Are we a democracy or a republic? Why words matter
This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on February 27, 2025. “The United States is not a democracy! It’s a republic!” my independent Baptist high school government teacher declared over the sound of gunfire and cannons exploding in the Civil War re-enactment across the street. Almost three decades later, the debate still isn’t settled. And […]
Here’s the toxic racism and misogyny you let loose with a vote for Trump
This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on November 11, 2024. If Kamala Harris had won, no Black people would be receiving text messages threatening to make them slaves again, and no women would be being told, “Your body, my choice.” When Trump wins, those things happen. And when Trump loses, insurrections happen. That is the […]
JD Vance and Al Mohler use fuzzy math to sound an alarm on falling birth rates
This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on September 10, 2024. Over the past two months since Donald Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate, many people have been surprised to learn about Vance’s demonization of women in the workplace and his strange fascination with large families. Just this past week, another quote from […]
Desiring God is denying reality
This article originally appeared on August 29, 2022 at Baptist News Global. Last week, it was the almost humorous riff on beards as signs of God’s favor on manly men. This week, it’s a not-at-all funny critique of Critical Race Theory and intersectionality — by a white man who is the father of a multiracial set of […]
Oprah’s interview with Meghan and Harry offers a lesson on when the ‘institution’ is the church
This article originally appeared on March 15, 2021 at Baptist News Global. As Bishop Curry spoke about the power of love during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding in 2018, having recently joined the Anglican Communion myself, my heart was full. But when I watched Oprah’s interview with Harry and Meghan last week, I was stunned at […]
What if we cared about Black History Month as much as Lent?
This article originally appeared on February 23, 2021 at Baptist News Global. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s as an independent Baptist in an all-white church, the first 20 Februarys of my life came and went without any awareness of either Lent or Black History Month. Liturgy was considered something the evil Catholics did. And […]
How My Evangelical Theology Disconnected Me From My Black Neighbors, and How I’m Healing
This article originally appeared on May 29, 2020 on Medium. In 2015, I was a huge conservative talk radio listener. Every day, I’d tune in to Hugh Hewitt, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin. I was sold on everything they said. Then every few months, another black man would die at […]