An Introduction to Evangelicals and Christian Media

Last updated on: May 24, 2024 at 7:53 pm By John San Nicolas

This article is an introduction into how evangelicals utilize media. When we are talking about “media,” we are referring to the many cultural artifacts that evangelical businesses produce. This includes online media, such as websites like Christian Mingle (a dating site for Christians), or social media platforms like Savior Connect. It includes business niches, like Christian Contemporary Music (CCM), Christian Hip-Hop (CHH), Christian clothing brands like Art of Homage, and others. Christian media is easily recognizable. A surefire way to... Read more

Augustine’s City of God: No Justice, No Peace

Last updated on: July 17, 2024 at 7:27 am By John San Nicolas

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Augustine’s City of God is a foundational text in Christian political thought. Augustine developed many important concepts and principles rooted in Scripture and Tradition. As modern Christians, we would do well to draw what we can from this ancient text. Here, we will explore what Augustine, in light of his socio-political context, had to say about peace. Is all peace good peace? Is all peace just? And is order at the expense of harmony and equality truly an order worth wanting? These... Read more

Political Animals from the Garden of Eden

Last updated on: May 10, 2024 at 4:34 pm By John San Nicolas

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One of the great philosophers in the Western tradition, Aristotle, famously called humans “political animals.” The broad idea behind this term is that humans naturally associate with each other. We form families, make friends, and experience conflict and enmity. Being political isn’t just for rulers and politicians. To be human is to be political. Aside from Aristotle, there is a biblical foundation for this view. Not only are we political animals; we are political animals from the Garden of Eden.... Read more

Observing Passover: Naomi Klein and the Exodus from Zionism

Last updated on: April 28, 2024 at 2:01 pm By John San Nicolas

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Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is celebrated this year from April 22 to April 30. It is one of the most significant and meaningful festivals in Judaism. In this article, we will learn from Naomi Klein, a Jewish environmentalist and writer, on her reflection on Passover and its challenge to Zionism. To develop this discussion, we shall proceed in three parts. First, we will explore Pesach, its history, rituals, and general meaning for the Jewish people, as well as the significance... Read more

Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman Revisited

Last updated on: April 20, 2024 at 2:47 pm By John San Nicolas

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Was Jesus a racist? In the Gospel of Mark, there is a story where a Syrophoenician woman comes to Jesus. She asks for her daughter to be exorcised, for her daughter was possessed by a demon. After passing a test of faith, Jesus heals the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter without even having to pay the young girl a visit. The story is an exaltation of the woman’s faith, and it speaks to the racial/ethnic tensions in first century Judea. In 2021,... Read more

The Stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel

Last updated on: April 17, 2024 at 10:20 pm By John San Nicolas

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On April 15th, 2024, four people were injured at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Australia. Among these was Assyrian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who suffered multiple stabbings. The bishop at the time of writing is currently hospitalized and has undergone surgery for his wounds. The attacker, a 16-year old boy, is under arrest and is also hospitalized. The stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel is a tragic story, and it is still unfolding. As someone who has been... Read more

The Alternative to Christian Nationalism

Last updated on: April 16, 2024 at 11:01 am By John San Nicolas

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The past several election years have been traumatic for the American Church. The Body of Christ in America is being polarized and pulverized by political controversy and division. In that respect, we are no different than the rest of the country around us. The term “Christian nationalism” has become a widely used term. It has proved helpful for people, including myself, to describe the co-opting of many Christians to become voting blocs for politicians. But in its popularity, it has... Read more

Who is my neighbor? Easter and Trans Day of Visibility

Last updated on: April 16, 2024 at 11:01 am By John San Nicolas

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On March 31st, President Joe Biden established Trans Day of Visibility as a national holiday. March 31st this year was also Easter, one of the most sacred Christian holidays of the year. This decision sparked outrage from many Christians. It was seen as a slight to Christianity. Biden’s decision was seen as proof of how anti-Christian America has become. Before going on, I absolutely must preface this article. Christians of various sorts, as well as people who do not subscribe... Read more

Politics of Jesus: Not a Revolutionary, But Still Political

Last updated on: April 16, 2024 at 11:01 am By John San Nicolas

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This semester, I’ve been looking at the Law of Moses throughout the Bible, in the Old and New Testaments. When we begin to think about how our faith relates to politics, I get the sense that we often are at a loss with how exactly the Bible should inform our political lives. But we forget that the Bible quite literally contains a perfect synthesis of politics and religion: the Mosaic Law. Currently, I’ve been looking at how Jesus thinks about... Read more

Lessons from Elevation Church’s Easter Invites

Last updated on: April 16, 2024 at 11:01 am By John San Nicolas

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Current events in Christian pop culture show a lot about the Church. As Jesus said, you’ll know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:15). Recently, there’s been a bit of a debate about a high-profile megachurch. Elevation Church is pastored by Steven Furtick in North Carolina, and was founded in 2006. Furtick has been the object of derision and polemic by other Christians. He was criticized on the American Gospel film (2018) for preaching what is known as the prosperity gospel,... Read more