Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

#write31days

  • Full disclosure: Keeping myself organized is not my spiritual gift. You know those articles about the creative people with the messy desks? They’re written to make me feel better about myself. But I’ve come to believe that a Christian obsession with being together, organized, and effective is actually dysfunctional. I’m not a total slob. Just…

  • I’m sure you have some thoughts about sex. And they’re totally justified. I mean, you’re super smart and all. And I’m sure you’re confident in your understanding of a Christian position on premarital sex. If the sex ed industry is any indication, it’s clear to anyone that premarital sex pretty much puts you in command…

  • Shoehorned into the pew of this modest church in suburban Boston, listening to glorious hymns sung by an incredible choir in a packed nave, and hearing announcements of fantastic outreach, I had never in my life felt less connected to the church. I showed up one more time before I disappeared as suddenly as I…

  • I’m not sure you can call yourself a Christian if you haven’t ever had to explain the Trinity to someone. My first attempt was when I was 22 and working at Barnes & Noble. It was a miserable failure. My failure was less about my skill or understanding than it is the material one has…

  • It’s a good question. If we believe God is love, how can there be so much hate? In the world? Among Christians? What does it say about us when we consider the old song “They will know we are Christians by our love” or Jesus’s instruction in John 13:35: By this everyone will know that…

  • I remember walking out of the movie theater with great disappointment. This time it wasn’t the hype. I wasn’t super excited because of everything I heard. This was that experiential disappointment that comes when a good movie feels trapped in its own illusion. The kind where there are many ways to end it if you…