Category: Christianity

Carter & Porter (eds.), Turning Points in the History of American Evangelicalism

Was 2016 a Turning Point in the History of Evangelicalism?

March 30, 2017

I’m eager to crack open Turning Points in the History of American Evangelicalism, edited by Heath Carter and Laura Rominger Porter and featuring a who’s who of American religious historians. Dedicated to Mark Noll, the book “seeks to both honor and build upon his contributions” via Noll’s own concept of “turning points.” I summarized it last year in a … More Was 2016 a Turning Point in the History of Evangelicalism?

Confessing Faculty logo

Confessing Faculty in Inside Higher Ed

March 29, 2017

This isn’t exactly how I imagined my week going, but I’m honored to be quoted at some length in this morning’s Inside Higher Ed article on the Confessing Faculty statement. Here’s a taste of Colleen Flaherty’s article, including some of what I said: Academics largely lean to the political left. It’s unsurprising, then, that so many have spoken out … More Confessing Faculty in Inside Higher Ed

Ray VanArragon

A Friendly Critique of the “Confessing Faculty” Statement (Ray VanArragon)

March 27, 2017

As of yesterday afternoon, the Confessing Faculty statement of confession and commitment had 424 signatures from faculty and staff at seventy Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries. One of my 34 colleagues from Bethel to sign the statement was philosopher Ray VanArragon, who nonetheless had some reservations about the document. I invited him to share those concerns (and his reasons for … More A Friendly Critique of the “Confessing Faculty” Statement (Ray VanArragon)

Glen Wiberg

“Pietism is the way the pastor does things”: Glen Wiberg (1925-2017)

March 24, 2017

“The [Pietistic] tradition still lives,” theologian John Weborg once reassured his friend, Glen Wiberg. “But to new people the word Pietism is an unknown word. Pietism is the way the pastor does things.” So while I appreciate having the chance to write a book on Pietism with my pastor, I wish that anyone interested in Pietism could just spend … More “Pietism is the way the pastor does things”: Glen Wiberg (1925-2017)

Confessing Faculty logo

Confessing Faculty: Why I Signed (and Why I Hesitated)

March 22, 2017

It’s probably getting harder to believe my earlier claim that I rarely sign petitions, now that I’ve gone ahead and done so three times since last February. But please believe me that I don’t add my name lightly to documents like this “Statement of Confession and Commitment,” signed by a growing group of “Confessing Faculty” and inspired by … More Confessing Faculty: Why I Signed (and Why I Hesitated)

Larson & Shady, From Bubble to Bridge

From Bubble to Bridge: Interfaith Engagement as a Civic Imperative

March 17, 2017

Why is it imperative that Christians move beyond their “bubbles” and engage with their neighbors of other religions? In the first two chapters of From Bubble to Bridge, my Bethel colleagues Marion Larson and Sara Shady argue that interfaith engagement is both a civic and religious imperative. We’ll continue our series with the first. A Civic Imperative (ch. 1) Many … More From Bubble to Bridge: Interfaith Engagement as a Civic Imperative

"This is the enemy" — WWII propaganda poster showing a Nazi knife stabbing a Bible

Christians, National Socialism, and the World Wars

March 14, 2017

I’d be thrilled to have any chance to write for Christian History Magazine, a venerable publication that has been teaching ordinary Christians about their history since 1982. But I’m especially honored that I got to contribute an article on Christians and National Socialism to an issue dedicated to one of my favorite topics: the Christian experience of … More Christians, National Socialism, and the World Wars

Weiner, "Learn of Me"

God’s Glory, Neighbor’s Good: Revisiting the Pietist Vision for Christian Higher Education

March 7, 2017

Two weeks ago today, I had the chance to talk about Pietism and teaching with college and seminary faculty, staff, and administrators at North Park University in Chicago. It was the third time that I’ve been invited to another Christian college campus to reflect on themes from our 2015 book, The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education, … More God’s Glory, Neighbor’s Good: Revisiting the Pietist Vision for Christian Higher Education