Hail ‘Mary,’ Full of Violence

Director D.J. Caruso calls his dramatic new film a “celebration of the mother of God.”

Noa Cohen as Mary in Mary.

Christopher Raphael / Netflix

The streaming platforms are going biblical. Amazon has House of David, from one of the codirectors of Jesus Revolution, coming next year. Netflix released the multifaith docuseries Testament: The Story of Moses last spring. (It was one of their top 20 TV shows in the first half of this year.)

Now Netflix has picked up its first original Bible movie: Mary, a film about Jesus’ mother, starring Bible-movie veteran Anthony Hopkins (Peter and Paul, Noah) as King Herod.

The film, which starts streaming this Friday and counts megachurch pastor Joel Osteen as one of its executive producers, isn’t your typical Christmas movie. For one thing, it dramatizes not only the birth of Jesus but also the birth of Mary, following an ancient tradition—well known in Orthodox and Catholic circles—that says her birth was a miraculous answer to her own parents’ prayers.

The film has more violence than some viewers might expect, enough to earn it a TV-14 rating. Much of it involves the cruelty of King Herod, though Joseph (Ido Tako) also grabs tools and weapons to protect Mary (Noa Cohen) from various threats: Herod’s soldiers, a judgmental mob, even Satan himself (Eamon Farren).

Lately, Mary has been controversial for another reason, with some calling for a boycott over the film’s use of Jewish Israeli actors in many of the key roles, including Mary, her parents, her cousin Elizabeth (Keren Tzur), and Joseph.

CT spoke with director D. J. Caruso (Disturbia, Redeeming Love), who is Catholic, about the conversation around Mary and what he hopes audiences will take away from the film. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

The producers of Mary have been trying to make a movie about her for quite some time, since at least 2009. How recently did you get involved? What finally got the project off the ground?

Well, what finally got it off the ground is that I got passionate.

I was looking for a story about Mary, and I had read some screenplays over the years. They just weren’t presenting anything different or new. Then this came to me. I read it and I thought, “Wow, this is great.”

I know the movie has had a long journey, but for me, it’s been only 16 intense months with the project. I put my head down and said, “I’m going to give it to you, Lord.”

This film gets into the birth of Mary herself, which is not in the Bible. I’ve seen some Protestants say, “Well, this movie is going to be very Roman Catholic because it has the miraculous birth of Mary, so it’s not for us.” But I’ve also seen Catholics object to the trailer because it shows Mary experiencing labor pains when Jesus is born.

How were these creative decisions made, keeping in mind your anticipated audience?

Well, where to start. First of all, regarding the labor pains: That’s about presenting Mary in a human way, acknowledging that she had apprehensions. I think something like a third of women died in childbirth in antiquity.

I also wanted to get at the transformative, beautiful moment when a mother gives birth to a child. Every mother has experienced it, right? The mother Mary is giving birth to the Son of God, to Christ. This is my interpretation of what that would be like.

Now to answer your other question: I grew up Catholic and always knew something about Mary’s parents: Saint Joachim (played by Ori Pfeffer) and Saint Anne (Hilla Vidor). But who are they really? Why are we celebrating them?

I went to the Protoevangelium of James and looked at the story of Mary told there. Also the historian Josephus gave me a lot about the geopolitical situation. Using these texts, I was able to put together this narrative.

But just because you see the birth of Mary doesn’t mean the movie is particularly Catholic. It’s really just a celebration of her as the mother of God. This is the story we chose to tell, and it is for everybody.

I’ve seen the film twice now, and the second time in particular, I was struck by how powerful it was to see, early on, the scene of Anne giving birth to Mary. Then Anne is there when Mary gives birth to Jesus.

You imagine that Anne on some level is reliving what she’s been through.

That’s exactly why she’s there. The actresses were committed to making the connection between mother and daughter and the birth of Christ.

The film also expands the role of Anna the Prophetess (Susan Brown), who appears with Simeon in Luke 2 but doesn’t have any dialogue.

In the film, she’s a mentor to Mary as she’s growing up in the Temple, and we don’t see Simeon (David Gant) until the very end. Why is Anna a much bigger part of the story?

I give credit to Tim [screenwriter Timothy Michael Hayes] for that. I think the idea was to give Mary a protector.

It’s really about Isaiah’s prophecy, right? (Isa. 7:14). If Anna is a prophetess, she understands—maybe not exactly—the beauty and the power of Mary and why Mary’s coming to the Temple.

The film is also very violent. You’ve got Herod killing everybody in his family—which, yes, Herod did do—and eventually you’ve got Joseph himself taking up arms in self-defense.

This might not be the sort of film that families are expecting to get all cozy with after they’ve opened their Christmas presents.

Mary and Joseph fled because the Roman soldiers were coming for them. Well, what happens if a Roman soldier happens to be in the house next door and traps you in the room where you’re hiding? Fire to me represents purification. And so I put them in a burning house.

Joseph really has no voice in the Gospels. (There’s one exchange with him and the angel Gabriel.) What would it be like to be a young man thrown into this situation? What would the decisions be? How would you go against the mob?

It’s not easy for young men today to go against the mob. Joseph could be a great role model: “Look, I’m going to follow my heart. I’m going to do what I know is right; I’m not going to do what you tell me is right.”

And then there’s Herod: the Roman Empire, the geopolitical struggles. Herod killed his wife and his own sons (which we didn’t even include). He takes down people because he’s paranoid.

So yes, there’s going to be a little bit of action; it’s going to be a cinematic experience. I wanted the movie to have movement. But it’s not like Mary’s an action hero.

A controversy has emerged recently over casting Israeli actors in the film. Can you talk a little about that?

When I started to cast the film, we looked all over the world. I wanted to get someone from the region where Mary was born to play her. That was my goal. I felt like if we could find a great young Jewish actress, that would be amazing.

When I saw Noa’s audition—there are certain things you just know. So I got her on the phone, we started working together, and she was my Mary.

I felt blessed to say, wow, there’s this authenticity of this young Jewish woman playing a young Jewish woman. I thought that was fantastic. But obviously, this horrible war in the aftermath of October 7—the world is in upheaval.

I just know that Noa did an amazing job. She’s a fantastic actress. She’s got this grace and beauty, and at the same time, she’s accessible. I’m so proud of her performance, and I think it should be celebrated. It has nothing to do with politics.

The idea of the movie is to spread love, and art is hopefully a uniter. It’s not supposed to be something that separates anybody.

Peter T. Chattaway is a film critic with a special interest in Bible movies.

- More from Peter T. Chattaway

News

The World Evangelical Alliance’s Controversial Korea Announcement

Caleb Maglaya Galaraga

Local conservative evangelicals challenge the global body’s decision to hold its 2025 General Assembly in Seoul.

Courtesy of World Evangelical Alliance

In 2014, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) canceled its General Assembly due to “internal divisions among the evangelical community” in South Korea.

This year, as the ministry geared up to announce that it had once again selected Seoul to host its October 2025 gathering, divisions within the church have once again emerged.

Four days before WEA leaders signed a memorandum of understanding with the official organizing committee of the upcoming assembly, 1,000 Korean evangelical leaders published a full-page advertisement explaining why they and Hapdong, the country’s largest Presbyterian denomination, will not engage with WEA. The notice was published on November 11 in a church newspaper founded by Yoido Full Gospel Church—the world’s largest Pentecostal church and one affiliated with the Assemblies of God. Yoido’s senior pastor, Younghoon Lee, is on the WEA’s official organizing committee.

On the same day the advertisement ran, a former WEA affiliate, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), also released a statement urging that the assembly be postponed until the issues the group raised are addressed.

The opposing parties challenged the WEA on three main issues: the “WEA’s emphasis on social responsibility,” its interactions with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican, and its “theological ambiguities.”

“In principle, the WEA would like to stay above commenting on these different said controversies,” said Peirong Lin, the WEA’s deputy secretary general for operations, in a series of correspondences with CT. “We are grateful to work with the Korean churches for the upcoming General Assembly and would like to focus our energies and attention on making this GA an event that will unite the global church.”

Lin noted that although the groups are not directly involved in working with WEA for the 2025 meetings, the WEA is “committed to further communicate our theological position to them.” She also said the alliance is working with the Korean Evangelical Fellowship (KEF), the WEA’s current country affiliate, and clarified that “KEF does not have questions on our theological position.”

A report published in Korean by Christian Today Korea portrayed the selection process that led to Seoul as the city to host the General Assembly as involving “backroom negotiations.” “I am not sure what the accusation means,” Lin wrote to CT in a WhatsApp message.

“The WEA General Assembly is at its core a business meeting of different national alliances. The discussion on location has been ongoing for the past year,” Lin wrote in a follow-up email, adding that the WEA works “with the leads that we have in light of our requirements.” She added that the global alliance works with national bodies—in this case, the KEF—as they “broker for the unity of evangelicals in their country.”

“As a unity movement, the WEA looks forward to working with an organizing committee that represents the evangelical churches in Korea,” the organization said in a press release. With Lee of Yoido, Junghyun John Oh of the Hapdong denomination will also serve as cochair of the organizing committee.

Founded by David Yonggi Cho and his mother-in-law five years after the Korean War, Yoido counts around 800,000 members. Cho, who died in 2021, popularized the cell group concept, where groups of 10–15 people would meet weekly for Bible study and worship. In 2014, he was convicted of embezzling $12 million in church funds but avoided jail time.

Hapdong claims around 2.8 million members and 12,000 churches. A group of leaders affiliated with Hapdong ran the full-page ad with their statement, titled “Reasons Why the Korean Presbyterian Church Hapdong Cannot Engage with the WEA.”

In their published statement, the Hapdong leaders said WEA “superficially presents itself as reformed and conservative evangelical in theology” but its positions remain “inconsistent with reformed and conservative evangelical doctrine.” The Presbyterian leaders questioned WEA’s use of infallibility instead of inerrancy when affirming the Holy Scriptures in its statement of faith. They also cited the alliance’s and its leaders’ ecumenical interactions, including former WEA secretary general Thomas Schirrmacher’s endorsement of the WCC mission declaration during the WCC Assembly held in Busan, South Korea, in 2013.

The evangelical leaders, including pastors, elders, and seminary professors, went as far as to say their denomination must “sever ties with WEA due to its misalignment in faith and practice.”

For its part, CCK has released three statements raising similar issues as the Hapdong group while also alleging that WEA executive chair Goodwill Shana is part of the New Apostolic Reformation, whose tenets have courted controversy within the American evangelical movement. Shana “emphatically denies this accusation based on his beliefs and practice,” Lin said in an email to Christianity Today.

The CCK characterized John Langlois, a lawyer and WEA International Council member emeritus, in a negative light, noting unspecified social media posts on his son’s feed, and urged him to resign.

“WEA has experienced him as a legal expert with a heart for religious liberty,” said Lin. “We do not comment on personal issues.”

Noel Pantoja, head of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, attended the Fourth Lausanne Congress in Incheon, South Korea, in September. Pantoja’s predecessors include Efraim Tendero and Agustin Jun Vencer. Both have served at the helm of World Evangelical Alliance (which was called the World Evangelical Fellowship during Vencer’s time).

Pantoja said he witnessed a group protesting at Lausanne, which he believed was part of CCK.

“They say WEA does not have solid positions on some things, that it’s playing safe all the time, that WEA is becoming liberal,” Pantoja said, “but of course, that’s their perspective. I don’t believe it.”

In a 2014 analysis by Bong Rin Ro, who served as the international director of WEA’s Theological Commission from 1990–1996, he noted that the Korean church is one of the most theologically conservative worldwide.

“The church has been very sensitive to theological issues, especially the liberal theologies of the WCC,” he wrote. He explained that those within the Hapdong denomination would consider “any engagement with WCC liberals compromising.”

In addition to Schirrmacher’s 2013 endorsement of WCC, the opposing groups noted that WEA’s interactions with various faith communities, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Muslim community, indicate that the alliance is endorsing religious pluralism.

“The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) interacts with leaders of other Christian churches and non-Christian religious traditions in a variety of contexts in order to fulfill its goals and carry out the mission of Christ in the world,” Lin wrote in an email to Christianity Today. “WEA representatives work with these leaders to pursue common goals in areas such as social welfare and religious freedom, and engage with them in a diplomatic and respectful manner to effectively reconcile differences.”

She emphasized that throughout these interactions and engagements, the “WEA always affirms Jesus Christ as the way to salvation and consistently defends the central tenets of evangelical beliefs.”

Christianity Today reached out to CCK but has not heard back.

In CCK’s third statement, released on November 22, the group described WEA’s responses to their objections as “evasive” and “attempting to deflect with ‘false explanations.’”

“With respect to our theological position, the WEA has published books, an open access journal and also publishes our opinions as editorials,” said Lin. “Our intra and interfaith work is governed by policies approved by our International Council, our governing body.”

- More from Caleb Maglaya Galaraga

Theology

Russell Moore’s Favorite Books of 2024

Russell Moore

Editor in Chief

The top 10 picks of CT’s editor in chief range from dystopian fiction to philosophy, with a dose of Sabbath poems, Inklings, and country music.

Illustration by Christianity Today / Source Images: Pexels

This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here.

Every year at this time, I kick off the end of the year with my list of favorite books from the last 12 months. Invariably, sometime between now and New Year’s Eve, I will realize that I’ve forgotten one or two and wish I could redo the list. If I waited for a perfect memory, though, this would never get done. Here they are, in alphabetical order by author.

Wendell Berry, Another Day: Sabbath Poems, 2013–2023 (Counterpoint)

My great-grandmother lived to be 104 years old. This meant that for literally 20 years, every Christmas we would say to ourselves, “This is probably Grandma’s last Christmas,” until we finally gave up. Wendell Berry, who’s influenced my life more than perhaps any other living writer, is 90 years old (you can read the birthday tribute I wrote for him for the Library of America here). Several times over the years, I’ve thought, “This is probably the last Wendell Berry book I will get to put on the year-end favorites list.” I’m always wrong—and I hope I keep being wrong.

This latest volume is a collection of “Sabbath poems”—verses Mr. Berry writes on his farm in Henry County, Kentucky, each Sunday. The poems get at things those who read Berry will expect—the givenness of nature, the gift of good land, the joys of long marriage, the wisdom of ignorance, the goodness of limits, the follies of hypermobility and consumerism. Berry is a contrarian about lots of things—which is why we love him—and one of those things is what people call “organized religion.” His faith, though, is deep and wide, and his immersion in what Karl Barth called “the strange, new world of the Bible” is too. One with ears to hear will perceive all kinds of echoes of that affection throughout these poems.

For instance, in a poem from 2014 about the techno-utopianism about which Berry has been warning us for over a half century, he writes, “Will the robotic leader come at last to achieve our objective, feed the hungry, forgive the debtors, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, release the captives, raise the dead? Or do we look for another?” The implied counsel is a mirror image of that given to the disciples of John the Baptist: Yes, we should look for Another.

By definition, poetry must be experienced, not described. So here’s a taste of what’s in this book, from a Sabbath poem in 2015, about what it’s like to grow old:

What a wonder I was
when I was young, as I learn
by the stern privilege
of being old: how regardlessly
I stepped the rough pathways
of the hillside woods,
treaded hardly thinking
the tumbled stairways
of the steep streams, and worded
unaching hard days
thoughtful only of the work,
the passing light, the heat, the cool
water I gladly drank.

My spell checker tells me that regardlessly is grammatically incorrect in the poem above. The computer is wrong, of course, but I’m glad it flagged the word. I could hit “Ignore All” in honor of Wendell Berry and give at least one little protest to the expertise of the machines, knowing that he would have me ignore it all anyway.

Leif Enger, I Cheerfully Refuse: A Novel (Grove)

One of the keys to my philosophy of history comes from a line by the Grateful Dead: “It’s even worse than it appears, but it’s alright.” That’s kind of a summation, really, of Jesus’ words to John at Patmos: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forever, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this” (Rev. 1:17–19, ESV throughout). In other words, a “cheerful apocalypse” is not an oxymoron for me.

For many people, though, the idea of a hopeful dystopia is unnerving. In his Washington Post review of Leif Enger’s new novel, Ron Charles wrote, “Over the last few years, I’ve read so many dystopian novels that I had to look up the plural spelling of ‘apocalypse.’” This beautifully crafted novel is set in just such a conflation of apocalypses: the aftermath of climate disaster, a Fahrenheit 451-ish culture of book-burning, widespread addiction to a mind-numbing drug, and a popular demand for assisted suicide to escape it all.

The bleak setting is one of the ways this book comes slant at the reader—with a taste of joy and a sense of tomorrow. In many ways, hope comes easier here than faith. Enger has a complicated view of the church, as seen in his description of an impromptu community musical band as “what I once imagined church might be like, a church you could bear, where people laughed and enjoyed each other and did not care if they were right all the time or if other people were wrong.” A pastor is described, brilliantly, as “a decent man who often mistook his worldview for the world, a common churchman’s error.”

This book, though, offers us apocalypse—not in the sense of dystopian collapse but in the literal meaning of the word apocalypse. Lark, the owner of a beleaguered bookstore, is the one to note that “the word apocalypse originally had nothing to do with nukes or climate but came from a Greek term meaning to uncover. To reveal.” This book apocalyptically shows us that the bleakness of surroundings is not the last thing to be said.

Much of that is revealed through an emphasis on the creative power of words. In the backdrop is the election of the country’s first illiterate president and Lark, who is searching for a volume, the same title as the novel itself, that she describes as a “covenant with the forthcoming.” One of the characters notes, “Words are one way we leave tracks in the world.” The bulwark against apocalypse is, ultimately, made up of books and of the remembered words of which they are made up.

Perhaps the most important quote of the book comes from Lark after she is asked, “How are you feeling?” Her answer: “Probably doomed and perplexingly merry.” That makes sense to me, and this book pulls back the veil of a little apocalypse so we can see it together. When offered this kind of apocalypse, I cheerfully accept.

Brian Fairbanks, Willie, Waylon, and the Boys: How Nashville Outsiders Changed Country Music Forever (Hachette)

Right before Thanksgiving, our dog Willie snipped at the veterinarian while getting a shot. I didn’t realize that, in the state of Tennessee, that requires a follow-up inquiry from animal control—and a ten-day quarantine from contact with other animals and with people outside the immediate family. I joked that this was due to our little dachshund being named after Willie Nelson (replacing as he did our dog Waylon). The Nashville establishment has always had it in for the Outlaws.

I knew I would want this book, and I knew I would read it, but I didn’t expect to learn anything from it. After all, I’ve been following the Outlaws—Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and (sometimes, depending on how you count it) Johnny Cash—since I was three years old. The book covers familiar territory, such as Jennings’s grief after having given up his seat on Buddy Holly’s plane with the taunt “I hope your ol’ plane crashes,” and it does. The book details the tension between Music Row executives and this form of music that wanted to transcend the rhinestone sameness of the Nashville sound. The book is about more than all that, though.

The religious aspects of these stories aren’t ignored either. Fairbanks discusses how Cash tanked his career—after his conversion to evangelical Christianity—by singing Christian-themed songs, including hymns. When Cash did a three-album set dividing his work into the categories of love, God, and murder, murder outsold God three to one. “Stop going to church and go back to prisons,” one of the executives pleaded with Cash.

What I found most captivating were the stories about these artists as what they were: a group of friends with very, very complicated relationships. For instance, Fairbanks’s discussion of the Highwaymen—Nelson, Jennings, Cash, and Kristofferson—delves into the political differences, with Jennings on the far right, Cash in the center, Nelson on the left, and Kristofferson on the way left, without reducing them to avatars of those points of view. The Outlaws fought among themselves constantly—and were divided into the red/blue divides of the rest of the country—but still loved each other in spite of it all.

When Columbia dropped Cash from its label, seeing him as hopelessly dated, Merle Haggard told the executive responsible for it, “Let it go down in history that you’re the dumbest son of a b— I’ve ever met.” We all need friends like that. The joy of it could be seen in the gentle jabbing humor Fairbanks records out of each of them. “We marry what we need,” Kristofferson once said. “I married a lawyer, and Willie married a makeup artist.”

The book’s most piercing moment, at least for me, came near the end when Fairbanks discusses the final days of Waylon Jennings. He recounts the lifelong guilt Jennings experienced over the Buddy Holly plane crash, and that this was more than survivor’s guilt. It was about the joke. He lived most of his life hoping no one would ever find out he had said that. I might have teared up a little when Fairbanks writes about Jennings’s late-in-life reconsideration of how vapid all the rivalries were between these artists over the decades.

“All the fussing and fighting over who gets played on the radio or headlines the state fairs don’t amount to much more than a range war,” Jennings said. “I think you just make your music, you do the best you can with that, and that’s what you’ll be remembered for.”

“My friends,” Jennings said. “The town is big enough for all of us.” It really is—no matter which town one has in mind.

The book includes the scene of the last call between Cash and Jennings, right before Jennings’s death. Both men said “goodbye” and “I love you.” Nelson eulogized Jennings by saying: “When it came to taking on the country music establishment, he had the guts and self-confidence to lead the way. If it weren’t for Waylon, I might still be back in Nashville looking to please the wrong people.”

The book closes with the reality that, though the Outlaws arguably saved country music, the downtown streets of Nashville, just a few miles away from me, ignore them. On Nashville’s Walk of Fame, Willie and Waylon are absent. Unspoken, however, is the reader’s conclusion at the end of this book: Who would you rather be? The Music Row executive who fired Johnny Cash? The would-be star next up in line, willing to please all the wrong people for the rest of a lifetime? Or Willie and Waylon and the boys?

Nancy French, Ghosted: An American Story (Zondervan)

I’m the guy who’s supposed to pose ethical dilemmas, but this book posed one for me. The author, who is a friend, asked me to read it and blurb it, and I was tempted to lie. The lie was not the kind that one normally faces in such a situation—the kind that inflates the value of something mediocre. It was just the opposite. As I read this book, I realized about a third of the way through that it was one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read by anybody.

If I write what I really think about this book, no one will believe me, I thought. People will assume that I’m enthusiastic about the book because it’s written by Nancy. No one will know that I would be blown away by this book even if I didn’t know who the author was. I didn’t lie, but I understated my enthusiasm in the blurb.

Understatement will not do here. This book is amazing—and it is very, very hard to describe. The reason it’s hard to describe is because it shifts the reader back and forth between laughter and tears but in very unexpected ways. You will find yourself laughing during material that is really dark—and you will find yourself tearing up during descriptions of hilarity.

You’ve probably never run over Mitt Romney on a ski slope. You’ve probably never asked, “What am I doing here?” while backstage at a Donald Trump rally. You’ve probably never had to hitchhike with a neo-Nazi. You’ve probably never had your fortune read somewhere in the Appalachian countryside. You’ve probably not had to deal with your spouse being drafted to run for president of the United States. I’m very sure you’ve probably never suspected your husband of an affair only to find out the women were really looking for Van Halen lead vocalist David Lee Roth. This book will let you feel all of that.

But I’ll bet a lot of you know exactly what it’s like to have someone misuse their spiritual authority over you or to have friends you trusted walk away from you or to worry about the safety of your family. This book takes those everyday fears and frames them in ways you’ve never considered.

The title, Ghosted, has multiple meanings. Nancy is a ghostwriter, someone who helps celebrities and others put their thoughts and ideas into words. The title also refers to those who ghosted her, especially in the conservative Republican world Nancy inhabited, over her stands against Trump and alt-right ethno-nationalism. But it also refers to the ghosts of the past—those moments of hardship and heartbreak that haunt us long after they are gone. The best ghost stories are those that break us out of the denial that there actually is a ghost there, so that we can acknowledge it, ask what it’s trying to tell us, and let it go on its way. This book does that—and does it beautifully.

When you finish this book, you will have laughed and cried and pondered and clenched your fists in vicarious anger and given thanks for things you never knew you loved—and then you will think to yourself something like what I did: “I can’t wait for volume two.”

Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (Penguin)

I’ve often said that one of the key problems with the velocity of this era is that there is very little time, when discussing the implications of any technology, between “That’s so out there. We’ll never have to deal with that” and “Well, it’s ubiquitous. What are you gonna do?” The smartphone is a key exhibit in that problem. Most people—including most adolescents—are aware that smartphones are hurting our mental health and our relationships in all kinds of ways. But most of us shrug our shoulders, with the implied, “Well, that’s just life now. What are you gonna do?”

In this book, Jonathan Haidt takes the “What are you gonna do?” and shakes it out of its role as a rhetorical question, hammers it back into place as a sincere question, and then answers it.

I once asked Haidt, when he was working on this book, how it would differ from, say, Marshall McLuhan or Neil Postman railing 40 or 50 years ago about television. “When you and I were kids watching too much television, we were not the ones saying it was a problem,” he replied. “The kids themselves are now telling us that it is.”

This book is a jeremiad, but not in the popular use of that word, which often implies an airing of grievances about something that can’t, or likely won’t, be changed. It’s a jeremiad in the sense of the actual prophet Jeremiah—who was unsparing in his honesty about the depths of the problems no one wanted to acknowledge, who pictured a future on the other side of it all, and who delivered the way to live in the time in between those two realities.

Since having Haidt on with me on the podcast several times, I’ve heard from countless parents, teachers, school administrators, church youth groups, and congregations that have adopted recommendations he offers in this book—and they have found them to work. Like his book The Righteous Mind, this volume rewires the entire scope of the debate.

Byung-Chul Han, The Crisis of Narration, trans. Daniel Steuer (Polity)

Byung-Chul Han stands in the tradition of Jacques Ellul and Christopher Lasch, writing book after book of social commentary. Reading any one of their books will result in never seeing things the same again. This book does this with categories Han calls “information” and “storytelling.” He defines information as consumable, controllable facts, while a story requires an interplay of knowledge and ignorance, clarity and distance. The information age has thrown us into what he calls a “narrative crisis.”

Information is about problem-solving techniques, while narration is about wisdom, which requires stability, tradition, and continuity. With disconnected facts, we have mere survival, but a narration is necessary for hope. The information age, Han writes, empties the magic from the world and renders things and experiences mute. They do not “speak to us.” The hunger for myth—what Han defines as “ritually staged narratives”—is not satisfied as easily as we might think.

Instead, Han argues, it opens up a market for what he calls “storyselling,” which seeks to mine narrative for the emotions required by stories. This is manipulated by marketers and politicians who use story not to create community but to manipulate consumers.

I wrote earlier this year about how the “crisis of narration” problem should be addressed by confronting rampant biblical illiteracy—especially the kind that believes itself to be biblical by mining the text for doctrinal systems and worldview principles while remaining dead to the biblical narrative itself.

John Hendrix, The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C. S. Lewis & J. R. R. Tolkien (Abrams)

I’ve spoken about last year’s phenomenal graphic novel about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Faithful Spy (not assassin, don’t get me started). The ending of that book—Bonhoeffer dreaming of swimming beneath the water to see two hands above pulling him upward—moved me in ways that stay with me all the time.

The same author/illustrator is back with a biography of the relationship between J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. The artwork is amazing, but the storytelling is just as good. Even those of us very familiar with the Inklings and the goings-on at the Eagle and Child will be captivated by the way this book seems to take us right there to the Rabbit Room, to the Kilns, even off for a bit into Narnia and Middle-earth. The book expertly defines the word myth in the sense that Tolkien and Hugo Dyson meant it, showing why that matters for the here and now.

The main force of the book, though, is not about mythology or literature. In this sense, it’s similar to the undercurrent of the book on the Outlaws. If you never imagined Waylon and Willie meeting Jack and Tollers, stay with me for a moment.

Like the Highwaymen, the friendship of Lewis and Tolkien was fractured, filled with genuine disagreement and probably unarticulated rivalry. We all know that Tolkien hated the Narnia stories, but Hendrix takes us further up and further in to the disdain, arguing that Tolkien didn’t understand what Lewis was trying to do—to enter back into the tin toy garden he created as a child. Middle-earth was a different kind of threshold to cross.

Hendrix shows us how, after the friendship fractured, the two would sometimes get together after Joy Davidman’s death for a pipe and a drink. “But they avoided the Deep wounds,” he writes. “Neither man could bring himself to bridge that great divorce.”

And that leads to my favorite part of the book, one not rooted in real history but in an imagined ending for Lewis and Tolkien—one in which they forgive each other. “I still object to Father Christmas,” the Tolkien character says (IYKYK). The imagined Lewis says, “So many years trying to find joy … when all along it was a signpost—pointing to a greater country.” The ending of these two enjoying a final kettle of tea before crossing the ultimate threshold wrecked me.

“When somebody you’ve wronged forgives you, you’re spared the dull and self-diminishing throb of a guilty conscience,” Frederick Buechner once wrote. “When you forgive somebody who has wronged you, you’re spared the dismal corrosion of bitterness and wounded pride. For both parties, forgiveness means the freedom again to be at peace inside their own skins and to be glad in each other’s presence.”

This book gives us a feeling of this, even if that reconciliation is in imagination and not in reality. But as soon as I type this, I can feel myself at the Eagle and Child, peering through the pipe smoke to see Lewis and Tolkien and Owen Barfield and hearing one of them say, “And who says imagination isn’t real?” True enough.

Russ Ramsey, Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive (Zondervan)

When my friend Russ Ramsey told me that his next book, a spiritual sequel to his work Rembrandt Is in the Wind, was centered around Vincent van Gogh, I almost made a stupid joke about cutting off one’s ear. I’m glad I didn’t. The book convinced me that the joking about that incident is not only reductionistic but downright cruel.

I know no one who can get at art like Russ can, even for those who don’t know enough about art to explain why they like what they like. As a matter of fact, as I read this book, I realized it is about much more than art. It’s about human beings and human stories.

The book concludes with this meditation:

Vincent van Gogh said of his art, “I am trying to get at something utterly heartbroken.” Many artists live at the river’s edge. Their work explores the perilous seam where suffering falls off into despair, where affection wells up into passion, where the winds of heaven blow through the stuff of earth. They provide high-relief compositions of the ordinary and matter-of-fact portrayals of the transcendent. They help us see the wonder of being alive and the inevitability of having to die. They read our story back to us, and we, in turn, ask to see the pictures.

In this book, Russ guides the reader through a spectrum of human realities and emotions, each through the grid of a particular piece of artwork—from Leonardo da Vinci to Norman Rockwell and beyond. It is the closest one can come to walking around an art museum with Russ Ramsey, hearing not just a penetrating examination of the artwork but an explanation of what it means to live and to die and to question why. This book is even better than Rembrandt Is in the Wind—and that is saying something.

My only negative word about this book is the title of one chapter: “I Don’t Like Donatello, and You Can Too”—but only because I think he should have saved it for the title of volume three of what definitely should be a trilogy.

Charles Taylor, Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment (Belknap)

Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age revolutionized the way both secularists and Christians think about secularization, noting that it is not just that some societies become less religious over time but that the very experience of religion is different from what it once was. This book, I would argue, is just as important. The present age relates differently not just to God but also to what moderns would call “nature.” What’s left is a sense of absence—of longing, the sort of “everydayness” that Walker Percy described in his “The Man on the Train” essay.

Taylor traces this trajectory in poetry, arguing that the poetic form is itself an attempt at “re-connecting” with the rhythms of the cosmos, a cosmos ordered by Word. In so doing, Taylor provides piercing analysis of poets ranging from Shelley and Keats to Eliot and Miłosz.

Many will be tempted to skip this book because it’s massive (around 600 pages). Even if you only read the very beginning and the very end, though, the book is more than worth your time at figuring out a diagnosis and some proposed remedies for the “deadness” and “muteness” of the world as it seems to be right now.

This is not a nostalgic narrative about the tragic loss of “enchantment,” looking backward to the myth of an idyllic agrarian yesterday. Taylor sees genuine moral steps forward, for instance, on human rights and self-government. In such matters, Taylor argues, we now ethically demand of all people standards once expected for persons of exceptional moral strength.

The longing for cosmic connection, Taylor argues, points to a kind of “interspace” between a human observer and the universe. As the Romantics pointed out, sometimes a sense of awe and wonder comes flooding in, but, as Eliot warned, the experience is fleeting and ambiguous.

Taylor writes: “The great advances of the natural sciences over the last three centuries, which in recent decades have accelerated, have (understandably but wrongly) helped create a mindset which refuses to take any knowledge claim seriously which cannot meet the validation conditions of these sciences—unless they be about everyday observable realities (How many chairs are in this room? How many people attended the meeting?)” The ongoing need for cosmic connection, though, does not go away. Taylor argues that’s because it is necessary to what it means to be human.

This book is necessary for those of us who wish to see a resurgence of historic, apostolic Christianity because we see all around us the wreckage of attempts (both “fundamentalist” and “modernist” and otherwise) to build doctrinal systems or to mobilize movements without answering that longing that calls from deep unto deep.

Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically (Zondervan)

A couple years ago, I was meeting with some friends in a church fellowship hall in Washington, DC. Two rabbis and I arrived early, and we walked around the old sanctuary, looking at the stained-glass windows. The rabbis recognized all of the scenes depicted from the life of Christ, with the exception of one: the transfiguration of Jesus, which happens to be one of my favorite accounts in all of the Bible. So I told the story.

When I said, “And then Moses and Elijah appeared,” one of the rabbis yelled, “No way!” with the kind of surprise I hadn’t heard since Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield showed up on the screen in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I loved telling that story to people who knew the Hebrew Scriptures but had never heard about the Transfiguration, because I could kind of hear it all over again for the first time, listening through their newness to it.

I thought of that moment as I read this excellent book. In some ways, I regret the title because, for many Christians, “hermeneutics” reads as the cerebral act of examining the text for meaning. This book is about more than that. The author, theologian Kevin Vanhoozer, poses the question “What do I love when I love the biblical words as the word of God?” The book engages debates with scholars, alive and dead, about how, for instance, to interpret Christ in the Old Testament, but it goes beyond that, demonstrating how the readers of the text—you, when you give attention to the Bible in front of you—are addressed by God.

The best part of the book is the last third, in which Vanhoozer deals specifically with the event at Mount Tabor and the biblical references that point forward and backward to it in the rest of the Bible. He argues that the apostle Peter is intentionally showing us how to read Scripture when he ties the words “more fully confirmed” with the voice he heard on “the holy mountain” (2 Pet. 1:18–19). “Peter urges his readers to pay attention to the prophetic word ‘as to a light shining in a dark place,’” Vanhoozer writes, “and the best way to do that is to recall the role of the transfiguration in the economy of light.”

This book will help you interpret the Bible as a “mere Christian,” but more importantly, it will focus your attention on the truth seen in a moment on that mountain: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Russell Moore is the editor in chief at Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project.

Ideas

A Better Trans Conversation

Pieter Valk

As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on youth gender medicine, Christians must prepare to speak with love while holding fast to biblical truth.

Miguel Sotomayor / Getty

The Supreme Court convenes Wednesday to hear oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, the first meaningful transgender-issue case to reach the highest court in our land. In question is the constitutionality of a Tennessee law (and a similar one in Kentucky) banning medical procedures that would enable children “to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex” or to treat “purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identity.”

Or in plainer terms: Can states make it illegal to use puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery to medically transition children?

The briefs submitted to the court for and against the Tennessee law gave a preview of this week’s arguments. One side warns that such a ban “imposes immediate and devastating harm” and “wholly ignores the thriving lived experiences of [trans] individuals.” The other writes with equal urgency of “healthcare providers pressuring [parents] to place their children on the ‘conveyor belt’ of medical transition” and details a troubling list of risks from medical transition, including “infertility, sexual dysfunction, diminished bone density, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.”

These briefs are a highbrow version of the culture-war conversations many Christians can expect this Christmas—and realistically, for years to come, however the court rules on this case in 2025. But what if we prepared ourselves for those conversations (and more public dialogues about trans topics) instead of just stumbling into them? What if, as 1 Peter 3:15 directs us to do for our hope in Christ, we were ready “to give an answer” with “gentleness and respect”? What if we could share Christ’s love and wisdom about trans issues in ways that are actually a bridge to the gospel, rather than a barrier?

Like many Christians, I believe the Bible affirms biological sex and the gender binary (1 Cor. 11:2–16). God intended each of us to grow into either a male-bodied man or a female-bodied woman, according to his good design at creation (Gen. 1–3).

Unfortunately, because we live in a fallen world, all of us experience some level of brokenness in our biological sex or gender. For some, this brokenness manifests as a painful incongruence between the biological sex of their body and their inner sense of being a man or a woman (an experience sometimes referred to as gender incongruence or being trans). Then, overly rigid, culturally constructed gender expectations can multiply the distress of trans people—a term I’ll use, for the sake of simplicity, to describe anyone who experiences gender incongruence, regardless of their medical decisions or theological conclusions.

Amid this distress, God commands believers to resist the sinful temptation to remake themselves in their own desired image using medical transition. Yet God does not abandon trans people in their pain. He invites them to honor his gift of their biological sex and to lean on their siblings in Christ as they manage the pain of incongruence.

Though gender incongruence is a kind of brokenness that God did not intend, it is not a sin, nor is it an experience anyone chooses. And though research suggests that about 80 percent of gender incongruence resolves itself before adulthood without medical transition, there is no formula for reducing that incongruence.

As he is with all of us, God is merciful to trans people. And that includes those who have succumbed to the temptation of medical transition earlier in life; the Bible makes clear that sinfully altering (or being forced to alter) one’s biological sex does not prevent people from becoming part of God’s family (Isa. 56:1–5; Acts 8:26-39).

I don’t think my views here are so unusual among American Christians. Unfortunately, many non-Christians have heard something very different from Christians speaking about trans issues. They’ve heard prominent Christians say that being trans is either fake or a mental illness, something to be debunked, condemned, and stigmatized. They see online chatter about bathroom bills, stereotypical gender roles, and “groomers” and conclude that Christians view trans people as predators plotting to endanger women and manipulate or mutilate children.

It would be a grave mistake to cede this conversation to extreme voices in either direction. Too many Christians participated in the gay marriage debate of the 2000s in ways that did not draw people to Jesus. But this debate could be different.

The cultural context is certainly different: Whereas public opinion in America moved decisively in favor of gay marriage, the trend line has turned on trans issues; a biblical ethic on gender is not outside the mainstream. Most Americans also share Christians’ concerns about medical transition for children: One poll found 59 percent of registered voters in the US support banning medical transition for minors, as the laws in the Supreme Court case do. A Washington Post–KFF survey had similar results.

That’s why we need to prepare for these conversations, even if we wish we could avoid the topic altogether. Many of us have family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers for whom this isn’t a matter of distant politics and public policy. It’s personal, and we owe those loved ones a conversation that approaches the subject seriously, in love, and with sound scriptural grounding.

So what should we prepare to say? We shouldn’t soften or qualify the biblical ethic I shared above. But neither should we neglect to “mourn with those who mourn” (Rom. 12:15).

That looks like believing those who report feeling painful gender incongruence and alienation from their own bodies. We should reject baseless allegations that all trans people are predators and dismissive assertions that they’re mentally ill. And while we affirm that God did not intend for anyone to experience gender incongruence, we should also affirm that it isn’t their fault. God isn’t surprised, and God loves trans people deeply. He made them in his image, died for their salvation, and wants them to follow his wisdom so they can experience fullness of life in him.

God also has a role here for the church. Christians with gender incongruence should not have to hide their experience from siblings in the faith. Our churches must be places where trans people find community in the body of Christ. They should find support to resist the temptation of using hormones or surgery—support that includes pushing back on harmful and reductive gender stereotypes that come from our culture, not the Bible.

We can extend compassion and community to trans people and hold fast to a biblical gender ethic. Imagine the effect a Christian witness like this could have—especially for persuadable non-Christians who are looking for a sensible, honest answer to the gender debate.

How we share God’s wisdom matters. Andrew Marin’s Us Versus Us describes the results of “the largest-ever scientific survey of LGBT religious history, beliefs, and practices.” That survey found that the primary reason LBGTQ people leave the faith is not theology about sex and gender. It’s “negative personal experiences” with Christians and local churches, including exclusion for the mere experience of gender incongruence or same-sex attraction, estrangement by Christian family members, teachings that lacked compassion or nuance, and false hope for gender or sexual orientation change.

Tellingly, Us Versus Us reports, 76 percent of LBGTQ people who had left the faith said they were open to returning, and 92 percent of those said their return wouldn’t depend on a church changing its theology about sex and gender.

These numbers reiterate that Christians can and must push back against both transphobia and the idol of self-invention. We must answer our neighbors’ genuine cultural and ethical questions in ways that are biblically robust, intellectually satisfying, and aligned with scientific evidence. For example, we can simultaneously advocate for the dignity of trans people and highlight consistent research (summarized in the Cass Review and elsewhere) that medical transition has not been demonstrated to reliably reduce depression or suicidality. And we must humbly learn from the Christians already faithfully navigating gender incongruence right in our pews—Christians convinced of biblical gender ethics and glorifying God in the midst of their brokenness.

This is an opportunity for Christians to learn from the errors of the past and share the gospel “to win as many as possible” (1 Cor. 9:19). Christians don’t have to abandon biblical truth to communicate Christ’s wisdom to trans people and those who love them. We can prepare to speak in both grace and truth.

Pieter Valk is a speaker and author, the director of Equip, a cofounder of the Nashville Family of Brothers, an aspiring deacon in the ACNA, and a licensed professional counselor. Find more on his theology here, and find him on socials @pieterLvalk.

- More from Pieter Valk

Books

My Book Sales Stink. But I’m Glad I Took the Publishing Plunge.

Tom Petersen

Even though the experience bruised my ego, God redeemed it in surprising ways.

Illustration by Elizabeth Kaye / Source Images: Getty

Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to write a book. When I told my brother last year that I was finally publishing one, he said, “You’ve wanted to write a book for as long as I’ve known you.” (Safe to say, we’ve been acquainted for many years.)

Although my childhood self wasn’t focused on any particular topic, my adult self had a very clear focus: integrating Christian faith with everyday work.

For years, I had struggled to consistently bring the principles of my faith to my corporate work life. I had written periodically about the topic for websites and devotionals. But my book, as I envisioned it, would compile the entire treasure trove of failure stories. It would give a self-deprecating account of how poorly I had lived my faith at work, if only to reassure readers that their performance couldn’t be any worse than mine.

I also approached the book-writing process as someone curious about how books get published. I wasn’t patient enough (or confident enough) to wade through the full-service publisher path, but I wanted more support than I thought I would get by self-publishing. So I chose to work with a hybrid publisher and an independent editor, a combination that promised a fast route to publication alongside opportunities to learn from knowledgeable partners.

When my book was released, I was ecstatic. Something I had wanted since childhood had come to pass. I humbly thanked God for allowing my vision of serving him to become reality.

Now I just needed to entice people to buy the book. I thought that part would be easy. I had spent my career in marketing and communications, helping clients and employers communicate their customer-value propositions. I assumed I could do the same for a book. Never mind that I had no public presence and no connections with a defined reading audience. I was confident I could convince people to buy my God-inspired tome. With a catchy title and a nice cover, how hard could it be?

But I didn’t rest on appearances alone. I did marketing things. I bought advertising. I did podcast interviews. I spoke to groups. I wrote guest columns. I entered contests (and won a couple). I gave books to friends and told them to tell their friends. I checked a lot of boxes. It was exhausting and expensive, but it was worth it to tell the world about my brilliant and life-changing creation.

Over eight months have passed since the book’s launch. How have sales been? In a word, miserable.

When I started the journey, I thought that selling 5,000 copies would be a good goal. Maybe I had that in mind because it’s a nice round number (and 10,000 seemed brazen). The reality has been rather humbling. Instead of aiming for the thousands, I would have to content myself with lower figures—much lower. As in, dozens. As it stands, I’ve given away far more copies than I’ve sold.

On one level, this is not only disappointing but also positively embarrassing. I’m a professional communicator, for crying out loud! I feel as if I have talked about this project nonstop for years. Yet the number of copies I’ve sold might fit in a middle schooler’s backpack. As a human with a fragile ego, I found it discouraging to consider the sheer number of books—other people’s books—that readers buy every week.

But I am more than a worldly being. I’m a spiritual being, too, a child of God, and a growing Christian. And that part of me still rejoices. Here are four reasons why.

First, the book ministered to those who read it. Of course, I think the book is wise, funny, and inspirational. But I recognize I’m probably biased. So I was thrilled when friends told me they enjoyed the copies I offered. Granted, they were obligated to say nice things. (It was a free book, after all!) But I listened carefully to their reactions and was excited when they talked about specific sections that caused them to dig deeper into their own faith.

One friend pushed back on what I had written about the perils of pride, until he heard his priest speak on the topic and recognized the point I was making. Another friend, who is discouraged with the human failures she sees in organized religion, told me, “You almost make me believe in God again.” (Note to self: Follow up on that.)

It was even better when friends of friends—people I didn’t know—told me they got something out of my writing.

I was completely taken aback when a friend told me his men’s group had read the book. He invited me to speak to them one Friday afternoon. As a group we laughed at the (intentionally) funny parts and talked about the challenging parts. But mostly we encouraged one another to keep going. I was humbled when one of the guys, remarking on a passage about my tendency to miss opportunities to share my faith, exclaimed, “That’s me!”

Another highlight was an Amazon review by an individual I didn’t know:

I’ve never come across a book like this and enjoyed it all the way … I appreciate the vulnerability of the author’s writing paired with well-applied scriptural insights to help us … be better true Christians at work. Well done, brother. You made me smile 😊

Writing the book was a pretty solitary activity. As I sat alone at my desk, I vaguely hoped the words I typed would connect with someone. So hearing directly from people who read and resonated with what I wrote was both humbling and empowering. It was reassuring to learn that my writing could shine Jesus’ light and encourage others.

Even if thousands don’t buy the book, maybe it was uniquely meant for the few who did.

Second, I discovered new friends and co-laborers. Writing the book was a solitary activity, but trying to market it absolutely was not. Because I had no mailing list, social media presence, or built-in audience (what the kids these days call a “platform”), I needed to humble myself and ask total strangers to help build all that. In the process, those total strangers became valued partners and more.

Over the course of the book-making and marketing experience, I recall meeting more than 50 new people, from advertising and sales associates to writers’ workshop organizers. I met literary agents, freelance editors, magazine publishers, web developers, and bookstore owners. Perhaps because we had lengthy conversations, I built special relationships with various podcasters.

Perhaps most significantly, I also met fellow writers taking a journey similar to mine, writers who encouraged me much more than I encouraged them. (Unfortunately, the author who assured me that my book would sell much better than his, which he published through an academic press, turned out to be more encouraging than accurate.)

In some cases, my connections amounted to little more than brief email exchanges or short phone conversations. I can think of others who became friends and ministry colleagues. Interactions that might have been merely transactional grew into supportive relationships. Which brings me to the next blessing worth mentioning.

Promoting the book launched the next phase of my life. Because I saw a potential opening for books aimed at marketplace ministries—parachurch organizations serving people who want to better integrate their faith and work—I targeted those groups. If it benefited those organizations, fine, but my motivation was to use them to advance me. God had a different idea.

In one instance, I reached out to an organization called WorkLight, sending essays without any guarantee of them being published. Over time, my involvement expanded to areas beyond writing. Leaders invited me to help guide publication content, plan communications strategy, and advance the ministry. I attended the organization’s national leadership meeting and even did a home stay with a board member, an experience way out of my comfort zone. But it was a true blessing. People who were unknown to me six months ago have become friends and co-travelers on our collective faith journey.

Approaching an organization called Unconventional Business Network bore similar fruit. At first, I mainly intended to find an audience for my book. But my efforts eventually paved the way for other opportunities, like contributing regular devotional articles and speaking at a sponsored event.

Meanwhile, I got serious about using my own social media presence to encourage others. My LinkedIn account now regularly features devotions or faith observations about the workplace.

What I intended as marketing channels God turned into avenues for ministry.

Finally, God used my “failure” to grow my faith. In hindsight, my book adventure started from a place of hubris. On some level, I figured the path would be easy and the finished product would win me esteem, especially because I felt that God had put this project on my heart. That’s one reason why, at least initially, the paltry sales figures came as a gut punch.

I often tell people that because my ego is so important to me, God effectively uses it to get my attention. But rather than feed my ego, he allowed it to be bruised, all so he could open me to new opportunities, change my perspective, and grow my faith. I learned to see the common ground I shared with others in the faith-and-work movement as fruitful in its own right. Connecting with them might not have done much to sell my book, but hopefully it played some small but God-ordained role in advancing his kingdom.

Perhaps most importantly, this adventure has changed how I view myself. After struggling for so long to live out my faith at work, I have become someone who regularly writes and speaks about how my relationship with God forms me for his purpose. Maybe my years of church attendance, Bible studies, and small group participation prepared the way for that journey. But something about the act of writing a book—stepping forward in faith into an endeavor I felt God calling me to pursue—seems to have launched it in earnest.

All of this is far more rewarding than the smug feeling of seeing my BookScan numbers hit triple digits. Perhaps I’ll never sell another book. Perhaps I’ll sell enough to fill a second backpack. But maybe the purpose of the book was teaching me humility, deepening my faith, and making God’s presence more real.

My advice to new authors is to take a step back at the start of your book-writing journey. Ask yourself what you think God is really calling you to, and why. Then be ready for God’s blessing to show up in ways you don’t expect. Maybe your blessing will be huge sales. (In which case, great, I’m not at all jealous. Nope. Not one bit.)

But you may be surprised to find that the blessing comes in the shape of new friends, fresh ways to use God-given talents, and a renewed trust that God will always deliver what’s best for you, even if it wasn’t what your heart had desired.

Who could ask for anything more?

Tom Petersen is the author of Thank God It’s Monday(?): Balancing Work and Faith While Keeping Your Sense of Humor.

- More from Tom Petersen

Ideas

Latino Christians Deserve a Straight Answer on Immigration

Gabriel Salguero

Neither sweeping talk about deportations nor reassuring promises are helpful. We need clear and compassionate policies.

Illustration by Mallory Rentsch Tlapek / Source Images: Getty

In the days since the 2024 election, Latino evangelicals across the United States have been left grappling with uncertainty about what immigration policy will look like under the incoming administration. For months, we have heard a cacophony of mixed signals.

On the one hand, there have been declarations of mass deportations alongside promises to deport violent criminal immigrants. On the other hand, private conversations and reassurances from political insiders seem to signal a different course entirely. What are we to make of this? And most importantly, what is the line in the sand when it comes to the future of our immigrant communities?

The safety of our communities must remain a top priority, including, at times, the deportation of violent criminals. But there is more to the immigration debate than the criminal element alone, and as Latino evangelicals, we need a broader conversation about the future of our immigrant brothers and sisters—many of whom are contributors to our churches and part of the moral fabric of our communities.

Many Latino pastors are asking these questions: Who will pick up small children at school and care for them if their parents are detained and deported? The children and families who worship with us and attend our Sunday schools, how will they be treated? What happens if, in mixed-status families, parents are detained while their children are in school waiting to be picked up? Who will be responsible for them? Will they be placed in the foster-care system?

The ambiguity surrounding the incoming administration’s approach to immigration is both frustrating and concerning. Rhetoric alone—whether it is harsh talk of mass deportations or private reassurances that certain groups will be spared—does not equate to policy. Words are powerful, but they must be backed by clear, actionable policies that reflect respect for the rule of law, compassion, justice, and practical considerations for all people, regardless of their immigration status.

The promises of a heavy-handed approach to immigration—often framed as necessary for national security and public safety—ring hollow when we are offered no clear blueprint. The rhetoric of mass deportations may appeal to certain constituencies, but it raises serious questions about mass deportation—including its feasibility, its moral implications, and the consequences it would have on families, communities, and our nation.

At the same time, we must acknowledge the private reassurances that some have claimed to receive in informal conversations with the incoming administration: words like “Don’t worry; we’re not going after the good ones.”

These private assurances are not guarantees and do little to alleviate Latino communities’ deep fears of uncertainty. While these assurances may be intended to provide a bulwark against critiques of mass deportations, they lack the weight of policy. In the absence of concrete commitments, they fail to reassure those who fear being separated from their families, their homes, and their communities.

We are not asking for an immigration policy based solely on political expediency or partisan allegiances. We seek a policy that respects the rule of law, recognizes the humanity of all immigrants, treats them with dignity, and upholds the moral values that lie at the heart of the gospel.

Creating an immigration system that works both helps with national security and meets the needs of our families. This process is about finding a solution that balances law enforcement with compassion and recognizes the contributions immigrants have made to this country—whether as workers, business owners, or active members of their local churches.

Fear and chaos are not policies, and they certainly should not be the basis for decisions that impact the lives of millions. We as evangelicals are called to speak truth, to seek justice, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. For many in our communities, that means asking for more than just vague promises or contradictory public and private rhetoric. We seek real clarity—clarity on what the incoming administration’s immigration policy will be and how it will ensure safety, dignity, and opportunity for all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.

Will the incoming administration’s immigration policy be one that honors the sacredness of family, upholds justice, and provides pathways for people to live and work with dignity? Or will it be a policy shaped by fear and divisiveness, one that further marginalizes our most vulnerable neighbors? Our leaders both in the church and in government must provide answers, not rhetoric. Clarity, not confusion.

This is not the first time we’ve responded to the immigration crisis. No matter what happens, we need to be the church and respond as the church. However, without clear delineation, we do not know what our pastoral and prophetic response should be. Will we be responding to mass deportations and separation of families? Will the National Guard be called upon to help with deportations? Will protections like the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which many in our communities have received, be rescinded? Rhetoric and private disclaimers are not answers.

Our faith compels us to look beyond the headlines and consider the human faces behind the policies. It is time for the rhetoric to match the reality—and for the incoming administration to make clear the kind of country it seeks to build: one that lives up to its ideals and honors the lives of all people, including immigrants.

Gabriel Salguero is president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.

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Ideas

Ethics Aren’t Graded on a Curve

Justin Giboney

Contributor

President Joe Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden was wrong, and no amount of bad behavior from Donald Trump changes that fact.

Edits by CT / Source Image: Drew Angerer, Getty

President Joe Biden announced on Sunday his decision to provide his troubled son, Hunter Biden, with a full and unconditional pardon—after he and his administration spent years telling Americans this would not happen out of respect for the rule of law.

Democratic operatives have often repeated this pledge on cable news as proof that Biden (and, by affiliation, they themselves) were far more principled and trustworthy than their political adversaries. Now the pledge is broken.

At best, Biden has seriously compromised his integrity by changing his mind on the pardon. At worst (more likely, in my mind), he lied for political expedience. Either way, he’s giving the incoming Trump administration cover for its own misconduct and the American people another reason to question the integrity of our country’s institutions.

There is historical precedent for this move. Biden is far from the first US president to make such a self-interested and conflicted pardon. But precedent helps us understand if something is legal; it doesn’t necessarily tell us if it’s morally right. A boatload of precedent can’t perfume this pig, nor is it justified by President-elect Donald Trump’s past (and likely future) behavior.

Yes, Trump’s indiscretions make the righteous indignation of some of his supporters on this issue laughable. Nonetheless, what Biden is doing is wrong. It sets a separate criminal justice standard for elites, and it violates the public trust. Biden insisted that “no one is above the law.” He has not honored that principle.

As a father, I sympathize with Biden’s instinct to rescue his son from this life-altering situation. It has to be heartbreaking to see your child go through what Hunter has experienced, both through his own fault and otherwise. The family has my earnest prayers. I understand why Biden did it, but that doesn’t make it right.

And what’s more troubling than Biden’s revelation is how some Christians, generally on the left side of the political spectrum, have rationalized the move as either a nonstory or almost virtuous.

As soon as the Democratic Party’s talking-points factory began spitting out justifications for what Biden did, I saw many Democratic Christians immediately begin repeating them—misusing and overusing terms like false equivalence and bothsideism in vain attempts to avoid all critique. This is unsurprising, but it’s a symptom of a bigger problem. These Christians have begun to believe that Trump’s MAGA movement has brought the country to such a low and desperate state that we can suspend some democratic principles and public grace—that anything goes so long as we’re fighting against the bad guy.

But that’s not how the Christian ethic works. Our bad actions aren’t justified by the wrongdoing of our opponents.

We see this in 1 Samuel 28, on the eve of King Saul’s final battle. The prophet Samuel has died, and Saul seems to have hit his lowest point. He’s apparently without a moral compass. He’s called on God and received no answer. In his desperation—though he personally had forbidden divination, sorcery, and spiritists in Israel—he seeks out the witch of Endor for help.

This is an unmistakable sign of his delirium and disorientation. Saul actually wants to hear good news via works of witchcraft and is seeking to profit from a morally bankrupt endeavor.

Scripture clearly indicates that Saul would go on to die in an unrighteous state. But let us not forget who Saul was going to war against: the Philistines. They were far from a righteous group of people. According to the Bible, their offenses against God were many—they were idol worshipers, soothsayers, and militarists (1 Sam. 5:1–5, 13:19–20; Isa. 2:6; Judges 14:3).

Saul was fighting against the bad guys. But fighting an unrighteous enemy didn’t make Saul righteous. It didn’t justify his invoking the dark arts.

People of all political persuasions can erroneously start thinking that if we can just prove our opposition is bad, then our efforts are automatically good. That’s wrong. The truth is, we can become unrighteous while fighting the unrighteous. Trump may be many of the things his detractors claim he is, but that doesn’t justify a suspension of Christian and democratic principles.

Every time someone points out a flaw or behavioral error on our side of the aisle, our instinct is to point out something worse on the other side, as if to absolve ourselves. But right and wrong aren’t graded on a curve. This kind of morality by comparison is a bottomless pit that will eventually engulf every standard we have in the public square. Biden’s actions must be deemed right or wrong on their own merits. Trump’s behavior should not and cannot be allowed to set the bar.

Democrats’ behavior here reveals the problem with seeing our political landscape as simply good versus evil. Our own brokenness should keep us from ever assuming our efforts are good without faithful introspection. And if we deceive ourselves into thinking we’re good, we’ll never be compelled to hold our side accountable. Pushing back against what might become an inhumane immigration deportation program is good. Justifying lying, cheating, or stealing to avoid giving MAGA any perceived credibility or advantage is not.

I’ve been told to get used to this political dynamic—that the system is so broken that we must break the rules ourselves or face unwanted consequences. But that argument isn’t far from the one used to justify Trump’s initial ascendance. It’s not naive to think uprightness can overcome corruption. It’s Christian (John 1:5).

In my last article, I challenged pro-Trump evangelicals, in their moment of triumph, to check President-elect Trump’s excesses. Now, in the agony of defeat, Democratic evangelicals need to think about what evils they might justify in their resistance to Trump. This is a question worthy of great consideration because the sins of one’s political opposition never justify wrongdoing.

Justin Giboney is an ordained minister, an attorney, and the president of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization. He’s the coauthor of Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement.

- More from Justin Giboney

News

UK Christians Lament Landmark Vote to Legalize Assisted Dying

Christopher Kuo

Pro-life faith leaders say Parliament’s proposed bill fails to protect the vulnerable and fear it will “create more suffering and chaos.”

Opponents of the assisted dying bill protest in London.

Leon Neal / Getty Images

British lawmakers’ decision last Friday to initially approve an assisted dying bill has drawn sharp criticism from Christian leaders and advocacy groups in the UK.

Following hours of emotionally charged debate, members of the House of Commons voted 330 to 275 to legalize assisted dying for patients in England and Wales who have a terminally ill condition and less than six months to live.

A final vote on the proposal will be held next year, and it must pass both chambers of Parliament to become law. Currently, assisted dying is illegal in the UK and can result in a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

Last week’s decision marks a historic shift in Britain’s lengthy public debate over how to care for sick people in their final days.

In 2015, when an assisted dying bill was last proposed in the House, it was soundly defeated; now, according to recent polling, about two-thirds of the British public support the legalization of assisted dying.

“This is the biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation,” Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, said in a press release. “Sadly, this bill will normalise suicide in our society as a positive option and places the most vulnerable at risk of abuse and coercion.”

Utterly gutted that MPs have voted 330 to 275 in favour of the second reading of the assisted dying bill. The bill now passes to the committee stage. We at @EAUKnews will keep doing all we can to protect life. Lord have mercy 🙏 https://t.co/8uNU60DMuO pic.twitter.com/YQdaADyzpz
— Gavin Calver (@GavCalver) November 29, 2024

The bill gets reviewed and potentially amended by parliamentary committees next.

Assisted dying is legal in Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and most of Australia, as well as several US states, including Oregon, Washington, and California.

Advocates of the bill say assisted dying is a compassionate response to the excruciating pain experienced by many terminally ill patients.

But Christian leaders from a variety of denominations in the UK say that this decision devalues life and would harm vulnerable people, such as the elderly or disabled, who might choose death because of external pressure or because they feel that they have become a burden. Instead of assisting with death, the health-care system should offer high-quality palliative care for people in their final days, Christian leaders say.

Prior to the decision, dozens of faith leaders in the UK signed a letter in The Observer urging lawmakers to vote against the assisted dying bill. Signatories included the Bishop of London, the Archbishop of Westminster, and the CEO of Evangelical Alliance, as well as Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish faith leaders.

“Even when surrounded by loving family and friends, people towards the end of their life can still feel like a burden,” they wrote. “In this environment, it is easy to see how a ‘right to die’ could all too easily end in feeling you have a duty to die.”

Immediately after the November 29 parliamentary vote, pro-life Christian leaders denounced the decision.

In a press release, Ross Hendry, the CEO of Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), criticized the bill for its lack of safeguards for vulnerable people. Calling an assisted death bill “safe” is an oxymoron, he added.

“Legalising assisted suicide would diminish the value we ascribe to human life in our legislation and our institutions and create a two-tier society where suicide prevention doesn’t extend to all people,” Hendry said. “This would be a moral failure, and a huge step backwards.”

Following the vote, Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London and the Church of England’s lead bishop for health and social care, said the church supports high-quality palliative-care services for those at the end of life.

“Safeguarding the most vulnerable must be at the heart of the coming parliamentary process, today’s vote is not the end of the debate,” she said.

Andrea Williams, the chief executive of Christian Concern, said in a statement that “a compassionate society finds ways and solutions to care for those who suffer until the very end. It does not find ways to end life by suicide.”

“Today is indeed a very Black Friday for the vulnerable in this country, but this is not over,” she added. “The proposals in this dangerous Bill have been completely exposed. The proposed safeguards are completely meaningless, and more and more [Members of Parliament] are waking up to that reality. This Bill will create more suffering and chaos in the [National Health Service], not less, and if it goes through, the vulnerable will become more vulnerable.”

Calver said that he and the Evangelical Alliance will continue to work to ensure the bill does not become law.

“When the bill returns for further votes next year,” he said, “we will continue to campaign against the principle of this bill and advocate for the best protections for the most vulnerable in our society.”

- More from Christopher Kuo

Books

The Christianity Today Book Awards

CT Editors

Our picks for the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.

Let’s say you want to write a book. You’ve got a captivating story to tell or a compelling argument to make. You’ve got a gift with words.

That’s a good start! But there are other things you (probably) don’t have. Like easy access to paper and ink reserves, a commercial printing press, and a fleet of trucks to haul your handiwork across the country. Even then, more hurdles await, like convincing the people who run libraries and bookstores (and Amazon sales teams) to stock an item with your name on the cover.

In our era, new technologies and services have emerged to lower these barriers. Just as social media sites and Substack pages allow writers to bypass traditional media gatekeepers, avenues exist for publishing books outside the orbit of pedigreed institutions with fancy offices.

For good reason, though, many aspiring authors seek out established, experienced publishers to supply the resources, contacts, and know-how they lack. Authors and publishers often squabble over touchy subjects like payment rates and creative liberties. But the partnership brings undeniable advantages: editors who sharpen prose and catch errors, artists who arrange pleasing covers and typography, and marketing mavens who drum up excitement among readers and tastemakers.

In any given year, I hear from lots of independent authors hoping attention from CT will boost their profiles. I always encourage them to send their books and see what happens. But the brutal truth is that traditional publishers furnish nearly all the titles that garner review coverage.

The same goes for our annual Book Awards. That’s why it intrigued me, as I reviewed the current slate of honorees, to spy a few party crashers: one second-place showing in the Fiction category (plus another finalist), and the outright winner in Politics and Public Life. Leave it to trend-watchers and soothsayers to decide whether this represents a one-year blip or augurs a more democratized publishing age to come. In the meantime, let the ranks of unheralded scribblers take solace in the possibility, however remote, of standing out amid buzzier names and bigger budgets.

Publishing, as a human enterprise, is hardly a fine-tuned meritocracy, flawlessly elevating the most deserving ideas and voices. At its best, however, it presents an appealing literary picture of iron sharpening iron. (I sure wouldn’t want to “self-publish” any articles in CT!)

Our Book Awards affirm the biblical wisdom that “two are better than one” (Ecc. 4:9). They also celebrate the irreducible fact of individual genius and creativity, given by God and then amplified however he chooses. As long as he gets the glory, we can stay easygoing about who gets the credit. —Matt Reynolds, CT senior books editor

(Read CT’s choices for Book of the Year.)

Apologetics/Evangelism

Winner

On the Resurrection, Volume 1: Evidences

Gary R. Habermas (B&H Academic)

Words like epic and monumental can be so overused as to be nearly meaningless. But they truly apply to Habermas’s first thousand-page volume of a projected four-part series. Paul tells us that if the Resurrection didn’t happen, our faith is useless. What, then, could be more crucial than establishing its historical factuality? With compelling arguments that treat opposing views with unwavering fairness, paired with meticulous research presented in readable prose, Habermas offers the bountiful fruits of a lifetime of investigation. —Andrew T. Le Peau, writer and former editor with InterVarsity Press

With this volume, Habermas has written what might be the most important book on the Resurrection in the current century. In methodical fashion, he presents the most widely agreed-upon set of facts concerning Jesus’ emergence from the grave. And he accounts for the most reasonable explanation of those facts, both historically and philosophically. The result is a monumental contribution to Christian apologetics. —William Roach, professor of philosophy at Veritas International University

Award of Merit

A New and Ancient Evangelism: Rediscovering the Ways God Calls and Sends

Judith Paulsen (Baker Academic)

Paulsen draws practical insights on evangelism from several biblical conversion stories in Scripture, including those of the apostle Paul, Cornelius, Lydia, and the Samaritan woman at the well. The book taps into her extensive experience teaching evangelism and her careful attention to the background of biblical conversion narratives, resulting in an engaging narrative packed with the kind of wisdom that, if heeded, could truly turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). —Robert Velarde, author of Conversations with C. S. Lewis

Finalists

Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims About Scripture and Sexuality

Rebecca McLaughlin (The Good Book Company)

Critically evaluating ten arguments for affirming same-sex sexual relationships on biblical grounds, McLaughlin combines cogent, accessible, and convincing exegesis with testimonies from those (like her) who experience same-sex attraction but believe that faithfulness to Christ precludes acting on it. Beyond defending relevant biblical prohibitions, she sketches a positive vision of life and opportunity within the church, grounded in an ethic of friendship love encompassing all believers. With its marriage of compassion and intellectual rigor, this book equips us to respond thoughtfully to the cultural confusions of our age. —Greg Welty, professor of philosophy at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

(Read CT’s review of Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?)

Faith for the Curious: How an Era of Spiritual Openness Shapes the Way We Live and Help Others Follow Jesus

Mark Matlock (Baker)

This book is based on fascinating and thorough Barna research on the spiritually curious. While written from an evangelical perspective, it paints a compelling picture of how people outside the church think and feel. Matlock clearly understands spiritual dynamics in the United States, and he manages to wrap genuine human flesh around his statistics. For churches wondering how to appeal to those who are spiritually curious but uninvolved in institutional religion, his book abounds with practical and workable suggestions. —Hannah Steele, director of St. Mellitus College, London

Missions/Global Church

Winner

Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations

Edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant B. Greenham (B&H Academic)

To the uninitiated, the subject of Muslim Idiom Translations (MITs) of Scripture might seem trifling. Yet for anyone who has followed the decades-old controversy over these translations, it makes for thrilling reading. Time and again, Christians whose first language is Arabic have spoken against the liberties taken by MIT proponents, only to be disregarded. But this book clarifies the dangers of incorporating quranic words into Scripture, a practice that lends credence to Muslim claims that the Bible is corrupted (and that Christians are deceptive about its meaning). Islam and the Bible is a crucial resource for everyone looking to fulfill the Great Commission in the Muslim world. —J. Mack Stiles, director of Messenger Ministries Inc.

This book, with chapters from missiologists, theologians, linguists, and biblical scholars, makes an important contribution to ongoing debates about Bible translation and missions in the Muslim world. On the subject of translation decisions related to the person of Christ, especially as they pertain to the title Son of God, Islam and the Bible is without parallel in its depth and breadth. It should prove invaluable for those seeking to reach Muslims for Christ, but without misappropriating Islamic-friendly terminology and themes. —Scott Hildreth, associate professor of missiology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Award of Merit

You Will Be My Witnesses: Theology for God’s Church Serving in God’s Mission

Brian A. DeVries (Crossway)

DeVries has written a well-researched book that gives insight into the Reformed view of missiology, highlighting our work as witnesses to the gospel message. Throughout the book, he references a wealth of Bible verses, and he provides helpful discussion questions at the end of each chapter. I would recommend You Will Be My Witnesses both for Bible study groups and for students in Reformed seminaries. —Mike Morris, senior professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Finalists

Soul by Soul: The Evangelical Mission to Spread the Gospel to Muslims

Adriana Carranca (Columbia Global Reports)

This book surprised me! Because Carranca writes from a secular journalistic vantage point, it took me a while to warm to her perspective on non-Western evangelicals sharing Christ in the Muslim world. By the final few chapters, I was weeping over the sacrificial witness of the Latin American and African missionaries she follows. Soul by Soul gave me a deeper appreciation for the global church’s resourcefulness in reaching hard places. —Jen Haddox, former director of global engagement for ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians

(Read CT’s review of Soul by Soul.)

Crossing Cultures with the Gospel: Anthropological Wisdom for Effective Christian Witness

Darrell L. Whiteman (Baker Academic)

People are moving across the globe at unprecedented levels, including missionaries from everywhere journeying to reach everyone. Building on decades of teaching and experience, Whiteman, a respected missiological anthropologist, provides wise insights on culture and worldview, inspiration for incarnational ministry, and guidance for navigating intercultural communication. (His in-depth material on culture shock is especially valuable.) In our multicultural world, books like this help us cultivate faithful and effective gospel outreach to neighbors near and far. —Jennifer Collins, associate professor of intercultural studies at Taylor University

(Read CT’s review of Crossing Cultures with the Gospel.)

Biblical Studies

Winner

The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary

Edited by Esau McCaulley, Janette H. Ok, Osvaldo Padilla, and Amy Peeler (IVP Academic)

Recent years have witnessed a surge in theological books on racial reconciliation, featuring exhortations to “do the work” of dialogue and engagement. Meanwhile, many voices have called for more theological and exegetical writing that centers nonwhite and other historically marginalized perspectives. This book, in which four major scholars pull together contributions from over two dozen authors, marks a major step forward. Not only does it sketch out the rationale for doing biblical exegesis from Black, Native American, Latino, or Asian standpoints. It reveals what the results look like, showcasing how scholars from diverse backgrounds read the same Bible while attending differently to its applications and implications. —Gregory Lanier, New Testament professor at Reformed Theological Seminary

As the editors of this volume state in their introduction, “The chorus can create a beauty the soloist cannot.” In this analogy, the choir is singing about the meaning of Scripture, but too many ethnic-minority members have been left standing silent in the loft. The editors deserve thanks and congratulations for producing a groundbreaking Bible commentary that amplifies their voices and perspectives. I hope it prompts more of its kind. —Michael Kibbe, associate professor of Bible at Great Northern University

(Read an excerpt from The New Testament in Color.)

Award of Merit

The Transfiguration of Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Reading

Patrick Schreiner (Baker Academic)

This is a thoroughly researched book that makes welcome strides in recentering the glory revealed in Jesus’ transfiguration, one of few vignettes that appears in all four Gospels (as well as 2 Peter). Schreiner’s engagement with early church understandings of this episode brings Protestant thought into conversation with a wealth of wisdom recognized in Eastern Christianity for centuries. Crucially, his book attempts to rehabilitate the Quadriga, a Medieval word denoting a fourfold reading of Scripture for its literal, allegorical, moral, and eschatological meanings. —S. D. Giere, professor of biblical interpretation at Wartburg Theological Seminary, author of Freedom and Imagination

(Read Patrick Schreiner’s CT article on the Transfiguration.)

Finalists

Resurrection Remembered: A Memory Approach to Jesus’ Resurrection in First Corinthians

David Graieg (Routledge)

This is a fascinating reading of 1 Corinthians, lending further support to the Bible’s Resurrection accounts based on a compelling application of groundbreaking philosophical and psychological studies of memory. As an adapted doctoral dissertation, this volume might be less accessible to regular readers. But its profound contributions shouldn’t be overlooked. —Brittany N. Melton, associate professor of Old Testament at Regent College

Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently

Michael R. Licona (Zondervan Academic)

In Jesus, Contradicted, Licona demonstrates how ancient Greek biographies provide a framework for reading the Gospels on their own terms. Rather than attempting to harmonize conflicting details and historical incongruities, he recognizes these features as expected elements of the genre. Without sacrificing a high view of Scripture, Licona details what readers should and should not expect from Gospel writers. Any informed doctrine of the inspiration and authority of Scripture must take this book into account. —Kyle Greenwood, independent biblical scholar, author of the Dictionary of English Grammar for Students of Biblical Languages

(Read CT’s review of Jesus, Contradicted.)

Bible and Devotional

Winner

Nearing a Far God: Praying the Psalms with Our Whole Selves

Leslie Leyland Fields (NavPress)

We often find comforting words from the Psalms stitched on pillows or hung on walls. With powerful prose and stunning imagery, Fields takes us beyond their surface-level emotional draw. By reading the Psalms with our whole selves, we learn how to bring every emotion—the good, bad, and ugly—to a Father who longs to show his unfailing love. Approachable and practical, this book will bless generations to come. —Jessica Mathisen, Bible teacher, author of An Overwhelming Hope

As someone who often struggles with prayer, I appreciated this book’s fresh perspective on immersing ourselves in the Psalms. Nearing a Far God illuminates both the art and technique of rehearsing and living out these biblical prayers. Fields helps readers cultivate a bold, vibrant, expressive faith that mirrors not only the heart of David but most fully the heart of our Father God. —Mikella Van Dyke, founder of the ministry Chasing Sacred

Award of Merit

Conquerors Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life

Joseph R. Dodson and Mattie Mae Motl (Lexham Press)

Who is Paul talking about when, in Romans 7, he emphatically declares his inability to do the good he wants to do? Is he describing himself as a mature Christian, or the person he was before his conversion? Is he adopting the persona of a devout Jew seeking righteousness through the law, or a devout Christian being drawn back toward law-observance? If you’ve ever puzzled over these questions, then Conquerors Not Captives will stretch your mental muscles. While Dodson and Motl take decided positions, they treat alternative viewpoints with clarity and charity. —Norman Hubbard, Navigators staff member, author of More Than Christians

Finalists

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Pascha to Pentecost

Jonathan Gibson (Crossway)

Evangelicals sometimes overlook the period between Easter and Pentecost. In this 48-day devotional, Gibson gives it the depth it deserves, compiling prayers, hymns, and readings drawn from Scripture and the riches of church history. The design is stunning—beautiful illustrations and subtle touches of color enhance not only the book’s visual appeal but also its capacity to inspire reflection and worship. I’ll eagerly return to it year after year. —Kathryn Maack, cofounder of Dwellings and author of Whole

Story, Ritual, Prophecy, Wisdom: Reading and Teaching the Bible Today

Mark W. Hamilton and Samjung Kang-Hamilton (Eerdmans)

What a fascinating book, which reflects well not only on biblical literature but also on modern culture and the contemporary church. It is creative, wide-ranging, engaging, thought-provoking, and challenging, bringing freshness and energy to the task of understanding Scripture. —Nat Schluter, principal at Johannesburg Bible College

Christian Living/Spiritual Formation

Winner

A Short Guide to Spiritual Formation: Finding Life in Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Community

Alex Sosler (Baker Academic)

This book should appeal both to those just starting to explore the subject of spiritual formation and those further along in the journey. Sosler’s holistic approach helps us see how true spirituality is grounded in theological truth, sustained by a longing for holiness, and worked out in the context of Christian community. With so many distractions in life, we must be deliberate in our search for God, and Sosler’s book gives masterful guidance. —Paul Mallard, former president of the Fellowship of Individual Evangelical Churches in the United Kingdom

The brilliance of this book lies in approaching four pillars of the Christian life—theology, virtue, contemplation, and community—through a trio of lenses. We gain fresh perspectives on these pillars as we consider what Scripture says, how others understand it, and the testimony of individual Christian lives. Augustine, Dorothy Day, Teresa of Avila, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer pursued holiness despite being far from perfect. Sosler helps us pause and look upward and outward before looking inward. —Lynda MacGibbon, vice president of people and culture for InterVarsity Canada, author of My Vertical Neighborhood

(Alex Sosler chooses 5 underrated books on spiritual formation for CT.)

Award of Merit

Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life

Mark Vroegop (Crossway)

Some writers have a gift for delivering the right book at the right time. At a moment when both our culture and our churches drive home the notion that we are what we produce, Vroegop reminds us that God, in his grace, ordains periods of uncertainty and delay that draw us closer to him. He makes a winsome case for waiting as an essential spiritual discipline. —Brian Fisher, host of the Soil and Roots podcast

Finalists

The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever: Transcendence, Psychedelics, and Jesus Christ

Ashley Lande (Lexham Press)

I could hardly set this book down. I would wake up in the morning thinking about what I’d read the night before. Lande is a refreshingly imaginative and honest writer who drew me into her story of transformation and grace. Her account of being rescued from the world of psychedelics is a compelling testimony to the power of idolatry and the even greater power of Jesus to redeem. —Derek Vreeland, discipleship pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri

Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry

Brad East (Eerdmans)

In this collection of 93 letters, East takes your hand and points out the beauty of Christian faith. Even when I disagreed with his theological viewpoints, I appreciated his humility and felt inspired to learn more. This book would make a great gift for new believers or anyone needing a new outlook on their faith. As it built to a resounding crescendo in the last few letters, I found myself weeping for joy. —Jessica Thompson, pastor of church life at Risen Church in San Diego, California

(Read CT’s review of Letters to a Future Saint.)

Church/Pastoral Leadership

Winner

When the Church Harms God’s People: Becoming Faith Communities That Resist Abuse, Pursue Truth, and Care for the Wounded

Diane Langberg (Brazos Press)

Langberg’s compassion and insight, the fruit of decades spent helping sexual abuse victims, are apparent in this excellent book: a solidly scriptural call to better understand and address the multidimensional blight of sexual abuse in Christian ministry. Her tone is marked with genuine passion for the glory of Christ, our Good Shepherd. Langberg aptly exposes the tendency in many quarters of modern church life to protect established systems rather than confront wolves hiding among the sheep. By reading this book, ministry leaders can gain the heart, wisdom, and skills necessary for restoring the church as a place of protection and care. —Daniel Henderson, founder and president of Strategic Renewal

This is a heartbreaking but necessary book. Langberg is effective at marshaling biblical arguments, describing real-life abuse cases, and distilling the sort of practical wisdom that flows from a long career of serving both abuse victims and churches where abuse was perpetrated. Hopefully, her work will help churches identify the telltale signs of abusive situations and individuals before the worst comes to pass. —Jeremy Meeks, founding director of the Chicago Course on Preaching

Award of Merit

De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What’s Next

Karl Vaters (Moody Publishers)

Vaters doesn’t approach this book as a determined opponent of megachurches or a blind cheerleader for small churches. Instead, he calls for faithful churches guided by biblical values rather than mere growth campaigns. With a wealth of research and an engaging manner, his book considers American applications of the Church Growth movement, analyzing how they cultivated a misplaced priority on “numerical quantifiers.” Yet he closes on a hopeful note, suggesting pathways toward recovering a biblical paradigm of being the body of Christ. —Eric Schumacher, pastoral ministry director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, author of The Good Gift of Weakness

Finalists

Reckoning with Power: Why the Church Fails When It’s on the Wrong Side of Power

David E. Fitch (Brazos Press)

Fitch masterfully defines and unpacks the concept of power, examining how it can be wielded and experienced in different ways: power over (which involves dominance or control), power above (which reflects hierarchical structures), power under (which emphasizes humility and service), and power with (which signifies collaboration and mutual empowerment). As he argues, each form of power can be corrupted and misused, but the church is at its best when it aligns itself with the Holy Spirit’s power rather than seeking worldly influence. —Jamaal Williams, lead pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville Kentucky, coauthor of In Church as It Is in Heaven

(Read CT’s review of Reckoning with Power.)

Estranged Pioneers: Race, Faith, and Leadership in a Diverse World

Korie Little Edwards and Rebecca Y. Kim (Oxford University Press)

For many years, pursuing multiethnic churches has been considered a worthy endeavor for modeling unity in the gospel. Yet as Edwards and Kim demonstrate through careful research, the challenges of multiethnic ministry have taken their toll on many individuals and communities. They convey this difficult truth with a blend of concrete data and personal stories, helping readers see the real people at the center of this movement. I finished this book with greater respect for those doing the hard work of leading multiethnic churches. As Edwards and Kim assert, it is “not for the faint of heart.” —Amy Whitfield, executive director of communications at The Summit Church in North Carolina

(Read Korie Little Edwards’s cover article on multiethnic churches from the March 2021 issue of CT.)

Children

Winner

Arlo and the Keep-Out Club

Betsy Childs Howard (Crossway)

In Arlo and the Keep-Out Club, Howard creates an authentic narrative of a child trying to balance his desire for belonging with his sense of what’s right and wrong. When Arlo’s new friends goad him toward bullying another child, his objection is rooted in his family’s Christian faith, as witnessed in his father’s clear, sensitive, biblical-yet-not-preachy assurance that Jesus will stand with Arlo even when the right choice is the hard choice. The book helps children navigate difficult moral dilemmas while modeling support strategies for parents. —Bob Hartman, author of YouVersion’s Bible App for Kids

Award of Merit

Go Bible: A Life-Changing Bible for Kids

(Tyndale)

The Go Bible for kids hits all the right notes. It features helpful introductions, concise applications, interesting facts, thoughtful questions, and colorful sidebars that help children develop a framework for approaching the Bible. The NLT is a fantastic choice for a children’s Bible, since it is closer to their reading and comprehension level than many other popular translations. —Tyler Van Halteren, founder of Lithos Kids and author of the Little Pilgrim series

Finalists

My Tender Heart Devotions

Laura Sassi (Paraclete Press)

Habits formed in the early years stand the chance of becoming lifelong habits, and books of simple devotions like this one, designed for children under age 6, can help busy parents establish a Bible-time habit with their little ones. Sassi presents Bible stories and concepts simply, as if speaking to a child. Original poems introduce each devotion, which is something of a twist for the genre. Another twist: The accompanying Bible verses seem chosen for depth rather than mere ease of memorization, which does add a nice seriousness to the book. —Diane Stortz, editor and children’s author

Strong: Psalm 1

Sally Lloyd-Jones (Zonderkidz)

Lloyd-Jones’s unique perspective on Psalm 1 takes a complicated concept—strength—and applies it in a relatable, encouraging way. Through the illustration of a tree planted near nourishing waters, it portrays the life-giving power of Scripture while teaching kids to draw their strength from God. The book’s rich, earthy illustrations help it stand out from the rest. —Michelle S. Lazurek, author, speaker, and literary agent

Young Adults

Winner

The Miracle Seed

Martin Lemelman (Eerdmans)

The Miracle Seed is a beautiful book full of engaging curiosities. When it comes to historical fiction, approaching younger readers through art and design is key. Lemelman captures the imagination through comics and character development. He achieves a good balance between enticing readers with interesting facts and drawing them into an engaging narrative. Learning is much more fun when you don’t know it is happening! —Melina Luna Smith, executive director of StoryMakers NYC

Award of Merit

More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships

Jennifer M. Kvamme (The Good Book Company)

For any high schoolers looking for answers to their honest questions about sex, attraction, identity, and romantic relationships, this book is a one-stop shop. Kvamme is poignant, authentic, empathetic, winsome, and above all biblical in her approach to topics that teens talk and think about all the time. Beyond its friendly and effective countering of secular messages, More to the Story helps readers see the goodness of God and the life of holiness his Word commands. —Shelby Abbott, author, speaker, and campus minister

Finalists

The Found Boys

S. D. Smith (Harvest Kids)

The Found Boys begins as a familiar childhood adventure before delving into deeper themes, as three boys face their own naive prejudices after meeting characters with entrenched views on race, religion, and power. The fast-paced, cleverly plotted story builds to a surprising and thought-provoking climax. Smith skillfully balances humor and lighthearted banter with explorations of the darker aspects of human nature, ultimately pointing to gospel-centered themes of hope and reconciliation. —Dave Boden, executive director of Grace Foundation

Longing for Christmas: 25 Promises Fulfilled in Jesus, Advent Devotional for Teens

Edited by Chelsea Kingston Erickson (New Growth Press)

A Christmas devotional for the anxious generation, Longing for Christmas holds out the hope of Jesus in clear, compelling, and beautiful ways. By connecting God’s Old Testament promises to their fulfilment through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, these daily devotions paint a vivid picture of a God we can trust to bring his peace, hope, and provision to bear on all the complexity of life. —Chris Morphew, school chaplain in Sydney, Australia, author of Who Am I and Why Do I Matter?

Marriage, Family, and Singleness

Winner

God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well

Anna Meade Harris (Zondervan Reflective)

Harris knows that even though the church can be a painful place, there’s hardly a community better suited to provide what single-parent families long for. Drawing from her survey of others and her own painful memories, she teaches us what not to say and how to best serve single-parent families in practical ways. Yet she shares this in a spirit of generous love, not resentment. Her book exhibits a hard-won confidence in God’s goodness in the face of devastating circumstances. —Michael Gembola, executive director of Blue Ridge Christian Counseling in Virginia

God’s Grace for Every Family combines solid biblical content, relevant statistical analysis, and personal interviews, all woven around Harris’s own story of loss and struggle. The book provides sympathy and encouragement for single parents, along with pastors and all others ministering to their needs. I appreciate how Harris reframes one possible question—How do we accept single parents without endorsing divorce or sex outside marriage?—with a reminder not to judge them more harshly than any other sinner saved by grace. —Adam Mason, minister of counseling services at Houston’s First Baptist Church

(Anna Meade Harris chooses five books to encourage single parents for CT.)

Award of Merit

Loving Your Adult Children: The Heartache of Parenting and the Hope of the Gospel

Gaye B. Clark (Crossway)

Parenting adult children comes with certain complexities, especially when they have drifted away from the Christian faith. Clark offers empathy, practical advice, and biblical wisdom for parents navigating this season. I especially appreciated her insightful explanation of repentance and reconciliation, which emphasizes restoring relationships without sacrificing personal convictions. —Jennifer Pepito, founder of The Peaceful Press and author of Mothering by the Book

Finalists

Family Discipleship That Works: Guiding Your Child to Know, Love, and Act Like Jesus

Brian Dembowczyk (InterVarsity Press)

This book is an accessible, readable resource for families seeking practical ideas about engaging in discipleship together. It has deep theological roots, along with a variety of good stories to make the lessons stick. I enjoyed laughing along with the author and sighing at anecdotes that brought back memories of when my own kids were growing. After finishing the book, I happily gave it to my youngest brother, whose own “littles” are still young. —Jennifer Ripley, psychology professor at Regent University

Solo Planet: How Singles Can Help the Church Recover Our Calling

Anna Broadway (NavPress)

The church in America is decidedly geared toward married couples, and if they have children, even better. So, in a church full of families, where do singles fit? In Solo Planet, Broadway introduces readers to an international, multidenominational group of single Christians and invites us into their stories of finding life in Christ. We learn about the particular struggles singles face, but also how their pursuit of spiritual maturity and Christian community helps all of us better understand who God is and how he works in the world. —Joel Fitzpatrick, pastor, speaker, and author of Between Us Guys

(Read CT’s review of Solo Planet.)

Culture, Poetry, and the Arts

Winner

Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church

Abram Van Engen (Eerdmans)

Van Engen teaches a gentle and grace-filled method of reading poetry, an art form that can frighten the uninitiated. Word Made Fresh accompanies readers on a leisurely, conversational walk through this terrain, exposing them to a range of poems across eras and places. Rather than offering a straightforward apologetic for poetry, Van Engen meets poetry novices where they are, inviting them to share in his genuine, exuberant love. I can see this book being extremely useful in college literature departments—especially, though not exclusively, on Christian campuses. —Pamela Rossi-Keen, executive director of The Genesis Collective

Reading poetry requires focus. In Word Made Fresh, Van Engen invites us to slow down and make space for contemplation. In particular, he asks us to pay close attention to why a particular poem might stir our hearts or awaken curiosity. In so doing, he writes, we learn to “practice thinking and noticing at a different speed.” As Van Engen sees it, a poem is not an explanation but a way of revealing that engages our senses, relaxes our pace, and compels us to wonder. —Gary Ball, rector of Redeemer Anglican Church in Asheville, North Carolina

Award of Merit

Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage?: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress

Jessica Hooten Wilson (Brazos Press)

In this study of Flannery O’Connor’s last, unfinished novel, Wilson showcases a deep love for O’Connor’s work, a scholar’s attentiveness, and a respect for eternal things. The book, featuring scenes from O’Connor’s original manuscript, gives readers a privileged look into her artistic process. Wilson’s introduction and commentary frame important background elements, like O’Connor’s perspective on the civil rights activism and racial violence of her era. Readers see a sincere admiration of O’Connor’s moral character and literary gifts alongside gracious and honest acknowledgments of her faults, both on and off the page. —Alicia Pollard, writer and creator of the Leaf by Lantern podcast

(Read CT’s review of Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage?)

Finalists

Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation

Lanta Davis (Baker Academic)

This is a marvelous, theologically rich work. As an educator who values the tradition of classical Christian thought, I appreciated Davis’s emphasis on uniting Christian doctrine and practice with rightly formed imaginations. Her book takes an integrated approach to the arts, considering their visual, architectural, and literary expressions, among others. Well-researched and eminently practical, Becoming by Beholding is an excellent introduction into the world of classical Christian creativity—and a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship of imagination to Christian devotion. —Brian Nixon, professor of education and pastoral studies at Veritas International University

(Read an excerpt from Becoming by Beholding.)

Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of Our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Age

Rachel B. Griffis, Julie Ooms, and Rachel M. De Smith Roberts (Baker Academic)

In Deep Reading, the three authors model a love of reading that moves beyond simply consuming established canons of literature or extracting information with maximum efficiency. Instead, they portray reading as an ongoing process of reflection and action that builds virtuous character. Drawing on their classroom experience, their commitments to loving God and neighbor, and their reflections on everyday life, they go beyond theoretical insights to show how deep reading habits help us manage distraction and bring about individual and communal flourishing. —Stephen Garner, senior research fellow at Laidlaw College in New Zealand

Fiction

Winner

This Ain’t No Promised Land

Tina Shelton (Kregel)

This book is ambitious in scope, navigating comfortably between the 1960s Deep South and South Side Chicago two decades later. Shelton’s impressive cast of characters, male and female, spans a wide range of ages, ethnicities, attitudes, and (believable) motivations. The plot is too intricate for brief summary, but it paints a richly textured picture of time, setting, and emotion as each character searches for answers and struggles to forgive. This Ain’t No Promised Land documents the perennial nature of human waywardness, the tragedy of inherited shame and abuse, and the enduring hope of knowing a God whose mercy knows no bounds. —James Cooper, novelist, creative writing professor at Tabor College in Adelaide, Australia

Award of Merit

40: A Collection of Modern-Day Parables

John Cleveland (Publish Authority)

In this eclectic mix of stories, Cleveland gives Jesus’ parables a modern twist, applying a range of genres and situations that resonate across a spectrum of interests and lived experiences. He presents biblical teachings in imaginative ways that are faithful to Scripture and always point back to Jesus. I can imagine these stories launching lively conversations with fellow believers and nonbelievers alike. —Sara Brunsvold, novelist, author of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip

Finalists

American Inheritance

Nathan Nipper (Post Hill Press)

When I first climbed into the ’79 Airstream RV with Tom, an America-hating socialist whose conservative grandfather has prepared a patriotic cross-country voyage, I considered napping on the couch instead. I braced myself for political posturing wrapped in familiar road-trip tropes. But I’m happy I pressed on. Yes, there is pointed political commentary, but Nipper does a wonderful job weaving believable dialogue and deeper themes throughout. In a contentious age, this book ministered to me. —Buck Storm, novelist and musician, author of the Ballads of Paradise series

Prisms, Veils: A Book of Fables

David Bentley Hart (University of Notre Dame Press)

Hart’s collection of fables features characters who encounter worlds beyond their present “shadows of reality.” As these characters embrace, reject, or hesitate upon the thresholds to these worlds, we see the range of our own humanity reflected in their responses: primal and pragmatic, tender and receptive. These tales drew me in with the enchantment of their language and left me with much to ponder. —Amy Baik Lee, member of the Anselm Society Arts Guild, author of This Homeward Ache

History/Biography

Winner

God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music

Leah Payne (Oxford University Press)

This is an utterly compelling book that not only narrates the history of contemporary Christian music (CCM) but also demonstrates deep connections with the larger “industry of American evangelicalism.” As an Australian reader, I was surprised by the extent to which the book resonated with my own upbringing in evangelical churches of the ’80s and ’90s. I immediately recognized the songs, artists, and theological themes Payne discusses, which only confirms her impression of CCM’s far-reaching influence. —Nicole Starling, academic dean at Morling College in Australia

If you’ve ever pondered how and why American Christians created a sprawling parallel soundscape to the mainstream music industry, this book is for you. In it, Payne presents a riveting, rollicking, textured account of contemporary Christian music, as well as its accompanying aesthetic and commercial culture. Drawing on interviews with industry insiders and a large survey of CCM listeners, the book demonstrates how music has formed American Christians’ lives and shaped their cultural commitments. It will leave you reaching for that Spirit FM dial, primed to listen more intently and shrewdly. —Daryn Henry, assistant professor in the department of religious studies at the University of Virginia

(Read Kelsey Kramer’s McGinnis’s CT article on Christian Contemporary Music.)

Award of Merit

Jingjiao: The Earliest Christian Church in China

Glen L. Thompson (Eerdmans)

This exacting, accessible, and illuminating study demonstrates that Christianity is not Western but universal, and was so from the start. Its implications run deep not only for American evangelicals unaccustomed to thinking about Eastern Christianity but also for Chinese Christians whose government justifies their persecution on the theory that Christianity is a Western import. And it affirms the importance of Eastern cultures to the Christian story in ways that can bless Asian American believers. —Beth Barton Schweiger, historian, author of A Literate South

Finalists

The Reformation of the Heart: Gender and Radical Theology in the English Revolution

Sarah Apetrei (Oxford University Press)

In this highly original study, Apetrei shows that theological radicalism and women’s activism reinforced one another during the 17th-century English Civil War. Women preachers were anything but passive recipients of doctrine. Through polemics and visions alike, they advanced important English Protestant emphases, seeking a “reformation of the heart” that rejected external forms of liturgy and loyalty to civil authorities in favor of authentic interior faith. Providing prehistory of some strands in American evangelical life, the book speaks to matters of “heart religion,” mysticism, gender equality, and women’s roles in ministry. —Agnes Howard, humanities professor at Christ College, Valparaiso University

Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith

Elesha J. Coffman (Baker Academic)

With a title and a narrative structure that evoke Mark Noll’s Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, Coffman’s study of American church history tells textured stories about key individuals and events, rooting them in the ancient Christian past and connecting them to recent developments. Her engaging prose makes the book a page-turner. These qualities, plus the inclusion of songs and prayers in each chapter, elevate Coffman’s work above the typical historical survey. —James Gorman, professor of history at Johnson University

(Read CT’s review of Turning Points in American Church History.)

Politics and Public Life

Winner

Curious: A Foster Mom’s Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction

Christina Dent (Throne Publishing Group)

Curious tells a compelling story of a conservative Christian mother’s remarkable journey toward embracing a more consistent and compassionate pro-life approach to drugs and addiction. Seamlessly blending her own story with those of others she encountered along the way, she makes a persuasive case for confronting this crisis with more humane public policy, coupled with a change of heart toward those in addiction’s grip. In her commitments to humility, courage, open-mindedness, and perseverance, Dent models the intellectual virtues I try to instill in my students. —Chan Woong Shin, associate professor of political science and international affairs at Gordon College

Award of Merit

Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor

Caleb Campbell (InterVarsity Press)

While I am deeply concerned about a sudden uptick in Christian nationalist rhetoric and the harm it does to Christian witness, I’m also sensitive to the ways this threat can be overhyped. Campbell navigates the topic with prudence, not to mention the credibility that comes from his experience as a teenaged white supremacist turned pastor with firsthand knowledge of the pain and dissension extremist politics brought to his church. Disarming Leviathan was personally convicting, as it forced me to acknowledge that flapping my gums against Christian nationalism has far less kingdom impact than actually loving people who have been drawn into its orbit. —Rachel Ferguson, director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago

Finalists

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

Michael Wear (Zondervan)

As a remedy for our ailing political discourse, Wear turns to the teachings of Christian philosopher Dallas Willard, finding in them a blueprint for the kind of spiritual formation that can overcome divisiveness in our churches and communities. In short, semi-devotional sections, he encourages readers to think about voting and political engagement as extensions of Christian faithfulness and love of neighbor. God, he assures us, is more interested in cultivating enduring spiritual fruit than in shaping our positions on temporal matters. —Jennifer Walsh, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Hawaii Pacific University

(Read CTs review of The Spirit of Our Politics.)

Faithful Reason: Natural Law Ethics for God’s Glory and Our Good

Andrew T. Walker (B&H Academic)

In this primer, Walker introduces evangelicals to natural law theory, giving Protestant grounds for appreciating a body of thought more often associated with Roman Catholics. Faithful Reason is an invitation to consider the order in which God has formed all of life, one aimed at securing a common good for Christians and non-Christians alike. Natural law testifies that faith and reason are not at odds, and that Christian ethical reasoning doesn’t pit our deeply ingrained moral instincts against the special revelation of Christ in Scripture. —Paul Morrison, assistant professor of Christian ethics at Emmaus Theological Seminary

Photography by Matt Schwerin for Christianity Today

Theology (popular)

Winner

What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church

Gavin Ortlund (Zondervan Reflective)

Amid increasing signs of Gen Z Protestant men converting to Catholicism and Orthodoxy, many evangelicals wonder: How can we explain the truth and goodness of the Protestant tradition to those who see it as fractured and weak? Ortlund answers this question in What It Means to Be Protestant. The book educates leaders engaged in conversations about the branches of the Western church, and it equips Protestants to answer Catholic and Orthodox objections to their movement. Ultimately, it calls us back to the Reformation ideal of an “always reforming” church that stands on inherited traditions while showing grace and affection for those around us. —Phylicia Masonheimer, author, speaker, and founder of Every Woman a Theologian

Award of Merit

Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World Like the Early Church

Stephen O. Presley (Eerdmans)

In many ways, today’s church is encountering the same ostracization, derision, and outright persecution faced by Christians in the earliest centuries of the church’s history. In response, some believers look to fight for the cultural dominance to which they feel entitled, while others retreat in despair from a corrupted culture. Presley’s book teaches us to emulate the early church in resisting these impulses. Following the example of our earliest brothers and sisters, we can rediscover the hope, humility, and patience that come from knowing we are pilgrims called by a faithful Savior to bless the world as salt and light. —Simonetta Carr, author, educator, and translator

(Read CT’s review of Cultural Sanctification.)

Finalists

Know the Theologians

Jennifer Powell McNutt and David W. McNutt (Zondervan)

As Christians, we stand on the shoulders of our theological predecessors, but most of the time, we have little idea who those people are. This is often especially true of contemporary Christianity, which—like the culture around us—tends to prioritize the present over the past. With a great deal of substance and touches of levity, the McNutts introduce key figures in Christian history, pointing to their continuing relevance in Christian life and thought. The authors’ choices reflect the breadth and diversity of the global church, reconnecting us with our forefathers and foremothers in the faith. —Wendy Widder, author, teacher, and Bible commentator

Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology

Kevin DeYoung (Crossway)

This is the book I wished for when I first started on my journey into the world of Reformed theology. It could only be written by someone like DeYoung, a pastor and popular author who serves as a bridge between the academy and the pew, combining a depth of study with an awareness of what beginners can handle. The book quotes Scripture, scholars, confessions, and philosophical works, always situating them within the history of the church. It handles terms of art in a simple, accessible manner, complete with familiar (and humorous) illustrations. DeYoung doesn’t hesitate to stretch his readers, but he always gives them a boost. —Paige Britton, creator of Grass Roots Theological Library

Photography by Matt Schwerin for Christianity Today

Theology (academic)

Winner

Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically

Kevin Vanhoozer (Zondervan Academic)

Can biblical interpretation change the world? In this carefully crafted study, Vanhoozer answers in the affirmative by exploring the relationship between biblical authors, canonical texts, and believing readers. By guiding our gaze to Christ’s transfiguration, he makes illuminating connections between the literal sense of the Bible’s words, their place in the biblical canon, and the glory of the risen Christ that shines all the brighter when we read God’s Word theologically. Deeply rooted in decades of incisive scholarship, this volume captures the distinctive voice of a creative and faithful virtuoso in theology. —Ched Spellman, professor of biblical and theological studies at Cedarville University

Mere Christian Hermeneutics is a masterpiece. With nuance and depth, Vanhoozer examines the implications of believing that the divine author of Scripture is also the sovereign author of history. In outlining a properly theological interpretation of God’s Word, he writes as a seasoned scholar whose mature perspective manifests decades of careful reflection. On many pages, I found at least one sentence most other theologians would work a lifetime hoping to write. Perhaps my highest praise is that the book truly helped me understand what the Bible is, how I want to read it, and the person I want to become as I grow in discerning its glory. —Trevor Laurence, executive director of the Cateclesia Institute

Award of Merit

Gender as Love: A Theological Account of Human Identity, Embodied Desire, and Our Social Worlds

Fellipe do Vale (Baker Academic)

Gender as Love offers a theologically sophisticated take on contentious contemporary debates about gender, steering between the “essentialist” and “social constructivist” positions. Do Vale shows why human beings cannot do without some fixed sense of what it means to be male or female, regardless of time or place. While the book aims to preserve essential distinctions between men and women, it leaves space to critically evaluate the distribution of gendered goods and roles within a given society, carefully discerning which ones are detachable or inseparable from our male and female bodies. In this way, do Vale helps Christians escape entrapment in abstract debates too wooden to do justice to the complexities of creaturely life. —Brian Brock, professor of moral and practical theology at the University of Aberdeen

(Read CT’s review of Gender as Love.)

Finalists

Thinking Through the Problem of Hell: The Divine Presence Model

R. Zachary Manis (Cascade Books)

If you’ve ever found yourself backed into a corner trying to articulate the doctrine of hell, this book is a game-changer. Most Christians can readily say yes to the justice of God. But many wonder whether a loving God can impose eternal retributive punishment. With logical precision and welcome accessibility, Manis examines the problem of hell in a way that holds human freedom and divine sovereignty in genuine tension. His book has aided my own theological journey immensely, renewing my confidence that the doctrine of hell reflects both the depth of God’s love and the weight of his eternal glory. —Haley Goranson Jacob, associate professor of theology at Whitworth University

Why We Pray: Understanding Prayer in the Context of Cosmic Conflict

John C. Peckham (Baker Academic)

If God is benevolent and all-powerful, why does Scripture command us to lay our requests before him “without ceasing?” Peckham answers this question with an elaborate theological vision in which God, granting significant moral autonomy to his image-bearers, is engaged in a cosmic battle between good and evil, with prayer affording him the moral right to intervene without violating human freedom. Theological traditionalists will object—perhaps rightly—to Peckham’s treatment of doctrines like divine immutability (which affirms the unchangeable nature of God’s will). But this book remains a pastorally sensitive inquiry into why prayer matters. —David Rathel, associate professor of Christianity theology at Gateway Seminary

(Read John C. Peckham’s CT article on Jesus’ prayers in the garden of Gethsemane.)

This article appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Christianity Today as "The CT Book Awards".

- More from CT Editors

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Culture

Strike Up the Band: Sixpence None the Richer Goes Back on Tour

Joel Heng Hartse

With its perennial hit “Kiss Me” still in our ears and on our playlists, the Christian band reunites with nothing to prove.

Sixpence None the Richer

Ben Pearson

I caught a stranger staring at my black and white Sixpence None the Richer shirt.

“I’m trying not to one-hit wonder that band,” he confessed.

The comment says a lot about Sixpence None the Richer. One-hit wonder is not traditionally a verb, but it does seem to be something that happened to Sixpence.

The band has been many things over the course of its career: a folky duo; a moody, brooding indie rock band; a Dove Award–winning Christian act; a Grammy-nominated pop group; a teen movie soundtrack band; a group whose songs you hear every time you go to the grocery store; and, yes, something of a one- or maybe two-hit wonder in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with “Kiss Me” and their cover of the La’s “There She Goes.”

It’s because of “Kiss Me” that most people have heard of Sixpence None the Richer, and it’s “Kiss Me”—despite a deep and rewarding catalogue of five full-length albums and dozens of other songs—that seems to have kept the band in the public consciousness.

Sixpence first announced its breakup in a 2004 letter to CCM Magazine then came back for a Christmas album in 2008 and another studio record in 2012 before lying dormant for nearly a decade.

Within the last few months alone, “Kiss Me” has been covered by Sabrina Carpenter on tour, interpolated into the single “Moonlight Floor” by Lisa of Blackpink, and even revealed as one of Mark Zuckerberg’s favorite “fight jams.”

You could say it’s serendipitous that these things happened just as Sixpence became active again—the band released a new EP in October and is in the midst of a 50-show tour—but it’s more likely that the band simply hasn’t left public consciousness in all these years. The song was that good.

When I spoke to Sixpence’s singer Leigh Nash the week the group left for its first tour in over a decade, she noted that “an entire new generation of really young people … are finding out about the band because of other artists covering Sixpence.”

She was quick to point to that “possibly being a mission thing, a God thing. … I think this is maybe God’s timing, but we’re gonna find out if it’s not.”

It’s possible that the current generation of fans isn’t familiar with Sixpence’s roots in the Christian rock scene, but 48-year-old Nash has no qualms about referring to her own faith or to the experiences the band had starting out on the church-basement-touring circuit in the early ’90s.

Nash and Sixpence’s guitarist Matt Slocum, the band’s only consistent members across three decades, met at a church retreat. Nash was Baptist while Slocum had Episcopal and Catholic roots, and it was clear from the beginning that faith was important to them.

They communicated with a maturity that belied their age; Nash was still a teenager and Slocum barely 20 when their first album, The Fatherless and the Widow, was released in 1994 on the independent Christian label R.E.X. Music. Their songs referenced Walt Whitman, the Book of Common Prayer, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs, to name a few heady influences.

Nash said that from the beginning she knew there was something special about their partnership; she felt a sense that being Sixpence’s singer was a divine calling: “I definitely had a sense that these words were put upon Matt, and I get to deliver them.”

They quickly followed up their debut with This Beautiful Mess, a dark and distorted alt-rock record that won them a Gospel Music Association Dove Award, an experience which, Slocum told the Christian indie rock zine The Phantom Tollbooth in 1997, showed him what he called “the small, unsatisfying world” of contemporary Christian music.

In the same interview, Slocum lamented art being “manipulated for propagandistic purposes,” saying, “I think Christian artists should focus on creating works of beauty that will speak for themselves.”

The mid-1990s saw Sixpence tour the church-basement youth-group circuit with a number of other Christian indie rock bands. The scene wasn’t always the best fit—not that Sixpence’s songs weren’t often sincerely about faith in God, but Nash was also singing Slocum’s lyrics about depression, loss, and confusion. (This Beautiful Mess ends with the frantic “I Can’t Explain,” the title of which is a clue to Sixpence’s refusal to offer the “answers” some might have been looking for from a Christian rock band.)

Nash experienced this, sometimes viscerally, on the road. As a recent high school graduate, she recalled “a theology student” who just “berated me about not giving an altar call from stage, and it broke my heart.”

“He was just like, ‘Five of my friends didn’t know about Jesus, and you let them walk out of here,’” she recalled. “I should have said, ‘Why did you let them walk out? They’re your friends.’ I’m here to do what I feel called to do, which is, frankly, just to stand up here and deliver these gorgeous words that my friend wrote.”

After a few years of legal wrangling with their previous contract, Sixpence signed with legendary Christian rock impresario Steve Taylor’s Squint Entertainment label, one of several in the late ’90s that aimed to break Christian bands into the mainstream. (Charlie Peacock’s Re:think imprint did something similar with Switchfoot.)

Sixpence’s 1997 self-titled album was a pop-rock masterpiece, though it seemingly failed to make its mark until “Kiss Me” became a grassroots radio hit. In 1999, the album was rereleased, “There She Goes” was added as a second single, and Sixpence suddenly became a household name. They were on TV, movie soundtracks, festivals, and the Billboard charts.

“I remember I was very grateful that all that was happening,” Nash said, “but when you’re younger, it feels like everything’s on the line. … We weren’t expecting what happened to happen at all. That wasn’t even on the board, and it happened. And I think as a band, it kind of gives us this feeling like, well, anything can happen.”

The success of “Kiss Me” led to a major-label release with a major-label budget: 2002’s Divine Discontent featured 13 songs, orchestral arrangements by Van Dyke Parks, and production from Paul Fox, who had worked for years with Slocum’s favorite band, XTC.

While “Breathe Your Name” did well as a single (the karaoke bars where I live still have it!), the band toured less and eventually announced their breakup when Nash gave birth to her son. Slocum continued to work as a session musician and played with several other bands, while Nash released several solo and collaborative albums.

Their current reunion is not their first—they released Lost in Transition in 2012 and toured sporadically—but Nash said the band is “in our truest form right now because we’re not really trying to prove anything.”

She and Slocum reconnected for dinner in Nashville pre-pandemic and planned to start collaborating again. Earlier this year, they began performing together as the temporary lead guitarist and singer of 10,000 Maniacs before releasing their new EP.

Nash referred to the sound of Rosemary Hill as “Sixpencecore,” and I’d agree that the EP sounds like the sum of the band’s historical parts. There are elements of sprightly pop, brooding rock, sweeping chamber pop, and even touches of alt-country—and subtle references to (lyrically) The Beatles and (musically) The Smiths.

There’s a wistfulness to the record, a “softness and sweetness,” Nash said, touching as it does on themes of family and the band’s hometown of New Braunfels, Texas.

After Sixpence finishes their current tour, an ambitious nine-week outing that ends in mid-December, Nash said they plan to begin working on a new full-length album.

She called Rosemary Hill “a little test case for all of us, the band included, to see what we could still accomplish.”

“We’re still very much in the testing ground, almost like a brand-new band. But we still sound like Sixpence.”

Joel Heng Hartse is a lecturer at Simon Fraser University and the author of TL;DR: A Very Brief Guide to Reading and Writing in University, Sects, Love, and Rock & Roll, and Dancing About Architecture Is a Reasonable Thing to Do.

- More from Joel Heng Hartse

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