If having a beard means you're not really a true warrior, does this mean we can tear down all the bearded Confederate statues now?

My latest, on Comey and Hegseth: "Our federal government is increasing its emphasis on loyalty to Dear Leader. In the face of this textbook fascism, we Christians need to remember the Gospel: You cannot serve two masters." nathanempsall.substack.com/p/which-mast...

“I reject the logic that says that criticism of the government necessarily generates violence against it. This is gaslighting." I love this piece about Augustine and nonviolence from Kathleen Bonnette. (Ignore the headline; it’s for all Christians, and just happens to be in a Catholic publication.)

Trump administration student debt rule change is a stealth attack on First Amendment: religionnews.com/2025/09/19/t...

All political violence is wrong. Abusing one tragedy and ignoring others to pretend the problem only comes from one side, as Vance and Trump insist, only heightens the danger — not just to peace but also to freedom. Full piece: open.substack.com/pub/nathanem...

My latest: "We are a violent nation, awash in guns and the subconscious ideology that human life has little to no value... I don’t give a fig leaf which political wing Robinson was on, if any. Once radicalized by our culture to normalize death, this particular young man was bound to kill."

It's the worst that it's been since the last time it happened // It's happening again right in front of our eyes // There's updated footage, wild speculation // Tall tales and hearsay and absolute lies (Tyler Childers, from "A Long History of Violence")

Empathy only for those who have empathy is no empathy at all. We can't demand that the other person go first, nor can we let anyone else's cruelty take away our own basic decency.

"I have been appalled by Charlie Kirk's work and actions for many years, and by the devastating harm he caused spreading hatred in Jesus’s twisted name... I am even more appalled by his murder... Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself." nathanempsall.substack.com/p/jesus-weep...

This is a much better take than cheering for the bullets Kirk is awful. Kirk has harmed so many people. And I am utterly sickened and bereft by his shooting, because political violence is wrong no matter who the target us. I hope he pulls through.

Political violence always make things worse. It is unequivocally wrong. And our country, both right and left, already has enough martyrs. Pray for Charlie Kirk. I hope he will be okay.

Let's set Epstein aside for a moment. Just a moment. Look at what Trump defines as a "hoax": Anything unrelated to his so-called success. If it doesn't praise him, by definition, it's a hoax. The authoritarian cult leader at work, y'all.

Torn between love and sorrow for my Florida friends, and utter disgust at Florida itself. Polio sucks. Do does Measles. And so do people who hate children enough to get rid of polio and measles vaccine mandates. This is not loving your neighbor.

“following rumors of his death donald trump held a press conference announcing extrajudicial killings of civilians and plans for a military invasion of an american city” is a perfectly factual headline that could be used to describe what we saw yesterday

Bank fraud. Stolen classified documents. Broken court orders. Inciting insurrection. Rape. Someone needs to send the National Guard to Mar-A-Lago to combat crime.

What's a good recent book about immigration in the US (preferably by an immigrant)? This would be to launch a new book group.

For any journalists or academics who have read through the newly released MLK papers, I have a quick question: What do they say about Jeffrey Epstein?

Can anyone recommend a book about immigration, written by an immigrant to the US from the Global South, published within the past year?

Is it OK for a Christian to feel patriotic in these times? Is it OK for a Christian to feel unpatriotic in America, ever? My latest on Defiant Love: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, writing in Religion News Service that "our resistance to the rising tide of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism emanating from Washington, D.C." is an act of both faith and patriotism for the Episcopal Church

The latest on Defiant Love: Oscar Romero's powerful message for Los Angeles -- and the military: "To soldiers, national guardsmen, and policemen... In the name of God, I command you to stop the repression." nathanempsall.substack.com/p/oscar-rome...

This weekend, churches across the country will read Psalm 67. Verse 4 says in part, "You judge the peoples with equity." And not for nothing, but Sunday’s New Testament reading will also be about a woman's leadership role in the early church. TLDR: DEI is a Christian value!

Thoughts on the St. Isidore decision: nathanempsall.substack.com/p/todays-bad...

It took me a few months, but I finally a) logged back into BlueSky, and b) started a Substack column. It's called "Defiant Love." Here's the second post -- take a look and learn why my mom used to call me "my little fundamentalist, bless your heart." nathanempsall.substack.com/p/an-immigra...

Wordpress, Wix, Squarespace, or something else? And why?

So, so sad to learn that Tony Campolo (speaker, author, progressive Baptist theologian) has died. But I'm overjoyed to know that he's eating birthday cake in Heaven with sex workers, and that this time Jesus has a slice too.

Pet peeve: Beers other than Marzen Lagers that have the unmitigated gall of calling themselves Oktoberfest.

pretty remarkable resignation letter from Joshua R. Paul, director of the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, posted to his LinkedIn page two hours ago. archive.ph/k9PpM

Every time a reporter hears a House Republican blame Democrats for the lack of a Speaker, they should ask, "If Democrats are obligated to support a Republican speaker, why aren't you obligated to support a Democratic speaker? Looking at you, @meetthepress.bsky.social & Rep. Nick LaLota.

The 3yo and I were playing make believe doctors today. Only, she told me she's a "doctor" and I'm a "man doctor." A long way to go, and yet how far we've come. 🩺♀️😃🥹💓

Dozens of options in Delta in-flight entertainment, but the choice is obvious. A Few Good Men never gets old. I don't even like Tom Cruise or Jack Nicholson half the time but they are both just fantastic in this masterpiece.

What Hamas did was evil. What Israel's government is now doing to the people of Gaza - not just to Hamas - is also evil, and does not deserve U.S. support. At least 60 dead at a marketplace as Israeli bombs fall on Jabalia refugee camp www.nytimes.com/2023/10/09/w...

Sometimes a rally-'round-the-flag effect takes immediate hold and stifles domestic dissent. And sometimes this is Ha'aretz' editorial.

Let us urgently pray for peace in the Holy Land. May we mourn for the people of both Israel and Palestine while strongly condemning all violence, terrorism, apartheid, antisemitism, and Islamophobia. All lives hold equal value. Jesus weeps for the suffering in both Israel and Gaza.

Do not confuse Hamas with the Palestinian people. They are not the same. We can and must support and mourn for the people of both Israel and Palestine without it meaning we support Hamas or Netanyahu -- and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

A party that has already made a serial child molester, Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House should not be seriously considering Jim Jordan for the job.

McCarthy has made a surprising yet close ally out of MTG - who is in turn close with both Trump and Gaetz. In the end, MTG's support got him nothing. All these Christofascist, white Christian nationalists want is power. Making bedfellows with them never helps anyone, not even their own party.

GOP learns the hard way: Turning the base up too high blows out your Speaker

If Massie and other Republicans truly cared about saving the House, they would ditch the so-called Hastert Rule (or Boehner Rule?), and let any bill w/majority support get a vote -- not just majority of the majority. They do not care about democracy. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

This needs to be displayed as one of the rules when creating an account on all social media

I was adopted at birth. The first phone call I ever had with my birthdad, teenaged me picked up and said, "This will be the first time I ever hear your voice. Better get the memory right." After a long pause, he said, "Will this work?" (It did.) So, for my first post on Bluesky: Does this work?