Justice. Mercy. Faith.
Through The Christian Citizen, we seek to shape a mind among American Baptists and others on matters of public concern by providing a forum for diverse voices living and working at the intersection of faith and politics, discipleship and citizenship.
‘If thou shalt confess’: A nonbinary testimony of faith
Why should persons like myself who have received the same gift of saving faith – who pray, read the Bible, come to worship and who are active members in religious and civil society – why should we be condemned by some of our kin in the Church and by fellow citizens in our nation?
The remarkable, less told story of ‘The Six Triple Eight’
How do we tell a fuller swath of history to the next generation, without falling into the habit of downsizing U.S. history into ever simplified narratives around heroism and achievement? What happens when those in power and dominant places in culture and politics become allergic to or threatened by the desire to respect history with nuance and complexity?
Building an intergenerational church
Building an intergenerational church requires a shift in mindset. It requires a commitment to creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of age, feels they have a place and a voice.
Journey with Jesus through Black history
Just as Luke felt compelled to offer a trustworthy narrative of his experience with Christ, so did Carter G. Woodson as it related to the rich history of African Americans.
Dismantling U.S. foreign aid hurts Americans – and the world
In a globalized world where a disease outbreak in one country can turn into a pandemic, where natural disasters, conflicts, and the people displaced by them cross borders, does withdrawing U.S. aid and collaboration with other nations in addressing these risks make America safer? Does reneging on commitments we have already made to other nations, damaging trust and credibility in the United States abroad, make us stronger? Does abruptly cutting thousands of American jobs related to international aid make America more prosperous?
Predisposed to forgive
Perhaps the Amish are unique in their inclination to be predisposed to forgiveness. And yet, their examples cause us to reexamine our beliefs about forgiveness.
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Faith and Politics
Dismantling U.S. foreign aid hurts Americans – and the world
In a globalized world where a disease outbreak in one country can turn into a pandemic, where natural disasters, conflicts, and the people displaced by them cross borders, does withdrawing U.S. aid and collaboration with other nations in addressing these risks make America safer? Does reneging on commitments we have already made to other nations, damaging trust and credibility in the United States abroad, make us stronger? Does abruptly cutting thousands of American jobs related to international aid make America more prosperous?
Who do you believe deserves all the rights and privileges of American citizenship?
Who do you believe deserves all the rights and privileges of American citizenship? Who do you think should be able to “secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity”? The future of the United States of America hangs on how the majority of its citizens answer these two questions.
Two different kinds of men
Some analysts claim that without the support of Baptists and other evangelicals, neither Donald Trump nor Jimmy Carter would have ever lived in the White House. They have that in common but in almost every other way, they are very different.
Cruelty is coming. Brush up on nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance is about peacefully but decidedly disrupting oppressive tactics. Although it sometimes puts the person engaged in it at risk of things like arrest or violence themselves, when done well, it uses creativity, self-sacrifice, and solidarity to affirm the humanity of the vulnerable.
Jimmy Carter was there when my congregation needed him: Remembering a president
President Carter knew that those who lack housing or food are not merely political pawns, but the real presence of God in our midst. What we do, or don’t do, to serve them reveals everything about what we value in our world and in our congregations.
Today I ask you to choose faith
What we really need is faith. Faith in that arc and its bending, faith that what we do counts for something, faith that we can be the friends that God needs now.
Our church signs need work
Planet Fitness, the real-life Average Joe’s, come-as-you-are establishment, beat every church sign I knew with its slogan, The World Judges, We Don’t.
What then shall we say? A Christian response to election anxiety
In this moment, all eyes rest on this moment in our history. It’s my hope that we are both worthy of that weight and can show the rest of the country that we can hold all this in tension for the sake of something better.
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Christian Citizen AmbassadorsAt The Christian Citizen, we’re passionate about justice, mercy, and faith. We produce award-winning content that is provocative, timely, and relevant. What started more than 25 years ago as a print publication is now a digital-first publication that maintains a commitment to print. More recently, we’ve added a weekly e-newsletter, podcast, and a growing presence on social media. Now, for the first time, we’re adding a member support program—Christian Citizen Ambassadors!
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