November 2, 2008
Beyond Tweaking the Code
Jason Rodenbeck challenges Christians to stop trying to tweak worldly systems and instead embody Jesus’ cross-shaped way through mercy, sacrifice, compassion, and faithful witness.
Culture & Public Square helps Christians think biblically about life in society and engage today’s issues with conviction and compassion. Explore articles on current events, ethics, justice, race, technology, public life, and cultural trends—grounded in Scripture and shaped by Christian wisdom. You’ll find guidance for faithful witness, thoughtful dialogue, and making disciples in a complex world, while keeping the gospel at the center. Whether you’re navigating challenging conversations or seeking clarity for ministry and daily life, these resources equip you to live and speak with grace and truth in the public square.
November 2, 2008
Jason Rodenbeck challenges Christians to stop trying to tweak worldly systems and instead embody Jesus’ cross-shaped way through mercy, sacrifice, compassion, and faithful witness.
October 29, 2008
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Christian uneasiness during a presidential election and reminds readers that voting matters, but no candidate can solve the country’s deepest problems.
October 26, 2008
Greg Taylor challenges Christians to see clean water as a matter of basic justice, mission, and compassion for people suffering from preventable waterborne diseases.
August 3, 2008
Rick Chromey explores what churches can learn from Google, Apple, and Facebook about innovation, authentic community, beauty, openness, and faithful engagement with a rapidly changing culture.
August 3, 2008
Jud Wilhite reflects on ministry in Las Vegas and explains why Christians should engage culture through grace, love, and truth rather than judgment, inaction, or superiority.
July 6, 2008
Greg Taylor urges Christians to move beyond sectarian walls and join a wider Restoration Movement marked by justice, mercy, peacemaking, and service to the poor and powerless.
June 25, 2008
Mark A. Taylor reflects on whether “Christian” should be merely a label—or a consuming call that shapes creativity, work, culture, and everyday life.
Robert F. Hull Jr. challenges Christians to move beyond labels, partisan reflexes, and combative discourse by practicing humility, listening well, and learning from people who think differently.
April 13, 2008
Mark Penn says big cultural shifts often begin as small “microtrends.” LeRoy Lawson shares surprising examples and reflects on how small groups can grow into forces powerful enough to shape society.
By Mandy Smith When church historians look back on the 1990s, they”ll undoubtedly refer to the “worship war” years. But what will they call our current age? My guess is that when discussing the first decades of the 21st century, historians will talk about “The God Gap.” The worship war looked like a discussion about instruments and songs, but it really swung on, “How much can we allow culture to affect our church experience and the expression of our faith?” Today, the collision of faith and culture continues in new arenas. And as if faith isn”t a hot enough topic
March 26, 2008
How much of today’s “good behavior” is driven by character—and how much by the fear of being seen? A reflection on YouTube-era visibility, public reputation, and what it means to do good when no one’s watching.
February 6, 2008
Peggy Noonan’s criticism of Mike Huckabee drew passionate letters from supporters who see cultural decay as America’s central crisis. The article argues government can’t fix hearts—and lasting change comes through yielding to God’s Word and Spirit.
December 23, 2007
By Robert Lowery What in the world does Charles Dickens, the 19th-century British author, have to do with the first-century prophet John? I made a connection just the other night after reading Dickens”s short story, A Christmas Carol. The rereading of this classic work intersected with a paper I had graded earlier that evening written by a student in my class on Revelation. The theology of John and Dickens merged late that evening. Most of us are familiar with the characters in the story published in 1843″” Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, and Bob Cratchit and his family, notably Tiny Tim””if
December 5, 2007
A church Christmas pageant blends cultural cheer with the story of Jesus’ birth. Mark A. Taylor reflects on balancing harmless holiday fun with a clear gospel message in a season shaped by commerce.
September 30, 2007
Joe L. Cope shares practical resources for peacemakers seeking reconciliation: three influential books on self-deception, personal choice, and forgiveness, plus two believer-friendly manuals that offer clear, usable methods for mediation and conflict resolution.
September 30, 2007
A long-awaited letter from church elders opens the way toward forgiveness, humility, and restored relationships, showing how the ministry of reconciliation can remake years of pain.
By Patrick Nullens I”ll never forget my first trip to America. After landing in Chicago, I thought, It”s like the movies. I took a cab to a huge hotel. As most tired travelers do, I switched on the cheap television set. That was when I experienced my first cultural shock. A well-dressed woman with giant artificial pink nails was resting her hands on a stack of postcards and praying for sick people. After reading each card, she prayed for each request, one by one. As she prayed eloquently and piously, a number for financial contributions flashed across the bottom of
By Ethan Magness A visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is an unsettling experience. From the outside everything seems so normal. If not for the small line of tourists waiting to get in, it would be indistinguishable from other houses in the beautiful old neighborhood. Cobblestones and a quiet canal belie the dramatic story of good and evil that took place inside the silent building. The house tour leads from the printing shop through the secret door and into the apartment. The furniture is simple and functional. Even the “hiding place” seems comfortable and would have been quite
Mark A. Taylor urges believers to keep patriotism in perspective—honoring country without worshiping it—and to remember we are citizens of another nation, the kingdom of God.
Boulder County’s denial of Rocky Mountain Christian Church’s expansion has become a high-profile test of RLUIPA and First Amendment protections, with federal court scrutiny and significant legal stakes.