"My logic has been stretched to the breaking point," Rayford Steele tells his daughter. The authors seem to think of this as a description of Christian faith. It's a poor substitute. Faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). The breaking point of logic, on the other hand, is usually considered madness. Read more
The widespread popular support for Trump and Trumpism has been the subject of much consternation among white evangelical leaders dismayed to realize that much of that support is coming from their own white evangelical tribe. This, inexplicably, suprises them. It does not surprise me. Nothing that Donald Trump is saying on the campaign trail is substantially different from what Franklin Graham has been posting on Facebook for years now. Read more
I'm starting to think that what white evangelicalism needs these days is more fancy titles, elaborate finery, symbolic vestments, regalia and all the appurtenances of church leadership. I'm talking mitres, staffs (staves?), rings, bling, embroidered cassocks, the whole nine yards. Why would I, as a determinedly anti-hierarchical Baptist, endorse such a thing? Read more
In 1741, white New Yorkers panicked due to their fear of a potential slave revolt. That fear refutes all the nonsense we often hear about how the stark immorality of the slave system was perceived differently back in those days, and how we should all be more generous toward the defenders and exploiters of slavery because things were different back then and (white) folks just didn't know any better. They knew. That's why they were scared Read more
The New York Conspiracy of 1741 probably wasn't a conspiracy at all. While there's little evidence to suggest that any significant "slave revolt" had been planned, there's plenty of evidence to suggest that white New Yorkers lost their collective minds in a fearful frenzy that led to 18 hangings and 13 people being burned at the stake in the streets of Manhattan. Read more
Let's get back up to speed. "Bible prophecy" is all about the charts. Those charts promise a relentless series of exciting calamity, and these books are supposed to take us through all of those events. Yet here we are, more than 1,000 pages into this series, and we've barely budged past the first two items on the chart. Jerry Jenkins is about to double that progress -- in the least-exciting way possible. Read more
"She read it and accepted Christ. Then she gave it to her brother and he did the same. He passed it on to their four siblings and all of them accepted Christ. ... Think of it -- seven atheists won to Christ for 25 cents!" Read more
My friend walked to church despite the blizzard, only to find that services were cancelled due to the storm. He and his girlfriend and the pastor were the only ones there when another group arrived, walking through the snow-covered streets of Washington. It was a couple who lived a few blocks away, along with their teenage daughter and a couple of Secret Service agents. Read more
"For to the snow God says, 'Fall on the earth.' ... Then the animals go into their lairs and remain in their dens." Read more
Winter storm Jonas is heading this way, giving us fewer musical options than we had for Hurricane Gloria. Plus: Patreon gratitude; people who are sad about community health clinics; Planet 9 From Outer Space; and who's winning the White Evangelical Primary. Read more
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