“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
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
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
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”—Jesus (Matt. 24:12) I used to think these words meant that as wickedness increased, people would love less because wicked people cannot love—but now I realize that’s not what Jesus is saying at all. What he’s saying is that in response to wickedness, people would become incapable of loving. Why? Fear. When we’re always worried about our security and safety, it becomes more challenging to be vulnerable, open,... Read more
I’m pretty lucky to have conversations with Christians from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Usually, those conversations go great—but occasionally they’re a disaster. I know there’s a problem the minute they tell me, “the Bible clearly says.” It’s at that point I start looking for the exit. When you drop a phrase like that into a conversation, it’s evident that you don’t understand how communication works. We’re talking about a document where it’s on us to build a bridge... Read more
Jesus famously said that the road that leads to life is narrow and only a few find it. So we can’t leave it to others to be mindful of our path—that’s our responsibility. In a world where the public expression of Christianity seems to be lost in the woods, we need to be very intentional about the way we choose to live. If we don’t, we’ll end up expressing attitudes and behaviors that make us unteachable and disagreeable—and ultimately unchristlike.... Read more
I commented on poverty and systemic evil on Twitter, and I was surprised at the response. People were coming out of the woodwork to tell me I was perpetuating a liberal trope. My favorite exchange went something like this: “‘Systemic evil’ isn’t mentioned in the Bible, so it doesn’t exist.” “So if the Bible doesn’t use those words, the principle is invalid?” “If the Bible doesn’t say it explicitly, it’s not important.” “Do you believe in the Trinity?” *crickets* The... Read more
It’s not necessarily a hot take to point to 380 AD as a pivotal moment where the church lost its way, but it’s true. Together, emperors Constantine and Licinius had issued the Edict of Milan in 313 which ended the persecution of Christians. For once, Roman Christians could catch their breath. Religious torment in Rome was coming to an end for this relatively new religion. In fewer than 70 years, everything would change again. Emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica making Christianity... Read more
The on-again-off-again relationship between Christians and alcohol always reminded me of Ross and Rachel on Friends—an uninteresting plotline involving two dysfunctional entities. For every endearing moment (Trappist breweries), there was a ridiculous one (Carrie Nation taking a hatchet to bars in the early 1900s). Christians have always had a tempestuous relationship with booze. During the early part of the twentieth century, American evangelical Christians were often teetotalers (and private imbibers—let’s be honest). I go to a Nazarene church where alcohol... Read more
I’m always late to the party. I was watching a recent SNL featuring John Mulaney/Jack White, and they did a skit about Wild Wild Country. I hadn’t heard of the documentary, but I knew that for them to be satirizing it, there must be some buzz around it. I looked into it and discovered the six-episode documentary series on Netflix. I turned it on at about 9 p.m. on a Tuesday night and watched the first five hours. It completely sucked me in.... Read more
Honest to God
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