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.
‘Nothing Half as Lonesome as the Sound’: The theology of Kris Kristofferson
Many of Kris Kristofferson’s lesser-known compositions depict the intent of God and Christ in prophetic ways. The country music legend lamented that Christ’s endowment of grace, love, compassion, and justice was rejected, certainly by those in power, and to some degree by us all.
Can a robot be a saint? A review of ‘The Wild Robot’
Can a robot be a saint? Put another way, as we enter the AI age, can the intelligence we create achieve holiness?
Everything is connected
“All things are connected, and whatever man does to the web of life, he does to himself.” These are haunting words as we consider the human causes of climate change and wonder what are we doing to ourselves and to our own web?
End of an era: the Oakland A’s and church closings
Both baseball and the Church are more extensive than any one moment, season, or location. They are about people, tradition, and a shared sense of purpose. They call us into their stories of hope, heartbreak, resilience, and renewal.
How many dead children does it take?
Our Lord and Savior Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” (Matthew 19:14) If Jesus has truly freed us, if he is the head of the Body, then Christian individuals and churches must live as if every single child matters. The Jewish child. The American child. The Christian child. The Israeli child. The Muslim child. The Palestinian child.
Revenge is killing us
In today’s world, revenge is killing us. It is killing some much more quickly than others. It kills us, thousands of miles away from a conflict spiritually, making us unwilling collaborators in a genocidal scheme that robs children of their parents, their lives, and a future.
Featured Series
Faith and Politics
Remembering 9/11: A Muslim perspective
When we say, “Never forget,” we must ask: Who are we remembering? Who gets counted as American enough to deserve justice? Until we, as a country, live up to the values of love, unity, and equality that are supposed to bind us together, justice will remain an unfulfilled promise.
Living and listening amid a spiritual crisis
You and I are survivor trees, too. To whom are we giving shade and rest? Where are we planting our roots? To what stars are we stretching out our branches?
Harris’ faith is a game-changer for abortion rights
Harris meets the conversation around abortion where it is most fertile — at the intersection of differing religious communities. It is only through interfaith dialogues that the limiting binary thinking around abortion and faith is interrogated.
What home repairs taught me about Juneteenth
We still have far to go. Juneteenth is a chance to remember our country’s practice trailing its aspirations far too slowly.
What if you have faith in God but not in people?
Civic faith in no way replaces or supplants our faith in God. It surely doesn’t for me. But it is essential for our lives together. After all, if we aim to make a difference in the world, people must be at the center of what we do.
Seven Proverbs that advise who not to vote for
In 2024, we are not electing religious leaders but political leaders. And yet, the Proverbs propose age-old wisdom about what is good and what is not. When you enter the polling booth, favor what is good.
Two Baptists sit down for breakfast
House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries differ widely on many policy issues, but they are both Baptists, the kind that actually go to church. With that common ground, how could they end up so far apart on the issues? I suppose it’s kind of a Baptist thing.
How faith leaders can reclaim their civic role
Amid debates about Christian nationalism, the role of religion in politics, and other religiously charged issues, there is a path forward. A way for faith leaders of all beliefs and doctrines to productively engage in community life beyond their church walls.
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