The Universal Church is in a major period of change. The Church is finding healthy roots in the Global South and the Mainline denominations are having trouble keeping up. In America, Baptists hold a majority of power – both in the Church and in government. The Church is struggling to find itself in the new century. It seems that the Church has been here before. Each time, the Church at the crossroads has found a way forward. The last major... Read more
Fall is fast approaching and it’s a beautiful time in New England. The leaves are changing colors and there is a nip in the air. I work on a university campus which has seen the arrival of students for the fall semester. Everything is pointing towards autumn. Depending on your personal preference, fall can be the start of pumpkin spice, horror movies, or maybe both. In much of the liturgical Church calendar, we’re in a period called ‘Time After Pentecost’.... Read more
There seems to be a trend that people aren’t going to church anymore. According to some, this is a new phenomenon. H0wever, the American Church has seemingly had this fear for decades. The secularization of the country has created panic for the conservative denominations. Looking back to the Scopes Monkey trial, Fundamentalism has been concerned with the religious life of Americans. Lifeway put out an article in June of this year about the lack of church attendance. They note that... Read more
If I were to ask you what your favorite Christian holiday is, you might say Christmas or Easter. Maybe you grew up observing the Church Calendar and prefer Ascension Day or Epiphany. No matter what your preference, most people wouldn’t think of Labor Day as a Christian holiday. It’s not a Christian holiday like the others – it didn’t come from the Church. However, the theme and spirit of the holiday is in line with Christianity. When we look back... Read more
I promise this isn’t clickbait. I really think the American Church has failed the family. Even with the youth programs, small groups, and college outreach, the American Church has failed the family. Forget the pro-life rhetoric and sanctity of marriage speeches. The Evangelical American Church has failed to produce strong families that can handle our 21st century. Why? Post Structure? The 1900’s was a dramatic time in world history. Two world wars, several international conflicts, and the wild advancement in... Read more
Why do we suffer? When we ask this question, there are so many additional questions behind it. What do we mean by suffering? Is there good suffering, or maybe a good way to suffer? German philosopher Nietzsche notes: “Man, the bravest animal and most prone to suffer, does not deny suffering as such: he wills it, he even seeks it out, provided he is shown a meaning for it, a purpose of suffering.” I have a weird interest in the... Read more
I grew up in a Fundamentalist church. By definition, this church was more conservative than most. It was also nondenominational – meaning that it was completely separate from a larger church hierarchy. Many of the Christian issues of the 90’s and 00’s were not a real problem. It was up to the pastor to preach and teach what he thought was right. Naturally, a single voice and opinion led to narrow views of the Christian faith. The idea of women... Read more
August 19th is World Humanitarian Day. On this day, we recognize the work so many have done to help those in need around the globe. The United States has a long history of humanitarianism. Americans help those in need, both the private and public sectors. While there are many reasons to help the less fortunate, this is a foundational Christian teaching. “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also... Read more
Unless you live in the small state of Rhode Island, you’ve probably never heard of Victory Day. Victory Day, or “VJ Day” for short, is the commemoration of the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II. I grew up in Rhode Island and still benefit from the state holiday. It’s always nice to have a day off to spend with family and stay out of the office. However, the holiday itself has been under fire almost since... Read more
Research has shown that Christians are leaving the church. Younger generations are less likely to attend church. They’re also less likely to think that church is an important part of their life. There are many reasons people say is the cause of this. Some blame modern technology and the ability to get content online and in your pocket. Fundamentalists will claim that these people aren’t true believers. Or maybe they couldn’t handle who God is and so they quit to... Read more
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