Should Christians be leftists? A review

Phil Christman. Why Christians Should Be Leftists. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2025. 174 pages. ISBN 978-0-8028-8405-3.

The best that can be said of this book is that the author is preaching to the choir. Phil Christman is a follower of Jesus Christ who has come to see himself as a political leftist and is now evangelizing for the cause. However, given his general approach, he is unlikely to persuade anyone not already onside.

Christman claims that “my Christianity has led me out of conservatism, past liberalism, to the left” (12). What does this leftism consist of? Support for “massive redistribution of wealth (either through alms or taxes), the right of marginalized communities and exploited nations to self-defense, a much-lessened emphasis on punishment-for-its-own-sake and on revenge and a much greater emphasis on harm reduction in our systems of punishment, an abhorrence of war, and an avoidance of the hoarding of wealth and power” (15-16). Christman spends the rest of the book unpacking this collection of priorities.

A new book for Christian scholars: Creation Regained: Disciplinary Perspectives

Creation Regained: Disciplinary Perspectives: two tributes

As I mentioned in a previous post, this newly published volume, Creation Regained: Disciplinary Perspectives, is a tribute to my great friend, former colleague, and even one-time instructor, Al Wolters. His classic book, Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview, has been an influential introduction to a general approach to life anchored in the orderly possibilities God has built into his creation and in the scriptures which illuminate the path before us as we fulfil our respective callings. Our reformational philosophy discussion group, to whom this new anthology is dedicated, aspired to flesh out the implications of Wolters' insights for the several academic disciplines, including the highly theoretical and the more concrete and practical. This book is thus a tribute to Wolters' life and work.

Yesterday I was privileged to present to Wolters his copy of this book.

Recent activities for March 2026

My Global Scholars Canada newsletter for March 2026 is now posted for your reading pleasure. Included are a speaking engagement in eastern Kentucky, a Brazilian podcast on the subject of two of my books, two commentaries on Iran, and a long-gestating anthology in honour of my great friend and former colleague Al Wolters. Thank you for your continuing support for my work!

Creation Regained: Disciplinary Perspectives: table of contents

I now have my own copy of this anthology:

Iran's uncertain future

Christian Courier has published my article, Iran's uncertain future. An excerpt:

Iran has had an outsized influence in the Middle East since ancient times. The Persian empire figures prominently in several books of the Old Testament, primarily because of King Cyrus’ role in permitting the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Jerusalem temple. Since then several dynasties have ruled Persia, extending their influence throughout the region. Iranian languages are spoken, not only in Iran proper, but in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Even the Ottoman Turks adopted elements of Persian culture, which carried considerable prestige and conferred legitimacy on their rule.

Read here for more.

Creation Regained: Disciplinary Perspectives

I am pleased to report that a new book has been published to which I and several other authors contributed chapters. It's called Creation Regained: Disciplinary Perspectives, edited by my good friend and former colleague, Russell D. Kosits and published by Dordt Press. The anthology is inspired by Albert M. Wolters' classic book, Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview (Eerdmans, 2005), which has been used profitably in a variety of settings since it was first published just over four decades ago. Here is the description from the amazon.com page:

Iran's troubled past and present

As an undergraduate student in the mid 1970s I was taking a course at the University of Minnesota and one day happened upon a demonstration by what I assumed were Iranian students against the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had occupied the Peacock Throne since 1941. 

The Shah was responsible for something called the White Revolution, a top-down effort to modernize the country, bringing it into the 20th century and making it a great regional power. In pursuing this policy, he was following the examples of Peter the Great in early 18th-century Russia and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in interwar Turkey. Closely allied with the western powers, the Shah was restored to his throne by the US and the UK in 1953 after having fled the country in a dispute with Iran's parliament. Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh had nationalized the oil industry with parliament's support to the displeasure of the British interests that had controlled it. Once the Shah had returned to power, he centralized rule in his own hands. A secret police force, SAVAK, was the most brutal instrument of his rule, effectively alienating many Iranians, especially those of a more traditional bent.

Apologética cristã interview/entrevista

Last month I was interviewed by Gabriel Ennes for his Apologética cristã podcast. The conversation was in English. Although I am by no means fluent in Portuguese, I am coming to recognize the different accents and dialects from the different parts of Brazil. From his speech I could tell that Ennes is a Carioca. Indeed, I subsequently learned that Ennes lives in Petropolis, a city located north of Rio de Janeiro. His accent betrays his origins.

Kentucky sojourn: University of the Cumberlands

From 22 to 25 February I was privileged to visit the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where I was a guest speaker. My time there was originally scheduled for last month, but a severe storm passing through the central part of the United States delayed my travels until this week. My principal host was Devon Goings, a graduate of Cumberlands who now works there as Director of Civic Responsibility. Goings has studied at Fuller Seminary under Matthew Kaemingk, whom I've known for the better part of two decades and for whom I have considerable respect.

Cumberlands is a Christian university in the Baptist tradition, although it is no longer formally affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Established as the Williamsburg Institute in 1889, it became Cumberland College in 1913 and University of the Cumberlands in 2005. I was astonished to read that it has over 25,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the state. But I was told that most of these are online students with around 2,000 residential students on campus. Student numbers have grown considerably in recent years, with a focus on outreach to the larger eastern Kentucky region.

Recent activities for February 2026

I have just posted my Global Scholars Canada newsletter for February 2026. Included are material related to Christian Nationalism, memories of Minneapolis prompted by recent events, an ecclesiological revolution, and a book review. Thank you for your ongoing support for my work!

Sowing chaos for no good reason

My most recent column has been published at Christian Courier's website: Trump is sowing chaos for no good reason. An excerpt:

Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart because, as a young man, I attended a Christian university in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. I grew to love the area’s numerous lakes, Minnehaha Falls, the many Lutheran churches, the Dinkytown neighbourhood near the University and the many friendly, hospitable people who lived there. There is even a suburb in Saint Paul called Little Canada, testifying to the presence of early French Canadian settlers. While the severe climate was definitely a trial, at the time I thought it was a place where I might eventually make a home.

Read the entire article here.

The death of the parish

A friend recently informed me that the daily First Things newsletter for 27 January 2026 contains a reference to an article I wrote for the periodical in 2014: The Death of the Parish. Here's an excerpt:

The territorial parish cannot easily withstand this new ecclesiology. Near universal automobile ownership has made Christians of virtually every tradition into consumers of perceived spiritual goods. It is de rigueur these days to claim to be “spiritual but not religious,” because religion implies binding obligation within a larger authoritative community, while spirituality leaves the individual in control and need not entail a transformed life and redirected affections. Everyone becomes a seeker and churches are compelled to attract potential members by whatever means necessary. Why? Because no one has to show up, after all. They can easily drive past the nearest church building and find another congregation that better meets their subjective needs. Or they can simply stay home and sleep late. The net effect is that the institutional church has no more authority than its members are willing to grant it. In other words, it is one more voluntary association not essentially different from the local birdwatching society.

Last year it looked as though FT had removed virtually everything I had written for them when they revamped their website, but it seems that at least some of these posts have been restored. I am grateful for this, despite my having cancelled my decades-long subscription for reasons indicated here: FT's evolution: 'populism' overtakes 'highbrow'. The article is also posted on my blog.

¿Puede el NACIONALISMO CRISTIANO considerarse bíblico?

Several weeks ago I was interviewed by Jairo Mendoza for the Spanish-language Cápsulas de Teología podcast. The subject matter: Can Christian nationalism be considered biblical? The interview has now been posted and is embedded below.

I cannot help but comment on the AI-generated version of yours truly in the cover image. There is a superficial resemblance, but that's as far as it goes.

Recent activities for January 2026

My Global Scholars Canada newsletter for January 2026 is now posted for your perusal. Included this month are a reflection on mentoring young people, thoughts on an unpleasant anniversary, three podcast interviews, a brief visit to Toronto, and how seeking security can go wrong. Thank you, as always, for your support for my work!

Justice for Ukraine

My latest in Christian Courier: Justice for Ukraine may rely on Canada and Europe. An excerpt:

Next month marks four years since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began. In undertaking this military operation, Russia has arguably stretched itself dangerously thin. It has been unable to defeat Kyiv outright and is now playing a waiting game. There are no victors in a war of attrition. Who will hold out the longest? Kyiv or Moscow? Who will get exhausted first and throw in the towel?

Read the entire article here. 

Schuman Talks, episode 60

“Being a Christian does not make you immune to the temptations of political ideologies.” Five years ago Jeff Fountain interviewed me on an episode of Schuman Talks. We had another conversation last week on the subject of my three books. Listen below:

How seeking security can backfire

Christian Courier has just published my latest: What Trump’s actions in Venezuela mean for Canada. An excerpt:

In this second quarter of the twenty-first century, the United States seems bent on repeating the mistakes of the past, unilaterally seeking a type of security that can only alienate friends and enemies alike, thereby paradoxically making the country less secure than before. One hopes that saner heads will eventually prevail and that decades of efforts to build solid international ties, especially among Western nations, will not be quickly undone.

Read the entire article here. 

January 6 plus 5

Five years ago today many of us watched in disbelief as a mob of protesters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC, egged on by a President who refused to admit that he had lost the previous November's election. During his four years in the presidency Donald Trump had deliberately sown division in the American public, putting family members in important positions, and using his high office to advance his personal brand. But in his first term, he was surrounded by officials, such as Vice President Mike Pence, whose principal job seemed to be damage control, that is, to put the brakes on Trump's more outrageous behaviour. Following the events of 6 January 2021, the House of Representatives moved quickly to impeach the President for the second time. However, the following month the Senate decided to acquit him of the charge of inciting an insurrection.

Mentoring young people: a moving tribute

If one feature of my ongoing ministry can be said to give me the most joy, it is mentoring young people. I've been doing this in some fashion for nearly four decades—formally in the classroom, and informally in my semi-retirement. When I retired nearly nine years ago, I never expected mentoring to continue and thought I was leaving it behind for good. But over that time, especially since affiliating with Global Scholars Canada in 2019, God has put in my path several young people whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know and love. These have come about mostly by accident, although some have sought me out and others I have sought out, especially those with a previous connection through parents or grandparents.