Stefani McDade
As seen in:
Roys Report,
The Good Faith Blog,
WebMD,
Substack,
Christianity Today,
Crossmap,
RealClear Religion
Covers:
Theology, Christological Anthropology, Religion Reporting, Refugees/Asylees/Immigration, Social Justice, Racial Reconciliation, Society, Culture, Non-profits, Christianity, Church, Missions, etc.
Author: Unveiled Faces: Reflecting Jesus in a World that Distorts His Image (IVP Spring 2027) | Editor: Good Faith & Roys Report
Articles by Stefani McDade
Rethinking Humility: Why ‘Thinking of Yourself Less’ Falls Short
In my latest article for Christianity Today, I argue that the popular definition of humility as “thinking of yourself less” fails to capture the rich, challenging vision of humility we find in Scripture and Christian tradition. I wanted to share some additional thoughts and behind-the-scenes insights here on my brand new Substack—including some key points that didn’t make it into the final piece.
Christian Humility Isn’t Just ‘Thinking of Yourself Less’
Scripture honors and commands humility, but what does it look like in practice? A line widely misattributed to C. S. Lewis offers a memorable answer: “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it is thinking of ourselves less.” That definition has been popular among American Christians for years, copied all over the internet and paraphrased in influential books. But I’ve come to think the trouble with it goes beyond misattribution.
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Talking to Your Family and Friends About Ankylosing Spondylitis
Living with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can affect your relationships at work, at home, and in your social life -- just like any chronic condition can. But it’s not something you have to go through on your own. When you open up to those who are closest to you about how AS affects your life and body, it can help them know how best to support you.
When Shortness of Breath Is an Emergency
When you feel like you can't breathe deeply enough, can't get enough air, or are working too hard to breathe, you have shortness of breath. Doctors sometimes call it dyspnea. Shortness of breath can be a medical emergency. (Photo credit: Martinmark/Dreamstime) Everyone gets a little short of breath sometimes. It might happen when you exercise hard, have a cold, or are stressed out. Some medical conditions can cause shortness of breath, too.
Charlie Kirk Is Not a Scapegoat
When we instrumentalize violence, we side with the accuser rather than with Christ. French Catholic sociologist René Girard argued that ever since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, violence has been robbed of its sacred meaning and ancient power-but you wouldn't know that by scanning some corners of the internet today.
Exercise for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Exercise is one of the best things you can do to help manage symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, or AS. It can lessen pain and keep you more mobile and flexible. It also seems to help with symptoms related to posture, stiffness, fatigue, and breathing capacity. That's why it's a good idea to look for ways to work exercise into your daily routine.
Everyday Posture Tips for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Your mom was right when she told you to "sit up straight." Good posture can help prevent back and neck pain. It also aids your balance. For people with an inflammatory type of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis (AS), posture is even more important. The pain from AS can cause you to adopt bad posture habits. In serious cases, AS can fuse some of the small bones in your spine together. This leads to a stooped-over posture. Regular exercise is essential to keep AS from getting worse.
Setting Our Scopes on Things Above - Crossmap News
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AFib and Stroke
Research says there's a direct link between atrial fibrillation (AFib) and stroke. In fact, some studies have shown that people who have AFib are about five times more likely to get a stroke than people who don't have it. Experts say that AFib is the cause of about 1 in 7 strokes. Doctors analyzed people with AFib who have a stroke at some point in their lives and they found distinct trends.
ADHD: How to Ask for the Support You Need
For at least a third of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the condition continues into adulthood. If you have ADHD, you may tend to try to manage things on your own, or maybe you know that you need help but don’t know where to start. There are plenty of resources to help you ask for and find support. Nobody is meant to do things entirely on their own. There’s no shame in reaching out for help if and when you need it. Start by checking in with your primary care doctor.
Borrowing Faith When Doubt Creeps In
As a teenager, I co-led my first small group with a friend, guided by an older woman from our church. During a discussion on faith, I decided to be vulnerable and share my own doubts about God to encourage others to open up. After the meeting was over, the woman pulled me aside to caution me about setting a good example for the group. Her message was kind, but clear: Doubt was unbefitting a rising leader. Over the years, my doubts have shifted.
How Ulcerative Colitis Affects Your Colon Cancer Risk
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers to form in the lining of your colon and rectum. Research shows a link between UC and colorectal cancer. People with UC are six times more likely to get some form of colorectal cancer. The main reason for this is inflammation. Chronic inflammation raises your chances of colorectal cancer in three ways: In your bowels, inflammation damages the genetic material in your colon cells.
Can You Drink Alcohol if You Have Ulcerative Colitis?
If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), you may wonder if avoiding alcohol would help manage your condition. Like a lot of things with UC, the answer can vary from person to person. But some research does suggest that to try to prevent gut infections, flares, and a future relapse of your UC, you may want to consider avoiding alcohol altogether. Alcohol doesn’t cause ulcerative colitis, put you at risk for, or make you more likely to get ulcerative colitis.
How to Stick With Your Schizophrenia Meds
Medication doesn’t cure schizophrenia, but it’s a vital part of any treatment plan because it can lessen many of the primary psychotic symptoms. So if you or someone you care about has schizophrenia, it’s important to know the role medication plays and why it helps you get the most out of treatment. When you have schizophrenia, drugs like antipsychotics will likely be an important aspect of your treatment.
How to Get Help for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong disease that can get worse over time. As your symptoms grow more severe, you may need a hand to manage your condition. Here is how and when to get help. It can make a huge difference in daily life to have your loved ones join your support team. And they can help in many ways.
What Jesus Would Say to the 'Empire' Today
In a year seeing over 50 countries at the polls- half of which could shift geopolitical dynamics-the timing of Jesus and the Powers ' release was no accident. A few years ago, N. T. Wright (author of Surprised by Hope) and Michael F. Bird ( Jesus Among the Gods)-who had collaborated on The New Testament in Its World -realized there was a lack of biblical guidance on how Christians should engage with politics, and they decided to do something about it.
Talking to Your Family and Friends About COPD
Although you’re the one who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the people who love you will also feel its effects. COPD can impact your social life and your relationships at home and at work. When you open up to those who are closest to you about how COPD affects your life and your body, it gives them a chance to better understand what you deal with daily. If your family and friends are willing to join your support system, it can help you better face everyday challenges.
Resources for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare condition that can affect many parts of your life. Here are some resources you can tap for information about latest treatments, tips on managing your symptoms, or just a sympathetic ear. Support groups are great ways to connect with people who are going through similar experiences. Some groups meet in person. Others may be online only, which allows you to join no matter where you live. Many sources might be able to refer you to a support group.
Jesus Christ Is Not a Superstar
In the past couple of weeks, people have been talking once again about Jesus Christ Superstar. Not only did a recent Ted Lasso episode feature a song from the 1970s musical, but the original film is airing on BBC-prompting countless reactions, including many from first-time viewers. It is also celebrating a 50th anniversary tour in both the UK and the US.
Report: The Top 5 Heresies Among American Evangelicals
Report: The Top 5 Heresies Among American Evangelicals It's 2022, but Arianism and Pelagianism are steadily making a comeback, according to the State of Theology report. Read Full Article »
Top 5 Heresies Among American Evangelicals
American evangelicals’ grasp on theology is slipping, and more than half affirmed heretical views of God in this year’s State of Theology survey, released Monday by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research. The report references Ligonier founder R. C. Sproul’s teaching that everyone’s a theologian. “However, Dr. Sproul would be quick to add that not everyone is a good theologian,” it read. That caveat applies to Americans in general and evangelicals too.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Biblical?
Once President Joe Biden followed up on his promise to cancel $10,000 to $20,000 per borrower in student loan debt for eligible households, Christians responded by invoking a host of biblical references from Old Testament concepts like jubilee to the parables of Jesus in the New Testament. Over a two-day period last week, searches for debt-related topics surged to 20 times above average on BibleGateway.
How to Be Human Like God
I’m both young and old enough to remember the WWJD bracelet fad of the ’90s and early 2000s—a daily reminder of what Jesus might do or say in any given situation. But what some may not remember is that WWJD was not welcomed with uncritical support in all corners of the Christian world. Growing up in evangelical circles, some church leaders claimed it was the wrong question to ask.
Taking Kids to Church Matters More Than the ‘Right’ School, Study Suggests
Public health expert Tyler VanderWeele, who coauthored the cover story for our November print issue, recently analyzed how four school categories—public, private, religious, and homeschool—might affect the long-term well-being of adolescents. VanderWeele and his team at Harvard examined a large swath of data, collected over more than a decade, which tracked the development of 12,000 nurses’ children into their young adulthood.
CT’s Top 20 Stories of 2021
In a year that has been difficult for so many people around the world, Christianity Today’s readers came to the site wondering about the downfall of influential Christian leaders of our day, looking for advice on navigating political controversies and social tensions, and wanting to understand the unprecedented division in many churches today.
CT’s 2021 Cover Stories, Ranked
Christianity Today’s print magazine cover stories represented many themes of the past year—topics that are not new but reached a fresh urgency or climactic moment in 2021. From Christians in Afghanistan to multiethnic churches to empty pews, we hoped to remind readers of gospel hope in the midst of difficult times. Here are CT’s cover stories ranked in reverse order of popularity online. 9. December 8. January/February 7. July/August 6. October 5. April 4. May/June 3. November 2. March 1.
Our Favorite Christianity Today Podcasts from 202...
2021 was an exciting year for podcasting at CT. In addition to launching The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, our first longform narrative series, we continued to produce a diverse network of shows, like Quick to Listen (about to start its sixth year), Cultivated, and new shows like Adopting Hope, The Art of Pastoring, and Church Law. To wrap up the year, we asked our podcasters to share their favorite episodes of 2021.
Por que o Podcast sobre Mars Hill Fez Você Espera...
Na semana passada, Mike Cosper, diretor de podcasts da CT, postou o episódio final e muito aguardado da série The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill [Ascensão e Queda de Mars Hill]. Stefani McDade, editora da CT, sentou-se com ele para falar sobre o estresse e a alegria das entrevistas não previstas, sobre como exvangélicos e outros grupos responderam à série e o que os ouvintes podem esperar dos episódios de bônus e projetos futuros.
Ligon Duncan Tells Me Where I’m Wrong on Infant Baptism
Ligon Duncan and Russell Moore agree on a lot of things, but baptism isn’t one of them. While Moore comes from a believers’ baptism tradition, Duncan practices infant baptism. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Duncan answers questions about the importance of baptism and how the Christian understanding of baptism has changed over time. He shares his perspective on the mode of baptism, the efficacy of the sacraments, and the importance of commitment regardless of denomination.
The Flesh Is Supposed to Be Weak
Being human can be very frustrating. We’re always long on demands but short on time and energy. And so we redouble our efforts, searching for the magical time-management hack that will allow us to cram more life into our waking hours so that we can live the most efficient and productive life possible. Yet even as we strain against our natural limits, ultimately they cannot (and should not) be overcome, because God designed them for our good.
I Used to Run with Drug Addicts and Prostitutes. Now I Share the Gospel with Them.
I was born in Los Angeles to a family in turmoil. My father was an alcoholic and a womanizer, and he was married four times by the time I was 17. My mother left when I was about 5 years old, and I never saw her again. Throughout my childhood, I was moved from foster home to foster home. I started using drugs when I was 13. I believe that’s when I finally realized that I hated myself.
The Cosmos Is More Crowded Than You Think
For close to 15 years, I forgot about the existence of angels. I didn’t exactly decide I no longer believed in them. I simply didn’t think about them, and if I ever did, it was a passing thought about how corny the depiction of angels usually is. I rediscovered angels by putting a baby to sleep at night. When my first child was a newborn, I realized one night, to my surprise, that without really noticing I had developed a habit of asking God to send his angels to protect her.
真正的希望
阅读：以赛亚书42:1-7 有时我们会忘记我们是偶像制造者。我们执着于各样的偶像，比如权力、财富、骄傲、他人、制度、谣言、传统。有时我们也会忘记，在偶像和邪恶面前，神不会沉默。祂揭露他们空洞的承诺，并揭示基督是我们这种偶像制造倾向的治愈良方。 在《以赛亚书》42章中，神回应了前几章中提及的空洞的偶像崇拜和毫无意义的假神，并宣告祂所喜爱和拣选的仆人的到来，祂的灵住在祂里面。偶像软弱而无力，但神所应许的忠实仆人将为全世界带来公义。祂不会践踏弱者，也不会骄傲自夸。相反，祂会向那些软弱、受伤或信仰动摇的人显出祂的温柔怜悯。 当今的世界发生着太多的事，以至于我们可能会疑惑，当偶像的吸引力迷惑了我们中间最有信心的那些人时；当不公如同阴霾笼罩着我们的世界时，当软弱者求救的呼喊使他们疲倦、几近无法呼吸时，神在哪里？这段经文在此处提醒我们那位被应许的仆人有一天会解决这世上所有的问题并将之更正。祂被神拣选，以谦卑和慈爱带来公义。祂被神所召做神众民的中保；是执行神话语和旨意的无可指摘的代表。...
真正的希望
閱讀：以賽亞書42:1-7 有時我們會忘記我們是偶像製造者。我們執着於各樣的偶像，比如權力、財富、驕傲、他人、制度、謠言、傳統。有時我們也會忘記，在偶像和邪惡面前，神不會沉默。祂揭露他們空洞的承諾，並揭示基督是我們這種偶像製造傾向的治癒良方。 在《以賽亞書》42章中，神回應了前幾章中提及的空洞的偶像崇拜和毫無意義的假神，並宣告祂所喜愛和揀選的僕人的到來，祂的靈住在祂裡面。偶像軟弱而無力，但神所應許的忠實僕人將為全世界帶來公義。祂不會踐踏弱者，也不會驕傲自誇。相反，祂會向那些軟弱、受傷或信仰動搖的人顯出祂的溫柔憐憫。 當今的世界發生着太多的事，以至於我們可能會疑惑，當偶像的吸引力迷惑了我們中間最有信心的那些人時；當不公如同陰霾籠罩着我們的世界時，當軟弱者求救的呼喊使他們疲倦、幾近無法呼吸時，神在哪裡？這段經文在此處提醒我們那位被應許的僕人有一天會解決這世上所有的問題並將之更正。祂被神揀選，以謙卑和慈愛帶來公義。祂被神所召做神眾民的中保；是執行神話語和旨意的無可指摘的代表。...
Taking the Trinitarian Christ out of Christmas
Who is Jesus? Few questions could be more relevant at Christmas. Yet a new Lifeway Research study reports a statistic that has the potential to deflate the Christmas spirit. Only 41 percent of Americans believe the “Son of God existed before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” That means 59 percent either do not believe or are unsure whether they believe that the Son of God existed prior to the Nativity. As pastors prepare their Christmas sermons this year, they might want to keep this fact in mind.
Research: Religious Americans Less Likely to Divorce
According to the US Census, the average American couple gets married around the age of 30. Many young adults believe that forming unions closer to that age reduces their risk of divorce, and, indeed, there is research consistent with that belief. But we also have evidence suggesting that religious Americans are less likely to divorce, even as they are more likely to marry younger than 30.
O Deus que nos traz para casa
Terceira semana: Sacrifício e Salvação Deus falou por meio dos profetas do Antigo Testamento, usando palavras e imagens poéticas para descrever a esperança da salvação. Nesta semana veremos algumas profecias que apontam para o Messias — o servo, a luz, o prometido por quem o povo de Deus tanto esperava. Clique Aqui e faça o download do nosso devocional diário “O Evangelho do Advento”. Leia Isaías 12.2-6; 52.7-10 e Sofonias 3.14–20 Quando você ouve a palavra casa, o que lhe vem à mente?
Camino al hogar
Para descargar nuestro devocional «El Evangelio de Adviento» completo, ingrese en este enlace. Tercera semana de Adviento: Sacrificio y salvación En el Antiguo Testamento Dios habló a través de los profetas utilizando palabras e imágenes poéticas para describir la esperanza de la salvación. Esta semana, observamos las profecías que apuntan al Mesías: el siervo, la luz, la promesa que el pueblo de Dios anhelaba.
带我们回家
阅读：以赛亚书12:2-6；52:7-10，西番雅书3:14-20 听到家这个字，你会想到什么？对某些人来说，这个词会唤起创伤的记忆。其他人则对他们家庭的概念和记忆模棱两可。有些人渴望离家出走。其他人从未体会过家庭的舒适。当然，也有很多人非常热爱他们的家，迫不及待地想回家。许多人甚至把自己看作是“宅男宅女”。 渴望家——渴望一个我们属于的地方，是人类境遇的一部分。我们渴望有一个可以做自己的地方，在那里我们被了解也被疼爱；在那里我们会感到我们终于回家了。家应该是一个宁静之地，在那里人卸下防备，安然居住。家是安全港湾。归根到底，从某种意义上说，我们所有人都渴望成为宅男宅女——不再经历疏离与分生。...
希望的样子
阅读：以赛亚书11:1-5，耶利米书33:14-16 我有三个女儿，我常带着惊奇打量她们。我无法想象整个世界——我女儿们的生活、身份和未来——会是从一个微观的受精卵开始的。人类生命的奇迹和奥秘要怎样成为可能？只有神知道。 从先知以赛亚的时代一直到耶利米的时代，南国和北国的以色列人经历了土地、生命、家庭和生计的尽都毁灭，这是神对他们罪孽的审判。所有美好出路的希望都已破灭。一代代人以各种方式经历了死亡，以至于他们无法相信情况有一天会发生改变。然而，他们仍然渴望有一位救世主来拯救他们，渴望一位弥赛亚从敌人的魔掌中把他们解救出来。 当希望消失不见，当他们作为遭欺压的外来者、在灭了自己民族的帝国中生活时，先知以赛亚和稍晚一点的先知耶利米都预言了希望。透过他们，神传达了这个希望的应许，并将它描述为“从耶西的本必发一条”，就像“大卫公义的苗裔长起来”（赛11:1；耶33:15）。 在神应许的希望出现之前，好几个世代过去了。然而，藉着我们的主耶稣基督的降临，这应许终于成为现实。当一代又一代神的子民疑惑神是否真的会出现时，就在这恰好的时间，耶稣来了。耶稣，这位...
The God Who Suffers
Advent Week 3: Sacrifice and Salvation God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament, using poetic words and imagery, to describe the hope of salvation. This week, we contemplate prophecies pointing toward the Messiah—the servant, the light, the promised one God’s people longed for. Read Isaiah 52:13–53:12. During Advent, it is easy to sentimentalize the Incarnation.
受苦的神
閱讀：以賽亞書52:13–53:12 在將臨期間，人們容易帶着感情繪聲繪色地講述道成肉身的故事。我們把取了肉身的神想象成一個嬰孩，母親陪伴左右；我們期待祂成為“奇妙策士”和“和平之君”（賽9:6）。這些確實是耶穌身份和人性的真實方面，當然也是每年這個時候合適的聖經主題。但以賽亞在他最後一首“僕人之歌”中的預言性話語——描述了神的一位即將到來的僕人，他將被發現成為列國信實的領袖——這加深了我們對基督道成肉身的生命的理解：耶穌降生是為了受苦和受死。 耶穌的榮耀之路並非一帆風順。祂不但沒有被世人接受，反而被人藐視和厭棄（53:3）。祂沒有被尊為王，而是被刑罰和殺害（53:5，9）。這不僅僅是人類的悲劇——這實則是神隱秘計劃中的一部分（53:10）。基督自願受苦表明祂不僅願意作我們的大祭司，也願意作獻祭的羔羊。 這個深刻的現實不僅僅是一個神學概念。耶穌在肉身中作為人受苦，親身參與了所有人類經歷中最痛苦、最黑暗的方面。祂知道什麼是面容憔悴、形容枯槁 (52:14)、何謂受欺壓、被剪除...
New & Noteworthy Fiction
The Woman with the Blue Star Pam Jenoff Jenoff uncovers a fascinating, little-known aspect of World War II history in this novel, told through the eyes of two young women. Sadie, a Jew, is forced to descend into the sewers beneath Kraków to survive the Nazi occupation of Poland. Ella, meanwhile, lives an outwardly easy life, albeit with a sadness all her own.
Gracia asombrosa y purificadora
Para descargar nuestro devocional «El Evangelio de Adviento» completo, ingrese en este enlace. Segunda semana de Adviento: Pecado y redención Juan el Bautista desempeñó un papel crucial en la preparación del pueblo para la venida del Mesías. Esta semana consideramos lo que dicen las Escrituras sobre el propósito de Juan. Reflexionamos acerca de cómo sus enseñanzas sobre el pecado y el arrepentimiento pueden hablar a nuestras propias vidas como discípulos de Cristo.
‘No Room in the Inn’ Was Good News
In nativity pageants all over the world, several roles fit well for those terrified of public speaking: cows, sheep, and the innkeeper. The innkeeper, in most dramatic renditions, has no speaking lines. Instead, the person must merely look sad, hold out their hand, and shake their head to say no. Luke’s gospel tells us that Mary and Joseph laid Jesus in a manger “because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7, KJV).
奇異的潔凈恩典
閱讀：馬太福音3:1-12 福音書作者馬太用一個簡單的時間戳記敘了施洗約翰事工的歷史背景：“那時”（馬3:1）。在讀前一章（以及《路加福音》第3章）時可以知道那時正是狂妄統治者的時代——比如大希律王，他在嗜血的憤怒中殺死了伯利恆的小男孩。希律死後，他的兒子掌權。此時的約瑟依然擔心家人的安危，因此舉家去了拿撒勒，“這是要應驗先知所說‘他將稱為拿撒勒人’的話了。”（太2:23）。 《馬太福音》堅持這是要應驗神的預言。“神說——它就成了，”馬太一次又一次地這樣強調。這樣的認識當然並非不言自明，因為彼時可見的現實表明邪惡似乎正在獲勝。比如當嬰兒死於邪惡君王之手時，我們真的可以相信天國近了，就像約翰所傳講的那樣嗎（3:2）？ 施洗約翰恰如《舊約》中以利亞的形象，身穿駱駝毛，吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。以利亞是另一位在邪惡政權下侍奉神的先知。亞哈王和希律一樣，也因野心而殺戮。在以利亞戲劇性地戰勝了巴力的先知后，他的王后耶洗別為以利亞的項上人頭開了個價。...
For Those with Eyes to See, There Is Theological Truth in Church Architectur...
God is bigger than a church building. He reveals himself to us in myriad ways: through the Bible savored in silence or thundered in a sermon, through prayerful solitude or bread broken with others. He reveals himself in the contours of nature and whispers of wind. We do not rely on church buildings for divine encounter. And yet churches can reveal God to us. If we pay attention. As an architect, I am learning how to read buildings.
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Theologian J. I. Packer was one of the most widely respected Christian writers of the 20th century. Author of over 40 books, he was known for profound theological writing that was always lively and worshipful. Explore several articles included the anthology Pointing to the Pasturelands, a compilation of J. I. Packer’s columns and articles that covers several decades of Packer’s contributions in the pages of Christianity Today.
Why the Mars Hill Podcast Kept You Waiting
Last week, CT’s director of podcasts Mike Cosper posted the much-anticipated final episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. CT editor Stefani McDade sat down with him to talk about the stress and joy of unexpected interviews, how exvangelicals and other groups responded to the series, and what listeners can expect from bonus episodes and future projects. How do you feel about the overall reception of the podcast and its wide audience?
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