There may be some problems with the idea of using terms like unreached or unengaged. But the concepts and the actual research to identify those who have not had an opportunity to hear the gospel or who do not have a viable witness has been immensely helpful.
Agree professing Christians should repent of their Christian nationalism. But I don’t fully equate identity politics with Christian nationalism. Just white identity politics. Civil rights aren’t GIVEN to minorities. Minorities demand them. That happens through some form of identity politics.
@socofthesacred
As one brought up in the evangelical tradition who has been utterly baffled and saddened by the severe nationalistic and anti-immigration positions of others who claim to follow after Christ, “Repenting of Identity Politics” clearly states what in my view is wholly consistent with Holy Scripture and the kingdom-building our Lord Jesus taught and modeled. Thanks for your boldness, unmistakable conviction, and the call for repentance. Indeed, God forgive us.
Patricia Long Canton, OH
Christian nationalism is a non-sequitur. There is no such thing. Anyone who joins Christianity with nationalism has already abandoned the former in favor of the latter.
I require every student in my high school leadership class to attend an AA meeting. While extremely hesitant at first, they come back and proclaim how much they loved attending and why can’t every interaction they have be that genuine and authentic. As technology-addicted young people, they yearn for this type of openness and transparency. Dunnington presents the key aspects of AA in a pragmatic, practical, and concise manner. I too have always yearned to be part of a small group that mimics the environment of an AA meeting, while at the same time I appreciated the honest self-reflection as he ends the article. Once the church reflects the intentionality of AA, its buildings will be standing-room only, just what Jesus wanted.
Rafe Vecere Columbus, NJ
John Wesley’s small “bands” in the early days of the Methodist movement filled this role. In today’s society, the kind of interpersonal trust necessary for such groups to survive in the local church has been lost. People do not want to share deep things in these groups for fear it will end up on the church grapevine or as a sermon illustration.
This article shows disturbingly deep insight into the reasons that our home groups generally fail to be radically transformative. This bears much examination and discussion among Christians who are serious about seeing their own lives and the lives of others demonstrably transformed by God’s grace. I will never think about home groups the same way again.
Alan House Spring, TX
As a member of Celebrate Recovery, I can personally attest to the rigorous honesty and true fellowship that occurs in 12-step meetings. People are free to be real and flawed without judgment.
I loved how the story shows the missionaries’ obedience was met with God’s providing for them and blessing the people they came to serve by allowing them to serve the missionaries. He knows what we need. All of us—if we just trust him.
As a worker in an inner-city church, is my job to help lift people out of poverty and help them have money or is it to do life together with them and lead them to abundant life in relationship with Jesus? I was challenged that I have been measuring ministry success by the economic gains that people make, when maybe that should never have been the goal in the first place.
Pauline Dillman Benner
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While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
A Christian reconciliation group in Israel and Palestine warned that war would come. Now the war threatens their relevance.العربيةFrançais
The Grammy-winning artist was found dead at her home in Nashville at age 47.
