Month: June 2017
My 16 Top Movies of the 21st Century
Short story short: The New York Times released a list of the best movies of the 21st century. The list is wrong, but it’s fun and interesting and, more to the point, inspired some friends of mine to come up...
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...