Derek Flood

Is homosexuality a sin? It's an age-old question, and there are people on both sides of the debate, each quoting their Bibles. How do we know who's right? What would Jesus do if he were here with us today? Jesus never said anything about homosexuality, so can we really say?

The viral video Kony 2012 is nearing 80 million hits on YouTube. The video is an emotionally moving and compelling plea to stop Joseph Kony of the LRA, who is responsible for abducting and brutalizing children, turning them into child soldiers and sex slaves. The video itself, and...

Hearing about the injustice and suffering in our world can be overwhelming. The problems seem so insurmountable. Is it really possible to make a difference? Well, here's some good news. We already are making a big difference.

Consider these statistics cited by Dr. Scott Todd from

I believe in a rebel God. A subversive system. A dissident discipleship.

Now, I don't know about you, but where I live, most folks who hear that I am a Christian immediately associate this with a religion characterized by people known for judgmentalism rather than compassion, for upholding a "moral"...

Editor's Note: Don't miss the video at the bottom of this piece!

Well, it's that time of year when Fox drums up outrage about the alleged "war on Christmas." This time around they are declaring victory because as they report,

"Walgreens is the latest store to return to...

There are many unsettling passages in the Bible. Consider these two verses that you will probably never hear read from the pulpit on a Sunday morning:

"This is what the Lord Almighty says ... attack the Amalekites ... Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children...

Grace is not fair. Fairness means treating people as they deserve. Grace means treating people better than they deserve. Grace, after all, means unmerited kindness. Because of this, theologians have traditionally spoken of a conflict between justice and grace. In this way of thinking, justice is about there being consequences...

Over the years I have been increasingly troubled by the doctrine of Hell. As my love for God and my neighbor increased, the horror at the thought of many of those I love suffering eternal punishment increased with it. In other words, this was not a crisis of faith, it...

When you stop for a moment and think of the millions upon millions of people who have endured unspeakable suffering due to famine, war and disaster, it simply staggers the imagination. Where is God in that? As Arthur Custance writes,

"At such times, thoughtful men do not become...

"A personal relationship with God." It's a phrase you've probably heard before if you've spent any time around church folks. Many would say it captures the very heart of what it means to be a Christian, and I agree. There are a lot of Christians, however, who have a problem...

Stories play a profound role in our lives. They are how we make sense of our experiences and organize our memories. Stories are how we tell people about our day, what we hear on the news and even what we dream at night. That's probably why story is our most...

Christianity has a long history of incorporating art into its liturgy and worship. Some classic examples of this are cathedral architecture with its soaring towers and stained glass windows, the religious paintings of artists like Michelangelo and Rembrandt, and of course hymns and classical music. Of course there are modern...