Every Friday, it is my goal to highlight 5 of the best articles published on Christian blog sites from the previous week that I have had the privilege of reading. I realized, however, that most of my references in the past have come from locations that already have a substantial following, and need little exposure. Because of this, I am redirecting my intentions in future weeks to instead highlight the best Christian blog articles that I come across from smaller or lesser known blogs.
Before doing that, however, I felt it was only fitting that I first highlight several of what I consider to be the best Christian blog sites that I follow on a regular basis. The following list is by no means exhaustive, but they provide a good cross section of some of the best Christian blog sites on the web. Know of some others? Make sure you list them in the comments (and yes! You can list your own blog!).
10 Of The Best Christian Blog Sites On The Web
Scot McKnight is a New Testament scholar and author of over 30 books including such fantastic works as The Jesus Creed, The King Jesus Gospel, and most recently Junia Is Not Alone. His blog has his finger on the pulse of contemporary Christian thought and culture, and has been at the top of my list of the best Christian blog sites for several years.
Exploring the relationship between faith and science, the BioLogos forum utilizes a team of cutting edge scholars, scientists, and theologians to explore how Christianity and modern science interact. With the continuing perspective that faith and science are mutually opposed, having a resource such as this is indispensable. This is easily one of the best Christian blog sites that you should be following.
Pete Enns is an Old Testament scholar and the author of several notable books, including Inspiration and Incarnation and The Evolution of Adam. He occasionally stretches beyond my borders of agreement, but his willingness to openly and honestly engage difficult questions in faithful ways is refreshing. If you want a broader perspective of the trends in Biblical scholarship, you should be following this blog.
Tony Jones is a “Progressive Christian”, though he much prefers the title “Incarnational Christian.” His views are sometimes a bit more progressive than mine, but he is a faithful follower of Christ who never fails to engage my critical thinking skills and provide a fresh perspective on how I view my own faith. I don’t always agree with him, but exposure to this side of Christian thought is absolutely necessary if you want to have the awareness to faithfully engage cultural perspectives.
In a sea of men, in it refreshing to find an articulate and thoughtful female who is able to rise to the fore in shaping and engaging Christian thought. She is the author of Evolving in Monkey Town and A Year of Biblical Womanhood and was recognized by Christianity Today as a “woman to watch.” Clear, poignant, and well researched, this clearly deserves a place among this year’s best Christian blog sites. You should absolutely be reading her blog.
Olson is a wonderfully astute Wesleyan-Arminian scholar who engages theological perspectives and the Christian subculture. It seems that the majority of large scale Christian authors are decidedly Reformed in their theology. It is nice to have a well informed alternative to five point Calvinism, and Olson wears his Arminian theological stance on his sleeve. Roger Olson earns a distinguished place near the top of the best Christian blog sites that represent an Arminian perspective.
Frank Viola is a brilliant scholar who writes a remarkably eclectic blog. Its topics range from book reviews, to theological reflections, to tips on starting your own blog. He is also the author of numerous books including Jesus Manifesto, Reimagining Church, and Pagan Christianity. Again, a blog that is willing to engage perspectives outside the norm of traditional Christian thought, this is a great blog to expand your Christian awareness.
Kurt Willems consistently writes in ways that manage to engage culture squarely and faithfully. In fact, I have featured articles from his blog on this site before. In addition, he unabashedly manages to come up with the best headlines. If you want the tools to faithfully engage cultural trends, this is one of the best Christian blog sites to equip you for that. Check out his blog, you’ll see what I mean.
Justin Taylor is one of the only Reformed theologians on this list, and I don’t always agree with his take on things. However, when he gets going, he knows how to make a solid argument and get you to think. Even if you are not Reformed (as I am not), following a solid and articulate thinker of a different theological tradition is important for stretching your own manner of thinking.
Arguably the best Christian blog site out there, its author is articulate, brilliant, and devilishly handsome. He is also surprisingly humble. Oh, and at times sarcastic. If you haven’t subscribed to this blog-to-end-all-Christian-blogs, be sure to sign up on the right.
So there it is – the 10 best Christian blog sites that you should be reading.
Have any you want to add to the list? Make sure to list them in the comments!
Image Credit: Travis Isaacs
Kelly J Youngblood February 15, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Great list. I am familiar with all of those and follow most of them, and if I don’t follow them on a regular basis I do read them periodically.
Craig L. Adams February 15, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Those are pretty good recommendations. I don’t care for Tony Jones, though I admit that I read him off and on. I don’t read Frank Viola or Justin Taylor, though I do have some respect for Viola.
I personally like:
Morgan Guyton http://morganguyton.wordpress.com/
J. R. Daniel Kirk http://www.jrdkirk.com/
Allan R. Bevere http://www.allanbevere.com/
Ben Gosden http://mastersdust.com/
Michael Bird & Joel Willitts http://www.patheos.com/blogs/euangelion/
John Meunier http://johnmeunier.wordpress.com/
Ooooh, and numerous others…Not to replace the ones you listed (except Jones & Taylor), necessarily, but people I read regularly… people who challenge and prod my thinking.
One of the problems with this is that blogs run hot and cold, depending on what’s going on in the blogger’s life. Some great ones are currently inactive, but I expec that they may well become active again.
T. E. Hanna February 15, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Hey Craig!
I like Tony principally BECAUSE he is outside my theological box, so to speak. I’m looking forward to checking out your recommendations.
You’ve been popping up on my radar quite a bit lately, actually. I’m a fellow Asburian and United Methodist pastor, currently enjoying the thoughts of Brian Russell in my exegesis of Genesis course with him, and I will be looking to transfer to the Michigan conference in the next year or two. I’d love to get connected.
Craig L. Adams February 15, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Yeah, it would be nice to get together sometime. I’m in the Grand Rapids area. Will you be transferring to the Detroit or West Michigan Conference?
I am retired from active ministry, but still fill pulpits a lot. Sadly, my connection to the UMC gets more and more tenuous as time goes by — it’s sad because I really am theologically Wesleyan at heart.
If you can say — what brings you to Michigan?
Craig L. Adams February 15, 2013 at 8:12 pm
AFTERTHOUGHT: Here’s a listing of the Methoblog Top 10 from 2012: http://methoblog.com/3_0/2012/11/the-methoblog-top-ten/
Rachel February 15, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Please check out my Christian blog http://www.1alien.wordpress.com/. I’m a Christian teen writing about my life experiences and the lessons I’ve learned.
T. E. Hanna February 15, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Thanks for sharing Rachel!
melanie jean juneau (motherofnine9) February 15, 2013 at 7:30 pm
I am so glad that you took my hint and listed your blog because it reveals truth in a refreshingly intelligent and compassionate manner. never simplistic but rather serious meat, not old milk for believers and agnostics alike
Debbie Maulsby February 27, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Thanks for finding my site so I could find yours. Found your articles quite thought provoking. Thanks for this list of Christian blogs to check out. I look forward to enjoying your blog.
James March 19, 2013 at 8:30 am
You should definitely check out brokenchariots.wordpress.com. It’s a blog written by Pastor Ryan Muliette whose wife Annie was diagnosed with terminal cancer 18 months ago and was given 6 months to live. The whole blog is dedicated to telling of God’s unceasing mercies and grace, and their attitude towards suffering for Christ and looking to eternity is really astounding. Ryan writes with inimitable beauty, and offers up some absolute pearls of wisdom which have brought many people to Christ. The blog achieved 100,000 hits in the first six months alone!
I guarantee you will be hard pushed to find a more incredible testimony of what true hope in Christ means than that of Ryan and Annie.
Mike Mobley March 23, 2013 at 6:23 pm
Great List T E!
Can I submit Before The Cross (www.beforethecross.com) for consideration maybe on a future list for you? They can also be found at @BeforeTheCross
Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
Thanks so much!
-Mike
Joslin April 14, 2013 at 7:36 am
I’m late, but if you want a good Christian blog with a bit of Asian Indian meets American meets British infused cultural flare, I recommend missniss.wordpress.com . From marriage, to culture, to a whole lot of laughs and tears in between, you’ll find yourself in love with this blog! Go on and see for yourself!
Allie April 15, 2013 at 9:39 am
I’ve been reading the Stack Goings Christian blog The Commit Manual (www.commitmanual.blogspot.com) since 2011. I think it offers great advice for Christian students and their parents in dealing with real questions and problems they face in life. I think he offers a fresh perspective as well.
Tom Mawhinney April 15, 2013 at 10:22 pm
I am a Christian blogger and a psychologist. My particular interest is in America’s decline and the factors that are contributing to it. A main factor is the effect that modernity has upon Faith in God and the errosion of moral precepts. Please stop by and see what I have to say about “America Is Committing Suicide”, “Gay” Marriage, and other similar topics. http://www.culturalsurvivalskill.com V. Thomas Mawhinney, Ph.D. Tell your friends they are welcome. God Bless.
Hope April 22, 2013 at 3:51 am
Thank you for this! Helped me a lot!
God Bless!
Sherri Gragg April 22, 2013 at 9:53 pm
Thanks for the terrific listing. I am happy to find your blog and look forward to reading more of your work.
Cori Padgett April 23, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Great list, thanks. I am just getting into faith blogging, so I love finding new blogs to feed my consumption need. lol Love the name of your blog too by the way.
Pastors George and Sharon Billington April 24, 2013 at 12:01 pm
How about adding our site to the “ten best”? Thanks for liking our posts. We pray that others will like them, too, with your referral in this way.
T E Hanna April 24, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Go ahead and drop the link to your site here in the comments. Part of the goal for the comment section here is to add to the list.
Kurt Willems May 7, 2013 at 1:15 am
Wow. Honored to have made this list. Seriously. Thanks so much!
T E Hanna May 7, 2013 at 9:44 am
You bet, Kurt. I’ve enjoyed your stuff for a while. I thought I notified you of the list when I first published the article?
Jason May 10, 2013 at 1:52 am
Thanks for sharing these wonderful blogs. I will surely go through this..:)
Walejana May 10, 2013 at 11:04 am
You should check out my blog too, it deals with testimonies of God’s goodness and power , people share their stories about God’s goodness.
Christa May 11, 2013 at 7:14 am
I personally think you should add http://[email protected] to your list.
you might need to throw a little humor in the mix!
Noble May 13, 2013 at 3:26 am
Hi, am a young christian blogger from Nigeria. I will like you to take a look at my blog and see if its worth being on your list. Thank you.
Ayo May 21, 2013 at 9:39 am
These are really good recommendations…… Although i’d also like to add The Messenger: http://www.tksmi.blogspot.com