Lent: Living Water And The Purification Of Sins

(OPINION) Michael Metzger writes about the relationship of Jesus' offering of the living water for purification from sin and redemption in the Lenten season.

OpinionMichael MetzgerApril 5, 2022easter, Lent, Michael metzger, Jesus Christ, Michael Metzger, Mike MetzgerComment

Pope Francis’ Visit To Malta Highlights The Role Of St. George Preca, An Advocate For Teaching The Gospel

(OPINION) Pope Francis’ two-day visit to the tiny European country of Malta, a strongly Catholic island just south of Sicily, in April put a spotlight on Malta’s complicated history and important contemporary concerns. Chief among these is the sharp increase in the number of asylum-seekers from Africa and the Middle East, and criticism of how Malta has treated them.

OpinionJoanne M. PierceApril 4, 2022Joanne M. Pierce, Malta, Pope Francis in Malta, Pope FrancisComment

Just Say No: The Four-Letter Word Religion Writers Really Want To Avoid

This week’s Weekend Plug-in reflects on debate over the use of the term “cult” in religion news stories. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Repentance And Preparation In Lent As The Bride Of Christ

(OPINION) Michael Metzger analyzes the interpretation of the church as Christ's bride from the perspective of Jade Studdock's story, "Did we make Jesus' payment for sin the main thing on the cross?"

OpinionMichael MetzgerApril 1, 2022Lent, Jane Studdock, Christ, Easter, Michael Metzger, Mike MetzgerComment

This Is Still A Question That Scholars Debate: Why Did Early Christianity Rise So Rapidly?

(OPINION) New religions appear all the time — nowhere more than in the United States — but very few ever achieve prominence and permanence. Christianity is a rare and dramatic case of a faith that triumphed.

OpinionRichard OstlingMarch 31, 2022Richard Ostling, Rodney Stark, Baylor, Early Church, 12 Apostles, Apostolic Era, Paganism, MediterraneanComment

Pope Francis Tells Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, ‘Wars Are Always Unjust’

(OPINION) As Russia’s invasion sought to erase Ukraine from the map, Moscow’s Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, a key ally of dictator Vladimir Putin, met via video last week with Pope Francis. In the meeting, Francis said Christians should never justify war: “Wars are always unjust, since it is the people of God who pay.”

The Samaritan Woman And Her Encounter With Jesus

(OPINION) In his third text on the meaning of Lent, Michael Metzger connects the church as the bride of Christ to his encounter with the Samaritan woman.

OpinionMichael MetzgerMarch 29, 2022Michael metzger, Lent, Easter, Michael MetzgerComment

Why The Future Of The World’s Largest Religion Is Female — And African

(OPINION) Women make up the majority of Christians today. One of the most common refrains about the church in Africa is that it is majority female. But more precise data about African women’s contributions and religious identities is lacking.

As Black And Latino Churches Grow, Southern Baptists Look To Heal Racial Divides

(OPINION) Years after Martin Luther King Jr., Southern Baptists are still divided based on skin color within the church. The Rev. Fred Luter says, "This is spiritual warfare of the enemy. ... As blood-washed, born-again, baptized believers in Jesus Christ, (we must) come together, realizing that the separation we have because of our skin color is an attack of the enemy."

St. Peter’s March Madness Miracle Run Ends, But They Will Forever Be Remembered

(OPINION) St. Peter’s crashed out of the NCAA Tournament following a defeat to No. 8 North Carolina — but they will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Cinderella teams at the men’s basketball tournament. The Catholic school had made history on Friday, downing Purdue to become the first No. 15 seed in tournament history to advance to the Elite 8.

#RNA2022: Nation's Religion Writers Convene — In Person — For Annual Conference

This week’s Weekend Plug-in comes to you from Bethesda, Maryland, site of the Religion News Association’s 2022 annual meeting. As always, Plug-in highlights the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

While Ukrainian Violence Dominates The News, The Silent Slaughter Of Nigerian Christians Continues

(OPINION) For weeks, a shocked world has been transfixed by Russia’s murderous invasion of Ukraine. Yet, at the same time in another part of the world, brutal violence against similar innocents has not only continued for years but has dramatically increased in the past few months.

Press Uses Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Catholicism Against Him On Social Issues

(OPINION) A hero to the right and bogeyman to the left, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis has received plenty of mainstream news coverage because of his use of so-called culture war issues to push legislation. But while the Catholicism of President Joe Biden is lauded in some media circles and debated in others, DeSantis’ faith is hardly mentioned.

Beyond The Orthodox Questions: How Might The Ukraine War Scramble World Christianity?

(OPINION) Russia's invasion of Ukraine has potential to be "the most transformational" European conflict since World War II. Will it be transformational for Christianity?

Why Is Russia’s Church Backing Putin’s War? Church-State History Gives A Clue

(OPINION) Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church has defended Russia’s actions and blamed the conflict on the West.

Finding The Main Thing — The Central Metaphor — Of The Gospel Story

(OPINION) Is the church the bride of Christ? What does this mean? Michael Metzger makes a connection between the Gettysburg Address and the salvation meaning of Jesus' birth.

OpinionMichael MetzgerMarch 21, 2022Michael Metzger, Clapham Institute, Abraham Lincoln, Gospel, Christianity, Jesus, Mike MetzgerComment

Why News Of Sexual Harassment Inside Christianity Today Is Doubly Shocking

This week’s Weekend Plug-in explains why news of sexual harassment inside Christianity Today magazine was so shocking. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Is The Southern Baptist Convention Preparing To Fight Its 1979 All Over Again?

(OPINION) Once upon a time, Southern Baptists in Bible Belt communities knew how to talk to people who didn’t go to church. Things changed as the greater Greenville-Spartanburg are welcomed waves of high-tech firms and industries with global brands such as BMW, Bosch and many others. Today’s newcomers speak German or Japanese.

The Latest United Methodist Bombshell Will Create News Throughout 2022 And Beyond

(OPINION) In this, the 50th anniversary year of the 12.9 million-member United Methodist Church’s fierce debate over the Bible and sexuality, a late summer General Conference was set to settle how to split. But a March 3 bombshell announcement canceled this all-important meeting, already postponed twice due to COVID-19.

What Is ‘Christian Nationalism’ And Is It Connected to the Jan. 6 Insurrection?

(OPINION) The latest bid to shape public perceptions of the concept of Christian nationalism is a 63-page “Report on Christian Nationalism and the January 6 Insurrection,” issued last month by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

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