This piece started as an argument against war in Iran. I had things to say, convictions I was ready to defend. What came out instead was a confession. I had missed Christ’s greatest commandment because I had allowed culture to form my faith. The essay surprised me, and I think that is worth telling you before you read it.
The formation I received in the American church — the church I love — quietly shaped how I understood Jesus. I went to Iraq as a believer, confident that I was on the right side. I looked out from the control tower there without any knowledge of the Christians who had worshipped in that city since the first century. They were my brothers and sisters in the most literal theological sense, and the culture that had formed me had left them entirely off the map it handed me.
Plough Quarterly gave this essay a home, and I am grateful for the seriousness they brought to it. I would ask you to read it slowly, and to stay with whatever troubles you before deciding what to do with it. [Read it here.]
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I’m a deacon, men’s ministry leader, and grateful follower of Jesus. After 20 years in the United States Air Force, I’ve worshiped and served in churches from South Korea to small-town America. Those years didn’t just teach me discipline—they gave me a deep love for the local church in all its beautiful, imperfect expressions.
Today, I write and teach with one conviction above all: that God’s Word speaks for itself—it doesn’t need to be twisted to support our agendas. I’m passionate about seeing the Church rediscover its identity in Christ, not in party platforms or culture wars.
I lean libertarian, which I admit tends to raise eyebrows in both directions. You could say I believe in fewer mandates and more mercy, less coercion and more conscience. (Yes, I love freedom—just not the kind that avoids washing feet.)
I created this space to wrestle through what it means to follow Jesus faithfully in a noisy world. If you’re tired of punditry dressed as preaching and want something rooted, humble, and hopeful, you’re in good company.
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