Economic Justice Archives

Whose Side Is Jesus On? Faith, War, and the Danger of Nationalism

By Scott Bessenecker

(Editor’s note: At the time of this writing, rhetoric around a potential U.S. escalation with Iran has intensified, with language that frames overwhelming military force as decisive and necessary. In moments like this — when calls for power grow louder and the stakes feel existential — Christians are again faced with an old and urgent question: What does faithfulness to Jesus require of us?)

Imagine Christians in one country believing it was their biblical duty to fight in a war against Christians of another country.

An Open Letter to My White, Conservative, Evangelical Mom

By Shannon Casey
Dear Mom,
Since I am a millennial, you probably weren’t surprised when I jumped on the #NeverTrump bandwagon. However, I know you also worried when that bandwagon carried me away from you and your beliefs.

Advent Revolutions

By Elrena Evans

“What’s your Christmas revolution?” My 10-year-old called from the back seat on the way to school.

“What?” I said.

“You know, revolutions,” he said. “Like New Year’s revolutions.

The Kingdom Family

By Tim Otto

Jesus’ own life and teachings underscore that marriage and family now take a back seat to the universal proclamation of God’s salvation and the formation of a new “first family”—a world-wide kingdom-building company, in which membership depends not at all on bloodlines, but on faith in the Messiah.

Repair, Reconciliation, Restoration

By Amy Knorr
Each year, my maple tree burns achingly bright in the backyard. A few weeks ago, that maple shone in the grey drizzle of the morning after. I needed that bright light in the midst of grey.

Turkey Talk: Christians and the Thanksgiving Meal

What kind of life do factory-farmed turkeys lead before they reach the Thanksgiving table?

After the Election

By Benjamin Capps
If you’re anything like me, this past election season felt like an assault on my sense of humanity. The constant fact checking, the chaotic social media culture, and the twenty-four hour news cycle barraged my senses and left me feeling disheveled, beaten down, and tired.

Racial Justice Institute at Eastern University

By Micky ScottBey Jones
On November 5, 2016, the Racial Justice Institute came to Eastern University. It was a full day of exploring the story of race in the United States, and in the lives of the participants.

1001 Ways to Die in America

By Jim Baton
As a peacemaker who intentionally brings Muslims and Christians together with the goal of authentic friendship, I’ve been criticized for not treating the threat of a Muslim terrorist sneaking into the US by posing as a refugee as real.

Don't Display Your Solidarity, Express It!

By Sung Yeon Choimorrow
This is not a piece about Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), and the water protectors. This is a reflection to expand upon the narrative of what happened during the clergy action visit to Standing Rock on November 3rd, 2016.

My 3 AM Confession and Repentance

By Leslie Leyland Fields
We have a new president. We have much work ahead of us as a nation, as a Church. We will not move forward without looking behind. May these words of confession bring healing to us all.

President-Elect Trump: A Response from CSA

By Ron Sider

What does Christians for Social Action have to say about President-elect Trump?

First, we treasure American democracy and its precious history of peaceful transition of political power. And therefore we pledge to pray for President-elect Trump, and we will work with him whenever our principles align.

Now What?

By Elrena Evans

The 2016 presidential election is over. Donald Trump is president-elect of the United States of America.

Regardless of how you voted, there’s little doubt that this election was unlike anything we’ve recently seen.

I’m Pro-Life, And I Don’t Care About the Supreme Court

By Matthew Tyson

As a pro-life advocate, I honestly don’t care a bit about who is on the Supreme Court.

I want to repeat that for the sake of clarity.

When it comes to abortion, I do not care if the SCOTUS leans more to the left or to the right.

Boys and Friends of the Congolese Earth

By Rita Chapman
Every summer vacation at Kikongo, packs of bored little boys run through the grasslands and forests, looking for ways to amuse themselves. Their days are filled setting traps for rats, birds, and squirrels, or chopping down saplings for small construction projects.

Preaching and Politics

By David Albert Farmer
Every preacher must ask herself or himself with some frequency (weekly?), “What is my primary allegiance?” If one’s greatest allegiance is job security, well, honesty is good for the soul if not for sound sleep.

Fear Itself

By Jon Carlson
“Fear is the beginning of despair even as hope is the beginning of daring.”
– Thomas Aquinas
How often have you felt despair this election season? A little pessimism here, some cynicism there… taken together, it adds up to despair, causing us to wonder how (or even whether) things could ever get better.

Online Articles