The Christian Century

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more popular word in evangelical circles today than flourishing. But are the churches described that way avoiding complexity?

If Peter is wrong in his response to his mountaintop spiritual experience—as so many sermons suggest—why doesn’t Jesus rebuke him?

It is the ultimate in human foolishness when we think we need to be perfect in order to earn God’s love or anyone else’s.

A hazard of being a pastor is that you can speak and write endlessly about God and rarely open yourself to be encountered by God.

There are constitutional arguments against allowing nonprofits—including congregations—to endorse political candidates. But the religious one is stronger.

Like the stories of African-American women mathematicians at NASA, our faith's heritage reminds us to look for the people behind the scenes.

We have all the power we need for daily acts of resistance and hope.

Is it worth the time to engage with people who are convinced their version of reality is right? 

Many churches have signs declaring that all are welcome. But are their buildings really inviting to the community around them?

I share Dutch Calvinist heritage with Trump's pick for education secretary. I wonder if we see God's kingdom the same way.

Moonlight is hard to watch—but also essential viewing—because of what it reveals about us as humans.

I despise the murderer of the Emanuel Nine, and all he stands for. But I can't embrace his death.

It's one thing to oppose harmful actions. It's another to need to be right.

As I think about the Magi, I've remembered lessons about hatred and fear that I learned by traveling to Israel myself.

Matthew is not my favorite Gospel. But where would we be without it?