Does Conservative Theology Empower Abuse?
Here are three things that I believe are true and that are important for honest people to admit: It is a moral travesty when religious people or organizations use their beliefs, influence, or infrastructure to hurt, control, or manipulate other...
Virtue and Signaling
One of the responses I keep seeing to the Southern Baptist Convention’s statement about alt-right and white supremacy goes like this: “I agree that racism is bad, but this just feels like political correctness. It seems like the SBC just...
My Father’s Best Gift
My father’s best gift to me was his obscurity. In the 20+ years in which he pastored churches and his children grew up, he never published anything other than a newsletter article, spoke anywhere other than a church pulpit, or...
Proud
I’m grateful that my denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, overwhelmingly passed a resolution at their annual meeting today condemning the white supremacy of the so-called “alt-right” movement. This was the right resolution at the right time for the right reasons,...
Would You Leave Your Church Over Politics?
Question: Would you, Christian, ever be so disappointed in the political views of your pastor or fellow church members, that you found yourself unable to even bear going to church anymore? To be totally honest, before today, I would have...
Bernie Sanders, Christianity, and the “Price” of Citizenship
Read this David French write-up of an appalling episode today between senator Bernie Sanders and Russell Vought (seeking to be confirmed as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget). Sanders’ grilling of Vought’s theology is distasteful, yes,...
Some Advice for Writers
Recently a few friends of mine have asked me about writing, and for some perspective and/or advice on how to get started doing it seriously. I’ve given the same advice enough times that I figured it might be helpful to...
Wrong is Wrong, and Hypocrisy Doesn’t Change That
Recounting the events of today: An American comedian posted to social media a picture that included a likeness of the President in an extremely vulgar, grotesque, and at least plausibly threatening context. There was widespread outrage and condemnation of the...
The Parable of Anthony Weiner’s iPhone
A question that’s been nagging me: Would Anthony Weiner still have a political career if he hadn’t owned an iPhone? Last week Weiner pled guilty to sending sexually explicit messages to a minor through his smartphone. His plea deal comes...
What Graduation Means
Last spring spent about four hours of a Monday night at a college graduation. My wife was being awarded her degree in elementary education, and she was joined by (according to the college president) 995 other undergraduates. Graduates were welcomed, inducted,...