Recently Curated Content

LEARNING CAPSULE: Halloween

Most Christians reject or accept Halloween without much thought. Those who don’t like the holiday assume satanic origins while those who like the holiday celebrate with no critical thought. Before deciding whether to celebrate or not, please take the time to learn about the complex history of the holiday and the many ways Christians can redeem it.

FIVE QUESTIONS: Halloween

In a nutshell, what are Halloween’s roots and origins? What is one reason to celebrate Halloween? What is one reason not to celebrate Halloween? Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What are some ways to redeem Halloween?

BOOK: The Faithful Spy

John Hendrix’s The Faithful Spy is an engrossing and visually arresting account of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—a German pastor whose fierce moral clarity led him into the heart of a conspiracy to resist, and ultimately assassinate, Adolf Hitler.

BOOK: The Ragamuffin Gospel

The Ragamuffin Gospel is not so much a theological treatise as it is a wake-up call—one delivered gently but insistently to the soul that keeps trying to earn what Christ has already given. Manning’s premise is simple: most Christians do not actually believe in the incomprehensible, unearnable grace of God. We nod politely at grace in our Sunday best, but spend the rest of the week anxiously polishing our halos.

Quotes

“If you’re willing to sin to obtain your goal or if you sin when you don’t get what you want, then your desire has taken God’s place and you’re functioning as an idolater.”

Elyse Fitzpatrick, author

“Looking to the government to define good and evil, what is wise and profitable and what is not, is a bad idea. Civil law is not a reliable indicator of what God approves or of what he disapproves. The Christian is going to have to dig deeper into God's laws to make such judgements.”

Todd Miles, theology professor

"The Church is not for ready-made saints. The Church is for sinners, doubters, half-brewed Christians, conversions-in-process, tipsy wagon-riders who tumble off and climb back on again."

Abigail Favale, writer and professor

"History and Scripture teaches us that there can be no reconciliation without repentance. There can be no repentance without confession. And there can be no confession without truth."

Jemar Tisby, historian/American author

“It is a core part of our mission to offer thoughts and prayers. But our prayers must include confession and the promise of repentance, hope and the plea for strength to do what is right, a calling to account of those in power-- especially when we hold power ourselves -- and the admonition of evil and yearning for the kingdom of God.”

Rosalind C. Hughes, Episcopal priest