Theologians, historians, sociologists, and other scholars spill a lot of ink debating the definition of the term “evangelical.” But thanks to what happened on November 8, 2016, we can set aside the Bebbington Quadrilateral and all its rivals. At least as “evangelical” pertains to Americans of European descent, it’s now clear that it chiefly describes the voting … More Who’s an “Evangelical”? We Now Know…
I’m getting off to a slow start today, having stayed up until the wee hours to watch the Chicago Cubs pull out a dramatic, extra innings victory over the Cleveland Indians in a memorable World Series Game 7 that featured a reserve catcher who’s almost as old as me hitting a home run in his … More “The Last Time the Cubs Won…”
I had intended to write a series of these “dispatches,” and I still might have one or two more things to add before we head back to Minnesota. But for now, I put together a few observations about our time in one of the most strongly pro-Trump parts of the country. For my fall sabbatical, my … More Dispatches from Trump Country: The Past and Politics
Today Andy Crouch, the editorial director of Christianity Today, managed to do two things with a single essay: make me look much smarter than I am, and give me hope that the evangelical movement might actually learn something from this debacle of an election. First, making me look smart: I’m in Denver to speak at one of … More “Strategy Becomes Idolatry”: Christianity Today Against Evangelical Support for Trump
If you don’t spend your evenings following Twitter, you’re both a better steward of your time than me and perhaps unaware that the evangelical internet exploded last night, after Time magazine published this story: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship to dismiss employees who support gay marriage https://t.co/ExtuqqltaZ — TIME (@TIME) October 6, 2016 Elisabeth Dias reported that InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, … More InterVarsity, Sexuality, and the Importance of Christian Unity
Last week my family completed a rambling journey and arrived safely in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where we’ll be spending my fall sabbatical as I continue work on a couple of writing projects. Believe it or not, this will be my workspace until December: As we passed through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, I was … More Dispatches from Trump Country
In case you missed it yesterday morning, The Gospel Coalition featured a reworked version of my Anxious Bench post on the religious history of the modern Olympics. They asked me to conclude with a bit more application for Christian readers, so here’s what I came up with: So how should Christians respond to an event whose website still defines Olympism as “a philosophy of … More Can the Olympics Bring Americans Together?
Today’s guest post comes from one of my former students at Bethel University, Peter Williams, who brings a unique perspective to one of the most controversial legal cases of the year. Now a Judge Advocate/attorney in the Minnesota National Guard, Peter currently serves as a Regional Special Victims’ Counsel for the National Guard Bureau in … More Justice Rising? A Pragmatic Look at the Stanford Rape Case (Peter Williams)
I woke this morning to terrible news, just down the road. And took a shot at writing about it. Thanks to the many who read and shared that post, and to those who wrote back words of encouragement and counsel. But this terrible day ends with more death, as snipers opened fire on police at … More Dallas (One More Inadequate Response)
On days when I don’t want to take a freeway from one Twin City to the other, I sometimes drive down a road called Larpenteur Avenue. (It changes names when it reaches Minneapolis.) Because I’m normally impatient, I tend to push the speed limit when it drops to 30 mph. Because I’m normally a rule-follower, that means that I tend … More An Inadequate Response to Two More Shootings
The Pietist Schoolman 