Herman Bavinck’s advice to 19th century pastors still holds true today. In post-Christian Britain—a culture where few people listen to any kind of public speaking, sacred or secular—Rev. Michael Curry’s royal wedding sermon succeeded in capturing the public imagination in a way that few had expected. For many Brits, the royal wedding’s most unexpected outcome …
Rise of honorary degrees raises concern about misuse of “Dr.” in ministry. What do figures as wide-ranging as Billy Graham, Rick and Kay Warren, Fred Rogers, and Donald Trump have in common? All have been awarded honorary doctorates by Christian colleges. Each spring, another batch of distinguished guests receives these symbolic degrees. Among others this …
We’re rendering unto Caesar too much time and attention. Back in the day, the evangelical fantasy went something like this: As you get settled into your airplane seat, you casually remove your Bible from your carry-on. A few moments of solemn reading later, your neighbor taps you on your shoulder. “Pardon me,” he says. “But …
What an Old Testament artist tells us about aesthetic vocation. When I was young, my mother made a wreath that was composed of natural materials—pinecones, needles, thistles—gathered from places where we had taken family vacations. Setting aside distinctions between art and craft, it has always been evident to me that the wreath possessed certain artistic …
Three teens survived a rising river at a Bible camp in Comfort, Texas. Would their faith? Chip Asberry removed his socks and shoes and rolled up his jeans before he stepped out of the van. The 15-year-old looked over his shoulder just as the wave hit. He saw it take one person, then another, then …
How a friend’s tragic death gave me a new perspective on hope. When I was young and single, I moved to Southern California to work at a church. I didn’t know many people in the area, but eventually I became friends with a couple of guys from the church, and the three of us rented …
How the religious movement has spread across the once-overwhelmingly Catholic country. Brazil has won the World Cup five times, and as of press time, appears well on its way to its sixth. The team dramatically imploded at the World Cup it hosted in 2014, but rebounded to win the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. …
But as I poured out my anger on the world, Jesus was waiting to pour out his perfect love. I was born and raised in a Christian home. My great-great-grandfather was Louis Talbot, a famous author, one of the founders of Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology, and a preacher who worked closely alongside Billy …
If we’re created in the image of Perfect Truth, then we can’t keep speaking with the forked tongue of the Serpent. This morning, before I sat down to write, I took some time to respond to emails. This is a classic pattern of procrastination for me on a writing day. In my inbox was an …
Understanding our history, and how that might frame our Fourth of July prayers. Many Christians want to believe that America is a Christian nation, and for the best of reasons. Many of the early founders were devout Christians. Much of America’s history has been shaped by Protestant and evangelical values. God has indeed blessed the …