Violence and hypocrisy

When possible, our magazine leads with hope. We like to think about solutions, whether it comes to public policy or church ministry. But sometimes there is no imminent solution to offer, either because we can’t think of one or because there is no discernible will to change among those with power. In times like these, with no easy answer on the horizon, it is still right to speak out against injustice. As beloved essayist Wendell Berry asks, “Can we not speak at least an audible no to the meaningless suffering?”

Berry poses this question in a brand new essay for our October issue. The article, which is long but well worth the read, focuses on Americans’ growing indifference to violence against children, whether in our own classrooms or wars overseas. Below you will find another prophetic complaint: a new column from Peter Marty that unmasks J. D. Vance’s hypocrisy and the damage wreaked by his anti-immigration lies.

Plus scroll down for more great new content, including a reflection on why preaching matters, an exploration of how congregations respond to church decline, a book review about honest prayers from seriously ill people, and more.

Email me: What overlooked problem would you like to see publicly addressed?

Against killing children

“We have become a society of people who cannot prevent our own children from being killed in their classrooms—and who do not much mind the killing of other people’s children by weapons of war.”

by Wendell Berry

Playing to the crowds

“Springfield, Ohio, never asked for the bomb threats, neo-Nazi marches, and hate-filled memes that J. D. Vance’s shameless playacting has brought on.”

by Peter W. Marty

The meaning of a sermon

“The gospel includes nothing less than the liberation of all creation from sin’s power to do violence to God’s goodness in us and around us.”

by Isaac Villegas

In the Lectionary for October 13 (Ordinary 28B)

One of the most underrated spiritual gifts is perseverance.

by Clint Schnekloth

Ordinary 28B archives

Three responses to church decline

“Ministry developments related to livestreaming should prevent us being judgmental about contemporary culture in general or technology in particular, because we’ve learned something about how to harness both for something deeper and richer.”

by Sam Wells

Dear God, you can do better

“Interspersed with the prayers are thoughtful, deeply personal, and sometimes laugh-out-loud reflections on the authors’ own experiences of anxiety, illness, frustration, depression, and—yes—hope.”

LaVonne Neff reviews Elizabeth Felicetti and Samantha Vincent-Alexander