Earlier this week, I posted What Is “Prolife”? Why did I write and publish that post? (What Is “Prolife”? generated a bit of controversy on my Facebook. BTW, I have deactivated my Facebook, and don't plan to go back.) I published that piece because I've been beating my head against this particular wall for forty-two … Continue reading Why “What Is ‘Prolife’?”?

What does it mean to be prolife? How do we define the label? What is its scope? For example: is abortion the only issue that the label "prolife" pertains to? Or does/should/can "prolife" also refer to a person's stance toward capital punishment, war, poverty, healthcare, etc.? If not, why not? Also: assuming "prolife" applies only … Continue reading What Is “Prolife”?

For context, read yesterday's post. As I said last night, there doesn't seem to be much grace here. That's observation #1. Observation #2 is that current identity thinking (which I usually label "intersectionality") is problematic for Christians, because our identity has to be centered in Jesus Christ. Now: THAT is a problematic statement, because my … Continue reading More on the Wallis Resignation

I mentioned Jim Wallis earlier this week. I learned tonight that he has stepped down as editor of Sojourners. I believe he has edited the magazine since its founding in 1971. He will continue as president of the organization. The story of his resignation is interesting, because it illustrates the tensions in progressive Christian organizations. … Continue reading Jim Wallis & Sojourners

How is my spirit? My spirit is BUSY. In a few hours, Beth and I are flying to Texas to see our granddaughter and daughter and son-in-law, and I will be doing fundraising work for BIZG. Lots to do; I need to finish this post and get to work on packing, etc. Have you ever … Continue reading Desiring Rightly

I've listened several times to Jim Wallis's podcast, and he always begins his interviews with that question: "How is your spirit?" It's a great question, isn't it? How is your heart? How do you feel at your core right now about the things that are happening around you and the things that are happening IN … Continue reading “How Is Your Spirit?”

Is American evangelicalism the standard by which all world Christianities are to be judged? Good grief, I hope not.  We're a mess. A couple of years ago, someone on a podcast--I think it was Peter Enns--said that American Evangelicalism had failed because it attempts to unify believers around a particular set of doctrines, expressed in … Continue reading American Evangelicals and World Christianity

NT Wright now argues that Romans 8.28 should be read, "God works together with those who love him for good in all things." (Cf the RSV, "in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.") This verse then completes the idea of 8.26-27, that the Spirit … Continue reading Wright on Rom 8.28

More thoughts on our current political crisis: If you have ever painted with a brush, regardless of what you were painting--a wall, a house, a watercolor, a model car--you know that there are different widths of paintbrushes, and that choosing the right width for the job is really important.The paintbrush that is appropriate for painting … Continue reading Two Paintbrushes