I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.
My early education taught me what to think. In high school, I learned how to think. In college, I learned not to think at all. Picture this: someone publishes an op-ed that makes you grind your teeth and create a sizzling jab ready to launch, because you must stand up...
Perseverance in Persecution: The Valentine Legacy
Valentine’s story of protection, preservation, and faithfulness to the end should be a poignant reminder for modern Christians. Tolerance does not mean acceptance when it comes at the expense of Scripture and God’s clear commands. Refusing to accept social tyranny will have real consequences — the Christian should not be surprised at this. Finally, the actions of faithful Christians are not limited to their own community. In some cases, such as Valentine’s, they led to the birth of one the most formidable ideological forces in the Western world. This transformation wasn’t merely architected by grand figures in hubs of social power; sometimes, it was guided by a simple bishop in an evil empire who refused to bow to the forces of evil.
It’s Complicated Between the U.S. and Turkey
Not all allies can be long-term allies. Former years of unified strategy in the War Against Terror era are long gone. Approaching is Turkey’s decoupling from the West. Once considered a valuable ally to the U.S., Turkey no longer represents liberal democratic ideals...
The Power of The Nation State is Falling – and That’s a Good Thing
In such uncertain times, cities promise resiliency. Unhindered by national-level paralysis, cities delve into the creative and pragmatic, forging workable and flexible solutions on their own terms.
Warning Signs: US Family Policy and China’s Tragic Legacy
Though the gruesome history of Chinese family policy sounds unthinkable to Americans, we must be aware of our own trends and fight to protect the dignity of children and families. Our lawmakers, churches, workplaces, and communities need to heed the warnings of a government who tried its hand at playing God and is facing tragic consequences. For the sake of all of us, we must welcome all life.
Patriotism, Race, and the Credit of Love
These are not easy times for Christian patriots—or perhaps for Christians who would like to be patriots, or who simply wonder about patriotism’s moral credentials. The increasing polarization of American politics, which has been growing for some time but became particularly vitriolic following the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, has replaced many of our familiar political debates with a new, central fault line: the significance of the nation and of national culture.
We Need a Just War Theory for Domestic Politics
Domestic politics in the United States have become increasingly warlike. The American public exhibits stark divisions and widespread rancor, and perhaps most tellingly, the metaphor of war is almost omnipresent. Whether through our enlistment in the “war” on the coronavirus or our engagement in the “culture war,” we are a country of battle-hardened veterans.
It Takes a Village to Care for a Boomer
The 2030s are predicted to be a pivotal decade as the U.S. continues to age while population growth declines—by 2034, the U.S. is expected to have more elderly people than children for the first time ever. Policymakers and researchers have long forecasted how this demographic shift will dramatically increase federal outlays for entitlement programs and place additional pressure on the healthcare sector as the retiree population swells.
Taking a Chance on Child Support
Child support policy in the United States reflects a philosophical progression of “deadbeat dad,” “deadbroke dad,” and a trend that emerged within my own research of “disconnected dad.” For this study, I interviewed 20 non-resident fathers in a father-engagement program in Tennessee to understand the commonalities between fathers with successful payment patterns.
