I’m looking forward to reading York Moore’s new book! It’s written for non-church people who have a notion for the good and the beautiful but need to experience the fullness of these qualities through Jesus. York is a national evangelist for InterVarsity and a friend of mine. His own improbable life story is featured in my recently released Faith …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #2: Is Christianity a Historic Oppressor?
In my prior post I offered suggestions on the question of religious pluralism. The present post is a short “notepad” response to the charge that Christianity is guilty of oppressing women and people of color for centuries. My response: 1. Acknowledge wrong: When Western Christians have imposed themselves on native peoples, held slaves, or held women back from full …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #1: Are All Religions True?
This series of posts will give you immediate direction for apologetic conversations. Remember that “apologetics” is the discipline of defending a position, in this case Christianity. First issue: Religious Pluralism Objection to Christianity: Christianity has no monopoly on the truth. Other religions are just as valid. My response: 1. Affirm what I can. What’s true in Islam? Mormonism? …
The Power of Story: Why we all need to read about Charles Ramirez
On vacation earlier this year in Phoenix, I bumped into Charles Ramirez at his church. He gave me a warm hug and introduced me to his lovely family. I felt as though I already knew Charles pretty well, even though I’d spent only two hours of my life with him. That’s because a year ago I interviewed him in Phoenix …
Walking Away from the Faith, Part 5: Biblical Sexuality
This will be an impossible post. To say something about the increasingly complex subject of sexuality in a short blog is, perhaps, foolish. Here is my attempt: Young Christians such as Mary in my prior post who have friends that identify as queer, or who are queer themselves, often leave the church with a sense of having been betrayed. Most …
Walking Away from the Faith, Part 4: The Queer Exit
prior post: Walking Away from the Faith Part 3: Suggestions from the Pros In the old days, sex education for young people in the church focused on boundaries: how far one could go with a partner without actually sinning. These days, things are more complicated, to say the least. Consider Mary, a 17-year old Christian high school student. Her friend …
Walking Away from the Faith, Part 3: Suggestions from the Pros
prior post: Walking Away from the Faith, Part 2: Angry at the Church I have the arduous privilege of working in the arena of higher education where young people regularly come and go from the church. Mostly go, actually (they leave). Of a plethora of studies and literature out there about the millennial “exodus” from the church, here are three …
Walking Away from the Faith, Part 2: Angry at “The Church”
Prior post: misunderstanding the “perfection” of God leads to disappointment Research institutions such as Barna Group and Lifeway (as summarized in CT) tell us that the church dropout rate for young people age 16-24 is more than half. Some young adults return to the church later on, when they start families. Some never return at all. Those of us in campus …
Walking Away from the Faith, Part 1: The Perfection of God (revised)
How can the church prevent its young people from leaving the faith? I don’t know, exactly. But perhaps the current exodus from the church is at least partially our fault. Recently I encountered a now-adult atheist who grew up in the church but became disillusioned with God in his teen years because God didn’t perform as advertised. God didn’t answer …
Endorsements (and two full reviews) for Faith Unexpected
Rick Mattson has written a book about struggling people who have an authentic and sometimes messy encounter with a delightful and disturbing and wooing God. Whatever your faith background or orientation, you will be inspired and encouraged by these real life and powerful stories! – Dr. Rick Richardson Director of Academic Programs, Church Outreach Initiative and Research Wheaton College and …