Nov 19, 2021A Family SongYears ago, I helped teach an adult Sunday School class on the Apostles’ Creed. I shared this story that has been passed down in my family. Here is a lightly edited transcript of the story. I want to begin this class with a story about a family song. Some of…Christianity3 min read
Nov 1, 2021When Presbyterian Congregations Owned Enslaved PeopleIt is already a well-researched fact that Presbyterians in the United States individually owned enslaved people. What people may not know is that Presbyterian congregations as a body would also regularly own enslaved people, lease them out to others, and use these profits in order to fund endowments, pastors’ salaries…Slavery5 min read
Oct 26, 2021A Proposal for Christian Anti-Racism in the PCAIn the summer of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, I witnessed several churches in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), my own denomination, post statements of their support of anti-racism, provide suggested reading lists of anti-racist books, and even preach sermons on the Christian work of anti-racism. …Christianity2 min read
Oct 24, 2021Double EducationA few days ago, I shared a screenshot from a syllabus from my seminary education at Westminster Seminary California on social media. The purpose of the post was to talk about how in predominantly White Evangelical and Reformed institutions, engaging with non-White male theologians was often framed polemically. …Christianity4 min read
Aug 1, 2021The “New Definition” of “White Supremacy” is Actually the Original DefinitionI’ve heard people bemoan the fact that the “definition of ‘white supremacy’ has been changed recently.” This can’t be further from the truth. In fact, “white supremacy,” both as a concept and as a term was likely coined by those who racialized themselves as White. For example, John H. Van…White Supremacy2 min read
Jul 16, 2021A Heavy YokeReformed and Evangelical Christians hold gay/same-sex attracted Christians to an untenable and unbiblical standard of sanctification. They place a yoke on gay/same-sex attracted Christians that they would not place on their own necks. A History Lesson About Sanctification Historically, the Reformation confessions of faith, while affirming the reality and necessity…Same Sex Attraction4 min read
Jun 30, 2021Standing in Solidarity with Christians who are Same-Sex AttractedI remember years ago when a Christian friend confided in me that he struggled with same-sex attraction. He knew that his sexual orientation wasn’t going to magically disappear, but he was fully committed to living a celibate life as an expression of following Jesus. I remember being completely in awe…Christianity3 min read
Apr 15, 2021Spiritual Abuse in the Orthodox Presbyterian ChurchIn 2010, I joined the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, excited that I had found a refuge from the crazy world of Evangelicalism. In 2017, I was seeking for refuge from the OPC and the spiritual abuse I experienced there. There had been red flags along the way that I didn’t think…Reformed Theology8 min read
Apr 2, 2021The Sins of Omission Cut DeepYears ago my family left the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) not only because of the existence of spiritual abuse, bullying, and racism, but because of what little those in power did to address those matters in their pews and in their pulpits. The sins of commission were painful; the sins…Reformed Theology2 min read
Mar 26, 2021What Can White Christians Do in Response to Anti-Asian Racism?What can White Christians do in response to anti-Asian racism? Here are a couple ideas: 1) Educate yourself about Asian American history. Understand the various stories of Asian American identity and the contributions we have made. The PBS documentary “Asian Americans” is a good place to start. 2) Acknowledge anti-Asian…Christian2 min read
