Heaven is a Playground

Pop culture is replete with characterizations of Christians as being sour, dull, and way too serious about life. As a Christian, it’s easy to dismiss these characterizations as being unfair. But, that lets us off the hook too easily. And, well, it’s just a sour, dull and way too serious answer to the often hilarious characterizations … Read more

Bonhoeffer and the Holier Angel

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer made mistakes, but he understood the value of grace and repentance. When Hitler began to demand allegiance from pastors in Germany, Bonhoeffer fled to the United States. Not long after his arrival, he realized his wrong decision and returned to Germany to participate in efforts to overthrow the evils of Nazism. Six years later, Bonhoeffer was … Read more

Jesus is the Poor

When we were kids, my parents would take us to church. And when it came time for the deacons to pass the offering plate down our pew, my mom would open her purse and put a quarter in our hands. It was for us to drop it in the plate. It was a simple lesson, … Read more

Martin Luther King, Jr. On Voting Your Conscience

Most people will not change until they stand to lose something. This is not the Christian ethic. The Christian, just like Jesus, is willing to lose that others might gain. Martin Luther King, Jr. was willing to lose that others might gain. Like his namesake, the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, King took on a powerful system … Read more

The Silence of God and Suffering: Endō’s Masterpiece

Detail of Silence by Shusaku Endo cover

“If God exists, then why does He allow the innocent to suffer?” is a question that has been asked by many a skeptic. It’s a good question. And, it should not be posed by just skeptics or atheists trying to bolster their position. It should be a question that all Christians ask, and consider. Whether … Read more

Living in Reality

Trinity Rublev

Today a large portion of the Christian world is celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians use a different church calendar than Roman Catholics and Protestants. They also speak about the resurrection a bit differently too. Orthodox Christians have many traditions and ceremonies surrounding the celebration of the resurrection of Christ that are different from … Read more

Revisiting Feminism and the Bible’s View of Women

About a year ago, I got into a discussion with a Christian blogger about the term feminist. I told him that I didn’t think any Christian should call themselves a feminist. I told him that another word was needed if any real impact in the area of equality was to be achieved in American evangelical … Read more

Same-Sex Marriage: What’s a Christian to Think and Do?

Same-sex marriage. The three-word combination that was once only a dream for the homosexual community is now a legal reality in the United States. But, what is a Bible-believing Christian to think and/or do about all this? Just “love, love, love,” as the Beatles sang? Yes, love—that’s all we need. It is how God made … Read more