“Normal Christian political engagement is humble, loving, and sacrificial; it rejects the idea that Christians are entitled to primacy of place in the public square…” Paul D. Miller, professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University and a research fellow with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. I appreciate the feedback I got last week on my working … Read More
Defining Christian Nationalism, 1 of 2
I was finishing tiling her floor when my friend, Margaret, asked me “What is Christian nationalism?” She had seen the term referenced in this Mantua Creek story of impact from last year: “When we first started coming, I was questioning if there was a place for me in the evangelical church. I was discouraged by the rise of Christian Nationalism … Read More
Nurturing a Healthy Church Family
“Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2, NRSVUE This year, at Mantua Creek, we’re going through the pastoral epistles and Philemon. Last week my study of the text above was so surprisingly … Read More
The Problems with Single-Issue Voting
I’m not a fan of single-issue voting, especially the kind that seeks to intimidate and impose one person or group’s convictions on another. Like other forms of fundamentalism, it tends to oversimplify reality, ignore a forest of other issues, dumb people down into clones, alienate upcoming generations who prioritize differently, and judge others who don’t think as they do. As … Read More
Gospel Transformation vs. Politics
As a minister of the gospel serving at the center of the pro-life movement, I often used the phrase “non-political” to distance myself from unhelpful associations with white Republicanism and single-issue voting. Additionally, as a “never-Trumper,” I did it to protect myself from being canceled by many in my own network. I say this last statement not to disparage those … Read More
Is America God’s Central, Chosen Nation for Our Times?
Note: Hey friends, I’m excited to share that I’m working on a new booklet in the Constructive Conversation series on Christian Nationalism. This week’s post is related to that, as was last week’s, and, I expect, several more over the coming months. If you want a simple definition of Christian nationalism, think of it as a subtle form of idolatry … Read More
Misplaced Priorities
“O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.” Psalm 60:11-12, NRSV One of the more troubling but deeply revealing emails I received while serving at the center of the pro-life movement was from a dear mom whom I’ll call Sarah. Choosing … Read More
Faith in Crisis
Believe it or not, my greatest crisis of faith came thirty years ago while I was immersed in discussions and study related to God and the Bible at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. One day, as I wandered the nearby campus of Westminster Presbyterian Seminary, a solitary PCUSA school with several attractive stone buildings, I even seriously questioned the existence … Read More
Celebrating Jesus as the Life and Light
“In him was life, and the life was the light of all people…the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:4,9 (NRSV) For the last four months, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about John’s famous prologue (1:1-18). Throughout the Christmas season, this passage loomed large and now, as we enter Holy Week, I continue … Read More
Responding to Ken Ham and Other YEC Arguments
Hey Freinds, I’m excited to let you know about a new chapter in the Genesis 1 & Science booklet that’s part of the constructive conversation series. It’s 100% devoted to responding to Ken Ham and common young earth creationist (YEC) objections. There are also quite a few smaller updates throughout the resource, as well as two fresh reviews that you … Read More