The Archive

Every essay.

Matthew Lee AndersonPoliticsPolitical Theory

The Rachel Held Evans Conversation: Why I am a Conservative

Rachel Held Evans' readers ask all kinds of hard questions.  As in really hard questions. There's are thoughts on several topics there that may be unfamiliar to

Matthew Lee AndersonCurrent Politics

Accommodation, Contraception, and Religious Freedom

Let's pick up where we left off last week, shall we? On Friday, President Obama addressed the nation and announced a compromise on the question of mandatory contraception.

Matthew Lee AndersonCurrent Politics

On Boycotts, Komen, and Political Hope

Alan Noble over at Christ and Pop Culture takes on conservatives for how they went about the Komen controversy: Christian activism tends to take two forms, political and economic. The basic method in both cases is the same, though: we […]

Matthew Lee AndersonUncategorized

Answering for Conservatism as a Christian

I'm loitering over at Rachel Held Evans' site these days as questions roll in about my opinions on matters faith and politics.  She was kind enough to

Matthew Lee Anderson

January's Top Posts

January was one of the more prolific seasons I’ve had in a while, which was a lot of fun.  But in case you missed any of it, here are the most popular posts (by traffic) from the year’s first month. […]

Matthew Lee Anderson

What Social Networks Do-And Don't Do-for Churches

Back in December, I had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable for Christianity Today about the prospects and limits of social networking for churches.   Here’s my opening: The benefits of social networking are many but require judicious and […]

Matthew Lee AndersonLaw

Religious Liberties and Who Pays for Contraception

The discussion last week about the HHS decision to require religious organizations (excluding churches) to pay for contraception through their insurance plan was, in short, excellent.   My hope in what

Andrew WalkerEvangelicalism

Books & Culture on Evangelicalism

Friend-of-Mere-O Christopher Benson has alerted me to an important discussion taking place over at Books & Culture. With the release of Four Views on the Spectrum of

Matthew Lee AndersonPoliticsPolitical Theology

Why I am a (Political) Conservative: A Discussion at Relevant

The good folks over at Relevant Magazine invited me to chip in my thoughts on a series they've been doing on Christians and politics. You should read the

Cate MacDonaldSocial Trends

Made in the USA

A few weeks ago I watched this testimony given by Mike Rowe in front of the Senate. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. If you haven’t already

Matthew Lee AndersonPolitics

Komen and the Politicized Body

Ted Olsen at Christianity Today put together a number of interesting pieces on the Komen controversy. Russell Moore‘s and Mollie Hemingway’s are, I think, especially worth your time. I chimed in with a few hasty thoughts of my own, which […]

Matthew Lee AndersonEarthen Vessels

Instruments for Righteousness: The Earthen Vessels Symposium (Ch. 10)

I have been rather reluctant to write anything in response to Fred Sanders’ post about Earthen Vessels, if only because I’m convinced it’s better than the book itself.  Fred has a way with things, and it’s fully on display here. […]