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.
Ash Wednesday can help us think about mortality
Ash Wednesday reminds me where I’m going every year, and it makes me ponder where I am right now and whether I’m making the most of the time I have before me.
Ash Wednesday: A countercultural expression of our faith
We work so hard to rid our homes and places we frequent of any dust we can find. But here in a countercultural moment of clarity, the Church seeks to remind us that we are the thing we wish to remove from our lives. We are made of dust.
Ramadan: A month of peace, tranquility, and spiritual rejuvenation
Across Abrahamic faiths, fasting serves as a bridge — uniting believers in their pursuit of self-discipline, gratitude, and devotion. It is a shared human experience that transcends religious boundaries, emphasizing our collective yearning for spiritual growth and inner peace.
Weekly religion news roundup (February 21-27, 2025)
Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.
Spiritual formation that disturbs you
“May the Spirit of God disturb you” sounds like a bit of ire at first. Perhaps it is the word of blessing we need most.
Harvard adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism is a harbinger of what’s to come
We should see this move for what it really is: a nakedly opportunistic attempt to advance an authoritarian agenda and restrict our First Amendment rights.
Featured Series
Faith and Politics
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.
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.
Choose political neutrality
As faith leaders today, consider a bold venture in the murkiness of political neutrality. Hide away political beliefs in holistic deference to Jesus Christ. Why? Faith leaders know the truth: ballots are temporary, but Jesus is eternal.
She had the dream: the freedom faith of Prathia Hall
Hall’s freedom faith — the belief that God wants everyone to be free and equips and sustains those who work for freedom — was the central idea of her womanist vision.
The “unbought and unbossed” stateswoman who was a catalyst of change
Speaking up for the oppressed, like Shirley Chisholm did, is following in the footsteps of Jesus: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25:40)
Making peace: remarks at the Faith in Democracy Interfaith Vigil at the US Capitol
Three years following the horrific events of January 6, 2021, we are still grappling with the uncertainty of our survivability and sustainability as a democracy. We are also asking: what is the prescription going forward for curing our inflamed divisions and unresolved conflicts?
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