05Aug 2026 by Post

I’m Not a Christian Nationalist—I’m an American Nationalist Because I Follow Jesus

Apologetics, Christian Nationalism, Christianity, Church & State, FreeThinkingMInistries, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Politics, Religious Freedom, Theocracy, Tim Stratton
Over the past several years, one of the most controversial phrases in American politics has been Christian Nationalism. Depending on who you ask, the term now refers to everything from patriotism to theocracy, to racism, to authoritarianism, to simply displaying an American flag in church. The phrase has become so elastic that it often communicates more confusion than clarity. For that reason, I have largely stopped using it. So, let me be clear. No, I am not a Christian Nationalist. I am an American Nationalist precisely because I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ. At first glance, that may sound contradictory. It isn’t. Words Matter Years ago, I defended what I understood “Christian Nationalism” to mean. At the time, I argued that if the phrase simply meant affirming America’s…
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29Jul 2026 by Post

The Coming Battle for America’s Soul

Apologetics, Christian Conservative, Christianity, Democratic Socialism, FreeThinkingMInistries, Gospel, John Ferrer, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Political Commentary, Political Theology, Politics
[Editor’s Note: I wrote the following post on social media, and it was picked up by Tim Stratton at FreeThinkingMinistries.com. The opening section, below, has been added to clarify how this kind of political commentary bears upon Christian theology and apologetics.] A Brief Theology of Politics     You’re about to hear a rant on Democratic Socialism. So, I want you to hear the heart behind that rant first. As a Christian, I care about people. Caring about people, I have to care about politics, at least insofar as it affects people. I want people to follow Christ. I want to see marriages restored, families healed, within thriving communities, and a flourishing society. All of that, for me, stems from the humanitarian heart of Christ’s life and teaching. And bringing my Christian…
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22Jul 2026 by Post

Nine Clarifications Before Critiquing Old Testament Slavery

Apologetics, Christianity, Gospel, Is God Good? Biblical Ethics, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Old Testament, Sean Redfearn, slavery, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Slavery in the Old Testament is a favourite topic among critics who wish to denigrate the moral character of the God of Israel. In my experience, critics will predominantly cite Exodus 21:20-21 or Leviticus 25:44-46 to appeal to a notion of horrendous oppression towards foreign slaves within the nation of ancient Israel – even though there are, by my count, at least 20 other passages in the Torah that are relevant to having a well-informed conversation on the topic. Still, the above two passages need to be engaged with, and I refer readers to a host of excellent resources that respond to the claim that the Old Testament endorses chattel slavery.[1] What do you mean by Old Testament slavery? In this article, I wish to propose a simple tactic for…
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15Jul 2026 by Post

Who Do You Say That I Am, James Talarico? Part II: Luke 1:31–38 Is Not About Mary’s Consent To Create

abortion, Apologetics, Christianity, consent, Democrat Party, Gospel, James Talarico, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Mother Mary, Progressive Christianity, Ryan Crews, Texas Politics, virgin birth
Series Introduction: James Talarico is not the first politician to invoke the Christian faith or the Bible to score political points. He is, however, the first I am aware of who has been enrolled in seminary while running for office. Talarico is certainly popular among prospective voters, but he has received significant scrutiny from pastors and academics because of his theological statements. He may be a faithful representative of his denomination, but he has brought the views of that denomination into the limelight due to the widespread publicity of his senatorial race. We do not elect political candidates for their religious beliefs, though we may have reason to support or oppose a candidate when their religious beliefs affect their policy positions. Talarico is a politician and not a pastor, and…
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01Jul 2026 by Post

You Don’t Have the Freedom of Religion in America

1st Amendment, America, Apologetics, Christianity, civil rights, freedom of religion, FreeThinkingMInistries, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, separation of church and state, Tim Stratton
At first glance, that title sounds absurd. Of course we have freedom of religion in the United States—it’s one of our most cherished rights. But if by “freedom of religion” we mean the unlimited right to believe and do anything whatsoever in the name of religion, then the truth is simple: you do not have that freedom in America—and you never have. The question is not whether religious freedom exists, but what it actually means—and where its limits must be drawn. The United States of America offers one of the most robust protections of religious liberty in human history. Citizens are free to worship—or not worship—according to the dictates of conscience. This freedom is deeply embedded in the American experiment and is often rightly celebrated as one of our most cherished rights.…
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08Jun 2026 by Post

Abortion Versus Sacrificial Living

abortion, Apologetics, Christianity, Gospel, John Ferrer, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Matthew 16:24-25, pro-choice, pro-life, Take up your cross, www.AbortionMuseum.org
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” Matthew 16:24-25, NASB Abortion isn’t just a surgical procedure. It’s not just an action, a choice, or a policy. It’s also a culture. Abortion-choice culture is a range of institutions and actions driven by a specific set of ideas about women, sex, motherhood, children, family, and liberty. Somewhere packed inside that culture is a set of expectations about what “normal” women and families should be like. Revolutionary Motherhood   Rachel Jankovic, a mother of seven children, is decidedly abnormal. She writes: “Everywhere you go, people want to…
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01Jun 2026 by Post

When “Too Christian” Becomes a Metric: A Case Study in Academic Double Standards

academia, anti-Christian bias, Apologetics, Christianity, DrOwenAnderson.substack.com, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Owen Anderson, performance review, persecution
Although I am a tenured full professor of philosophy at ASU, I am still required to complete an annual review of my work each year (as the name suggests). At most universities, faculty evaluations are supposed to be straightforward. At Arizona State University, where I teach, we use an objective rubric. Faculty are evaluated annually in three categories: research, teaching, and service. Each activity earns points, and those points correspond to a score from 1 to 5. A 3 means you met expectations. A 1 or 2 means you’ll need to draw up a plan for change with the school’s director and then prove you succeeded in the next annual review. A 4 means you exceeded expectations and a 5 means you achieved excellence. It is very nice to have…
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18May 2026 by Post

Why Is ASU’s New College Requiring Confessional Rituals?

anti-Christian, Anti-western, Apologetics, Christianity, Decolonization, DrOwenAnderson.substack.com, Land Acknowledgment, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, liberalism, Marxism, Native Americans, Owen Anderson, Progressivism, Woke
At Arizona State University’s New College (where I serve as a tenured full professor of philosophy and religion) the faculty recently voted to make a Native American Land Acknowledgment the official college policy. Until now, these statements were read at the beginning of faculty meetings. At times, faculty were even asked to bow their heads and close their eyes during the reading. What was once a practice has now become policy. That should raise an obvious question: Why is a state university (supposedly committed to political neutrality) requiring what looks very much like a public confession? What Is Actually Being Claimed?           The justification provided by the college reads: “Therefore, be it resolved, the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences adopts the official land acknowledgment of Arizona State University in…
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16Mar 2026 by Post

Is Christ the Center of Your Social Media Message?

Apologetics, Christianity, Gospel, HeavenNotHarvard.com, Internet Apologetics, Jennifer Defrates, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Online Evangelism, Social media
Social media can be one of the darkest places in the world. People comment with cruel disregard for whoever is on the other side of the screen. Yet, Christians have a responsibility to be the light of Christ in everything, including our social media message. Twenty years ago, many of us couldn’t imagine social media existing much less consuming large portions of our lives. But, it has become how most people get news and interact with the global community on a daily basis. I don’t know the exact statistics, but most people check social media first thing each morning. On June 30, 2010 people celebrated the first World Social Media Day, which is around the time I joined the ranks of smart phone users and began to dip my toe…
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11Mar 2026 by Post

Why the Sheer Persistence of Antisemitism Seems Unnatural

Abrahamic Covenant, Antisemitism, Antizionism, Apologetics, Christianity, echabot.substack.com, EricChabot, Gospel, Islam, Israel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Middle East, Spiritual Warfare, Zionism
One thing is certain: antisemitism—indeed, outright Jew-hatred—is not merely an ancient problem. It remains disturbingly prevalent and resilient today. From Pharaoh and Haman in the biblical narrative, to the exiles under oppressive empires, through medieval Europe with its deicide charges (blaming Jews for the death of Jesus), blood libels, and well-poisoning myths, antisemitism has taken many forms. It appeared in pagan Rome, medieval Christendom, and in various Islamic contexts. We have seen economic scapegoating, ghettos, expulsions, and later racialized antisemitism under Nazism, followed by conspiracy theories and, in our own day, a viscous anti-Zionism and what Matt Walsh has called “Jew Derangement Syndrome.” The more I observe debates about Israel online—I see some of the most vile and hateful rhetoric imaginable—along with antisemitic attacks across the world. The sheer excess…
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