So far in our 2020 recap, we’ve highlighted your 5 favorite articles and 10 most-read articles. Now, I’ll share a few of my favorites with you.
We published hundreds of articles in 2020, and I edited all of them. Selecting this list was painfully difficult.
To simplify my task, I narrowed down my favorites with three criteria. First, I avoided articles already featured on other 2020 recap lists. Second, I only selected one article per author. Third, I chose articles covering a variety of topics.
So, without further ado, here are 10 (or so) of my favorite Intersect articles of 2020 (in no particular order).
COVID Treatments and Christianity: What Really Happens in Medical Research
Much has been written about the COVID treatments and the vaccine this year. Alysha Clark, an Intersect contributor and medical researcher, gives us an inside look at what really happens in medical research. It’s an insightful look into an industry most of us know little about. Here’s an excerpt:
Claims of miracle drugs that seem too good to be true are probably not true.
Who’s Coming to Dinner? Practicing Hospitality in COVID-19
COVID changed many things about our lives, oftentimes for the worse. But in this article, Annie Lavi explores how the pandemic has changed her definition of hospitality for the better. It’s a delight to read.
That kind of hospitality has been crushed by COVID in the best way, replaced by an idea that is probably closer to how it should have been all along.
How ‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus Helps Explain Quarantine Psychology
When the shutdown hit, we all reacted differently. But were our reactions predictable? Dr. Ivan Spencer looked back at an old novel by Albert Camus, finds fresh relevance in it, and points us to a greater hope. He writes,
In his 1947 novel, The Plague, Albert Camus tells the riveting story of the quarantined city of Oran, Algeria, that suffers a vicious outbreak of the plague. The plague increasingly and randomly kills the young and the old, the rich and the poor. The doomed citizens, shut off and abandoned to die, cope with various strategies as the months drag on their languished souls.
Remembering Mincaye: “To die is gain, and heaven has gained.”
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mincaye, the missionary-murderer who became a faithful believer. His very life was a testimony to the power of the gospel. My friend Jonathan Pifer knew Mincaye well, and he penned this beautiful tribute to him. He writes,
As I reflect on his life and how it changed when Jesus entered it, I see that it is never too late for anyone to come to know Christ as their Savior.
How to Work from Home (Without Losing Your Job, Mind or Soul)
In March, many of us found ourselves working from home. Marie Burrus has been working from home since long before the pandemic started, and I’m so grateful she shared these simple tips with the rest of us.
Every stage of life and work-from-home situation will differ, but when you’re aware of the way the entirety of life is lived before God, you can create a beautiful blend of work and play that lets you have it all. When you work from home, you can better understand the purpose of your work, play, and tasks in ways that honor God.
A Vocation Unlike Most: A Pastor’s Charge to Fellow Pastors
Experienced pastor Peter Dubbelman penned a series of encouraging words to urge his fellow pastors to rest, love their flock and pace themselves. This particular post introduced the series, and I find tremendous wisdom in it.
The business of the church is not like the business of a corporation.
A Black Panther and a Risen Lamb
The year 2020 was rife with suffering, but even so… the death of Chadwick Boseman rocked me. Professor Ronjour Locke penned this beautiful, hope-filled tribute, and it’s one of my favorites of the year.
Boseman helped remind me of what the Lord is doing in this world, that one greater than a baseball player, judge, and fictitious king is coming.
Writing Tip: The Wisdom in Waiting to Write
“The world today is not in need of more words but of better ones.” With these words, Doug Ponder delivers a surprising, pastoral word to aspiring writers everywhere.
There is simply no substitute for the insights that come from “a long obedience in the same direction.”
Cultivating Virtue in a Pandemic
Every new situation exposes some particular aspect of our character. This was certainly true in the midst of a global pandemic. In this article, Clint Little offers wisdom on why new sins may be cropping up — and what you can do about it.
Every sin is a window into our actual character, not just an aberration brought about by unusual circumstances.
7 Steps to Help Restore Civil Discourse
In the heat of a tense election filled with plenty of mud-slinging, I so appreciate Jonathan Six‘s careful call to restore civil discourse. His principles continue to apply today.
Our discourse, whether online or offline, is an outworking of our character. Consistency in character is just as important as our urgency to share the truth.
Before You Post About Politics, Consider These 6 Principles
Much like Jonathan’s article, this piece from Gene Burrus is a needed call to clear-thinking and love-filled speech. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
Al Mohler has insightfully observed that social media has “a great distortion reality field.” Don’t go to social media for truth; in a sense, it stimulates delusion and psychosis.
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