On Faith and Culture

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

By Jonathan Merritt — June 15, 2023

(RNS) — The fundamentalists have won yet again, but theirs is a Pyrrhic victory.

Can evangelicalism survive its white, straight, conservative victory?

By Jonathan Merritt — May 2, 2023

Southern governors sending migrants north face a crisis of faith

By Jonathan Merritt — September 16, 2022

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.

Al Mohler, Southern Baptist leader, says he was ‘stupid’ to defend slavery in 1998 CNN interview

By Jonathan Merritt — May 15, 2020

(RNS) — The Rev. Al Mohler, longtime Southern Baptist leader, repudiated past comments defending slavery, calling them ‘stupid,’ says he is ashamed of seminary title with a link to slaveholder.

Mohler’s turn to Trump is the crowning flip-flop of his career

By Jonathan Merritt — April 17, 2020

(RNS) — Many, including Mohler’s friends and colleagues, have pointed out that his decision to favor Trump is consistent with a career marked as much by ambition as conviction.

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Jonathan Merritt