This article first appeared in The Fulcrum In Buffalo, New York, we know the trauma of social breakdown and tragedy firsthand, but we also know the healing that happens when neighbors come together across their differences. Over the course of this past year, we have suffered an extreme blizzard with devastating loss of life; the …
Continue reading “Evangelicals, it’s time for dialogue – ‘The Christian way’”
On November 24, I ran in the Buffalo Turkey Trot. I have never run this race before, so I didn’t know what to expect – but I learned nothing reflects Buffalo’s unique character like the Turkey Trot. An array of personalities set out for a 5-mile run dressed in costumes reflecting our city’s diversity and …
The legs of Western relativism have been wobbly for a while. And now Vladimir Putin’s war may deliver a knock-out blow. While some Western intellectuals cling to a “your truth and my truth” philosophy, the invasion of Ukraine is revealing the absurdity of such thought. Evil has a way of waking us up to …
What We Don’t Understand About Putin and his church The secular west does not understand religion. Not only do we not understand religion, but we also do not have a language to articulate religious matters very well. Therefore, when we encounter deeply theological matters, we do not have a vocabulary to communicate what we see …
Continue reading “What We Don’t Understand About Putin and his church”
The State Capital broke into an uproar as the Satanic Temple of Illinois unraveled its holiday display. First, the temple’s priest shouted, “Hail Satan” as he laid a carved image of Baphomet, the pagan deity, next to the nativity scene. Then, in a scene analogous to the 1973 movie The Exorcist, Roman Catholic Christians began …
Did you really expect mass vaccinations? Are you shocked that many people are hesitant, if not dogmatic, in their opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine? I received the vaccination as soon as I was eligible, and I strongly encourage others to do the same. But should we be surprised that many would resist? And why are …
Continue reading “Mandates, Manipulation, and Mayhem: What did you expect?”
God filled his creation with duality–black and white, day and night, spirit and flesh. Duality provides texture to the world and without contrast, we have no beauty. Duality serves to reveal the complexity of a mysterious and wonderful God. Duality also marks God’s governance in the world. In the United States, we see this duality …
The right to vote is a significant privilege. When people cast ballots, they are doing more than merely making an abstract opinion known—citizens who vote promote overall human dignity. Evangelicals believe that all humans bear the image of God. As image bearers of God, all humans are endowed with the faculty of choice. Voting gives …
Covid-19 is unearthing the best and worst in people. I am encouraged to see neighbors caring for neighbors. I am inspired when businesses donate medical supplies and services. I can’t help but feel nostalgic when I see families working on jig-saw puzzles and playing board games. Covid-19 is revealing our humanity. And yet I …
Once upon a time, religious liberty was a virtue championed by most. Americans believed that tolerance strengthened the bonds of society and united us around a shared vision. Our nation treasured the right of religious choice because it empowered the vision of E Pluribus Unum. Religious liberty ensured that citizens with diverse backgrounds and ideas …
