Progressive faith leaders fête Obama in new book

Last updated on: January 16, 2017 at 1:53 pm By Jacob Lupfer

Last Thursday at the National Press Club, I was fortunate to witness a blessed gathering of faith leaders. Ostensibly a book launch for Mr. President: Interfaith Perspectives on the Historic Presidency of Barack Obama, the event was a celebration of and reflection on what Obama’s presidency meant to progressive, and mostly black, faith leaders. The organizers and participants were generally aware of, but not at all bound by, the careful yet blasé ecumenism required when discussing religion in official Washington.... Read more

Visiting a cemetery in the Old South

Last updated on: December 29, 2016 at 1:16 pm By Jacob Lupfer

The Old South has passed away, mostly for the better I suppose. Soon, cemeteries like this may be the only places you can see that it ever existed at all. Read more

The most beautiful Christmas prayer ever

Last updated on: December 24, 2016 at 10:18 am By Jacob Lupfer

Every Christmas Eve in Cambridge, England, the Choir of King’s College performs A Festival of Nine Lessons in Carols. This annual service, broadcast on the radio worldwide by the BBC, includes scripture readings and music. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, and I hope to experience it in person some day. The broadcast begins at 3:00 local time (10:00 Eastern Standard Time). In the United States, you can likely hear it on your NPR station. The 2016 order... Read more

Would you buy a LGBT Nativity ornament w/ two Josephs?

Last updated on: December 20, 2016 at 6:25 pm By Jacob Lupfer

A Nativity ornament with two Marys or two Josephs is a pretty deliberate provocation that is going to offend traditional Christians. Read more

Russell Moore: A prophet without honor?

Last updated on: December 21, 2016 at 11:22 am By Jacob Lupfer

I observe evangelical politics as a scholar, a journalist, and (occasionally) an activist. I am telling you: The ERLC is top-notch. Read more

Is Trump’s election filling mainline Protestant pews?

Last updated on: December 12, 2016 at 5:48 pm By Jacob Lupfer

Liberal Protestants want to believe that they are seeing something more than just usual seasonal variation in attendance. Read more

Catholic divorce, remarriage & Communion: A primer for Protestants

Last updated on: December 5, 2016 at 5:04 pm By Jacob Lupfer

A few have asked for help in understanding the debate. I hope to helpfully to offer some explanation here. Read more

Can ‘Elf on the Shelf’ teach kids about Jesus?

Last updated on: December 3, 2016 at 1:31 pm By Jacob Lupfer

Elf of the Shelf cannot teach children about Jesus. It is a consumerist heresy that conflates Santa Claus with the true meaning of Christmas. Read more

Has Pope Francis ended Catholic marriage?

Last updated on: December 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm By Jacob Lupfer

What does Ross Douthat really want for civilly remarried Catholics? Read more

How HGTV’s Chip & Joanna Gaines can avoid Duck Dynasty’s fate

Last updated on: November 30, 2016 at 4:36 pm By Jacob Lupfer

If the Gaineses' only crime is believing what most Christians have believed for 20 centuries, they'll be fine. From conservatives' PR standpoint, Phil Robertson is a fixer upper. Sounds like a job for Chip and Joanna Gaines. Read more