My evangelical Bible college trained me to consult a Nazi propagandist. Worse, that propagandist used the New Testament to promote racist, anti-Semitic, White supremacy. I just hope my teachers didn’t know what they were doing. Nazism Was Part Of My Childhood By the time I was in college, Nazism wasn’t strange to me–it had been part of my childhood. Don’t jump to any conclusions, though. My home was anything but anti-Semitic. My Jewish namesake, an uncle I never knew, Captain... Read more
Toxic Treasures For decades, I watched it happen. Worse, I participated in it by using harmful fundraising techniques to fill the coffers of the organizations I ran. Pursuing money can quickly overtake all the good that religious organizations do. Thousands of otherwise content people–who loved their kids, had a ball with their grandkids, wept with joy at the sight of their first grandchild, were polite to their neighbors, gracious to their friends, and warm to their fellow church members–suddenly turned... Read more
This post is unusual, so a little introduction is in order: Below is the manuscript version of a talk I gave recently at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. I was one of four panelists focusing on important figures who are known for bringing others together under spiritual banners. Hosted by the delightful Ibrahim Anli of the Rumi Forum, my co-presenters and I each selected a religious figure. Here’s the list: Pope Francis: Fr. Don Rooney of St. Bernadette’s... Read more
An Evangelical Indulgence Dobson owes Christians an apology. Dr. James Dobson has been a luminary among American evangelicals for the last half-century. In 2016, the trusted psychologist, author, and radio superstar claimed New York real estate mogul, reality TV star, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. If that ever happened, it sure didn’t stick. If Dobson’s assertion were true, it meant to millions of evangelicals that Trump was not only “one... Read more
These days, if you’re not reading about indictments against former U.S. President Donald Trump, you might be reading about Supreme Court corruption and undue influence. It begs the question of whether anything can be done about this pervasive, ethical erosion in our national institutions. Could a prayer be the solution? The Prayer Of The Supreme Court Every time the justices of the United States Supreme Court enter their grand and ornate courtroom to conduct their business, the Marshal of the... Read more
This Sunday, July 30, is the United Nations’ International Day of Friendship. I think it’s a worthy theme during a particularly unfriendly time in my home country of the United States and in many other places worldwide. Friends should be important to Christians, as they should be for everyone. Friendship is Part of Discipleship For evangelicals like me, making and preserving friendships is a matter of discipleship. Being a disciple means disciplining oneself after a master. Jesus had friends, and... Read more
The most difficult sins to name are our own. Pointing the finger at someone else and calling out their spiritual, moral, and other personal failings is easy. Comparing ourselves to others makes us feel better and maybe superior to those whose behavior we perceive to be worse than ours. The much harder path is to stay focused on our own deficiencies and how we can improve ourselves. Hardest Sins To Confess Are Our Own Complimenting myself by condemning others isn’t... Read more
American evangelicals have a problem with the truth. That moral failing is more than scandalous; it’s ruinous to all. Why would people that claim to follow a Lord who called himself “the truth” be so afraid and even hostile to that quality? I think the answer is simple and terribly complex. My Long Affair With Evangelicalism In the mid-1980s, I was a young, fresh-faced traveling stemwinder of an evangelist. I crisscrossed the country, mounting pulpits in 48 states and several... Read more
The Fourth of July, one of my all-time favorite holidays, is all about progress. Regarding human rights, freedom, and the common good, anything that takes our nation backward contradicts the spirit of America’s signal celebration. Christians should be among the first to appreciate and practice this principle. The founding generation intended it as America’s enduring social and political culture. After all, progress reflects our spirituality of personal growth, increased understanding, and incremental sanctification. GOD AND COUNTRY During my 35 years... Read more
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