Christianity Today

December, 2023

Volume 67, Number 9

The Eternal King Arrives
November, 2023

The Magi followed a “star when it rose” in order to find and worship the king of the Jews (Matt. 2:1–2). This month’s cover story explores the worship-inspiring wonder of the night sky—and the impact on humanity when our view of the cosmos is obscured by light pollution. Also in this issue: the ethics of embryo adoption, a Christian college goes nuclear, truth and mercy in Jude’s epistle, and an ancient scrap of parchment with Jesus’ words.

Purchase print copies

Cover Story

Cover Story

God’s Promises Are Clearest When We Turn Out the Lights

Christians have every reason to reduce light pollution.

Features

Frozen Embryos Are the New Orphan Crisis

More than a million unused IVF embryos are in cryostorage. Are they the next pro-life frontier?

The Unusual Epistle that Helps Me Counsel on Sexuality

Jude has strong words for immorality in the church. Yet he advocates for mercy for those who doubt.

Joseph Was Jesus’ ‘Real Dad’

I don’t need a biological bond to be the father of the embryos my wife and I adopted.

Testimony

I Studied Christianity with the Hope of Debunking It

A decade later, I became a Christian.

More from this Issue

Let There Be Dark

Deep darkness only magnifies what it is to gaze upon the Light of the World.

Glimpses of the Kingdom

We look, with yearning and joy, toward that long-awaited dawn.

Intelligent Responses to AI Concerns

And other replies to our October issue.

News

For South Korean Christians, Christmas Is a Ministry Quandary

Some see the holiday as the perfect time for outreach to North Korean defectors. Others aren’t so sure.

Salvation Army Kettles Collect Fewer Coins

The bell-ringing campaign sees 20 percent decline in giving.

How Abilene Christian Saw the Nuclear Light

The Church of Christ school is working with the US government to build an experimental reactor.

What Evangelical Scholars Found Looking at a Tiny Piece of Papyrus

From a dump in Egypt to a criminal case in Oxford to a seminary in Texas, this fragmentary record of faith traveled a strange path.

Wedding Fire Devastates Christian Community in Iraq

And other brief news stories from Christians around the world.

Reviews

Excerpt

Keep Complaining to God. Just Don’t Ignore Him.

Even our angriest accusations are preferable to indifference.

Mary Was More Than a Mother

Treating her as a static figure obscures a lifetime of gospel witness.

Review

The Faith and Work Movement Is Leaving Blue-Collar Workers Behind

Can it speak to evangelicals outside high-status professions?

New & Noteworthy Fiction

Chosen by Karen Barnett, author of “When Stone Wings Fly” and the Vintage National Parks novels.

5 Books to Read Before Becoming a Missionary

Chosen by Emily Bennett, editor of “Before You Go: Wisdom from 10 Women Who Served Internationally.”

Views

Pharaoh, Did You Know?

How the shepherds upended Egyptian power.

Put Away Childish Narcissism

How to out-parent the prevailing cultural mantra of “me, right now.”

How AI Short-Circuits Art

When we cut out creative processes, we diminish what gives art its true value.

Why Do We Want AI to Interpret Scripture?

The history of American Bible interpretation can give us some answers.

Additional Articles

All Archives

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube