In a crazy year, a reason to give thanks — plus the week's top religion reads
Weekend Plug-in 🔌
Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Got feedback or ideas for this column? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.
FORT WORTH, Texas — For decades, my mother, Judy Ross, has made the best Thanksgiving feast on the planet.
I’m talking about a mammoth spread of turkey, chicken and dressing, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce and steaming hot rolls — plus carrot cake, chocolate pie and other homemade desserts that fill an entire table.
Amazingly, this big meal comes only a few hours after a “light” holiday breakfast that always includes fried and scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon and pancakes with chocolate syrup.
Shutterstock photo
What am I thankful for? Well, for one thing, that I’ve never suffered a heart attack after all that I eat on this particular day.
But seriously, I’m grateful for Mom — a kind, loving Christian woman who has spent her entire life serving other people.
Even before a recent mishap, Thanksgiving was shaping up to be a different experience for the extended Ross family in this crazy year. With concerns about big indoor gatherings contributing to the spread of COVID-19, crowding all the brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandbabies and great-grandbabies into Mom and Dad’s home seemed unwise.
But then my iPhone buzzed on a recent Monday morning, and my sister Christy Fichter’s face flashed on the screen.
Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads
1. Madison Cawthorn arrives in Washington: This is a fascinating interview with a controversial 25-year-old Republican congressman-elect from western North Carolina.
The piece by the Jewish Insider’s Matthew Kassel contains a whole lot of juicy religious details, such as Cawthorn — a nondenominational Christian who comes from a family of “true frickin’ believers” — talking about his desire to convert Muslims and Jews.
Read more on that angle from GetReligion’s Terry Mattingly.
2. The evangelical reckoning begins: As the Election 2020 post-op continues, The Atlantic’s Emma Green ponders with megachurch pastor Andy Stanley how to pursue faith over politics.
Religion Unplugged’s own Julia Duin delves into the charismatic Christians “prophesying Trump’s victory (and not backing down),” while The Tennessean’s Holly Meyer explores whether religious leaders can help repair post-election divisions after Joe Biden’s victory.
And Religion News Service’s Bob Smietana reports that despite Trump’s defeat in the Nov. 3 election, his evangelical fans have few regrets. For bonus coverage from Smietana, see his report on “Shane Vaughn, Mississippi pastor and star of viral ‘if Trump does not concede’ video.”
3. 127-year-old church finally gets its steeple, thanks to great-grandson of founder: Amid a global pandemic and national political discord, I love it when I come across a heartwarming story like this.
Boyd Hubbert of KARE 11 TV in Minneapolis does an excellent job with this sweet tale from an old country church in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
More Top Reads
• Catholics divided as bishops examine Biden’s abortion stance (by David Crary, Associated Press)
• Religious freedom orders give rise to executive order battle (by Tom Gjelten, NPR)
• This firebrand African leader has a surprising message: ‘I am a Jew’ (by Sam Kestenbaum, The Forward)
• ‘We should be thankful to him’: why some Muslim voters stood by Trump (by Erum Salam, The Guardian)
• Ministers struggle under weight of pandemic stress (by Laura Akins, Christian Chronicle)
• Elissa Slotkin braces for a Democratic civil war (by Tim Alberta, Politico)
• Rachel Held Evans’ father on his daughter’s final days and the ongoing impact of her life (by Maina Mwaura, Religion News Service)
Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines
This is your periodic reminder that Adelle M. Banks, the longtime Religion News Service correspondent, is really good at her job and has been for a long time.
Her profile of the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the progressive Georgia pastor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, is a must read, as is her rundown of “Five faith facts about former President Barack Obama’s new book: ‘A Promised Land.’”
Charging Station: In Case You Missed It
Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from Religion Unplugged.
• Multi-faith organizations have unique skills to help migrants integrate (by Cameron Boyle and Julia Szczesna)
• Kenyan churches reopen without kids, causing fear of gap in education (by Diana Mwango)
• Indonesia’s religious affairs minister promotes harmony among the children of Abraham (by Dr. Robert Carle)
• Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks offered modern arguments defending an ancient faith (by Terry Mattingly)
• The religious life of Reality Winner, the Gen Z whistleblower who exposed Russian interference in U.S. elections (by Jillian Cheney)
• Ethiopia’s increasing vulnerability to Islamic extremism and what that means for the Horn of Africa (by Desta Heliso)
• Who's to blame for McCarrick depends on what news sources you read (by Clemente Lisi)
• Exclusive: Hong Kong's Cardinal Zen says Vatican lied about the church in China (by Timothy Nerozzi)
• COVID-19 claims Lindy McDaniel, retired major-league pitcher and longtime preacher (by Bobby Ross Jr.)
• In photos: Celebrating Diwali 2020 during the pandemic (by Alexandra Radu)
The Final Plug
Here’s a new one, via Lee Roop of al.com:
The mayor of a Tennessee county on Alabama’s northern border says COVID-19 cases are increasing there, but he won’t order residents and visitors to wear masks until “the Holy Spirit” moves him to do so.
It isn’t that he’s anti-science, Lincoln County Mayor Bill Newman said today. He’s an Auburn University-trained veterinarian and understands science, he said. “(The virus) is science and it’s true and I do believe masking helps prevent the spread of it,” Newman said. “But I don’t feel I should mandate people wearing masks at this time.”
Why not?
Newman said he’s waiting for guidance from God.
Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.