In many faith spaces, you’ll hear the following refrain: “Let’s not get too political. We don’t want to hurt the gospel.” Sometimes ministry leaders will say something like, “I don’t care what you believe politically, but . . .” and they’ll go on to make a point about the Christian practice. It’s understandable why pastors would shy away from political issues. Dangerous political faultlines run through most congregations, and pastors want to avoid friction that could result in a churchwide… Read more
June 15, 2020
What Happens When “Good” Pastors Refuse to Get Political
June 15, 2020 By Jayson D. Bradley
0 Comments
May 13, 2020
How a Plague Exposed the “Christian Nation” Myth
May 13, 2020 By Jayson D. Bradley
0 Comments
The evidence is in. The United States can finally abandon the pretense that it is a Christian nation. For most of us, this isn’t news. Since its inception, America has demonstrated many of the same strengths and character flaws as other colonial western nations. But if COVID-19 has done anything, it’s revealed that the U.S. brand of Christianity doesn’t look anything like Jesus. Take up your cross There’s a point in the gospels when Jesus reveals he’s going to die…. Read more
May 8, 2020
3 Reasons Evangelical Christians Fall for Conspiracy Theories
May 8, 2020 By Jayson D. Bradley
0 Comments
Americans have always loved a good conspiracy theory. In the 1840s, a group of citizens argued that famed explorer Meriwether Lewis hadn’t shot himself, but had been murdered. Another theory, exposed in a 1979 book, suggested that America had developed an invisible warship in 1943. Charles Berlitz, the author who made this theory famous, was already well known for revealing the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle. There was a time when these diversions from the truth were mostly harmless. Mass… Read more
April 29, 2020
Spare Me Your Sudden Concern about Division
April 29, 2020 By Jayson D. Bradley
0 Comments
There was a Facebook post defending Trump that went viral in March. Maybe you’ve seen it. It featured a blurry profile picture of the president and it said: Just stop for a minute and look at this photo. This is NOT a political post by any means. This is simply something that everyone should stop and think about. Can you imagine the weight he must be feeling right now? When he signed up for this role (without pay) he did… Read more
January 8, 2020
3 Bad Habits We Pick Up from Corporate Prayer
January 8, 2020 By Jayson D. Bradley
2 Comments
I don’t know if anything in Christian thought and practice is more confusing than prayer. After decades in ministry, I have found that it’s an area where people are the most consistently frustrated, disoriented, and mystified. One of the biggest problems I’ve found over the years is that we primarily learn how to do it by praying with others. This means that we have a lot of enculturated ideas about how to do prayer. We develop our impressions of the… Read more
January 3, 2020
Are American Christians too Quick to Embrace War?
January 3, 2020 By Jayson D. Bradley
18 Comments
Yesterday the United States launched a drone strike against Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. This act was more than the tactical killing of a known terrorist. It was akin to taking out our vice president or secretary of state. Knowledge of Soleimani’s bloodthirsty behavior wasn’t based on any new intel. Past administrations have struggled with the question of taking out this man who has been responsible for guerilla warfare and terrorism throughout the Middle… Read more
February 26, 2019
Biblical Illiteracy Is a Big Problem—for Christians
February 26, 2019 By Jayson D. Bradley
14 Comments
Whenever Trump feels like he’s in trouble, he begins pandering to his evangelical base. After all, that’s where he’s found so much support. Earlier this year, he tweeted about biblical literacy classes and seemed super excited about states offering classes for studying the Bible. And while he’s right that many “Bible literacy” bills have been introduced, none of them have passed. As a Christian and a student of the Christian Scriptures, I’m glad these bills haven’t been finding any… Read more
January 9, 2019
What’s the Narrow Way Jesus Taught About? It’s Love.
January 9, 2019 By Jayson D. Bradley
29 Comments
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13–14). When I was growing up, these words always had a specific application. Pastors typically used as a reminder of the difficulties of getting into heaven and the importance of accepting Jesus… Read more
January 7, 2019
5 Reasons Suicidal People Don’t Ask for Help
January 7, 2019 By Jayson D. Bradley
12 Comments
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Recent statistics state that one person dies of suicide every 40 seconds. And while you can find tons of articles pointing to signs that someone is suicidal, the truth is that you don’t always know. Dr. Michael Miller, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical says, “Many people who commit suicide do so without letting on they are thinking about it or planning it.” It’s heartbreaking to admit,… Read more
January 4, 2019
Unmerciful Servants and the Immigration Debate
January 4, 2019 By Jayson D. Bradley
42 Comments
The Christian life is about the management of the things God has entrusted us with. Everything we have has been given to us, and we are called to steward those resources in a way that honors our Creator. This includes things like our finances and the planet, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The New Testament tells us that we must share the mercy and forgiveness we receive from God. We’re are not just beneficiaries of grace; we are… Read more
get the latest from
Honest to God
Sign up for our newsletter
POPULAR AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian
Browse Our Archives
TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian
