The top Christian blogs

This is the definitive list of the top 30 Christian blogs. By what criteria? I hear you cry. Page visits? Twitter followers? Facebook likes?

 

No, it is more arbitrary than any of these. These are the top faith blogs, simply because I say they are top – and I have impeccable taste.

So, as of March 2013, these are the people I ‘follow’ and come back to, time and again.
You may be surprised to see some ‘big names’ missing. My three criteria are: beautiful writing; in-depth theology or Bible teaching that makes my soul sing; conversation with commenters. The latter is because I am looking for relationship and interaction and dialogue, and I really value those who converse with me. This is perhaps why some of the bigger names are missing – it’s harder to interact when you have more commenters. I like people who reach into the brokenness and pull out gold. I like blogs to be beautiful, true and redemptive – because this is what I seek to do in my writing. These are people who do that.

 

Do tell me who else I should be reading – I’m discovering new great blogs every day!

 

Special mention: my favourite

  • A Deeper Story/ A Deeper Church/ A Deeper Family. This cooperative deserves a little chart all on its own. I have loved every single post I have ever read on The Deeper Story. When I first started blogging and I thought I was the only one not writing theological rants, I came upon this group of writers and my soul breathed the fresh air. These people are my people. (Nish, Sarah, Megan, Seth – if you’re reading this – I’m your biggest fan! Deeper Story is the best! It’s my lifetime ambition to be a Deeper Storyteller!). Ahem. Sorry about that. But seriously – follow these three channels (Deeper Church is my very favourite-favourite of all.)

 

This is my top 30 – in alphabetical order:

 

    • Addie Zierman @ How to talk evangelical. Everything, every single thing Addie writes is worth reading. She writes on my favourite topics: spiritual maturity, brokenness and redemption. She speaks my heart and does it with such effortless art that I am always left speechless; just whispering amen, amen.

 

    • Alastair Roberts – PhD student in Durham, studying Old Testament, Alastair is refreshingly different and always makes me think.

 

 

    • Alice Buckley @ Play on the Word – Alice is one of the most lovely people you could ever hope to meet. She writes imaginatively on motherhood, adoption, teaching the word to tinies. Her life flows with Jesus, and so does her writing.

 

    • Amber Haines @ the RunaMuck – Amber’s writing is not just ‘blogging-good’ but ‘literature-good’. She melds poetry and prose together with a deep digging into theology in a way that is breathtakingly beautiful. Start by reading her Lovesongs.

 

    • Amy Young @ the messy middle – Amy is an American working in China. She writes with wit and humour, and I love her global perspective on giving glory to God in the mess.

 

    • Cara @ whimsy smitten – I love the way Cara stitches together a metaphor throughout a blog post, and makes me feel it all.

 

    • Cat Caird – Cat is lovely and I have the privilege of knowing her in real life. She has good things to say about Christian leadership and the importance of encouragement.

 

    • Charity Erickson – I just like this girl’s quirky, sardonic take on life and church.

 

 

    • David T Lamb – Dave is a rarity on the Internet- he preaches without it feeling preachy. He writes short posts on the Old Testament in a compelling way, seeking to nourish rather than point-score. I always come away from his posts having laughed at his wit and humour and been enriched by his Bible teaching.

 

    • Ed Cyzewski @ in a mirror dimly – Ed always has such great ideas for blog posts and series, and a knack of bringing the best people together. I love his thoughts on writing and creativity.

 

    • Elora Nicole – Elora’s writing is arresting and I love her heart that fights for the broken.

 

    • Emily Wierenga – Emily’s writing on anorexia, image and womanhood is so soft and gentle, and beats with a mother’s love.

 

    • Emma Scrivener – Emma’s blog feels like a chat with a great friend. She says the things that people think and are too afraid to say – on anorexia, image and culture.

 

    • Jenn LeBow – Jenn is brilliant at telling funny and engaging stories and has a great series on Mondays on mercy.

 

 

 

 

    • Kimberly Coyle @ find time for tea – living in Switzerland, about to return to the US, I love the way she paints a picture and embeds an emotion right in the middle of it all, without you looking.

 

    • Leigh Kramer @ Hopeful Leigh – Leigh is an encourager, and I always feel uplifted by her writing. Love this girl – she’s a kindred spirit.

 

    • Lore Ferguson @ sayableย – I like the way she digs deep into theology stuff. You can’t box her, she wriggles out.

 

    • Micha Boyett @ mama monk – Micha writes of the sacred in the everyday – so gently, so beautifully. She is teaching me how to worship God.

 

 

 

    • Sarah Bessey – Sarah dances prophetically with her words, and every post makes me want to get up and dance too.

 

    • Seth Haines – when I want to know how to live better, do suffering better, think better of God, I go to Seth’s writing. He is wise.

 

 

  • Vicky Beeching – a dear friend, Vicky comments on culture, technology and theology with provocative intelligence.

 

Making these kinds of lists is fatal. So – whoever happens to be the obvious person I should have listed – I am really sorry: I LOVE your stuff, I read it all the time, and your writing is brilliant. I am just very, very forgetful. Thanks for your grace!

 

In alphabetical order, here are 70 or so more blogs I stop by, making this a top 100-ish, if you should want more recommendations:
Abby Barnhart

Alece Ronzino Grit & glory

Alise Wright

Andrew Dunlop

Andrew Evans

Andrew Wilson

Anita Mathias

Ann Voskamp

Antonia Terrazas

Ashleigh Baker

Ashley Larkin

Big Bible

Blue Cotton Memory

Brandee Shafer

Brandy Walker

Caris Adel

Chine Mbubaegbu

DL Mayfield

Danny Webster

Daniel Blanche

Diana Trautwein

Dianna Anderson

Donald Miller

Eddie Arthur

Elizabeth Esther

Elizabeth W Marshall

Emily Maynard

Emily P Freeman

Enuma okoro

Esther Emery

Fragmentz

From two to one

Gareth Leaney

Genevieve Thul

Glen Scrivener

God and politics UK

God loves women

Guy Delacambre

Hannah Mudge – we mixed our drinks

Helen Murray – are we nearly there yet?

Her.meneutics – CT women

Holly Grantham

Idelette McVicker

James Prescott

Janice @ in the tangles

Jason Boyett

Jeff Goins

Jessica Bowman

Joe Bunting

John Blase

Joy Lenton

J R Goudeau

Kate Wharton

Kay Morgan-Gurr

Kelli Woodford – Chronicles of grace

Laura Krokos

Lisa-Jo Baker

Malcolm Guite

Marcus Honeysett

Margaret Felice

Mary De Muth

Melanie Gilchrist

Mia de Vries

Nicole Romero – 1000 strands

Nikki @ simply striving

Nish Weiseth

Nontwisted knickers

Pam’s perambulation

Penelope Swithinbank

Prodigal Magazine

Purple Arabesque

Rachel Held Evans

Relevant Magazine

Robin Dance

Ruthie Davies

Ruth Povey

Sam Allberry

Sara Batts – running life

Scot McKnight

Shelly Miller

She Loves Magazine

Tamara Hill Murphy @ this sacramental life

The Alethiophile

Tanya @ truth in weakness

The Vicar’s Wife

The High Calling

Threads

Timothy Willard

Trystan Owain Hughes

Wendy Beech-Ward

Wendy Van Eyck
Over to you:

  • Who else should I really be reading?
  • Who are your top five favourites?

 

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73 Responses to The top Christian blogs

  1. Elizabeth W. Marshall 24th March, 2013 at 6:42 pm #

    Tanya, what a wonderful list. Thank you for taking the time to compile it. I’m looking forward to exploring some of the names that are new to me. And to revisiting some older friends. Thanks you, friend. Blessings

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:47 am #

      Thanks, Elizabeth! Pretty sure your name should have been on my long list too…!
      Will add!

  2. Kimberly 24th March, 2013 at 6:16 pm #

    Thank you so much for including me! I love so many of the blogs you mentioned, and it’s such an honor to be included on your list:) I need to check out the few that I’m not familiar with already, and update my own woefully neglected blogroll. Thanks, friend:)

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:46 am #

      You’re most welcome, friend! It always feels like balm, reading your blog.

  3. Tim Carlisle 24th March, 2013 at 6:11 pm #

    Question – which is mildly provocative…. (or very provocative)

    Vicky Beeching has written two blog posts in nearly 18 months – one of which was just to say I’m going to blog again….. So call that one blog post. If that is number 30 – should I bother to read anything that just misses out? (or is it because she’s a friend?)

    ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Tanya 24th March, 2013 at 9:59 pm #

      Ha! Yes, Vicky’s blog has been on a bit of a break recently. Well, perhaps I am biased, but then again, she does have an award-winning blog and her articles now appearing in mainstream press as well…

      There are also loads of really excellent and very popular blogs in the long list – the ones I listed in my top 30 are the blogs that I just happen to prioritise coming back to and visiting. From my top 100 – hmm, I reckon you’d enjoy Timothy Willard – you should check him out.

  4. suzannah | the smitten word 24th March, 2013 at 5:59 pm #

    these are my people! you’re a doll:)

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:45 am #

      We have excellent taste! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Lore Ferguson 24th March, 2013 at 5:22 pm #

    Tanya, thanks so much for the inclusion. And also, thanks for the words. I think I like that picture of me wriggling out ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • michaboyett 24th March, 2013 at 7:42 pm #

      Tanya, I love this description of Lore’s writing as well. You’re so right. She always surprises me.

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:45 am #

      I’m glad! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Janel 24th March, 2013 at 4:55 pm #

    on tanya, what a wonderful list. I love blog rolls of favourites and ones that you visit timely because I often find such amazing writers and dear friends from following blogs. many of your top 30 i have found myself knodding along with and experiencing a bit of life together. The one’s i’ve not read i’ll definately have to check out…and add to my reader. thank you friend.

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:44 am #

      I’m so glad you found it helpful! That was utterly my intention in doing this – to point people to the things I’ve found most helpful.

  7. Penelope Swithinbank 24th March, 2013 at 4:54 pm #

    What a huge privilege to be on your list! Thank you, Tanya, and thank you for pointing to some really helpful ones to read. Like you, I’m finding much deep inspiration, support and encouragement from some of these blogs and am very grateful to live in the age of technology because of this! Your own blog should most definitely be very high on this list – so that’s the one you have omitted!
    – Penelope x

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:43 am #

      Penelope – you are one of the loveliest people on the blogosphere – and this comment just goes to show why. Much love to you. Xx

  8. HopefulLeigh 24th March, 2013 at 4:39 pm #

    Tanya! I’m so honored by your kind words and to be included in your top 30. So many of my favorites are on your list. Proof we are kindred spirits!

    • Tanya 25th March, 2013 at 9:42 am #

      Yay! You clearly have excellent taste too!

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