Christianity Today

October, 2021

Volume 65, Number 7

November, 2021
Teach Us to Pray

Evangelical intellectuals have generally disdained Christian fiction as lacking any real literary worth. But as Daniel Silliman notes in this month’s cover story, diverse groups of readers have long found virtue, pleasure, and the hope of Christ even in the most popular and viral Christian novels. Criticism of these books misses the crucial role they have played in shaping evangelicalism today.

Purchase print copies

Cover Story

Cover Story

What’s True About Christian Fiction

“This Present Darkness” and other bestsellers show us the history of evangelicalism—and how it could be different.

Features

Gary Chapman Doesn’t Know He’s Famous

The top-selling author’s love language books have transformed millions of lives—except, maybe, for his.

Martha: Busy Hostess or Dragon Slayer?

The Gospel of John and medieval legend show Mary’s sister to value theology and hospitality.

What Comes After the Ex-Gay Movement? The Same Thing That Came Before.

Old-school evangelical leaders once knew the value of “care” over “cure.”

The Harvest Is Plentiful, But the Workers Are Divided

Biblical scholars and theologians have different ways of tending their own fields. What can they learn from each other?

Testimony

I Wasn’t ‘Tough’ Enough for My Street-Fighting Family. God Showed Me I Didn’t Have to Be.

How a quiet, bookish kid came to faith while living among rageaholics.

More from this Issue

No Hero But Christ

When we divide the church into good guys and villains, we rob God of glory.

Our September Issue: This Present Fiction

Before American Christians were known for writing pop fiction, they were known for disliking it.

Reply All

Responses to our July/August issue.

News

News

Where Billy Graham Is Remembered

The late evangelist is larger than life with monuments, markers, and museums.

News

NASA Specialist Finds His Calling in Space Experiments

This wasn’t Johnny Berry’s plan. But he trusts a larger one.

News

When God Opened a Coliseum, Young Life Ministers Were Ready

For 19 days, two staffers told unaccompanied minors that God is a good father.

News

What’s Lost When Prison Mail Goes Digital?

Christian ministries are concerned about the Biden administration’s efforts to expand a Trump program of scanning letters.

News

Gleanings: October 2021

News of Christians around the world.

Reviews

5 Books That Portray the Priesthood of All Believers

Chosen by Cliff Warner, rector of Christ Church Anglican in Austin, Texas.

William Lane Craig Explores the Headwaters of the Human Race

The philosopher and theologian ventures a new hypothesis on Genesis, human origins, and the historical Adam.

Review

Shame Is Often Toxic and Harmful. Sometimes, It’s Just What We Deserve.

A Christian philosopher pushes back on attempts to rid ourselves of this unloved emotion.

Review

Philip Yancey, as Few Could Have Imagined Him

The writer’s new memoir sheds light on an upbringing steeped in bigotry and a lifetime of “useful” pain.

New & Noteworthy Fiction

Chosen by H. S. Cross, author of “Wilberforce” and “Grievous.”

Views

We Really Are on the Same Team

Hard as it is to believe, Christians have everything they need to “be one.”

Crime Might Be Rising Again, As Evangelicals (Inaccurately) Feared All Along

How Christians can respond to their own dread about the last years’ uptick in violence and property damage.

The Ten Commitments Behind the Ten Commandments

The world’s most famous list of rules is grounded in something deeper than ethical principles.

Editorial

We Are All Baptists Now—So Let’s Not Fight Like It

American democracy and democratized Christianity face a similar crisis of disunity.

Additional Articles

All Archives

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube