January 31, 2025

weekend reads

In 2024, US Bible sales increased by 22 percent through the end of October. This week, we reported on what might be driving the demand—especially among young people, and at a time when digital access to Scripture is more expansive than ever.

As some start to earmark pages and mark up passages in their new Bibles, others are hearing the Word defended by apologist Wesley Huff. His recent appearance on the world’s most popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, allowed him to present historical evidence for the accuracy of Scripture to the show’s 33.5 million followers.

In a Bible Publishing Boom, All Scripture Is Profitable

Apologist Wesley Huff Goes to Modern-Day Mars Hill: Joe Rogan’s Podcast

weekend listen

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea explores the news reports, purges, false accusations, and abuses of power that composed the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and ’90s.

“Evangelicals were far from the only ones talking about the Devil during these years. In fact, more broadly, there was this real sense of existential dread in the air, that a cosmic battle was playing out on the world stage and that nuclear apocalypse could happen at any moment.” | Listen to Episode 1.

The Devil Went Down to Arkansas

editors’ picks

Sara Kyoungah White, editor: For anime fans (I’m really not, but the rest of my family is): I just watched season 1 of Frieren, about an immortal elf who learns to love from her mortal human friends. It’s a lovely meditation on time and what gives meaning to our short lives.

Harvest Prude, national political correspondent: I’ve been revisiting some throwback gospel music; CeCe Winans’s 1995 album, Alone in His Presence, has gorgeous, soulful vocals and creative jazz elements. The song I’ve had on repeat is “His Strength Is Perfect.”

Morgan Lee, CT Global managing editor: At a recent church service we listened to this gorgeous rendition of a text by Wendell Berry. Captivating!

prayers of the people

For refugees. While Christians can disagree on policy, writes our editor in chief Russell Moore, “we have no right to dissent from the Bible on what we are to think of refugees themselves.”
For HIV/AIDS treatment around the world.
For the missionaries fleeing election unrest in Mozambique.
For Ukranian Christians in Russian-occupied territories who are targeted by Moscow.
For believers in China worshiping God clandestinely in the face of persecution.

Catch and Release: ‘The Fish’ Goes Off the Air

In a major radio deal, one company is giving up on Christian music while another pursues expansion.

The Best Argument for Protestantism Is Its Catholicity

Other traditions accuse the Reformers of ignoring church tradition and frustrating church unity. That gets things backward.

Is Feng Shui a Harmless Practice or Spiritual Danger?

Asian Christian leaders evaluate whether the ancient Chinese philosophy is neutral or has dark otherworldly impacts.

You Can’t Hustle Your Way to Holiness

Grinding for God is not a gift of the Spirit, and it just might be making our souls even sicker.

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IN THE MAGAZINE

Cover of the January / February 2025 Issue

This first issue of 2025 exemplifies how reading creates community, grows empathy, gives words to the unnamable, and reminds us that our identities and relationships proceed from the Word of God and the Word made flesh. In this issue, you’ll read about the importance of a book club from Russell Moore and a meditation on the bookends of a life by Jen Wilkin. Mark Meynell writes about the present-day impact of a C. S. Lewis sermon in Ukraine, and Emily Belz reports on how churches care for endangered languages in New York City. Poet Malcolm Guite regales us with literary depth. And we hope you’ll pick up a copy of one of our CT Book Award winners or finalists. Happy reading!

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