Todayโs Briefing
Perhaps the most countercultural thing Christians can do todayโand that includes us at CTโis to skip the outrage cycle and refuse to demonize one another.ย
During the Industrial Revolution, Christians fought exploitative child labor. In the smartphone age, the church may be called to keep kids from the harms of a screen-based childhood.
African student ministry leader Daniel Bourdannรฉ, the former general secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, has died at age 64.ย
Whatever is streaming: You can stop forcing Christian themes on everything you watch.
In Nothing Is Wasted, an Indiana pastor tells the true story of his wifeโs horrific murder and his pathway through pain to restoration.ย
P.S. If you subscribe to CT right now, you can get two years for the price of one.
Behind the Story
From Kate Shellnutt: Several years ago, I was invited to speak to theology undergrads at Liberty University about Christian cultural engagement. I had been surrounded by thoughtful examples at Christianity Today: At the time Andy Crouchโauthor of Culture Makingโwas executive editor, and Alissa Wilkinsonโnow a movie critic at The New York Timesโ was our movie reviewer.
ย
After the class, one of the professors commented on the pieces of entertainment I had referenced. He told me that Liberty students couldnโt watch R-rated movies under their code of conduct. My talk had overestimated the benefits of engagement with pop culture and probably underestimated the reasons Christians restrict or avoid certain works.
ย
I appreciated my colleague Kate Luckyโs take on the dilemma for Christian viewers around how to engage our faith as we engage cultureโwithout requiring everything meet biblical standards or reflect something about our beliefs: โOur job is not to justify our taste in culture but to explain what we see from a vantage point oriented to Christ.โ
In Other News
- Methodists in Congo are on the frontline against mpox.
- A group of 50 congregations is considering leaving the Mennonite Church USA over LGBTQ affirmation.
- When Pharoah dismissed the miracles of Moses as common magic (Ex. 7:11), this is how Egyptians thought about magic.
Science Moms is committed to educating and empowering parents to take action on climate change. Their new “Act of Man” campaign emphasizes the urgent need to address human-caused climate disruptions.…
Today in Christian History
September 13, 1541:ย John Calvin returns to Geneva, where he will spend the rest of his life trying to establish a theocratic society at the request of city authorities who banished him three years earlier (see issue 12: John Calvin).
in case you missed it
Donna Freitas’s spiritual autobiography, Wishful Thinking: How I Lost My Faith and Why I Want to Find It, stands in the tradition of the “dark-night-of-the-soul” memoir. But unlike mystics such…
In June, Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music’s Chandler Moore performed with actor and rapper Will Smith at the BET Awards. Smith premiered his single “You Can Make it” on…
This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here. Since by nature of my work I’ve had to weigh in on a lot of controversial issues over the years, I’ve been…
During the first presidential debate between former president Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris, both candidates spent a few minutes discussing abortion policy, yet pro-life Christians didn’t get the…
in the magazine
The secret is out: Weโve updated our look with a nod to our legacy and refreshed our contentโwhile keeping longtime favorites like testimonies and books coverage. In this issue, we look to the past for wisdom to address a fractured evangelicalism in the present and future, with editor in chief Russell Moore issuing a call for moral clarity. Read an in-depth report on a consequential evangelical voting bloc; sit with an honest reflection on struggling to find community; and, as same-sex sexuality divides the church, be equipped and encouraged to stand on biblical fidelity. New features include an advice column (featuring Beth Moore), some curated podcast gold, and a brand-new pastoral column. Weโre glad youโre here with us and look forward to seeking the kingdom together in this new era at Christianity Today.
CT Daily Briefing
Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily.
Delivered free via email to subscribers weekly. Sign up for this newsletter.
You are currently subscribed as no email found. Sign up to more newsletters like this. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe.
Christianity Today is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
โChristianity Todayโ and โCTโ are the registered trademarks of Christianity Today International.
Copyright ยฉ2024 Christianity Today, PO Box 788, Wheaton, IL 60187-0788
All rights reserved.