“Why should I bother dragging myself to church? And don’t tell me it’s because I’m obligated —says who?”   Ever felt that way? You’re in good company, because more people than ever are asking the same thing.   The truth is, church attendance has been declining across America for decades. Research from the Pew Foundation shows that the fastest-growing faith category today is “the nones”—people who claim no religious affiliation at all. They now make up about 30% of Americans.

Who came to mind when you saw the title of this article? Well—sorry to disappoint you—I was actually thinking about you and me.   The phrase comes from C.S. Lewis in his classic Mere Christianity . In the chapter called “The Essential Vice,” he makes the case that pride is not just another sin—it’s the root of them all. As he put it: “According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride.” [1]   Lewis explains why. Pride is competitive by nature. It d

What’s wrong with Christian nationalism? After all, who wouldn’t want more Christian values in our country? I sure would. But here’s my question: Is Christian nationalism actually working? Is it producing more of the fruit of the Spirit and a deeper alignment with biblical values—in society, or even among its own advocates?   I’m not trying to be snarky. I know, love, and respect many who consider themselves Christian nationalists. And I affirm their intent. But if the goal i

I’ve figured out the root cause of division in America—and it’s not what you think.   The standard way to think about our divided culture is to hold up the opposing sides: Republican and Democrat, Conservative and Liberal, Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. You name it. The list of opposing forces in society is long. But differing opinions are not the real cause of division. So what is? What Causes Division? I think the root cause boils down to a very old-fashioned word from the Bible:

Do you remember Donald Trump's photo op with the Bible several years ago? Some thought it was positive; the President was courageously affirming America's biblical roots. Others thought is was negative; the President was cynically pandering to his political base. Whatever your view, I suspect you held it strongly . But as I listened to the media hoo-haw that followed, it seemed everyone was missing the point: the star of the photo op was...the Bible. So, I wrote an article