continues to decline in the West, the broader world has begun to notice something’s missing. There seems to be a growing awareness that—for all the scandals and failings of the church—the loss of a Christian culture leaves us all worse off, and that there are benefits to being a Christian and to living in a Christian society.For example, Derek Thompson recentl
  • Anglican Bishop Removed as Clergy Call for Transparency in Investigation

    Anglican Bishop Removed as Clergy Call for Transparency in Investigation
    While the ACNA hasn’t offered public updates on a trial for Stewart Ruch’s abuse response, Todd Atkinson, a bishop appointed to assist him, has been deposed over inappropriate relationships.Nearly three years ago, Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Anglican Church in North America’s Diocese of the Upper Midwest admitted “regrettable errors” in handling sexual abuse allegations against a lay minister, before taking a leave of absence. An acting bishop took over the diocese a
  • The Flannery O’Connor Novel That Might Have Been

    The Flannery O’Connor Novel That Might Have Been
    Her final work was continually revised but never finished. Can we know what she was aiming to achieve?Flannery O’Connor was an inveterate rewriter, working, reworking, and deleting episodes from her stories and novels. Her archives, collected at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, bulge with deleted scenes and alternate versions of characters scarcely recognizable as the people who inhabit the published versions of her stories.O’Connor spent five years crafting Wis
  • DOJ Issues First Indictment in Southern Baptist Investigation

    DOJ Issues First Indictment in Southern Baptist Investigation
    A former official at Southwestern Seminary has been charged with falsifying records in the federal probe into the denomination’s abuse response.
    A former Southern Baptist seminary professor and interim provost has been indicted on a charge of obstructing justice in a sexual misconduct case, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.Matt Queen, who was previously an administrator and professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, allegedly gave the FBI falsified notes during an o
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  • Moral Failures by Christian Leaders Are a Huge Problem. Can New Standards Help?

    Moral Failures by Christian Leaders Are a Huge Problem. Can New Standards Help?
    ECFA is adding leadership integrity to its accountability criteria.
    The accreditation agency for over 2,700 evangelical nonprofits wants to raise its standards to address “one of the greatest financial risks” posed to churches and ministries today: moral failures by leadership.For decades, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has established guidelines around financial transparency, stewardship, and governance. This year, the organization announced plans to add
  • I’m a Political Prisoner in Congo. My Ministry Is Thriving.

    I’m a Political Prisoner in Congo. My Ministry Is Thriving.
    Even as I long for health and freedom, I see the good that God is doing.The end of April 2024 marked my 10th month in detention at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).Each day passes, leaving the impression that I will be free tomorrow. I know the day I hope for will finally come, because I have put my hope in the Master of times and circumstances. As he says in Matthew 25:31–46, he is also detained with me here. When he is done with detention, he will lea
  • How to Be a Christian Influencer Worthy of the Name

    How to Be a Christian Influencer Worthy of the Name
    We do not deserve to wield influence in the church while being simps and sycophants to the secular world.There’s good reason for the church to be wary of social media influencers—particularly those who speak to spiritual matters. We aren’t wrong to be disconcerted at the idea of Christians being led by online personalities who might be more charismatic than theologically sound or more creative than credible, especially when the influencers are disconnected from church disciples
  • Forrest Frank Is Making the Internet’s Vibiest Christian Music

    Forrest Frank Is Making the Internet’s Vibiest Christian Music
    His upbeat hits and worship collaborations are capturing younger listeners on social media.
    Some of the most popular music we hear in our Instagram and TikTok feeds comes from Forrest Frank, the independent artist and music producer known for his viral, feel-good songs.His beat-driven pop combines vibey grooves and infectious hooks in hits like “Up!” and “Good Day.”Frank was the top-ranked new artist on last year’s Billboard Christian charts, and his advice for fell
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  • The Loosening of American Evangelicalism

    The Loosening of American Evangelicalism
    Long-standing norms against drinking, tattoos, and Catholic-coded church practices have rapidly fallen. What’s going on?Something has happened in the last 25 years in American evangelicalism—what I believe to be a massive generational shift. I’d like to sketch a picture of the change I see and ask if you see it too.First, though, let me set the scene. I have in mind low-church Protestant traditions in the United States: churches centered on the Bible, evangelism, and personal f
  • Don’t Skip Chronicles in Your Bible Reading Plan

    Don’t Skip Chronicles in Your Bible Reading Plan
    What we can learn from the chronicler’s stories about the kings of Israel.To the dutiful Bible reader, Chronicles might seem a bit baffling. As we read, we might find ourselves wondering, Haven’t I read this before? The short answer is yes and no .
    The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles retell some of the same stories of Israel and Judah that appear in the books of Samuel and Kings. But the chronicler also offers a fresh perspective on those years by incorporating new material and leaving o
  • The Church Fathers Belong in Creation Debates. But Handle Them with Care.

    The Church Fathers Belong in Creation Debates. But Handle Them with Care.
    We can humbly seek their wisdom without treating them as mascots for one position or another.On September 11, 2020, I found myself under a large tent, where 51 ministers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church had assembled for a COVID-era presbytery. They gathered to receive charges against me, initiating an ecclesiastical trial. I had published a book that affirmed the possibility of theistic evolution—a view regarded by some as dangerous.Through that process, I became personally (and painfu
  • AI Preachers and Teachers? No Thanks, Say Most Americans.

    AI Preachers and Teachers? No Thanks, Say Most Americans.
    American Bible Society study finds majority don’t trust technology with spiritual matters.Ask ChatGPT how to improve your spiritual life, and the natural-language processing artificial intelligence chatbot has plenty of suggestions.But Americans are skeptical that artificial intelligence, or AI, has much to offer in the way of reliable religious guidance.Sixty-eight percent of people don’t think AI could help them with their spiritual practices or “promote spiritual health,&rdq
  • A New Era of AI Is Here, and the Church Is Not Ready

    A New Era of AI Is Here, and the Church Is Not Ready
    In the uncanny valley of the shadow of data, we should fear no evil—and prepare for a very different future.This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here.In the past several weeks, two events occurred that are going to change our futures. One of them was the launching of OpenAI’s new artificial intelligence program, GPT-4o, just ahead of several competitors who will do the same in a matter of weeks. The other was the defrocking of a robot priest for tea
  • Billy Graham’s US Capitol Statue Unveiled

    Billy Graham’s US Capitol Statue Unveiled
    The late evangelist is one of just four Americans who have received the nation’s three highest congressional honors.
    Salvation in Christ Jesus was offered in National Statuary Hall May 16 at the unveiling of a statue of the iconic late global evangelist Billy Graham, which has John 3:16 and John 14:6 carved in its base.“Friends, God’s grace is undeserved, but through Christ it is freely given. And it is by trusting in God’s sacrifice that we are saved,” US Sen. Ted
  • Police Officers Are Burning Out. Can Chaplains Help?

    Police Officers Are Burning Out. Can Chaplains Help?
    Spiritual care is essential as stressors among law enforcement rise.Sitting in the front row of a supervisor training in 2016, Stamford Police Sgt. Sean Boeger raised his hand every time the instructor asked who had dealt with a particular experience, including homicides, fatal accidents, and child deaths.During his nearly 30 years as a police officer, 48-year-old Boeger had helped with body recovery efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11. When 20 children were killed by a lone shooter in 2012 at San
  • The Caregiving Boom Needs Spiritual Support

    The Caregiving Boom Needs Spiritual Support
    By calling or circumstance, millions in the “sandwich generation” feel the weight and cost of tending to aging relatives.
    Shanoah Bruner is among the quarter of American adults who find themselves in the “sandwich generation,” raising children under 18 and supporting aging parents.At her home in the Indianapolis suburbs, the 40-something mom lives with her husband, tween and teen daughters, mother-in-law, and biological father.The caretaking role comes naturally to Brune
  • The Miracle of the Ear

    The Miracle of the Ear
    Speech was not God’s only miracle at Pentecost. The Spirit also gave the gift of understanding, overcoming division and contempt.Tongues of fire, everywhere. In this loud and furious age, a time of protests and counter-protests, words come burning, singeing, scalding, stinging.“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James wrote, “because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (1:19–20). But few of
  • The Sustaining Breath of God

    The Sustaining Breath of God
    As a physician, I witness countless first and last breaths. As a Christian, I am constantly reminded of how God breathes life into us through his Spirit.The scalpel sliced through the uterine wall. The amniotic sac ruptured, and fluid flowed across the blue surgical drapery toward me. The obstetrician’s fingers curled around the baby’s head while my gloved hands pressed firmly against the mother’s abdomen. The baby was larger than we had expected. I shifted my full body weight
  • Would Tim Keller Care If We Weren’t Still Talking About Him? Probably Not.

    Would Tim Keller Care If We Weren’t Still Talking About Him? Probably Not.
    For all his greatness, we should most seek to imitate the late pastor’s humility and indifference to fame.In spring of last year, many of us saw a photo of the late Timothy Keller sitting on a park bench. The photo was used on the cover of Collin Hansen’s biography of Keller, and it circulated around the internet in May when he passed away—on social media, blogs, and even Keller’s personal website.What most of us didn’t see, however, was the banana peel lying on the
  • Pascal Is More Than His Most Famous Argument

    Pascal Is More Than His Most Famous Argument
    The wager only scratches the surface of his relevance to a post-Christian era.It is a common lament that we live in a post-Christian era. This fact raises challenges to our witness to the world. Most of our audience thinks that, in G. K. Chesterton’s words, Christianity has been tried and found wanting (rather than found wanting and left untried). It is not considered a live option. How do we bear witness well in this cultural context? We might do well to reconsider one of the most enigmat
  • ‘Young Sheldon’ Is Ending. So Is Its Idea of Science Versus Religion.

    ‘Young Sheldon’ Is Ending. So Is Its Idea of Science Versus Religion.
    For seven seasons, the show has offered a clichéd (and nostalgic) vision of how atheists and believers relate to each other.My mom was the one who told me to watch The Big Bang Theory. It was a show about nerds—and I was a nerd. She thought I’d enjoy it. A friend had already mentioned that the main character, Sheldon Cooper, was “exactly like” me. After I watched the show, at Mom’s encouragement, I joked that I had mixed feelings about the comparison.The Big
  • In the Beginning, Did God Make ‘Sky Father’ and ‘Earth Mother’?

    In the Beginning, Did God Make ‘Sky Father’ and ‘Earth Mother’?
    Māori Christians in New Zealand bristle at newly translated portions of the Bible that use the names of local deities.Last year, Bible Society New Zealand (BSNZ) released a 109-page booklet with 10 Bible passages published in a contemporary Māori translation for the first time. The version used the names of atua Māori, or Māori gods and deities, in place of words like heaven, earth, land, and sea. Genesis 1:1, for example, says that in the beginning, God made Rangi-nui (Sky F
  • Can You Serve Christ and Confucius?

    Can You Serve Christ and Confucius?
    Asian Christians must navigate ethical dilemmas in everyday life. This recent book can help.There are rules to follow in every culture, particularly in Asia, where many children must bear the responsibility of maintaining harmony within the home and familial structure. To deviate from the norms or traditions of any Asian society requires a bold willingness to try to demonstrate to one’s fellow citizens what is and is not working in their culture. As a Christian living or ministering in an
  • Christian Billionaire Goes on Trial for Major Wall Street Fraud

    Christian Billionaire Goes on Trial for Major Wall Street Fraud
    Federal prosecutors are trying to prove that Bill Hwang committed massive market manipulation through his investment firm Archegos. His defense says he was trading like anyone else on Wall Street.Bill Hwang brought a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer to court to read during jury selection.And during opening arguments on Monday, his Christian connections from New York packed out a courtroom to support him.He had given his investment firm a Christian name, held Wall Street Bible readings, and distribute
  • Christian Women in India Lack Inheritance Rights. Could Hindu Nationalists Help?

    Christian Women in India Lack Inheritance Rights. Could Hindu Nationalists Help?
    The Uniform Civil Code seeks "one nation, one law" to govern citizens' personal lives, but religious minorities fear hidden costs.In February, the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand passed a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which aims to implement a common set of rules governing crucial aspects of life, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.This code would supplant existing personal laws that religious groups in India currently ascribe to. Personal laws cover family-related matters s
  • Why the Pacific Islands Are 90 Percent Christian

    Why the Pacific Islands Are 90 Percent Christian
    It wasn’t only because of missionaries from the West, says a Tongan Australian theologian.Christian overseas missionaries were more successful in Oceania—the region spanning the Pacific Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand—than anywhere else in the world.In particular, people in the Pacific Islands (which include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, and more) were receptive to the gospel because “their ancestors’ strong beliefs in a divine
  • ‘Offering Everything They Have’: How Small Churches Are Saving Lives in Brazil’s Floods

    ‘Offering Everything They Have’: How Small Churches Are Saving Lives in Brazil’s Floods
    In the country's most secular state, tiny congregations have made a big impact by their disaster response.For weeks, Tárik Rodriguez had been working on bringing a guest preacher and worship leader from across the country to help his church celebrate its third anniversary. In 2021, Rodriguez and a small team launched Viela da Graça Igreja in Novo Hamburgo, a small city in Brazil’s most southern province, Rio Grande do Sul.Then, it started raining.The floods have done more tha
  • Rage Against the Apple Machine

    Rage Against the Apple Machine
    The controversial iPad ad proves that technology can indeed flatten—or crush—what is real.A recent advertisement from Apple for the new iPad Pro has somehow managed to existentially disturb me. Titled “Crush!” it shows an ominous hydraulic press above a platform filled with symbols of humanity, creativity, and joy: a metronome, guitar, classical statue, piano, analog cameras, books, paint, and more.The metronome starts, and the press descends to Sonny & Cher’s &
  • Grace College Professor Terminated Following Facebook Campaign

    Grace College Professor Terminated Following Facebook Campaign
    Matthew Warner, who had tweeted about gay marriage, is the latest in a string of Christian college faculty who have lost their jobs after being accused of theological misalignment.With glowing performance reviews and above-average student evaluations, by most measures Matthew Warner’s first year as a communications professor at Grace College was a triumph.But he spent most of that first year knowing it could be his last. After four months on the job, Warner was informed by the school&rsquo
  • Christians Shouldn’t Run from a ‘Negative World.’ But They Can Depend on It Less.

    Christians Shouldn’t Run from a ‘Negative World.’ But They Can Depend on It Less.
    Aaron Renn outlines individual, institutional, and missional strategies for adapting to a hostile culture.Rarely does an essay cause such a stir as Aaron Renn’s “The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism.” Published in First Things in 2022, Renn’s framework for describing Christianity’s fall into cultural disfavor since the 1960s elicited a wide range of responses, from wholehearted agreement to sympathetic skepticism to vociferous disagreement, and seemingly everything in

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