In 2013, Christiopher Muther wrote on the connection between instant gratification and impatience in American culture saying, “The demand for instant results is seeping into every corner of our lives, and not just virtually….But experts caution that instant gratification comes at a price: It’s making us less patient.” This is not only true of American […]
One year ago, Jemar Tisby wrote, There are Children Here: Christians and Public Education. In this article, Jemar details his experience as a teacher and principal as a Christian in the public school sector. He also argues against the apathy and, often, the disdain that some Christians feel towards the public school system. Jemar was recently interviewed […]
To many, the death of Walter Scott appeared to be the most clear-cut case among many tragic shootings of unarmed black men by law enforcement. After all, he was unarmed and shot multiple times in the back while fleeing on foot — an incident clearly (it seemed) captured on video. That’s why the news that […]
When you hear the phrase “white supremacy,” you might naturally associate it with violent, white hate groups that assaulted, harassed, and murdered people of color in the 1900s to create and preserve a white society. In my view, this is a narrow understanding of white supremacy. Certainly, the above definition is an example of white […]
To my brothers and sisters, we must weep with those who weep. In the wake of this election, I am not primarily concerned with the well-being of our country. America is my home-in-exile, but the Church is my country and family. My primary concern is for the Church. She is deeply divided, and, to be […]
If you’ve looked at my bio, you may have noticed something about me: I’m white. And I’m not urban white. I’m folk-music-and-chewing-tobacco white. Yet I live in the inner city and pastor at an inner city church. Lately, there’s been some talk regarding white inner city church planters and pastors like myself. There aren’t many […]
In this piece, Chris Ann highlights the undue weight placed on home ownership, and argues against it being wielded as a symbol of status, success, good investment and identity, especially in the black Christian community. Our identity is in Christ alone, not in acquiring a property. We should look forward to our Heavenly home and seek daily to find our identity in Christ alone.
This article first appeared on The Twelve blog. It has been re-posted with permission. Christina Edmondson is the Dean of Intercultural Student Development at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can find the original and more great content by clicking here. The Jesus of the Bible was a deeply connected, culturally credible Hebrew son. There is […]
Some of my comments on an episode of Pass The Mic have invited scrutiny and strong disagreement. In general, I accept this as part of the task of racial reconciliation and a positive sign of tackling the right topics. Due to distorted interpretations, however, I do sense the need to clarify those statements and extend their application. What […]
One of the greatest relationships I have had has been one with a brother who was a Jewish believer. I recall when we sat down and talked about the Holocaust tragedy. The Holocaust was a tragic event, where millions of lives were lost and left a permanent scar on the World. What has been most valuable […]
Jesus didn’t (and doesn’t) fit neatly into any political party. His kingdom is “not of this world.” Therefore, we should expect the values and priorities of that “alien kingdom” both to transect and to transcend the political categories of the world. Jesus is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. OK. But, practically speaking, what does […]
When the Academy of Motion Picture and Science announced early this year that only white actors and actresses were among those selected to be chosen for an academy award for the second year in a row, it ignited a firestorm. It resulted in the resurgence of the social media hashtag #OscarsSoWhite and raised a bevy of concerns […]
Incivility in American politics is hardly new. Politicians and ordinary citizens alike have long bemoaned “the divisive tone of politics.” But this year’s presidential race seems to have broken new ground. We’ve beheld an embarrassing litany of personal invective, verbal aggression, puerile put-downs, and playground insults. We’re now at the point where the presidential debates […]
Anyone who has been following Lecrae on Twitter since the Ferguson riots, will notice that he has increasingly spotlighted racial injustice, particularly, in regards to the police shootings of African-American men, women and children. Most recently, on September 19th, he tweeted about Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem protest: “Take a knee…people riot. Take a bullet…people quiet.” […]
The Death Penalty is a constant source of political and Christian debate. Like many conservative evangelicals, I upheld the death penalty and even admired those states that instituted more streamlined paths to complete the death sentence. I’ve since changed. Two recent realizations showed me that while I still support the ability and authority of the […]
People often interpret life through their personal and individual worldviews. I would go so far as to say that a great symptom of our sinful nature is how hiddenly narcissistic we can be to think that our experience is the only experience that matters. Both sides of the race conversation does this. The phrase “I […]
We Persevere: Week Ending 10.7.16 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” (Proverbs 31:8) We Persevere is a roundup of items of interest concerning religious freedom at home and abroad. It is curated for RAANetwork by K.A. Ellis, Ambassador for International Christian Response. WORLD: November brings us […]
While his play on the field has suffered considerably over the past two seasons, causing him to lose his starting position, Colin Kaepernick, the once revered quarterback, famous for his flamboyant touchdown celebrations, has managed to remain a fixture in the media spotlight. During the pre-game ceremony of the singing the national anthem, the quarterback […]
This article was written by Steve Ross. You can find the original and more great content on his personal blog site. Steve has been married to his lifelong best friend Jamie for 15 years. They’re blessed to raise 3 sons and 4 daughters in the inner city they grew up in together. He currently serves as the […]
In my post last week, I offered pastoral advice for White Christians shepherding ethnic minorities in predominately White contexts. In this post, I offer pastoral advice for ethnic minorities shepherding ethnically white Christians in predominately minority contexts. Of course, overlap exists between the two pieces. For example, both white pastors and minority pastors should shepherd […]
