In this series
Christianity Today published thoughtful essayists from around the world in 2025 who analyzed current news events, offered culture criticism, and wrote about how faith and theology intersect with the dilemmas of our time.
Author Jen Pollock Michel told the complicated story of caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease, and writer Carrie McKean told stories of model immigrants who were mistreated as well as about hosting vaccine experts and critics to meet together and talk in her living room. Our writers tackled Charlie Kirk’s death, ethics around artificial intelligence and porn, revival in Silicon Valley, CCM music, immigration, Christian schools—even Zyn and Labubus.
Here are our editors’ picks of top Ideas essays of 2025.
I’ve Seen Firsthand How PEPFAR Works
As a medical missionary, I use PEPFAR-funded meds to save unborn babies, new mothers, and fellow church members from needless, ugly deaths from AIDS.
God Remembers in Our Dementia
Alzheimer’s has robbed my mother of her memories. But in Christ, both she and I are not forgotten.
Why Pro-Life Black Christians Rejected Pro-Life Politics
Black and white Christians in America could have been allies in the fight for life across racial and partisan lines. Post-Dobbs, can we learn from recent history?
Charlie Kirk Is Not a Scapegoat
When we instrumentalize violence, we side with the accuser rather than with Christ.
When Identity Becomes Idolatry
Theologies that indulge and center our group identities aren’t faithful. They decenter Christ and belittle our neighbors.
The Model Immigrants in Legal Limbo
They followed the law. They got in line. They never took welfare or committed a crime. So why would Kevenson and Sherlie be sent back to Haiti?
Sacred Reverb
From Gregorian chants to CCM megahits, we need music that confronts us with the gospel’s strangeness.
Come to Me, All You Networking Techies
Silicon Valley might be drawn to Jesus in the hopes of wealth and power. He can work with that.
The God Who Must Not Be Named
Jesus, the writers of the New Testament, and observant Jews never say the name of God. So why is saying it such a trend among American Christians?
The Christian Schools That Cried Wolf
Critics of religious academies compare modern parental concerns over sexual ethics to mid-century racism. But the echo they hear is not about education.
