American Christianity

Anglicanism True And False

by on August 8, 2025 | 2 Comments

Significant numbers of American evangelicals have come to find ancient liturgical forms meaningful, a welcome alternative to the folksy informality typical of many Protestant churches today, especially ‘big-box’ nondenominational congregations. In liturgical churches, these seekers find a stronger historical consciousness and a . . . Continue reading →

When Community Isn’t

by on July 16, 2025 | 5 Comments
cut out paper men

The contemporary use of the word community has troubled me for some time. I could not put my finger on it until today. It came to me during a drive across the vast wasteland that is Nevada. People routinely speak about the . . . Continue reading →

PCA GA 2025: Quiet Interrupted By Power Struggles

by on June 27, 2025

As the GA adjourned, similar to other denominations, the power struggle between high-level leaders and many other presbyters would continue. Both of those stake-holders felt significant ownership, and the clashes were not always pretty, much less resolved well. However, some leadership changes . . . Continue reading →

Toward A Confessional CRC: Synod 2025

by on June 25, 2025 | 5 Comments
crc synod 2025

The 2025 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) met from June 13–19 at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. The 49 Classes of the denomination sent 176 delegates to deliberate on important matters of the church. The headline . . . Continue reading →

Review: Swing Low: A History of Black Christianity in the United States By Walter R. Strickland

by on March 13, 2025 | 1 Comment

The earliest church experience I remember was in my hometown of Shreveport, LA. My mother made sure my brothers and I were dressed in our “Sunday best,” then loaded us into the car and drove us to a small white church building that could not have held more than sixty people. Continue reading →

Of Militants And Moderates

by on March 7, 2025 | 17 Comments

Darryl Hart (as always) has a provocative (in the best sense) article at Old Life.1 His use of the categories “militants” and “moderates” is very useful and helpful. To anticipate a criticism: yes, Reformed people can sometimes be jerks.2 Neither Darryl nor . . . Continue reading →

The Crystal Cathedral Isn’t What It Used To Be

by on November 15, 2024 | 19 Comments

Editor’s note: Since this essay was first published, the Crystal Cathedral really isn’t what it used to be. In 2019 it became Christ Cathedral, the seat of the bishop of Orange. § Christianity Today reports that the Crystal Cathedral is experiencing a . . . Continue reading →