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Elevation’s recent hit has stirred a broader discussion on how to incorporate imprecatory language in worship without being triumphalist. “Spiritual Enemies to be Encountered,” one of the lesser-known texts written by Charles Wesley, urges the believer to persevere in the battle against “legions of dire malicious fiends” and “secret, sworn, eternal foes.” There’s talk of spiritual enemies coupled with militarism that places Christ as captain and... Read More

Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” is well-cast, well-made, and without a thought-provoking theory of its subject’s world-changing appeal. After the violent throes of revolution, in a bankrupt French Republic on the brink of collapse, a man captured the hearts of his people and rose to rule. This is the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, the subject of director Ridley Scott’s new movie, Napoleon, in theaters for Thanksgiving. Napoleon was one of the most fascinating people in history.... Read More

A tea date with a Middle Eastern stranger led to friendship with women from nearly 20 countries—and changed my perspective on the world. It’s 5 a.m. and my house is quiet, but the world is loud. Here in the US, we’re preparing for Thanksgiving, and against the glistening backdrop of what we think the holiday ought to be—happy families gathered around abundant tables—is the sometime shabbiness of our ordinary lives: burned gravy, bickering siblings, and empty... Read More

A tea date with a Middle Eastern stranger led to friendship with women from nearly 20 countries—and changed my perspective on the world. It’s 5 a.m. and my house is quiet, but the world is loud. Here in the US, we’re preparing for Thanksgiving, and against the glistening backdrop of what we think the holiday ought to be—happy families gathered around abundant tables—is the sometime shabbiness of our ordinary lives: burned gravy, bickering siblings, and empty... Read More

Stories from the pandemic remind us that hope abounds even in the most difficult circumstances. Without question, the pandemic was one of the most difficult seasons the modern church has ever faced. Even though COVID-19 brought an immeasurable amount of pain, grief, and anxiety to churches and pastors, there was beauty to be found. In the face of all that the church endured, the theme of beauty from ashes remained constant throughout our interviews with pastors and leaders. It was a... Read More

As a young mom, I tried to do everything right. The longer I parent, the less I seek “success” and the more I rely on God’s grace. We did everything right. As Christian parents, we scan the checklists of steps to bring up a child in the Lord. We teach them right from wrong. We tell them about Jesus. We bring them to Sunday School. We make it to church. Of course, none of us parent perfectly. But watching a child go through deep spiritual struggles can be disorienting when we’ve... Read More

The former COGIC leader and Oral Roberts mentee said he wore his “heretic” label “like a badge.” When Carlton Pearson was a teenager, he cast out a demon in church. He was the son and grandson of Church of God in Christ (COGIC) ministers and knew what to do. He looked at the girl in front of him—his girlfriend at the time—and started rebuking the Devil in her and claiming the power of the blood of Jesus. “The blood, the blood, the blood, the blood—come... Read More

Wheaton professor Karen Jobes becomes president a decade after a study found “hostile and unwelcoming” atmosphere. The Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) has instated its first female president in 75 years. Karen Jobes, emeritus professor of New Testament Greek and Greek exegesis at Wheaton College, will lead the professional society of evangelical Bible scholars and theologians in 2024. Her election marks a significant step for an association that has faced criticism over the years... Read More

Sixty years later, their sermons calling for change and greater civility still resonate. Less than a year before the US presidential election, pastors took to their pulpits to decry a culture of hate, extremism, and vile politics. “Much of the hate and discord that has been poisoning our nation has been preached in the name of Christ and the church,” Charles V. Denman declared. In a different sanctuary, William Dickinson proclaimed, “Hate knows no political loyalty and is... Read More

The spiral-bound tomes guarding the secrets of the best sugar cookies, sheet cake, and seven-layer salad are disappearing–but not completely. Did someone say Jell-O salad? This is the time of year when families pull out their stained recipes to make crowd-pleasing casseroles, cakes, and cookies. Some of those favorite recipes come from church cookbooks, compiled by women over the decades since the 19th century. These spiral-bound collections of recipes have been a staple in church... Read More