Articles

Is 'the Spirit inside of you...better than Jesus beside you'?

Is 'the Spirit inside of you...better than Jesus beside you'?

One prominent pastor thinks so...

CultureJonathanDecember 30, 2014Baptist, Bible, Christian, Christianity, conservativism, evangelicalism, Holy Spirit, J-D- Greear, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Merritt, Paul, pietism, Raleigh, Southern Baptist Convention, spirit, theology

Did #BoycottExodusMovie work?

Jonathan discusses the film's race problem on CNN.

CultureJonathanDecember 17, 2014Art, CNN, Controversy, Exodus, Film, Jonathan Merritt, movies, Race, Ridley Scott

How (Not) to Respond to Grieving Friends

How (Not) to Respond to Grieving Friends

Sara Hagerty author shares lessons she learned from her own crises.

CultureJonathanDecember 17, 2014books, depression, family, finances, grace, grief, infertility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Merritt, loss, Marriage, mourning, parenting, Sara Hagerty, suffering, Zondervan

Christian Bale and Ridley Scott Talk Religion and ‘Exodus'

Christian Bale and Ridley Scott Talk Religion and ‘Exodus'

Here we discuss the film's more controversial elements.

CultureJonathanDecember 10, 2014Art, Bible, Christian Bale, Exodus, Film, Hollywood, Joel Edgerton, Jonathan Merritt, movies, Ridley Scott

3 religious Hurdles Facing Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus’

3 religious Hurdles Facing Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus’

The big budget Bible film hits American theaters on Friday.

CultureJonathanDecember 10, 2014Art, Bible, Christian Bale, Exodus, Film, Hollywood, Joel Edgerton, Jonathan Merritt, movies, Race, Ridley Scott

10 Black Christians Respond to Eric Garner Decision

10 Black Christians Respond to Eric Garner Decision

It's high time white Christians start listening to their pleas.

Controversial Pastor Rob Bell and Wife, Kristen, on Marriage

Controversial Pastor Rob Bell and Wife, Kristen, on Marriage

They talk about why they wrote it and what may surprise readers.

CultureJonathanDecember 5, 2014family, gay marriage, HarperOne, Jonathan Merritt, Kristen Bell, Marriage, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, Rob Bell, television, Zimzum of Love

Ridley Scott's 'Exodus' & Hollywood's Race Problem

Ridley Scott's 'Exodus' & Hollywood's Race Problem

Scott is hardly alone and it's past time for change.

CultureJonathanDecember 2, 2014Art, Controversy, Exodus, Film, Hollywood, Jonathan Merritt, movies, Race, Racism, Ridley Scott

Misfit Minister: Pastors Should Pray Their Churches Shrink

Misfit Minister: Pastors Should Pray Their Churches Shrink

He has harsh words and surprising advice for evangelical Christians.

CultureJonathanDecember 1, 2014church, Homosexuality, Jonathan Merritt, LGBT, Michael Sares, Ministry, poverty, Scum of the Earth, trends

What C.S. Lewis Thought About Aliens

What he believed may surprise some of his faithful fans.

CultureJonathanDecember 1, 2014C-S- Lewis, History, J-R-R- Tolkien, Jonathan Merritt, literature, Narnia, NASA

Oprah’s Network Releases ‘The Rob Bell Show’

Oprah’s Network Releases ‘The Rob Bell Show’

The pastor is back with a talk show on the OWN network.

CultureJonathanNovember 24, 2014Jonathan Merritt, Love Wins, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, OWN Network, Rob Bell

Pastors Vow Not To Perform Civil Marriages

Pastors Vow Not To Perform Civil Marriages

Why this might be a good idea.

CultureJonathanNovember 19, 2014Catholicism, church, Culture, First Things, government, Homosexuality, Jonathan Merritt, law, LGBT, Marriage, politics, R-R- Reno, Sexuality, society, trends

World Magazine and Evangelicals’ Double Standard

World Magazine and Evangelicals’ Double Standard

They attack a pro-evolution group for being pro-evolution.

CultureJonathanNovember 19, 2014Answers in Genesis, BioLogos, Calvinism, Controversy, Creationism, debate, ERLC, evolution, Gender, Homosexuality, Jonathan Merritt, Russell Moore, Science, Southern Baptist Convention, theology, Warren Cole Smith, World Magazine

Why Christians should get on board with space exploration

Why Christians should get on board with space exploration

Believers are resistant but have good reason to change their minds.

CultureJonathanNovember 18, 2014astronaut, data, Jonathan Merritt, Joshua Ambrosius, NASA, Pew Research, Science, The Week, trends

NFL agent says domestic violence crisis due to ungodly men

NFL agent says domestic violence crisis due to ungodly men

After a strong of scandals, some speculate that the NFL has become a haven for violent men.

CultureJonathanNovember 17, 2014domestic abuse, Drew Pittman, family, football, Jonathan Merritt, Marriage, National Football League, NFL, parenting, sports, Tony Dungy

Christian aid groups dry Syrian refugees’ tears

Christian aid groups dry Syrian refugees’ tears

These Christian relief organizations ministering in the midst of catastrophe.

CultureJonathanNovember 17, 2014Catholic Relief Services, charity, humanitarian, Jonathan Merritt, Lebanon, Middle East, missions, Open Doors USA, poverty, refugees, Samaritans Purse, Syria, UN, War, World Vision

Randy Alcorn Joins a Fierce Christian debate

Randy Alcorn Joins a Fierce Christian debate

He's decided to engage the Calvinist vs. Arminian debates, but why?

CultureJonathanNovember 11, 2014arminianism, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon, Controversy, decisions, free will, heaven, John Calvin, John Piper, John Wesley, Jonathan Merritt, natural disasters, Randy Alcorn, sovereignty, theology

The evangelical woman you don't know...but should

The evangelical woman you don't know...but should

A bestselling author and a powerful advocate for the poor who helped end the slave trade.

CultureJonathanNovember 5, 2014animal welfare, classism, evangelicalism, Great Britain, Hannah More, History, Jonathan Merritt, Karen Swallow Prior, Liberty University, literature, politics, Racism, slave trade, slavery, Thomas Nelson, William Wilberforce

Why Protestants Need Some Saints of Our Own

Why Protestants Need Some Saints of Our Own

As Flannery O’Connor said, “you will know the truth and the truth will make you strange.”

CultureJonathanNovember 4, 2014canonization, Catholicism, church, church history, courage, History, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Protestants, saints, St- Francis, tradition

Tim Keller's Practical Prayer Advice

The bestselling author calls prayer "the key to everything we need to do and be in life."