Category: Christian news

Before the vote passed, evangelicals flexed unprecedented political might in a controversial campaign opposing a new definition of marriage and other national reforms. As Cubans voted to approve a new constitution on Sunday, widespread Christian opposition may signal a shift in political tone and a new sense of unity among the island’s churches. The grassroots campaign—formed largely against more permissive language regarding same-sex marriage—earned Christians a measure of... Read More

What we learn about Bible figures from the clothing they put on, take off, and tear apart. Storytellers know that the unfolding of dramatic events can be hard to follow. So to help their audiences make sense of what is happening, they often insert symbolic clues. In cartoons, the villains scowl and speak with gravelly voices, and the heroes smile and sound all-American. In movies, a menacing bassline announces the arrival of a dangerous person, while comic figures appear with bouncier... Read More

The World Evangelical Alliance champions human rights and religious freedom within the United Nations. As I walked into the United Nations building in New York to meet Secretary General Antonio Guterres, I recalled a preacher who predicted that this world body was the coming world government, as he said had been prophesied in The Revelation. Added to that ominous prediction of its coming role, many view the United Nations as deeply flawed: often biased in its analyses and lacking ability to... Read More

Pulled right and left by various factions of the global church, the UMC’s decision-making body meets this weekend to pick a path forward. One of the world’s largest Christian denominations faces potential fracture as United Methodist leaders gather to finally decide how to navigate deep divisions over gay marriage, ordination, and ministry. The United Methodist Church (UMC) meets Saturday through Tuesday to weigh options to address the differing convictions on the issue, including... Read More

“Only when we “go vertical” and connect in a relationship with God through Jesus will we find the true joy that we are looking for.” Ed: On your 10-year wedding anniversary, you two felt very differently about your marriage. Dave, you thought your relationship couldn’t get any better, and Ann, you were hanging on for dear life and told Dave you had lost your feelings for him. Can you share a little bit about that night and how it changed your relationship? Dave: Our 10-year... Read More

A new biography helps us come to terms with the unsavory side of the great revivalist’s mission to America. On the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, there sits a statue of one of the school’s co-founders: George Whitefield, the 18th-century British evangelist and hero of the Great Awakening. Underneath it, one finds a quote from Benjamin Franklin, the school’s other co-founder (and Whitefield’s longtime friend): “I knew him intimately upwards of thirty years.... Read More

How Christians care for one another when their leaders fall. Last weekend was the first time Harvest Bible Chapel gathered for worship without James MacDonald as its senior pastor. Days after firing the church’s founder, the elders of the Chicago-area multisite congregation announced more changes. The executive committee—the top leaders on the elder board—would also be resigning within months. A task force had been formed to review church structure and processes. This week,... Read More

According to two researchers, the key to “sticky faith” is conversation. During a three-year longitudinal study launched by the Fuller Youth Institute, a parent with three post–high school kids reflected on the changes she’s witnessed over the years: “I think if I were to go back and re-parent, I actually would allow my kids more freedom in their high school years to explore and express their questions about faith.” Her instincts align with what teenagers need.... Read More

Jesus’ family tree offers more than a history lesson. We joke that most people fear public speaking more than death, but this has not been the case for me. I am frequently behind a microphone teaching the Bible to large groups with a healthy fear of the text but little fear of the audience. So I was caught off guard by the sheer panic I felt when one of my pastors asked me to do a reading. That’s it. Just a simple reading before he preached—no commentary, no embellishments,... Read More

He succeeds Harold Smith, who retires May 1. Christianity Today is announcing the election of Timothy Dalrymple as its president and chief executive officer, effective May 1. The press release announcing the move includes the following: The Christianity Today Board of Directors has unanimously elected Dr. Timothy Dalrymple as its next president and CEO. He will begin his new role May 1, 2019.Commenting on the enthusiasm of the board for their president-elect, board chair Eugene Habecker... Read More