Why We Love ‘The Chosen’ So Much

The show isn’t just about the transformation of the disciples, it’s about our spiritual transformation, too. The Chosen, a multiseason look at the life of Christ through the eyes of his disciples, has garnered more than 50 million fans in 180 countries with its engaging and affecting storytelling, according to producers. Even viewers initially skeptical that anything good could come out of the Nazareth of Christian entertainment have found themselves hooked by The Chosen’s... Read More

Mainline Protestants Are Still Declining, But That’s Not Good News for Evangelicals

Both traditions are losing out to the unaffiliated. If there’s one overarching conclusion that comes from studying survey data of American religion over the last several decades, it is that fewer people identify with an established religious tradition every year. The ranks of religiously unaffiliated, also called the nones, have grown from just about 5 percent in the early 1970s to at least 30 percent in 2020. Religious demography is a zero-sum game. If one group grows larger that... Read More

Study: Regular Bible Readers Experienced More Stress in 2020, But Also More Hope

In times of trials, Scripture strengthened and encouraged. Ainslee Moss felt the full weight of 2020. For her, the year included juggling the responsibilities of running several nonprofit thrift stores in York County, South Carolina, directing a women’s shelter ministry, coordinating drop-offs for new mothers and seniors unable to leave their home in the pandemic, and traveling back and forth to the hospital with her elderly father who was fighting heart problems and esophageal... Read More

‘Pray Away the Gay’ Has Gone Away. Why Are Governments Trying to Stop It?

Nations around the globe are pushing bans on conversion therapy, some without defining what it is. When the Evangelical Alliance of the United Kingdom wrote Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the country’s push to ban conversion therapy, its first request was that lawmakers define the term. Conversion therapy has become a vague catchall that can refer to abusive and even violent efforts to change someone’s sexual orientation but also can be construed to mean any religious act... Read More

Church of England Considers Evangelical-Inspired Proposal for Lay-Led Churches

Facing decline, Anglicans debate whether the suggestion represents a fresh missional strategy or a radical departure from their theological convictions. Petertide—the days around the feast of St. Peter on June 29—is traditionally one of the most joyful seasons for the Church of England, a time for ordination of new priests and deacons. But this year’s Petertide has been marred by what many have interpreted as an attack on the future of Anglican priesthood itself. As... Read More

‘How Could All the Prophets Be Wrong About Trump?’

After the 2020 election, a remnant of charismatic leaders are trying to revive their movement from within. Like millions of people in America and around the world, Jeremiah Johnson stayed up late on election night. From the TV screen in his living room, he watched as Donald Trump’s winning margin waned and sat stunned in disbelief. Many assumed the former president would win reelection; Johnson was among the charismatic leaders in the US who had put God’s word behind it. On the... Read More

The Latest Biblical Attraction: The Tower of Babel

Answers in Genesis plans a three-year expansion at its Ark Encounter site in Kentucky. The Ark Encounter, a Bible-themed attraction in Kentucky that features a 510-foot-long wooden Noah’s ark, is planning to begin fundraising for an expansion. The Ark Encounter said Wednesday that it would take about three years to research, plan and build a “Tower of Babel” attraction on the park’s grounds in northern Kentucky. A release from the Ark Encounter said the new... Read More

DC Settles $220K Capitol Hill Baptist Lawsuit

UPDATE: Mark Dever’s church has its legal fees covered in the latest legal victory among congregations who sued over worship service limits during lockdown. Capitol Hill Baptist Church has settled a lawsuit with the District of Columbia over claims that its coronavirus restrictions violated the First Amendment by barring outdoor worship but permitting other outdoor activities. According to The Washington Post, D. C. agreed last week to pay $220,000 to Capitol Hill Baptist to cover its... Read More

New Museum Stakes Claim for the Bible in US History—Right Next to the Liberty Bell

Faith and Liberty Discovery Center traces Scripture’s presence at America’s founding and reminds visitors that “faith guides liberty toward justice.” America’s “most historic square mile” got a new resident on the Fourth of July weekend. Joining the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the American Bible Society has opened a $60 million museum to highlight the role of Scripture in the founding of the United States. “We are leveraging history to... Read More

How Josh Duggar Shifted Homeschoolers’ Sense of Security

After recognizing that sin and evil aren’t outside threats, families are doing more to promote abuse awareness. Josh Duggar was slated to stand trial this month on charges of downloading and possessing material that depicted the sexual abuse of minors. Instead, his court date has been delayed until the fall. His family’s series Counting On has been cancelled by TLC. In the months to come, Duggar’s case will be covered as the saga of a former reality TV star, making headlines in... Read More