In September 2022, Pew Research Center released a startling report that claimed - in rather stark terms - "Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades." With headlines like "America's Christian majority is on track to end" and "America's Christian majority could end by 2070," the report's findings…
If you’re involved in ministry, you’ve probably heard a lot about “deconstruction” recently. Framed as the new trendy threat to Christianity, deconstruction has become a “catch-all” term for a wide gamut of spiritual experiences. Depending on who’s using the word, deconstruction can be a complete demolition of Christian belief, a critical re-appraisal of one’s faith…
Continue reading ➞ Five Real Reasons Young Christians Are Deconstructing Their Faith
In November 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, were involved in a car accident on their drive home from church. While Kevin emerged from the collision unscathed, the force of the impact wrenched the six-year-old child's skull from his spinal column, resulting in what doctors refer to as an "internal decapitation." A helicopter…
Continue reading ➞ Beyond the Veil: Death, Heaven, and the Original Very Good News
A long time ago, I believed that most of the world’s problems could be solved if more people became Christians. If only more people prayed, read their Bibles, sang worship songs, and accepted Jesus into their hearts, then all our nation’s anger, strife, immorality, violence, and racial division would subside or (at the very least)…
Continue reading ➞ The Inevitable Tragedy of Christian Nationalism
In sixth grade, I participated in a debate in which I attempted to convince my fellow classmates that we never landed on the moon. It was the first time I used the Internet to research, and my partner and I found a treasure trove of information. We couldn't believe it. It was so obvious. The…
On December 14, 2019, two-year-old Olive Heiligenthal passed away in her sleep. Olive's mother, Kalley Heiligenthal, is a worship leader at Bethel Church, a charismatic megachurch based in Redding, California. Following an impassioned worship service the next morning, Heiligenthal took to Instagram and called on the "global church to stand with us in belief that…
Continue reading ➞ Slayed in the Spirit: The Rise and Legacy of Christian Supernaturalism
According to a 2013 Pew Research Survey, 73% of LGBTQ Americans believe evangelical churches are unfriendly toward their communities. And, to be honest, who can blame them? In 2004, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a margin of 60% to 31%. By 2019, the margin has flipped - 31% of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, while 61% support…
Continue reading ➞ Life in Technicolor: Gay Christians and the Future of Grace
A few weeks ago, an older acquaintance shared a post on Facebook that read, "God is not going to rewrite the Bible for your generation. His Word remains the same forever and always!" I understand the sentiment. I was raised in a "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it" culture of evangelical…
Continue reading ➞ Life in Technicolor: Gay Christians and the Bible
Born in East Texas and raised as a Southern Baptist, I'd only heard one side of the story. If you had come out to me as gay, I would've told you that while God loves and accepts you, He doesn't want you to be in a same-sex relationship. Love the sinner, hate the sin, you…
Continue reading ➞ Life in Technicolor: Gay Christians and the Church
"Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin" is one of those phrases that feels so baked into modern Christianity is almost shocking to discover it never appears anywhere in the Bible. At a fundamental level, there's nothing wrong about "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin." It seeks to be a more gracious counterpoint to the accusation…
Continue reading ➞ Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin? Why We Should Retire Our Favorite Christian Phrase
Instrument of Mercy 