Sarahbeth Caplin's Blog, page 13
October 24, 2019
Can anger be holy?
People of color are often used to hearing that they sound angry all the time. The “angry black woman” stereotype is especially common. What you may not know is that “angry Jewish woman,” or simply “angry Jewish people,” is also a Thing. And I’m one of them. In an unexpected way, the Trump era has… Continue reading Can anger be holy?
October 11, 2019
Jesus and relational boundaries
In many ways, my husband Josh and I are opposites. Despite both of us being Christians, introverts (well, he’s more of an outgoing introvert), and passionate about cats, he attends an evangelical megachurch — I attend a small Episcopal one. He finds liturgy “weird”; I love it. He’s politically independent, but holds views that lean… Continue reading Jesus and relational boundaries
October 7, 2019
They should know us by our love, not our dismissal of black suffering
You’ve probably seen the viral video by now, or at least heard about it: white police officer Amber Guyger being hugged by the brother of the black man she killed when she entered his apartment, claiming it was her own. Brandt Jean told her, “If you are truly sorry, I know I can speak for… Continue reading They should know us by our love, not our dismissal of black suffering
September 25, 2019
Redeeming September 25th
September 25th is a dark day in my life. I was sitting at my father’s hospital bed with my mom and brother, watching as his breathing grew more labored until, finally, he stopped altogether. David Joseph Caplin died at around 11am on the morning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, 2014. Not long before… Continue reading Redeeming September 25th
August 26, 2019
When hope is hard to find
It’s a little uncomfortable when friends ask you in front of people you don’t know how your new book is coming along, when the topic is suffering. What kind of person writes about that? It’s not the kind of thing you want to broadcast if you’re just being social at a party (not that I’m… Continue reading When hope is hard to find
August 18, 2019
“Spinning Crap Into Fertilizer” now available for pre-order + introduction
This isn’t one of those books in which I assure you, from the comfort of my safe, suburban home, that everything happens for a reason. This isn’t one of those books that treats Christianity like a self-help regimen, in which I promise that if you live a certain way, you will earn Jesus Points that… Continue reading “Spinning Crap Into Fertilizer” now available for pre-order + introduction
August 13, 2019
When we are the reason they left
Not long after “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” author Joshua Harris announced he is no longer a Christian, Marty Sampson, a songwriter for the Christian band Hillsong, did the same thing. In my social media feeds, people have expressed fear that their favorite Christian artist, author, or speaker might be next. As if deconversion is a… Continue reading When we are the reason they left
August 7, 2019
Why you can’t divorce suffering from the gospel
Some time ago, I read a tweet by someone who claimed that Christianity should not exist among indigenous groups. In other words, if violent missionaries did not threaten minorities to convert on pain of death, then none of them would be Christian today. They would have no reason to be. Much to my surprise, this… Continue reading Why you can’t divorce suffering from the gospel
July 27, 2019
Joshua Harris and the intellectual value of being a convert
Joshua Harris, author of the infamous anti-dating book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, announced on Instagram this week that he is no longer a Christian, and now plenty of people are claiming he never was one to begin with. One of the loudest voices of dissent is Brent Detwiler, founder of Sovereign Grace Ministries, where Harris was employed: JOSHUA… Continue reading Joshua Harris and the intellectual value of being a convert
July 21, 2019
ICE raids and “real” Christians
Some people say that actions matter more than belief. My Jewish upbringing taught me the same thing. A loving God, I learned, would judge people by the way they treated others than whether they followed the correct religion. I’m torn about this. The thing is, theology matters — it matters a lot. Theology shapes what… Continue reading ICE raids and “real” Christians
