The theology of US politics

Most of our essays are a long time in development. We encourage thoughtful reflection on important topics, so most of our feature articles have been worked on for months before they appear in our pages.

But sometimes a piece comes in to us and feels suited for the very moment we receive it, and we decide to publish it to our website as soon as possible. We don’t even know if these articles will appear in our print magazine; we just know we want to get them to readers right away. This week we have two remarkable essays of this type. Brandon Ambrosino thinks about the goal to “make America great again” and wonders what greatness means to God. Mac Loftin draws upon the theology of William Stringfellow to identify the demonic institutions crushing people’s spirits.

Plus scroll down for more great new content, including an essay about God’s maternal love, a book review about the spiritual power of community organizing, a column about ministry narratives beyond clergy burnout, and more.

Does God want America to be great?

“If a politician is going to be a Christian, and if he is going to talk about the Christian God, and if his supporters are going to claim that the Christian God is using said politician to make the country great, well then I have a very basic expectation of him and them—that they talk like people who follow (or at the very least are familiar with) Jesus.”

by Brandon Ambrosino

Political demons

“The combination of political radicalism and biblical Christianity makes William Stringfellow a strange but refreshing voice today, when Christian nationalism is ascendant and the liberal opposition has quit the stage.”

by Mac Loftin

God’s maternal love

“Does God feel the aching desire I felt, to nourish children who persist in baffling self-sabotage? Is God patient when we fumble and thrilled when we latch on?”

by Debie Thomas

In the Lectionary for February 16 (Epiphany 6C)

I want to be surprised by God, even if that surprise might scare the bejesus out of me.

Epiphany 6C archives

The religious practice of community organizing

“I especially appreciate Aaron Stauffer’s designation of broad-based community organizations as ‘counterpublics’ which have the potential to stand as an alternative to the current political morass and the capitalist takeover of everything.”

review by Clint Schnekloth

The privilege of ministry

“Clergy burnout talk can be as exhausting as some pastors are tired. It’s a kind of rhetoric that can obscure the joy that deserves to be at the heart of this human-facing vocation.”

by Peter W. Marty