Culture

Masks, Racism and the Gospel of QAnon

Aaron Ross
In light of recent outcries and crises, how should the church uphold its purpose? We confront seemingly new challenges that scream for answers, and a sense of emergency may prompt ill-informed responses. However, through a broadening of perspective, believers may look back in time, drawing upon church history and past obstacles, to advance the kingdom of God through and beyond 2020.... Read More...
4 min read

Is Cancel Culture Canceled?

Justin Rose
"She's canceled." "I don't support him anymore, did you hear what he did?" These are phrases that pop culture has normalized in an attempt to hold those in positions of power to a certain moral standard. While taking the actions of those in such positions seriously shows the potential of a public commitment to justice, it so often lacks an offer of redemption. This week, PhD student Justin Rose examines how Christians can earnestly and positively engage with these public calls to accountability.... Read More...
7 min read

How Then Shall We Address Impeachment?

Zach Tackett
We should expect our politicians to extend a loving heart and concern for those who need a lifting hand. In our call for caring politicians, we as a community participate through our political commitments in lifting-up the whole of society. In this week’s post, Dr. Zachary Tackett, church history and theology professor at Southeastern University, discusses the modern impeachment relevance in today’s political climate and how we as believers might react in response. ... Read More...
5 min read

Unity of the Spirit until Unity of the Mind

Austin Spiller
One does not need to remain invisible or passive to be Christlike in a community, nor does one need vehemently defend all beliefs that are passionately held. There is a better way to handle disagreement in a community. In this week’s post, Austin Spiller,graduate student at Southeastern University’s Divinity School, draws a relevant comparison between our firm understandings of taboo subjects and how we as believers communicate them with those we love. ... Read More...
5 min read

The Church and the Other

Jenna MacFarlane
The language we as the church often embody conveys that we have blocked those outside the faith versus inside the church by constructing unseen walls. How can this be so, if we claim to welcome all? In this week’s post, Jenna MacFarlane, senior at Southeastern University, addresses this imbalance within communities and how we as the church can develop healthier language in helping the Other feel authentic belonging. ... Read More...
5 min read

Everyday Ethics

Yoon Shin
Recognizing the state of our moral existence should help usbetter tackle, or at least better understand, the ethical issues that we face,especially those that we deem more personally important. Ethics surround oureveryday existence. In this week’s post, Yoon Shin,ethics professor at Southeastern University, discusses several steps for ethicaldecision-making when answers stray from being simply black or white.... Read More...
8 min read

Why Pray?

Alan Ehler
The New Testament priority for prayer was adopted by the early church. Mark 1:35 records the pattern of Jesus’ ministry mentioned several other times in the Gospels: “The New Testament priority for prayer was adopted by the early church. Mark 1:35 records the pattern of Jesus’ ministry mentioned several other times in the Gospels: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” The Incarnate Son of God made prayer a regular part of his life. In this week’s post, Dr. Ehler, Dean of Southeastern University’s college of theology and religion, discusses the posture of prayer and the significance it has in cultivating our relationship with God. ... Read More...
9 min read

Why Christian Pedagogy Matters

Jamin Metcalf
Education reform is one of those hot-button issues that nearly everyone has an opinion about. People from all different walks of life, political leanings, and faith backgrounds tend to agree that our education systems in the U.S., and in the West in general, need some significant improvements. This week, Jamin Metcalf, M. Ed. student, elaborates on a constructive reclaim of education’s core values within our capitalistic system and presents a renewed understanding of what these values should mean for modern pedagogy and Christian praxis. ... Read More...
6 min read

John Crist, Sexual Harassment, and the Church

Lauren Raley
The current reports of Christian Comedian, Jon Crists’ manipulative behavior towards women has brought to light an important question for the Church: How are we to address situations of abuse and exploitation from within our own faith-learning community? This week Lauren Raley, religion professor at Southeastern University, discusses how we can confront issues of this importance before the entire community becomes affected. ... Read More...
5 min read

Materialism in the Christian Context

Joshua Britt
Materialism, and all its associated encumbrances, have been the subject of Christian discourse since the beginning of the Christian era. It is none other than a hermit, John the Baptist, whose blistering imperative to, “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” opens the New Testament. In this week’s post, Dr. Britt, director of Global Education at Southeastern University, discusses Christian perspectives of a world living under a materialistic umbrella. ... Read More...
6 min read

Are We Missing the Point behind “Jesus is King”?

Jackson Hirsch
Upon Kanye West’s newest album release, some Christian groups developed radical polarizing perspectives. Half of the church seemed to welcome Kanye with open arms, while the other fundamental half completely rejected him. The conversation has become almost entirely hinged on the discussion of whether to accept Kanye’s story of salvation, or not. In today’s post, Jackson Hirch, student at Southeastern University, informs the ongoing dialogue surrounding Kanye West’s latest album, Jesus is King, and suggests a new perspective for the church to consider. ... Read More...
6 min read

Affirming Women in Modern Spirituality

Zach Tackett
The gospel writer Luke speaks of the Spirit coming upon all people … including women … that they may proclaim the prophetic word of God (Acts 2:17-18). Jesus authenticated women for leadership in ministry when he commended Mary of Bethany as she sat at his feet. In this post’s relevant discussion, Dr. Zach Tackett, professor at Southeastern University and ordained AG minister, unravels the significant and crucial role women play in Pentecostal circles while biblically endorsing their leadership in ministry. ... Read More...
6 min read

The Lord, Alone, is on His Throne

Peter Hartwig
The sudden boom of elevation in leadership materials has begun producing some ministers who know the ‘how’ of leadership, but cannot articulate the ‘why’ of Christian vocation with sufficient theological depth. In this week’s post, Peter Hartwig, theologian in residence at National Community Church and MDiv candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary, addresses the pressing issue to dethrone the study of leadership and, in the process, reconsiders its relationship to theology itself. ... Read More...
10 min read

Muted Skeptics Spawning Cynics

Aaron Ross
We may find that if we listen, dialogue with, and engage authentically with those who have questions or false premises about the church, not only may we hear something we have missed, but we might even grow our understanding from it. This week Aaron Ross, theology professor at Southeastern University, continues from his recent post in the discussion of skeptics within the church and addresses how we as a community might gather our response. ... Read More...
3 min read

Actuating Environmental Stewardship

Esther Shemeth
Theologically, stewardshipbelieves in humanity having an obligation to our earth; and, thus, expendingfirm energies in caring, protecting, and advocating for it (Gen. 2:15).Considering the dilemma of our current climate’s trajectory, should the church supportenvironmental action? In this week’s discussion, Esther Shemeth, student at SoutheasternUniversity, encourages a rationale that seeks to emphasize the biblical substantiation of sustainability.  ... Read More...
6 min read