December (Web-only) 2015
![Christian TV Helps ISIS Survivors Christian TV Helps ISIS Survivors](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66299.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Christian TV Helps ISIS Survivors
As Myriam, the girl who forgave ISIS, returns to school, Arabic broadcaster finds 'unconventional' way to bring education to other refugees.
![The Pro-Life Call to Remember our ‘Old Acquaintance’ The Pro-Life Call to Remember our ‘Old Acquaintance’](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66333.jpg?h=123&w=220)
The Pro-Life Call to Remember our ‘Old Acquaintance’
Seeing the aged as a blessing rather than a burden.
![The Year in Liturgical Cinema: Epiphany The Year in Liturgical Cinema: Epiphany](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66312.jpg?h=123&w=220)
The Year in Liturgical Cinema: Epiphany
The Avas and Samanthas of our world—the technological avatars—cannot replace the power of fleshly presence.
![Five Poverty Busters You Should Know Five Poverty Busters You Should Know](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66282.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Five Poverty Busters You Should Know
Why? Because research shows they are making a real difference.
![How It Became So Easy to Ignore the Poor How It Became So Easy to Ignore the Poor](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66276.jpg?h=123&w=220)
How It Became So Easy to Ignore the Poor
Growing income inequality and economic segregation have insulated our privilege.
![Dispatches from the Wondrous, Terrifying World of Bible Scholarship Dispatches from the Wondrous, Terrifying World of Bible Scholarship](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66274.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Dispatches from the Wondrous, Terrifying World of Bible Scholarship
Why studying Scripture professionally can bring great joy—but also great pain.
![Best of 2015: Duggar Scandal, Beth Moore, and the Yoga Pants Debate Best of 2015: Duggar Scandal, Beth Moore, and the Yoga Pants Debate](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66269.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
Best of 2015: Duggar Scandal, Beth Moore, and the Yoga Pants Debate
We rank the top 10 posts of the year.
![Tarantino's Incarnational Aesthetic Tarantino's Incarnational Aesthetic](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66260.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Tarantino's Incarnational Aesthetic
Quentin Tarantino is an unlikely contributor to the theology of Incarnation.
![Let Christmas Be Complicated Let Christmas Be Complicated](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66080.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
Let Christmas Be Complicated
We often overlook the tragic backdrop to Jesus' birth.
![Why I'm Not a Conscientious Objector Why I'm Not a Conscientious Objector](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66259.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Why I'm Not a Conscientious Objector
I can't condemn war in the way my Anabaptist friends so quickly do.
![What Breastfeeding Is Teaching Me About God What Breastfeeding Is Teaching Me About God](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65567.jpg?h=123&w=220)
What Breastfeeding Is Teaching Me About God
Discovering the sacred in the middle of the night
![Meet the Christian Doctor Who Changed How We Play Football Meet the Christian Doctor Who Changed How We Play Football](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66230.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Meet the Christian Doctor Who Changed How We Play Football
Bennet Omalu, played by Will Smith in the new film 'Concussion,' says it's time to ban children from playing high-contact sports.
![The Mystery of My Healing The Mystery of My Healing](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66238.png?h=123&w=220)
The Mystery of My Healing
Unexplainable relief is a reminder of God’s grace, wholeness, and incarnation.
![Herod the Hero? Herod the Hero?](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66064.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Herod the Hero?
Three recent books portray Herod more positively than he is generally depicted. But Matthew 2 is still important.
![A 3,000 Year Old Version of 'Imagine' A 3,000 Year Old Version of 'Imagine'](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66214.jpg?h=123&w=220)
A 3,000 Year Old Version of 'Imagine'
Isaiah's song of hope for survivors of terrorism—and what it means this Christmas.
![Why We Get Religious About ‘Star Wars’ Why We Get Religious About ‘Star Wars’](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66202.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Why We Get Religious About ‘Star Wars’
What accounts for our religious devotion—and our need to shoehorn 'Star Wars' into our own theology?
![Concussion Concussion](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66162.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Concussion
Hollywood tries to turn a clash between science and a powerful institution into an immigrant doctor's "such a time as this."
![Alejandro González Iñárritu Talks to CT About ‘The Revenant’ Alejandro González Iñárritu Talks to CT About ‘The Revenant’](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66098.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Alejandro González Iñárritu Talks to CT About ‘The Revenant’
Fresh off last year's Oscar win, the director discusses the spiritual themes of his new film.
![Why Are Christian Guys Silent About Abstinence? Why Are Christian Guys Silent About Abstinence?](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66079.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
Why Are Christian Guys Silent About Abstinence?
When we don’t talk about male virginity, we imply that it’s not important.
![Orthodox Rabbis Say Christianity Is God's Plan, Vatican Says Stop Evangelizing Jews Orthodox Rabbis Say Christianity Is God's Plan, Vatican Says Stop Evangelizing Jews](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66053.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Orthodox Rabbis Say Christianity Is God's Plan, Vatican Says Stop Evangelizing Jews
Experts assess letter exchange marking 50th anniversary of famous detente.
![Five Errors to Drop from Your Christmas Sermon Five Errors to Drop from Your Christmas Sermon](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66039.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Five Errors to Drop from Your Christmas Sermon
If you want to help people see Christmas with fresh eyes, start by dropping these familiar fallacies.
españolIndonesian![Hallmark Christmas Movies: ‘Guilty Pleasure’ No More Hallmark Christmas Movies: ‘Guilty Pleasure’ No More](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65818.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
Hallmark Christmas Movies: ‘Guilty Pleasure’ No More
The good-hearted holiday films prove more popular—and more lovable— than we assume.
![Caring for Refugees: A Declaration of Evangelical Response Caring for Refugees: A Declaration of Evangelical Response](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/66019.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Caring for Refugees: A Declaration of Evangelical Response
At gathering of 100+ leaders, organizers pledge to engage 'global refugee emergency.'
![Teen Mania: Why We're Shutting Down After 30 Years of Acquire the Fire Teen Mania: Why We're Shutting Down After 30 Years of Acquire the Fire](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/141313.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Teen Mania: Why We're Shutting Down After 30 Years of Acquire the Fire
CT exclusive: Ron Luce explains why the global youth ministry is calling it quits.
![Kirsten Powers: Becoming a Christian Ruined My Love of Christmas Kirsten Powers: Becoming a Christian Ruined My Love of Christmas](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65895.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Kirsten Powers: Becoming a Christian Ruined My Love of Christmas
But then I learned to see the beauty of Christ’s coming like never before.
![How We Instagrammed Away Our Feelings How We Instagrammed Away Our Feelings](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65957.jpg?h=123&w=220)
How We Instagrammed Away Our Feelings
Today’s hipster irony and OMG sentimentality distracts from real-life sincerity.
![Died: Ian Howard Marshall, Courageous and Winsome Bible Scholar Died: Ian Howard Marshall, Courageous and Winsome Bible Scholar](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65913.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Died: Ian Howard Marshall, Courageous and Winsome Bible Scholar
A tribute to the New Testament expert who kept the flame of evangelical scholarship from burning out.
![The Unexpected Book of the Bible that Comforts Me the Most The Unexpected Book of the Bible that Comforts Me the Most](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65911.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
The Unexpected Book of the Bible that Comforts Me the Most
In the midst of my anxiety, I remember God’s power through reading Revelation.
español![Neither Heroes Nor Head-Cases Neither Heroes Nor Head-Cases](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65909.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Neither Heroes Nor Head-Cases
A better framework for ministering to military members.
![The Mother of All Swear Words The Mother of All Swear Words](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65711.jpg?h=123&w=220)
The Mother of All Swear Words
Be (or become) the go-to for all your kids' questions.
![Remembering David Steinmetz's Quest to Free the Church from Amnesia Remembering David Steinmetz's Quest to Free the Church from Amnesia](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65846.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Remembering David Steinmetz's Quest to Free the Church from Amnesia
How the legendary Reformation scholar sought to regain the church's identity from the past.
![‘I Am Called a Cult Leader. I Really Don’t Care.’ ‘I Am Called a Cult Leader. I Really Don’t Care.’](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65819.jpg?h=123&w=220)
‘I Am Called a Cult Leader. I Really Don’t Care.’
How one of the world’s most beloved worship songs reportedly helped to fuel spiritual abuse at Wayne Jolley’s The Gathering International.
![Have Yourself a Merry Little Friendsmas Have Yourself a Merry Little Friendsmas](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65817.png?h=123&w=220)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Friendsmas
The holidays can be hard. Don’t spend them alone.
![In the Heart of the Sea In the Heart of the Sea](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65813.jpg?h=123&w=220)
In the Heart of the Sea
In trying to tell the origin story of 'Moby-Dick,' director Ron Howard misses the point.
![Liberty Student: Why I Didn’t Cheer for Jerry Falwell Jr. Liberty Student: Why I Didn’t Cheer for Jerry Falwell Jr.](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65794.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
Liberty Student: Why I Didn’t Cheer for Jerry Falwell Jr.
Guns in our pockets or not, Christians shouldn’t celebrate killing.
![C.S. Lewis Was a Secret Government Agent C.S. Lewis Was a Secret Government Agent](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65719.jpg?h=123&w=220)
C.S. Lewis Was a Secret Government Agent
A recent discovery unveils an unknown chapter in the life the famous Oxford Don.
![War Is Hell. But It Can Be Heaven. War Is Hell. But It Can Be Heaven.](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65720.jpg?h=123&w=220)
War Is Hell. But It Can Be Heaven.
Why soldiers crave the extremes of active duty.
![Don’t Call Him Kanye’s Pastor Don’t Call Him Kanye’s Pastor](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65706.jpeg?h=123&w=220)
Don’t Call Him Kanye’s Pastor
Rich Wilkerson Jr., a Pentecostal church-planter with famous friends, gets his own reality show.
![Offense Welcome: Please Debate This Article Offense Welcome: Please Debate This Article](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65714.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Offense Welcome: Please Debate This Article
When “I feel” began to overtake “I think” in my classroom, I took a closer look at disagreeing well.
![Why We Still Believe in Women's Ministry Why We Still Believe in Women's Ministry](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65305.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Why We Still Need Women’s Ministry
We hold up half the sanctuary ceiling—and our ministry matters.
![“It’s Cheaper to Rape a Woman than Waste a Bullet” “It’s Cheaper to Rape a Woman than Waste a Bullet”](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65708.jpg?h=123&w=220)
“It’s Cheaper to Rape a Woman than Waste a Bullet”
Violence against women anywhere is a threat to women everywhere.
![Watching 'Chi-Raq' During Advent Watching 'Chi-Raq' During Advent](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65684.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Watching 'Chi-Raq' During Advent
Spike Lee's latest joint is here to teach us what lament really looks like.
![Bruised and Bleeding: Watching 'Daredevil' and 'Jessica Jones' Bruised and Bleeding: Watching 'Daredevil' and 'Jessica Jones'](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65673.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Bruised and Bleeding: Watching 'Daredevil' and 'Jessica Jones'
Two Marvel shows give us an uncommon abandonment of the lone-hero trope.
![The Blessing of Missing Christmas The Blessing of Missing Christmas](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65440.jpg?h=123&w=220)
The Blessing of Missing Christmas
In my Jewish home, my lonely celebrations as a teen changed how I view the holiday.
![Andy Mineo: Rappers Are Missionaries, Too Andy Mineo: Rappers Are Missionaries, Too](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65219.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Andy Mineo: Rappers Are Missionaries, Too
The fan-friendly hip-hop artist wants to see the church get creative.
![Welcoming Their Former Enemies Welcoming Their Former Enemies](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65644.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Welcoming Their Former Enemies
Syrian refugees resettle in what was once "the Paris of the Middle East."
![Ben Carson Is Dreaming of a White House Christmas Ben Carson Is Dreaming of a White House Christmas](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65606.png?h=123&w=220)
Ben Carson Is Dreaming of a White House Christmas
The Seventh-day Adventist candidate discusses God's role in his presidential campaign.
![On ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ After Another Mass Shooting On ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ After Another Mass Shooting](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65615.jpg?h=123&w=220)
On ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ After Another Mass Shooting
Prayer—and lament—is the proper first response to tragedy.
español![God Has a Surprise for You God Has a Surprise for You](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65442.jpg?h=123&w=220)
God Has a Surprise for You
Like Mary, we find ourselves receiving God’s good and difficult gifts.
![What Jesus Said to Me After the Suicide Bombing What Jesus Said to Me After the Suicide Bombing](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65588.jpg?h=123&w=220)
What Jesus Said to Me After the Suicide Bombing
Our Savior knows what it's like to have people want to take your life.
![Surprise Change in How Multiethnic Churches Affect Race Views Surprise Change in How Multiethnic Churches Affect Race Views](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65585.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Surprise Change in How Multiethnic Churches Affect Race Views
They’re now altering black attitudes more than white ones. But is that bad?
![Loving Our Pro-Choice Neighbors in Word and Deed Loving Our Pro-Choice Neighbors in Word and Deed](https://www-images.christianitytoday.com/images/65520.jpg?h=123&w=220)
Loving Our Pro-Choice Neighbors in Word and Deed
What we say about abortion matters, even if we act peacefully.