On Faith and Culture

Conservative Christians just lost their scholarly trump card on same-sex relationships

By Jonathan Merritt — April 8, 2024

(RNS) — Theologian Richard Hays' reversal comes at a bad time for those who oppose accepting LGBTQ Christians.

Faith does not live by answers alone

By Jonathan Merritt — November 14, 2023

Southern Baptists rid themselves of women pastors, their latest self-inflicted wound

By Jonathan Merritt — June 15, 2023

Can evangelicalism survive its white, straight, conservative victory?

By Jonathan Merritt — May 2, 2023

(RNS) — A new history of evangelicalism recounts the damage of the movement’s repeated purges.

Southern governors sending migrants north face a crisis of faith

By Jonathan Merritt — September 16, 2022

(RNS) — It’s getting harder for a politician to adhere to Christian morals and get elected president.

John MacArthur and the dangers of biblical literalism

By Jonathan Merritt — July 19, 2022

(RNS) — Christians must accept that the only way to take the Bible seriously is to stop taking every word literally.

Southern Baptists’ abuse report is no call for reform. It’s a repudiation of the past 40 years.

By Jonathan Merritt — May 23, 2022

(RNS) — Scapegoating a handful of leaders won’t bring the transformation the SBC needs.

My own personal Jesus: Can he be trusted?

By Jonathan Merritt — June 24, 2021

(RNS) — In a new book, Diana Butler Bass says our understanding of Jesus needs to be informed by personal experience.

Albert Mohler’s darkest hour

By Jonathan Merritt — June 18, 2021

(RNS) — In his bid to lead America’s largest denomination, he was his own worst enemy.

Eugene Peterson authorized biography backs up that ‘yes’ on LGBTQ inclusion

By Jonathan Merritt — March 15, 2021

(RNS) — When Peterson died in 2018, many wondered what he actually thought about same-sex relationships.

Biden’s first 100 days: What’s not for evangelicals to like?

By Jonathan Merritt — January 25, 2021

(RNS) — Biden’s agenda for his first 100 days shares many concerns championed by white evangelicals.

Liberty University football team realizes Falwell’s winning vision, but at what cost?

By Jonathan Merritt — November 20, 2020

(RNS) — Liberty is one of three teams in the running for the NCAA's top tier playoffs.

It’s time to rescue the ‘pro-life’ label from anti-abortion activists

By Jonathan Merritt — November 2, 2020

(RNS) — The 'pro-life' term was once a moral call to arms, but it has become a mere political checkbox.

How will the post-pandemic church pay the bills?

By Jonathan Merritt — October 13, 2020

(RNS) — The pandemic may accelerate a long-term decline in congregational giving and force churches to develop new sources of revenue to survive.

Evangelicals perfected cancel culture. Now it’s coming for them.

By Jonathan Merritt — June 17, 2020

(RNS) — One Alabama megachurch preacher is experiencing a cautionary tale about a central spiritual idea: What goes around comes around.

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Jonathan Merritt