Award-winning gospel songwriter Rusty Golden, 65, died at his home in Hendersonville, TN, on Monday, July 1. He was the son of Oak Ridge Boys’ band member William Lee Golden and the late Frogene Normand. In a statement released by the band, William Lee Golden said his son’s death was “the hardest thing ever for a father to have to face. I love my family more than anything. Rusty was a great musician, a talented songwriter, and a wonderful son.... Read more
Religious cults – and cults in general — are dangerous. Yet, people continue to join them, and a new Netflix documentary points to the alleged 7M TikTok cult as an example. Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult offers a fascinating look at a purported religious cult and its alleged ties to TikTok dancers and the 7M Films talent management agency in Los Angeles. TikTok dancers, a talent agency and a religious cult are an unlikely combination. But the Netflix... Read more
Predators are quite good at targeting and preying on churches because churchgoers are generally easy, trusting targets. Unfortunately, religious organizations are less effective in stopping predators in the church. That we know. So, what can Christian churches do? Catholics have been dealing – or not dealing – with sexual abuse of children for decades. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is taking its time finding solutions to its scandal, which is more about men attacking women than child abuse. And the... Read more
Misogyny has prevailed once again in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which held its annual meeting in Indianapolis June 11-12. Although a constitutional amendment to ban female pastors failed by a small margin, the organization’s new president, Clint Pressley of Charlotte, NC, assured the world that the SBC’s complementarian beliefs remain strong. In other words, misogyny wins the day. Complementarianism is the belief that God gives men and women complementary roles in the home and church. Translated, it... Read more
Southern Baptists Set ‘Pivotal’ Meeting June 10-12 Funding for sexual abuse reform, an amendment to officially ban female pastors and the election of a new Southern Baptist Convention president will top the agenda at the upcoming SBC annual meeting June 10-12 in Indianapolis. As an outsider looking at the SBC, I have mixed feelings. First and foremost, it isn’t any of my business because I left Southern Baptist denomination a lifetime ago. And while I have a few opinions about... Read more
The issues are complex, and the future of the United Methodist Church is far from certain. Yet, Bishop Tracy S. Malone peppers her conversation with words such as hope, unity, inclusiveness and God as she settles into her two-year term as president of the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Council of Bishops. Malone’s election to the church’s highest office is historic. She became the first black woman ever elected to lead the United Methodist Church in November 2023. She accepted the... Read more
Have you ever met someone who says they have never experienced anxiety? Neither have I. It’s safe to say that anxiety is a widespread problem. In my article, The Body-Mind-Soul Connection on Patheos, I looked at new research into the link between faith and physical and mental health. It begs this question: how do we tap into our godly resource when we feel anxious, stressed or upset but don’t know where to begin? In today’s post, I am sharing 7... Read more
Reading the entire Bible can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are new to the Christian faith and/or want to better understand Christian beliefs. It’s a long book, but it reveals how people have dealt with many of the same problems we encounter today. It also teaches us how to live our best life and opens windows into a relationship with the Lord. My main goals for writing this article are to help you find the Bible that’s best... Read more
The Christian church in America is struggling. That’s obvious. Conservatives are going in one direction and progressives and liberals in another. There seems to be no room for compromise, as the recent United Methodist split demonstrated. Church membership is plummeting. The face of evangelicalism is beginning to change. The white population, which has dominated America’s Christian landscape from the beginning, is set to become a minority within the next few years. What will American Christianity look like in the next... Read more
And a Plea for Christians to Take Heed With antisemitism on the rise worldwide, it is time that Christians and others who value human life shine not one light — but billions of lights — on hatred. This wide-ranging post attempts to shed my small light on antisemitism, share true stories of how Jews fought back against the Nazis during World War II, and remind Christians of Christ’s teachings about love and hate. And while my post targets antisemitism, its... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In