Hugh Whelchel, Author at The Washington Institute

Hugh is the Executive Director of the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (“IFWE”). Founded by Hugh in 2011, IFWE has reached millions around the globe with the life-changing message that your everyday work matters to God. A native Floridian, Hugh earned a bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of Florida and a master of arts in religion from Reformed Theological Seminary. Hugh and his wife Leslie now live in Loudoun County, Virginia. As an ordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, he serves in leadership at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia.

Articles by Hugh Whelchel

Faith • Biblical Reflections

The Morning Star

Hugh Whelchel | 4 min read

This article was written for the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, of which Hugh Whelchel is Senior Fellow & Founder. On one of our family vacations, we stopped and visited a large underground cavern. Even though I was only eight or nine, I can clearly remember the guide leading us into a vast vault...

Faith • Biblical Reflections

The Passage No One Preaches at Christmas

Hugh Whelchel | 10 min read

The Slaughter of the Innocents in Matthew 2:14 is one of the most misunderstood stories in the New Testament. The few pastors who do preach on this passage spend most of their time trying to justify why Bethlehemite children had to be murdered to fulfill some obscure Old Testament prophesy. Yet, Matthew used these opening...

Culture • Christianity & Culture

The Surprising Origins of Religious Freedom

Hugh Whelchel | 9 min read

On May 6, 1776, thirty-two “sons of Virginia” representing every county of the state met at Williamsburg to pass a resolution calling for the Virginia delegates at the Continental Congress to move for independence from Britain.[1] This Virginia Convention was also tasked with drafting a bill of rights and a constitution for the now independent...

Faith • Theological Reflections

Common Grace for the Common Good

Hugh Whelchel | 8 min read

Scripture, as God’s good word to his creation, is beautiful and challenging in its depiction of humanity and our call to faithfulness in the world. The Bible paints a compelling picture of creation as inherently good, and yet deeply marred and distorted by the reality of sin. With the entrance of sin to our world,...

Faith • Biblical Reflections

Reading the Bible as One Story

Hugh Whelchel | 8 min read

Adapted from Hugh Whelchel’s book All Things New: Rediscovering the Four-Chapter Gospel. A powerful scene at the end of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings was not in the movie. After the ring is destroyed at Mount Doom and the eagles rescue Sam and Frodo, Sam wakes up from his sleep in...

Faith • Biblical Reflections

The Star of Bethlehem

Hugh Whelchel | 12 min read

O star of wonder, star of night, Star of royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. There is no brighter symbol of the Christmas Story than the Star of Bethlehem. For over two thousand years, believers, scoffers, and the curious have wondered at the Biblical account of the Star. ...

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