MSI Press Blog

  This question is one that many Christians across traditions are asking. Christianity has always had divisions. The split between East and West in 1054, the Protestant Reformation, and countless denominational disagreements remind us that theological diversity is not new. What seems different today is that many of the fractures are occurring along lines that are not primarily theological. Some of the major pressures include: Political tribalism In many countries, especially the United States, political identity can become stronger than Christian identity. Christians who share the same creed may find themselves viewing one another primarily as political opponents. Churches can become associated with particular ideologies rather than with the Gospel itself. Digital fragmentation Social media rewards outrage, certainty, and conflict. Christians can easily find online communities that reinforce specific interpretations while dismissing others. The result is often less conversation and...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is When Liberty Enslaves by Jerry Aveta, which reached #284 in campaigns & elections and #318 in abolition history of the US. Book Description There is a common experience between our experiences today and those before the Civil War many years ago.  The effect of the intersection of faith and politics during these two experiences has had on our elections and our governance is uncanny in their similarities.  Both times an election insurrection was stopped by the sitting vice president.  Both times had people of the same faith on both sides of the social issues of the day claiming God’s favor and willing to divide the nation over those competing positions. Part 1 of this writing focuses on the Civil War era and how liberty centered around the issue of equality.  Some people of faith believed all men were equal, some did not. Part 2 focuses on our present times and how liberty centers on the sanctity of life concerning abortion and ...

  What if Christianity Were an Organism? If Christianity were an organism, love would be its blood. It would pulse through arteries of compassion and veins of mercy, carrying oxygen to every cell — believer and stranger alike. But the circulation has slowed. Some vessels are constricted by fear, others hardened by resentment. The heart still beats, but the flow is uneven. The Heart’s Labor At the center, the heart of Christ still contracts faithfully — sending grace outward, drawing pain inward. It never stops pumping, even when the body forgets how to receive. Every Eucharist, every act of forgiveness, every quiet kindness is a heartbeat keeping the organism alive. Yet the heart labors against resistance. When love meets cynicism, the pulse falters. When compassion meets tribal loyalty, the blood thickens. When mercy meets outrage, the arteries narrow. The Blockages Some communities have developed spiritual plaque — layers of pride, nostalgia, and fear of contamination. They restr...

If the United States were a living organism, its neurology would show signs of chronic dysregulation. The neural pathways that once carried shared meaning — empathy, civic trust, and factual coherence — are firing unevenly. Some regions are hyperactive, flooded with outrage and fear; others are underactive, numbed by fatigue or withdrawal. The Brainstem: Survival Mode The national brainstem — the part that keeps the organism breathing — is locked in fight‑or‑flight. Every stimulus feels existential. The reflexes are sharp, but the higher reasoning centers struggle to engage. The Limbic System: Overstimulated Emotion circuits dominate. The amygdala is overclocked, reacting to perceived threats from every direction. Compassion still exists, but it competes with adrenaline. The result is a body politic that feels constantly endangered, even when safe. The Prefrontal Cortex: Fragmented Executive function — planning, foresight, impulse control — is impaired. The hemispheres no longer coordi...

Today's Publisher's Pride is When Liberty Enslaves by Jerry Aveta, which reached #284 in campaigns & elections and #318 in abolition history of the US. Book Description There is a common experience between our experiences today and those before the Civil War many years ago.  The effect of the intersection of faith and politics during these two experiences has had on our elections and our governance is uncanny in their similarities.  Both times an election insurrection was stopped by the sitting vice president.  Both times had people of the same faith on both sides of the social issues of the day claiming God’s favor and willing to divide the nation over those competing positions. Part 1 of this writing focuses on the Civil War era and how liberty centered around the issue of equality.  Some people of faith believed all men were equal, some did not. Part 2 focuses on our present times and how liberty centers on the sanctity of life concerning abortion and gun con...