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Progressive Christian

Challenging the Church

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March 2025

March 31, 2025

Baptist Ordination: No Standards? No Problem!

Southern Baptist church autonomy (read: anarchy) causes problems for the ordination of ministers. They're like,...

March 27, 2025

Rethinking Ordination: Power, Purpose, and Problems

What is ordination? Does the Church still need it today? Rethinking ordination, we’ll look at...

March 24, 2025

Am I Still a Minister? The Baptist Ordination Dilemma

"Are you still an ordained minister?" my friend asked me. I hesitated. "Well, that's a...

March 10, 2025

Missionaries Getting Squicky: Faith, Fashion & Appropriation

Hudson Taylor said that Missionaries should live and dress like the people they seek to...

March 03, 2025

Why Are Evangelicals Feeding the TikTok Croc?

Feeding wild animals teaches them to treat you as a food source. Or as the...

February 2025

February 06, 2025

Does Christianity Need a New Holiness Movement?

Recently, someone told me that Christianity needs a new holiness movement. I agreed with them—but...

January 2025

January 30, 2025

Inauguration: Donald Trump Claims Divine Power

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear Trump claimed to be a god in his...

January 27, 2025

Inaugural Address: What is Trump NOT Telling You?

If you’re not careful, you might believe the religious rhetoric coming out of Donald Trump’s...

January 09, 2025

Does Jesus Want Me to Love My Frenemies?

Can we disagree on fundamentally important issues, while remaining friends? Can we follow Jesus and...

November 2024

November 13, 2024

Home for the Holidays: A Place for Everyone

As family and friends come home for the holidays, our homes and churches should resemble...

October 2024

October 16, 2024

Forgiving the Mess: How Jesus Redefines Homecoming

This time of year, many churches in the southern US open their doors for homecoming...

September 2024

September 12, 2024

Is It the Church’s Mission to Do Social Work?

Should your church offer resources for mental & sexual health, & addiction recovery? I respond...

September 09, 2024

Trumpsters’ Trauma Response: Fight, Flight, Freeze, & Fawn

You’ve heard of the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn fear responses. Trump supporters demonstrate each...

August 2024

August 29, 2024

Overdose Awareness Day: How Can Your Church Save Lives?

August is Overdose Awareness Month, and August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day. How can your...

August 26, 2024

Substance Use Harm Reduction: What Would Jesus Do?

During an opioid epidemic with so many dying of overdose, would Jesus promote harm reduction...

August 05, 2024

Olympic Outrage: Conservatives’ Double Standards on Gender

Conservatives are outraged over Olympic drag queens and alleged trans athletes, demonstrating double standards on...

July 2024

July 28, 2024

Trump Is Not the Antichrist, But Still is Anti-Christ!

Donald Trump isn't the fictional Antichrist as depicted in apocalyptic literature. But I am convinced...

July 25, 2024

No, Trump Is Not the Antichrist (Neither Is Anyone Else)

People are asking—Does Trump’s wounded head mark him as the Antichrist? The answer is no....

July 22, 2024

PrejudICE: Navigate Cultural Icebergs Without Getting Sunk

I'm not prejudiced," my friend said. "I mean, I even have Black friends!" He needed...

July 14, 2024

Trump’s Shooting: Is Political Violence Ever Justified?

Was Donald Trump’s shooter justified? Absolutely not—political violence never is! Every liberal and conservative should...

July 08, 2024

Gandalf and Paul: Confronting Today’s Smoke and Mirrors

Gandalf and the apostle Paul shed light on the smoke and mirrors of religion and...

July 03, 2024

“If My People, Called by My Name” Doesn’t Apply to America

On the Fourth of July, Americans hear “If my people, called by my name” taken...

June 2024

June 30, 2024

Picking and Choosing: Why Selective Bible Reading is Okay

Paul and the other apostles practiced selective Bible reading, just like Jesus. Here's how you...

June 27, 2024

Be Like Jesus—Pick and Choose Your Scriptures!

When conservatives say, “You can’t pick and choose which parts of the Bible support your...

June 16, 2024

Call Trans Folks by Their New Names and Pronouns Today!

All people change. Some change more than others. And that’s okay. Here’s why you should...

June 13, 2024

Racism’s Day of Reckoning: From Compromise to Conviction

In "Racism in the Pews: A Pastor's Confession of Compromise," I bared my shame. Here's...

June 10, 2024

Racism in the Pews: A Pastor’s Confession of Compromise

"So, the Black church invited you to guest preach?" my deacon asked. "Do you think...

June 03, 2024

Why “Getting them Saved and Baptized” is Killing the Church

I'll always regret baptizing 10% of our kids in Vacation Bible School that year. Yes,...

May 2024

May 22, 2024

Does God Change God’s Mind? The Bible Appears Confused…

We like to think that God doesn't change. Malachi has God saying, “I the Lord...

April 2024

April 11, 2024

What’s in a Name? Deadnaming, Misgendering & Other Rudeness

What should you do when your coworker or loved one asks you to call them...