Politics

In recent years, many Christian leaders—most famously the late Pastor Tim Keller—have promoted what’s often called a “Third Way.” Keller’s idea was that Christians shouldn’t become pawns of either political tribe. Instead, we should resist culture-war polarization by emphasizing gospel-centered principles that critique the imperfections of both the Left and the Right. There’s wisdom in that impulse. And I agree that the Kingdom of God transcends every imperfect human politica

When I wrote a short reflection on Charlie Kirk’s memorial on Facebook, I didn’t expect it to go viral. But clearly, it struck a nerve. Multitudes of likes, comments, and shares followed. Because of the attention it received, I thought it wise to expand upon it and memorialize it here. Trump Derangement Syndrome in the Church Some Christians are missing it. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s memorial, I’ve seen some brothers and sisters so consumed by Trump Derangement Syndrome (T

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has left millions grieving, and many asking the hardest theological question of all: Why does God allow such evil? Last week, the world watched in horror as Charlie Kirk was assassinated in cold blood. What some may not yet know is that one of my mentors and friend, Dr. Frank Turek, was right there with him. Frank was in the SUV. He prayed over Charlie in those final moments, and he even performed CPR though he already knew his friend was gon

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination there have been many reactions. Some are obviously evil, like celebration, others are obviously understandable and good, like grief. But there are those that will seek to make a person think twice about putting emphasis on this particular event. They will say something like "well, why didn't you care about X more than or the same amount you cared about Charlie?" For some, this is a dishonest question (and I will address those at t

In the days following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, one debate has surfaced repeatedly: Was Charlie Kirk a Christian martyr, or was he simply a political activist who was assassinated for his politics? Some argue that because his assassin targeted him for his political influence, his death cannot fit the historic definition of martyrdom. They point out that in Christian theology, a martyr is someone who is killed specifically because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ — whe

Now that you are past the headline, I’ll be more specific. “I don’t condone violence, but . . .” is usually wrong. As with most ethical and moral issues, there are some exceptions and cases where it is a bit gray. But most of the time, “I don’t condone violence, but . . .” and similar thinking is at best a moral/ethical confusion and often it is simply wrong akin to how cheating, lying, and stealing is immoral. Frequently it is functionally little different from a step toward

I usually strive to stay in my lane as a philosophically inclined theologian. I don’t go looking for political fights. But when politics swerves into my lane of theology (which includes questions of truth, objective morality, ethics, and justice) I have a responsibility to address it head-on. The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a wake-up call for many. It showed us what happens when bad ideas, left unchecked, harden into evil actions. Evil thoughts, beliefs, and ideas event

I couldn't sleep last night. I’ll never forget where I was when I first heard the news. I was at the dentist, sitting in the chair getting a cavity filled by my dentist—who, years ago, was in my youth group. After numbing me up, he left the room to let the medication set in. I pulled out my phone, opened Facebook, and saw Graham Allen’s post (seconds after he posted it) asking for prayers for Charlie Kirk. My heart sank. I immediately googled “Charlie Kirk.” Nothing came up.

A friend recently asked me a hard question. She wrote: “Why do you keep sharing videos of this tragic death? It’s horrific on so many levels and yes, I completely agree with what you are saying. However, this girl is a human being and her murder should not be displayed on public forums for people to see. This is not a movie. Her life was real. I support your stance, but you are dehumanizing the situation by sharing footage of her dying. What if this were someone you knew? You

As fireworks light up the sky and star spangled banners wave across the nation, many Americans pause on July 4th to celebrate the topic which was the focus of my doctoral dissertation—freedom. But why exactly do we celebrate freedom? Is it just tradition? Fireworks and grilled burgers or hot dogs? Or is there something deeper—something that reaches beyond politics and touches metaphysical reality? I believe there is. In fact, I’d argue that the 4th of July is one of the most

As a theologian, I've devoted my life to pursuing truth, wherever it leads—and no matter the cost. I’ve sought to think logically, interpret Scripture responsibly, live accordingly, and speak the truth in love. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s this: if you are committed to truth, you will make enemies. Many of them. Not because you're trying to. Not because you're cruel or abrasive. But because speaking truth inevitably confronts error—and people do

Risk is an inescapable part of life. We wear seatbelts because we can’t predict when an accident will happen. We buy insurance because we don’t know when a disaster might strike. We lock our doors at night, not because we expect a break-in, but because failing to prepare for one could prove catastrophic. Gun ownership operates on the same principle: it’s a rational hedge against an unpredictable world. This reasoning finds a striking parallel in Pascal’s Wager , a classic phi

In Part 1 of this series on abortion, we discussed that abortion has been practiced for millennia. It is nothing new although the means of destroying a child in the womb have varied. We also briefly looked at why abortion has been a human preoccupation throughout history. For philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, they firmly believed it was to ensure that the best progeny would be born and eventually be leaders of the state. It was also because they feared possible overpopu

It is always a temptation in an industrial and technological society such as America to fall into what C.S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery.” This is the belief that the present ideas and practices are superior to, or could never have been imagined by, those who went before us. This is no less true concerning the practice of abortion. Many believe abortion is a relatively new idea and that those who preceded our advanced age could never have imagined having the means to

It was a warm August morning and I had just dropped the kids off at school and was making my way into the office when my phone buzzed. A text from Tim Stratton about a quote he had posted on Twitter (or X now I guess) came through.  The quote was pulled from something I had said on the same platform a day before in a spirited but cordial debate with Michael W. Austin on the meaning of progressive Christianity. This quote, pulled from the context of the previous day’s conve

Opening Statement vs Randal Rauser: Randal, I want to thank you for having this important conversation with Josh and me. It’s an honor to have this conversation with you. Today we are discussing how Christian Americans ought to vote. To be specific: Josh and I contend that it’s impossible for an informed and consistent Christ follower to vote for Harris and Walz; you disagree. Although you are a Canadian who cannot VOTE in America’s elections, you do use your VOICE to influ

It astonishes me that so many Christians are turning a blind eye to the evil threatening their neighbors today. Many are presenting a poor witness to the watching world by refusing to use their God-given power to protect both their neighbors and the least of these. As I recently explained in Voting and the Parable of the Good Samaritan : "By refusing to use their God-given power to oppose the profound and objective evil threatening their neighbors — whom Jesus commanded them

One of the first Bible stories I remember learning as a child was The Parable of the Good Samaritan. I recall my parents reading this story and discussing it with my sister and me. I understood the parable at a very young age, but sadly, many Christians today — including pastors — seem to have forgotten its lesson. Jesus is clear: His followers have a moral obligation to use their power to help those in need. Pastors and other Christians who refuse to help their neighbors i

Since we are presently in the midst of a presidential election, it seems apropos to consider the proper role of government. Christian theology has much to say on this topic. Unfortunately, it is rarely addressed by Christians, churches, or American society in general. Most discussions during election cycles focus merely upon issues and policies, each candidate and political party taking his or her position in opposite corners of the boxing ring. This is very unfortunate, ind

Abortion is often a litmus test for political allegiance. This is unfortunate. I do not believe abortion is a political topic. Churches that shy away from talking about abortion as a political topic are often the same churches that would chastise churches in the 1800s for their lack of comment or activism on behalf of slavery abolition. Abortion is only political because our political sphere in the United States usurped their authority and legalized a form of murder for pers