I don’t have considered opinions on the policy specifics of immigration. I’m struck, however, by how often discussions are driven by corrupted values — parties gaining seats in upcoming elections, crafting proposals to please this or that angry voting group, etc. Our contested cultural climate shapes the way many Christian people to consider this issue, […]

*A homily, originally given at Midtown Christian Community, Feb. 7, 2009. Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of […]

I used to teach evangelical undergrads who were not only well-versed in a scientific reading of Genesis 1 but were thoroughly saturated in the highly-charged rhetoric of the culture wars. In one course I included a few sessions that focused on the text of Genesis 1-2. I’d typically begin by noting that I was really […]

Many have weighed in already on the debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham. The issue, probably because of the social and cultural implications, arouses intense passions. I don’t claim to have the last word, but I’ll just offer here some scattered thoughts and perhaps they’ll serve as an explanation for why I said the […]

It isn’t easy to read Scripture faithfully in the midst of a conflicted and contested culture. When Scripture is put to use to endorse this or that contemporary cause, the church loses the ability to hear what the Lord of the church is saying to his people. John Walton has done a great service to […]

Well, the game was a shocker to most people, though not to the very few who predicted a blowout by Seattle. Because of his behavior at the end of the NFC Championship two weeks ago, Richard Sherman garnered loads of media attention leading up to yesterday’s game. Understandably, he’s making the rounds today on various radio […]

Today is the Feast of the Presentation, remembering the presentation of Jesus in the temple, according to the Law of Moses. The incident is recorded in Luke 2:22-40. This is the prayer from the Book of Common Prayer: Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in […]

Mark Oppenheimer has a review in the NY Times of Vern Bengston’s book, Families and Faith: How Religion is Passed Down Across Generations. It looks like a fascinating work. As Oppenheimer reports: In 1969, shortly after being hired at U.S.C., Professor Bengtson began a study of 350 families, whom he interviewed regularly until 2008. In […]