White Privilege at the End of the World
I grew up in a world where the end was always near. The Rapture could happen before lunch. Jesus might split the eastern sky before supper. The Antichrist was forever warming up in the wings. …
Religion
Exvangelical: Moses had horns, the Bible tells me so
Look at those horns on Moses! I teach art and art history at a religious, evangelical university. Every year, we have a fun discussion when it comes to pieces like Michelangelo’s Moses or Claus Sluter’s …
What Might The Pentecostal/Charismatic Future of Evangelicalism Mean?
I got my first taste of Spirit-filled higher life theology from the long-serving, recently deceased pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Charles Stanley. Stanley’s The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life and its accompanying sermon series were released …
The Theological Ignorance of the Religious Right
Something has been bothering me for a very long time. I have been a member of various churches for more than 45 years, and each congregation would have considered itself theologically conservative. Some have been …
Exvangelical: Not a journey, but a day
I’ve been in the world for thirty years,And I must have traveled a million miles.Walked by rivers where the green grass grows thick,And entered the frontier where the red dust rises.Purified potions in vain search …
10 Christmas Quotes
For Christmas this year, I decided to gather ten Christmas quotes from some of my favorite ministers and theologians. As I was putting them together, I realized that they were all from different denominations and …
When the Holy Spirit Convicts Believers of Sin: A Journey Back to Hackensack
Early Success and Hidden Struggles I grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. I graduated from Hackensack High in 1971, got my B.A. from Cornell University in 1975, a master’s …
What not to say when someone has God beaten out of them
“If being hurt by church causes you to lose faith in God,” so the saying on a popular image macro goes, “then your faith was in people, not in God.” I’ve been seeing this sentiment …
The Holiday Season: The Story That Still Speaks
The holiday season is here, and with it comes that familiar mix of nostalgia and noise. The lights appear in windows, the temperature drops, and suddenly the world feels both tender and frantic. People hold …
Deconstruction or Reimagining Faith?
Deconstruction is all the rage. It seems we are constantly bombarded with news of evangelical celebrities who have deconstructed their faith. Often, this leads, eventually, to news of the celebrity leaving the faith. What is …