July (Web-only) 2014

The Sympathetic Doomsday Cult Leader
The Sympathetic Doomsday Cult Leader
'Afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted,' says indie director Joshua Overbay.
Gladys and the Guilty Remnant's Gospel
Gladys and the Guilty Remnant's Gospel
Finally, a key. A fiery, silent key.
Calvary
Calvary
A good man is hard to find.
When Bullying Becomes Spiritual Warfare
When Bullying Becomes Spiritual Warfare
Insults and intimidation threaten children’s perceptions of God.
Hey, Christian Youth: It Gets Better
Hey, Christian Youth: It Gets Better
Why have the perks of faithful adulthood become our best-kept secret?
Why We're Dropping Comments (On Some Articles)
We still want to hear from you. And we want you to enjoy reading our site.
Everything's Turning Up Apocalypse
Everything's Turning Up Apocalypse
But in some less-than-obvious ways.
Lucy
Lucy
Strong women at movies: still the missing link.
The Church Deserves Better than Ugly Decorations
The Church Deserves Better than Ugly Decorations
Neither Granny’s castoffs nor HGTV trends belong in church buildings.
The Next Chapter for Christian Publishing
The Next Chapter for Christian Publishing
Instead of saying goodbye to the ‘Golden Age,’ it’s time for us welcome a new era.
The Quick Take for July 25, 2014
The Quick Take for July 25, 2014
Lots of superhero news, and the Christian critic who was surprised at the marriage behind 'Sex Tape.'
Hercules
Hercules
Talk about your therapeutic moral demigods.
Introducing the Bible! Now with Less!
Introducing the Bible! Now with Less!
Delete the chapter and verse numbers. Kill all the notes. Make it one column. Make a million bucks.
Why Singles Belong in Church Leadership
Why Singles Belong in Church Leadership
Unmarried ministers offer a unique understanding of devotion to Christ alone.
The Good Ministers of the Silver Screen
The Good Ministers of the Silver Screen
Sure, there are badly-written clergy at TV and the movies. But it's the good ones that tell us something about what it is to be a minister.
Mosul Christian: Thanks for Changing Your #WeAreN Photo
Mosul Christian: Thanks for Changing Your #WeAreN Photo
Believers in Iraq rally around label that forced them out of their homes and churches.
Not Another Charity Case
Not Another Charity Case
Violence against women calls for an immediate, institution-wide response from Christians.
Confessions of a Cosplay Mom
Confessions of a Cosplay Mom
How this Christian parent learned to embrace the wacky Comic-Con scene.
What We Talk About When We Talk About 'Birth Control'
What We Talk About When We Talk About 'Birth Control'
Meaningful debate requires us to define the terms of discussion.
The Rorschach Antichrist
The Rorschach Antichrist
Mapleton: putting the "false Christ" into Christmas.
I Origins
I Origins
It's a movie about faith and science, but it can't get either right.
Executive Orders on LGBT Discrimination Don't Exempt Religious Orgs
New Executive Orders on LGBT Discrimination Don't Exempt Religious Orgs
(UPDATED) But Obama won't withdraw memo on religious discrimination.
The Stereotypical Christians of 'Orange Is the New Black'
The Stereotypical Christians of 'Orange Is the New Black'
The series’ groundbreaking diversity disappoints in the realm of religion.
The Quick Take for July 18, 2014
The Quick Take for July 18, 2014
Star Wars news, 'Planes: Fire and Rescue,' and Paddington? Find out more, plus what the critics think about Zach Braff’s latest and 'Rio 2.'
A Five Star Life
A Five Star Life
Is there really only one way to live luxuriously?
'The Virgins' Are On Their Way
'The Virgins' Are On Their Way
Matt Wilson never stopped wanting to make a movie about Christians. Just not a 'Christian' movie.
Beyond the Echo Chamber on Gender Roles
Beyond the Echo Chamber on Gender Roles
Our notion of male and female begins with a robust understanding of creation.
How Poor Could They Be?
How Poor Could They Be?
On going broke and getting judged.
We Miserable Sinners
We Miserable Sinners
Making good 'Christian' movies is a matter of being a wretch.
Why Pastors Should Preach About Body Image
Why Pastors Should Preach About Body Image
Our obsession with appearance has theological ramifications for both women and men.
6 Crowdfunding Myths for Christians to Consider
6 Crowdfunding Myths for Christians to Consider
Online fundraising can be a great ministry resource… if done right.
Religious Freedom vs. LGBT Rights? It's More Complicated
Religious Freedom vs. LGBT Rights? It's More Complicated
The legal context for what's happening at Gordon College, and how Christians can respond despite intense cultural backlash.
Jesus' Command to Love (and Hate) Our Family
Jesus' Command to Love (and Hate) Our Family
How the Bible challenges our traditional view of family
When Our Desires Disorient Us
When Our Desires Disorient Us
Recognizing what we want allows us to stand exposed before God.
But He Was Silent
But He Was Silent
Commentary on 'The Leftovers,' episode 3, in which the boats and the helicopter were just a lucky break.
What I Learned About Movies from a Well-Read Dog
What I Learned About Movies from a Well-Read Dog
And why I'll be blogging here.
Andy Stanley: Assume People Are Biblically Illiterate (But Not Dumb)
Andy Stanley: Assume People Are Biblically Illiterate (But Not Dumb)
The North Point pastor says the way we teach Scripture can undermine evangelism.
Finding Hope for an Often-Fatal Genetic Disorder
Finding Hope for an Often-Fatal Genetic Disorder
Rather than hide in pain, trisomy 18 parents take to the web to celebrate life.
My Bright Sadness
My Bright Sadness
Coaching an urban youth swim team requires deeper capacities for sadness and hope.
Secondhand Suffering: The Grief We Often Overlook
Secondhand Suffering: The Grief We Often Overlook
As the church rallies in times of tragedy, let’s also help the helpers.As the church rallies in times of tragedy, let’s not forget to help the helpers.
The Quick Take for July 11, 2014
The Quick Take for July 11, 2014
Sequels in the form of sitcoms and on the silver screen—what the critics are saying about 'Apes' and 'Girl Meets World.'
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Are we really doomed to this?
Penguins, Trees, and Tragedies
Penguins, Trees, and Tragedies
Commentary and recap of the second episode of 'The Leftovers': 'Penguin One, Us Zero.'
Good Sex Comes to Those Who Wait?
Good Sex Comes to Those Who Wait?
Hook-up sex v. married sex: A warning about incentivizing abstinence with personal pleasure.
Tammy
Tammy
Do women really relate best to a woman who is a hot mess?
The Perfectionism Complex
The Perfectionism Complex
Sometimes God wants you to get over it and focus on the One who's already good enough.
What's It Like to Be Married to Me?
What's It Like to Be Married to Me?
Linda Dillow believes your marriage can be revolutionized by squaring off with this scary and powerful question
Faith Unsettled
Faith Unsettled
Pushing beyond the easy-believism of evangelicalism.
How It Feels to Love and Hate a Sex Offender
How It Feels to Love and Hate a Sex Offender
Abusers’ families are secondary victims, left to reconcile their conflicting emotions.
The Quick Take for July 4, 2014
The Quick Take for July 4, 2014
What the critics are saying about Melissa McCarthy’s latest and some exciting news for 'Sherlock' fans in this week’s quick take.
Life Itself
Life Itself
A heartfelt, clear-eyed tribute to Roger Ebert - and the form he pushed forward.
America's Founding May Not Have Been Christian, but It Sure Wasn't Secular
America's Founding May Not Have Been Christian, but It Sure Wasn't Anti-Christian
An atheist philosopher ignores religion’s place in Revolutionary America.
Mercy in the Name of God, Not Government
Mercy in the Name of God, Not Government
How our country’s religious freedoms might prompt us to care for immigrants.
Earth to Echo
Earth to Echo
A film that desperately wants to be a modern-day E.T. falls woefully short.
Deliver Us From Evil
Deliver Us From Evil
The biggest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing us he didn't exist.
The Great Big Her.meneutics Summer Reading List
The Great Big Her.meneutics Summer Reading List
Beyond chick lit: Books actually worth reading and savoring during lazy summer days.
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer
Is it dystopian? Is it apocalyptic? Either way, 'Snowpiercer' is dazzlingly imaginative and unconventional.
The First Amendment Decision Nobody's Talking About
The First Amendment Decision Nobody's Talking About
While the Hobby Lobby case is higher profile, the Supreme Court's unanimous First Amendment decision last week has greater staying power.
In Honor of Periods, Pad Commercials, and Menstrual Cramps
In Honor of Periods, Pad Commercials, and Menstrual Cramps
Why suppressing our cycles isn’t always the answer.

Top Story March 19, 2024

Died: Michael Knott, Christian Alternative Musician Who Helped Launch Tooth & Nail
Died: Michael Knott, Christian Alternative Musician Who Helped Launch Tooth & Nail
Knott wrote rock operas, sang with honesty and conviction, called out hypocrites, and bucked the norms of the Christian music industry.

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