Matthew Distefano

My family and I (along with a friend of our daughter’s) are on a family vacation. Our first stop? The Ariana Grande concert. I didn’t attend. It was meant to be a girls thing, so I was totally happy to watch game 4 of the NBA finals (what a game, by the way!). After the game, I got a little nostalgic and grabbed the clicker and scrolled through the channels, one by one, without a guide.

Reading Romans Right came out well over a year ago. March 18, 2025, to be exact. And while the majority of the responses have been glowingly positive—probably due to the fact that most of Keith’s and my readers are open-minded and theologically progressive—there have been some harsh criticisms from those in more conservative camps. “Classic leftist trope,” says Chad Earwood. “I don’t recommend this book,” writes Kristina Lewin. “Book should be called Reading Romans Left,” quips “Massi” on Amazon.

I spent roughly 25 years in evangelicalism. I remember the prophecy charts, the altar calls after yet another hellish sermon, the constant hum of “end times” anxiety just beneath the surface of everything. We were told to be watchful. To pay attention. To recognize the signs when they came. Because the signs were specific. There would be a leader. Charismatic. Powerful. Deceptive. Someone who would gather a following that blurred the line between political allegiance and something closer to worship.