What all Christians can learn from one brave priest

February 25, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

Amid ongoing economic and political unrest, Greek riot police have hit the streets to deal with violent anti-austerity protests. From those struggles comes a moving picture shared by Abbot Tryphon of All Merciful Savior Monastery on Vashon Island, Washington. An Orthodox priest scurries between the police and a protestor armed with a bottle. It could just be glass, but it looks like an unlit Molotov cocktail. I’ve seen similar shots of police moving across ground streaked with fire. Whatever the... Read more

Remembering Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman

February 24, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

It’s been five years since Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman died of heart failure, complications from a heart attack he suffered a decade prior. Here’s his song, “The Great American Novel”: His career was as long as it was controversial. After a brief stint as the lead singer for the San Jose, Calif., pop band People!, Norman went solo in 1969 with his Capitol Records release, Upon this Rock. It was Christian rock before there was Christian rock. Sometimes compared... Read more

How not to read the Bible

February 23, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

“All scripture is . . . profitable for teaching,” according to Paul’s second letter to Timothy. The apostle tells the young bishop that the scripture is useful for correction and preparation in righteousness and good works (3.15-17). But how? When we look to the story of Jacob, for instance, are we to walk away with the belief that cheating one’s family, sorcery, and polygamy are acceptable behaviors? Just because something occurs in the scripture does not make it scriptural —... Read more

Egyptian Christians seek unity amid strife

February 18, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

While Egyptian Christians face ongoing strife in their Muslim-majority nation, there are signs of encouragement as leaders of five different Christian groups begin meeting for the first time to forge a way forward together. Evangelical, Anglican, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox leaders met Monday in Cairo for the first gathering of the United Council of Egyptian Churches. Coptic Pope Tawadros II led the group, which was the dream of his predecessor, the late Pope Shenouda III, to promote dialogue... Read more

Breaking: Garry Wills discovers liberal Protestantism 200 years behind the curve

February 18, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

It says something about our culture that it takes a comedian to call an intellectual on his folly. Catholic Garry Wills recently appeared on The Colbert Report to hawk his new, very non-Catholic book, Why Priests? A Failed Tradition. In perhaps the only time in history a jester and historian have jousted on late-night television about the eucharist, Stephen Colbert tried a little elementary catechesis on Wills. Enjoy. Thanks to my friend and colleague, Matt Baugher, for pointing this out.... Read more

It doesn’t work and might drive you crazy: More on DIY spirituality

February 18, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

Anyone who acts as their own lawyer has a fool for a client, as the old saying goes. We all know this, but somehow someone who serves as their own priest, spiritual father, confessor, or guru is wise? If you want to get fit and in shape, you see a physical trainer, maybe a dietician. If you want to get your accounts in order and plan for the future, you see a financial advisor. If you want to get the... Read more

The danger of do-it-yourself spirituality

February 14, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

I was reading Tom Wolfe’s 1976 New York magazine article, “The ‘Me’ Decade and the Third Great Awakening,” and I was struck by the similarities with today. A significant change occurred in the culture after World War II, one that really manifested in the middle 1960s. Widespread economic growth allowed people previously unknown levels of self-indulgence. The focus on the self from all angles — economic, spiritual, psychological, etc. — began to intensify through the 1950s and ’60s. The “common... Read more

Lincoln’s journey from atheism to belief

February 12, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Earlier today author Stephen Mansfield appeared on Fox and Friends discussing the sixteenth president’s little known journey from atheism to belief. Late last year, my team at Thomas Nelson published Mansfield’s book Lincoln’s Battle with God, which I’ve previously written about here. Read more

What to do when the world sucks you in

February 10, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

Christians have adopted terms like pilgrim, sojourner, and resident alien to describe our identity in the world. We are in it, but not of it. Sometimes, however, the lure of the world is as overwhelming as its subtleties are undermining. We can easily find ourselves both in and of the world. How do we prevent that from happening? The Jews of the diaspora (the dispersion) found themselves in a similar situation, and they provide us a helpful and straightforward answer... Read more

Read this before you pray for that Mercedes

February 3, 2013 By Joel J. Miller

Is it true that whatever you pray for, you’ll receive it if you have enough faith? Jesus seems to say so. “[W]hatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will,” he tells Peter and the Twelve (Mark 11.24). These words followed Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. While hungry, he spotted a fig tree. But after looking over its barren branches in vain, Jesus cursed the tree. The next day, as the disciples walk by, Peter noticed... Read more