Spiritual Formation Archives

The Necessity of Nearness: A Review of the Documentary “Leap of Faith”

By Kristyn Komarnicki

Love in the midst of discomfort

Love your God, love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets rest on these two commands…

Leap of Faith is a full-length documentary from Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) featuring pastors who commit to meeting for a year to look for a path to unity in the midst of polarized times.

Learning to Love Better

By Dr. Ron Sider

In 2017, I was a participant in a two-day Oriented to Love (OTL) dialogue. These dialogues bring together 12 committed Christians who represent a wide range of views on LGBTQ issues in the church.

The Holy Calling of Wealth Creation Isn’t So Simple

By Ron Sider
At a conference in March 2017, the Lausanne Movement and Business as Mission Global issued the important, helpful, and much-needed Wealth Creation Manifesto. While this manifesto is reflective

I’m Not a Social Activist

By Ron Sider
I’m not a social activist.

I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Savior, and Lord of the universe.
In the inner-city congregation where my family worshiped for more than a decade, the choir often sang a song I still love:

Ron Sider’s Retirement Lecture

By Dr. Ron Sider
Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger started as a sermon at a little Baptist church in Connecticut in 1966. Although the initial response was largely positive, not everyone liked it! One group of critics rushed into print a book with the delightful title: Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt

Ron Sider Reflects on 45 Years of Evangelical Social Action

By Andre Henry
At the time, the thought of dozens of evangelicals, young and old, convening to meet and talk about economic injustice, racism, gender equality, and other social justice issues was unheard of. But that is what happened in Chicago, in 1973. Some of today’s most prominent justice

Benediction for Unity

By Katelyn Durst
It is hard to admit this
because we are kind people
but we wouldn’t know unity from contempt
we wouldn’t know togetherness from war

Jesus Was No Stranger to the Least of These

By Molly Lorden

Jesus spent three years with his disciples, ministering to people, healing the sick, spending time in fellowship with sinners, and preaching the good news. In the last two weeks before his death and resurrection, he showed us where his priorities were.

The Broken Duality of Easter (and Every Day After…)

By Kaitlin B. Curtice

On Easter Sunday, I struggled.

I struggled to know the power of communion as I watched the woman across the room wearing a shirt with dream catchers and feathers all over it.

You Can’t Talk to God Like That

By Alia Joy

I remember reading the book of Ruth as a new Christian, and I came to the verse where Naomi says, “The Lord’s hand has turned against me” (1:13 NIV). I thought, You can’t talk to God like that.

The Old Testament on Justice

By Michael Rhodes
A lot of press has been given over the years to the Old Testament laws regarding the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the alien. In looking recently at the gleaning laws

Good Friday: The Making

By Prasanta Verma
Scattered, broken particles
must be remade
after life on earth snaps,
crushes each bone, sinew,

Notre Dame and the End of Time

By Bonnie O’Neil

I sat glued to the television screen for hours, transfixed by the plumes of fire and smoke rising to the heavens above Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. Grief-stricken, I hung on every word the reporters shared of the potential fate of this sacred space.

A Message for Our Muslim Neighbors

By Kevin Singer and Chris Stackaruk

Evangelical students respond to the Christchurch shootings

On March 15th, a white supremacist carried out a horrific terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 50 and injuring 50 others as they prayed.

On Things I Must Believe

By Aline Mello

There are certain things I have to believe.

I have to believe that God is good. Though it doesn’t always seem like He is. It doesn’t seem like His plans are always good.

How Does Your Church Pursue Justice?

By Adam L. Gustine

I don’t think it comes as a surprise to note that the record on justice is spotty at best for white evangelicals. It has not been part of our normative framework for thinking about the gospel and the mission of the church.

Activists: Resisting Compassion Fatigue

By Ed Cyzewski
As Thomas Merton examined himself and his contributions to the spiritual life, he saw someone who was fragile, in need of God’s help, and still very much determined to share God’s life and peace with others.

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