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Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Prof. Ilan Pappè, historian at Exeter University, UK, for an in-depth conversation on one of the most enduring and contentious issues of our time: the Israel-Palestine conflict. Drawing on Pappè’s powerful new books—Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic and A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, Sachs and Pappè discuss the historical, political, and ideological forces that have shaped the Zionist movement and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.    

Together, they explore how lobbying networks in the UK and US have influenced the foreign policy of both countries, and the role of the UK and US in the Israel-Palestine conflict. They delve into the historical roots of Zionism, the legacy of British colonial rule in Mandatory Palestine, and the role of the US in the Israel-Palestine conflict from the adoption of the UN Partition Plan in 1947 until today. This episode offers listeners a deeper understanding of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine by delving into the historical processes that shaped the conflict during the past century and more. 

The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org

Footnotes:

• Zionism
• Israel Palestinian Conflict
• War in Gaza
• Judaism
• Antisemitism
• History of Israel
• History of Palestine
• Settler Colonialism
• Ottoman Empire
• British Imperialism
• Lord Balfour
• Neocons
• UN Resolution 181
• UN Partition Plan for Palestine
• Patrick Wolfe - Elimination of the Local
• 2000 Camp David Summit
• 2024 Protests on University Campuses

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An Introduction, Overview & Step-by-Step Guide

“The Book of Common Prayer” seems amazing but having grown up Baptist I have no idea what this thing is and how its to be used. So, we wrangled in the editors of IVP’s release of “The 1662 Book of Common Prayer”, Samuel L. Bray & Drew Keane, and asked them everything you need to know on what this thing is all about, how to best use it for personal devotion, etc. Listen in as we ask them:

1. Can you introduce yourselves perhaps sharing your background, involvement with the project of reprinting “The 1662 Book of Common Prayer”?

2. What is the Book of Common Prayer, and what is the 1662 version and what are the other versions?

3. Was it first written to teach folks, or bring unity, or to increase piety or correct errors or did it have some other desired function?

4. How has this book been used through the years?

5. There’s 767 pages in this thing and it’s a bit intimidating. Can you drill down in it for us giving us the forest and some trees?

6. Of the 29 sections in the BCP where does the avg. laymen spend much of his or her time, and is it all prayers?

7. How much is spent alone, with the gathered church, at home with family, for special events, etc.?

8. Can you walk us through a typical day’s reading for say, April 8th or something like that?

9. How can the BCP be used if Im happy with my church and tradition, but think there could be benefit?

10. How best used individually and devotionally?

In today’s episode, Dr. David Pocta and Hannah DeSouza unpack the mysteries of Genesis, explore the creation of time and seasons, and consider their implications for our spiritual lives. We dive into the concept of spiritual disciplines, and how understanding divine rhythms provides a richer landscape for our faith. From exploring the significance of the Christian liturgical calendar to the complexities of integrating these rhythms into daily life, this episode illuminated the fascinating aspects of spirituality, rhythm, and time. 

This discussion encourages listeners to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and consider how they might better integrate these rhythms into their lives. We end with a discussion about the value of spiritual disciplines such as regular retreats and the celebration of milestones, underscoring the importance of being intentional about incorporating these practices into our daily routines. 

Topics Discussed: 

• Genesis 1:14-15 – the creation of time and seasons and its impact on spirituality 
• How understanding divine rhythms can help individuals live fully in Christ
• The Christian liturgical calendar, showcasing the significance of celebrating milestones. and the concept of regular retreats 
• Ruth Haley Barton's insights from her book "Sacred Rhythms," emphasizing how convenience can potentially rob us of the things we value most 
• The importance of daily, weekly, and annual patterns in our spiritual life 
• How our spirituality changes as we move through different seasons of life 
• The idea of a rule of life, a framework for freedom that helps cultivate a deeper connection with God 
• How spiritual practices need to be tailored to the season we are in 
• The complexities of integrating these rhythms into daily life and how it can be challenging to ensure they are practiced 
• The idea of finishing work and resting, distinguishing between the two concepts and emphasizing the spiritual significance of rest 

Quotes: 

“But especially as I get older, I love when nighttime comes. It's just, I mean, I love the day but I love the night.” –Dr. David Pocta 

“Yeah, there's always more that can be done, but knowing when to say something is finished, I think is such a strength.” –Hannah DeSouza 

“So in my personal Christian history spreadsheet every year on my spiritual birthday, I just reflect on what God has done in my life over that last year and it's so helpful for me to think about how God has moved.” –Dr. David Pocta 

Links: 

Dr. David Pocta 

Hannah DeSouza 

Slideshow 

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I share how using the church’s calendar, or liturgical calendar can help you and your kids to grow closer to Christ. Plus, a few ways to play your way through the rhythms of growth, preparation, and celebrations.

Verses from the episode:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Links from the episode:

(This may contain some affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.)

Godly Play Story of the Church Year

Liturgical Calendar Article with great chart!

Liturgical Play Pinterest Board

Liturgical Calendar Seasons with Colors

Revised Common Lectionary

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How to use the Christian Church Year to focus your heart and mind on Christ as year long!

Get my Liturgical Calendar Guide for Protestant Families HERE! use code: LITRURGY10 for 10% off!

FREE Liturgical Calendar Wheel - https://raisingarrows.net/liturgical-church-year-protestant-family/

Resources mentioned:

• Celebrating the Biblical Feasts by Martha Zimmerman
• Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman
• Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
• Living the Christian Year Devotional by Bobby Gross
• Podcast #28 - Having a REAL Sabbath Rest
• Emily's Story
• Christmas Homeschool Ideas
• Free Easter Devotionals for Children

In this episode of the The Catholic Talk Show, the guys explore the sometimes very confusing Catholic Liturgical Calendar.

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Abortion is the moral issue of our day.

As the National Sanctity of Human Life Day arrives this January 21, Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss why being pro-life matters so deeply.

Before they launch into that important conversation, they discuss the historical and biblical significance of the liturgical Christian calendar, including how the season of Lent came about, as well as Denison Forum’s latest book, a Lenten devotional entitled Awaken My Heart.

Then they launch into an in-depth discussion on abortion, its moral implications, and how the church should respond, especially given the current increase in chemical abortions.

Dr. Denison calls believers to take a practical, compassionate, and prophetic stand against the issue of abortion, with a focus on supporting mothers as well as unborn children.

Topics

(00:04): Introduction and Overview

(00:37): Understanding the Liturgical Christian Calendar

(01:28): The History and Significance of the Liturgical Calendar

(03:23): The Role of Rhythms and Seasons in Christian Life

(04:39): The Protestant Reformation and its Impact on Liturgical Traditions

(09:55): The Concept of Lent in Christian Tradition

(18:37): The Importance of Sanctity of Life Sunday

(22:29): The Seven Pillars of Biblical Flourishing

(23:01): The Sanctity of Life and its Biblical Foundation

(29:38): Abortion: A Moral Issue of Our Day

(31:57): Understanding the Cultural Phenomenon of Abortion

(32:24): Reasons Women Choose Abortion

(32:57): The Desire for Personal Autonomy

(34:12): The Shift in Cultural Morality

(35:09): The Importance of Responsibility in Freedom

(35:39): The Impact of Personal Privilege on Society

(36:36): The Rise of Moral Therapeutic Deism

(37:14): Being Pro-Life in Every Biblical Sense

(38:16): The Church's Role in Supporting At-Risk Pregnancies

(38:48): Understanding the Complexity of Abortion Decisions

(39:47): The Aftermath of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

(42:58): The Increase in Chemical Abortions

(45:12): The Role of Church Leaders in Addressing Abortion

(50:46): Guidance for Individuals Supporting Someone Considering Abortion

(56:33): The Spiritual Battle Surrounding Abortion

Resources

National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Awaken My Heart: A 47-Day Lenten Devotional

Evangelical Is Not Enough

Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal: Why the Church Should Be All Three

Why is Lent relevant for evangelicals?

First15

What does the Bible say about abortion?

How can so many Americans be so wrong on abortion?

Transcript (PDF)

About Dr. Jim Denison

Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.

About Dr. Mark Turman

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

About Denison Forum

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Most people live by a calendar, but what about the liturgical calendar? The Catholic Church celebrates and remembers many important people, events and seasons throughout the year. Jeff Cavins explains what some of these important days and seasons are and how we can live our lives according to the liturgical calendar.

Snippet from the Show
By following God’s calendar, we will not waste time and energy. Rather, we will be focused on his will rather than our own.

• Email us with comments or questions at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com.
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Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

In this seventh episode of the Letters to Mothers season, we’re talking about liturgical living and creating traditions with our families. Is it possible to enter into the rhythms of the church without getting totally overwhelmed? How do you decide which feasts to celebrate, how to create traditions in your domestic church?

Maybe you’ve taken some quick glances through blogs and Pinterest only to be left feeling discouraged or comparing your liturgical living to everyone else out there who seem to have it totally together. But it is possible to discover the joy of the liturgical season and be drawn closer to God in the middle of our daily lives as women and mothers.

If you’re looking for imaginative, effortless, and simple ways to live all of the Church Seasons, this episode with Erica Tighe Campbell is for you.

Topics we cover:

• Erica’s story as a Catholic woman

• The origin story of Erica’s new book, Living the Seasons

• Where to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed when it comes to living the traditions of the church in your home

• What liturgical living has looked like for Erica in different seasons of life

• How to build a domestic church that helps your children enter into the rhythms of the year

• How Erica lives out the feminine genius in her ordinary, daily life as a mother

Resources for you:

• Pick up your own copy of Living the Seasons

• Explore the Be a Heart store

• Follow Be a Heart and Erica on Instagram

• Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month

Discussion questions:

1. What did living liturgically look like for you growing up? Do you have any favorite family traditions that you continue as an adult?
   

2. Does living liturgically intimidate you? If so, what is one small way you can be more aware of the rhythms of the church calendar this year?
   

3. What is your favorite season of the church calendar? How do you enter into it in your own home?
   

4. What are some ways you can celebrate favorite feast days in your own home?
   

5. It’s tempting to compare our liturgical living to some other woman who “has it all together”—even if that woman only exists in our imagination. She remembers all the feast days, hosts the big Michaelmas party, and everything always looks Pinterest-perfect and beautiful. How can you resist the urge to compare when it comes to the way you live liturgically in you homes and what does it look like to confidently celebrate in a way that works in whatever season of life you find yourself in? 

Rooted in locality, seasonality, and agrarian living, the liturgical calendar - the feasts, celebrations, and other observations that made up the early church year - can help root us in the natural rhythms of life. But while most of us are familiar with a few holidays from the early church year, modern living doesn't make a lot of space for recognizing the depth of the calendar that once dictated the rhythm of daily lives. In today's episode I speak to Kristen Haakenson of HearthStoneFables.com, who shares practical wisdom about how to incorporate elements of the historical church calendar into contemporary life. Whether you're hoping to enrich your faith, develop a stronger understanding of where these holidays fit in the context of history and agrarian life, or simply want to imbue more seasonality into your day-to-day life, you'll definitely want to listen to our conversation. And after the discussion, I share some ways I hope to let Kristen's advice inspire my holiday celebrations, including recognizing the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany.

Episode Links:

November Journal episode

Kristin's Substack, Hearthstone Fables

Ancestral Kitchen

This episode is brought to you by Bevy, my tea and craft-supply company! Order your holiday 2024 BevyBox - a gift box hand-curated by me and featuring tea, craft supplies and other special goodies - at BevyBox.co, and use code TEA15 for 15% off.

PS: I'd love to hear from you at my new email address! Share your thoughts about today's episode, topics/guests you'd love featured on the show in the future, or just to say hi: hello@theteasmade.com.

We all have a liturgy to our lives, even if we don't call it that. So why bother with one that's old and global, too? Since Advent is the start of a new liturgical year, Seth and Tsh unpack what the calendar is and why it matters. Not so much a deep dive, this chat is more of a high-level perspective on why it's good to lean into a rhythm for marking time outside of ourselves.

• Seth's newsletter + website


• Tsh's newsletter + website


• Tsh's 2022 Gift Guide


• Pick up a round of drinks!


• Our recommended reads


• A 101 on Advent


• Tsh's Advent book, Shadow & Light


• The Liturgical Year, by Joan Chittister


• Living the Christian Year, by Bobby Gross


• Sounding the Seasons, by Malcolm Guite


• The Comfort Crisis, by Michael Easter


• Madison Cunningham

The season of Advent calls us to remember the incarnation of Christ into our world while anticipating his future return. Yet what does Advent have to tell us about our present “now and not yet” moment?

In her new book Advent: The Season of Hope, priest, author, and Trinity Forum Senior Fellow Tish Harrison Warren draws our attention towards the ways the church reflects and represents the incarnation of Christ, and how our waiting can be transformed from drudgery to joy by the object of our hope:

This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in December of 2023. Watch the full video of the conversation here. Learn more about Tish Harrison Warren.

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:

Liturgy of the Ordinary, by Tish Harrison Warren

Prayer In the Night, by Tish Harrison Warren

Advent: The Season of Hope, by Tish Harrison Warren

Receiving the Day, by Dorothy Bass

Related Trinity Forum Readings:

Bright Evening Star, by Madeleine L'Engle

Why God Became Man, by Anselm of Canterbury

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard

The Strangest Story in the World, by G.K. Chesterton

Handel's Messiah 

Related Conversations:
Rebuilding our Common Life with Yuval Levin
The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote
The Decadent Society with Ross Douthat
Science, Faith, Trust and Truth with Francis Collins
Beyond Ideology with Peter Kreeft and Eugene Rivers
Justice, Mercy, and Overcoming Racial Division with Claude Alexander and Mac Pier
Healing a Divided Culture with Arthur Brooks
After Babel with Andy Crouch and Johnathan Haidt
Trust, Truth, and The Knowledge Crisis with Bonnie Kristian
Hope in an Age of Anxiety with Curtis Chang & Curt Thompson

To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to join the Trinity Forum Society and help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society

Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican priest and the writer of several books. Until recently she had a column in the New York Times. She has also had a column in Christianity Today. Her new book is Advent: The Season of Hope. It’s part of the Fullness of Time series–books about each season of the liturgical calendar, edited by Esau McCaulley. In this episode, Tish and Jonathan Rogers talk about waiting, and making Christmas weird again.

Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/member

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holiday culture wars and consumerism bring more chaos than joy to the world. But there’s hope. The countercultural season of Advent offers a different way to prepare for Christmas. Tish Harrison Warren, former New York Times columnist and author, talks with Amy Julia Becker about:

• How the practices of Advent disarm the culture wars
• Ways that Advent helps us grieve and hope
• Why waiting to celebrate Christmas matters
• PLUS why Tish chose to leave the New York Times

Give a book for Christmas!

__
Guest Bio:

Tish Harrison Warren is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America. She is a former New York Times columnist the author of Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life (Christianity Today's 2018 Book of the Year) and Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep (Christianity Today's 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year). Her latest book is Advent: The Season of Hope. She is a founding member of The Pelican Project and a Senior Fellow with the Trinity Forum. She lives with her husband and three children in Austin, Texas.
__
Connect Online:

• Visit Tish's website at tishharrisonwarren.com
• Follow Tish on Instagram: @tishharrisonwarren

__
On the Podcast:

• Advent: The Season of Hope
• More of Tish's books
• Tish’s final essay at the Times
• Amy Julia's books

__
TRANSCRIPT: amyjuliabecker.com//tish-harrison-warren/

__
YouTube Channel: video with closed captions
__
Season 7 of the Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast connects to themes in my latest book, To Be Made Well, which you can order here! Learn more about my writing and speaking at amyjuliabecker.com.

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Thanks for listening! 

Investigative journalist Amelia Pang joins Robert Scheer to discuss the story of a Chinese prisoner at the heart of her gripping new book, “Made in China.” 

Have you seen the recent Hillsong documentary on FX The Secrets of Hillsong?  Tim brings on Janice and Tiff who were both featured in the documentary to get their unfiltered thoughts about the documentary, what it did well, and where it missed the mark. 

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America is more divided now than at any other time in history (except the civil war, of course). The church is no different. The fissures aren't healing. They're expanding. Why? Is there any hope to heal? Keith Simon and Patrick Miller explore the roots of tribalism with executive producer Daniel Moore and look at Jesus' answer to the problem.

Help us help people find great churches!

Does your church choose truth over tribe? Tell us about it!

Ok, truth time... Did you like this episode? Tell us by leaving a rating or review! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you did, you won't want to miss what's next (so subscribe now!). And help a friend by sharing this with them. Thank you! 🙏

Plus, the conversation is just beginning! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to join in on the dialogue! Want to learn more about Truth Over Tribe? Visit our website and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Want more truth over tribe? Check out our resources!

Resources:

Why We’re Polarized, Ezra Klein

The Righteous Mind, Jonathan Haidt

Uncivil Agreement, Liliana Mason

Divided We Fall, David French

Compassion & Conviction, Justin Giboney

In the tenth episode of the Symposium Ethics Podcast we speak with Dr. Melissa Browning, Assistant Professor of Contextual Ministry at McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, GA about her ethics of Christian mission.

Since it’s advent in the 1960s, the short-term mission trip has become a staple of American Christianity. Today, over 2 million Americans annually engage in short term missions, defined in the context of American Christianity as a planned ministry excursion or cultural immersion by a group of Christians, in a culture or place foreign to them, either abroad or within the U.S., for a short period of time, that can extend from one week all the way up to 1 or 2 years. There is an abundance of literature evaluating the efficacy of such trips. Most people see the potential benefits of STMs, but recognize that too many trips are poorly planned and potentially cause damage to the communities being served and have a nominal impact on the ones serving. In the podcast, Dr. Browning discusses in detail the benefits, liabilities, and limitations of short-term mission trips, helping us develop an ethics of Christian mission to reduce the chance that we will do harm to the foreign communities we seek to serve.

Right click to download episode ten.

Dr. Melissa Browning on the Need for Reciprocity in Christian Mission

The difference between a good mission trip and a bad mission trip is whether or not there is the opportunity for reciprocity… Are you making sure the people you bring are open to learn and receive? … It is the difference between trying to be a neighbor and trying to be a life saver.

Show Notes

1. Visit the faculty page of Dr. Melissa Browning as well as her professional website.
2. Dr. Browning partnered with Refuge and Hope International to bring seminary students to East Africa. Refuge and Hope International is a faith-based nonprofit organization that serves the urban refugee community in Kampala, Uganda.
3. Consider engaging Robert Lupton’s book (briefly referenced in the podcast), Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, and How to Reverse It, for tips on how to avoid doing harm in your short-term mission and immersion trips.
4. Dr. Browning is an ordained minister in and has done missionary work with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
5. The intro music is entitled “Without You” and can be found at www.freestockmusic.com. Direct link here.
6. The outro music is “Crossing the Desert” and can be found at www.freestockmusic.com. Direct link here.

The post Podcast Episode Ten: Ethics of Christian Mission appeared first on Symposium Ethics.

Symposium Ethics - an online communion of christian ethicists

What happens when you try to fix other people's problems? The answer is a lot of unintended consequences. Many guys who are going through their divorce see that they are struggling to find their place in the current scenario and with men often having some aspect of a nice guy they try to rush to a person's aid.

Why can't you fix a problem if you can?

Trying to fix a problem isn't going to help anybody but yourself feel good about yourself. It doesn't help the other person with their problem it may give a temporary bandaid but it doesn't fix the issue at hand.

Robert Lupton talks about the damage that churches and charities do when they try to fix a problem. In his book Toxic Charity: How the Church Hurts Those They Help and How to Reverse It Robert talks about how helping a person or caretaking is more destructive in the long run. This is because you take a person's reason to care. This act goes against a person's will to be self-sufficient. People have their own free will that they would otherwise be able to use if you hadn't taken it from them.

So fixing a problem isn't going to help the target be better. Look at toddlers when they are wanting to dress themselves. They realize they have free will and so they want to use their newfound power. So they want to do it themselves. If you do it for them because of whatever reason and you get a 2-year-old who has meltdowns because they can't wear their Hawaiian shirt with shorts cowboy boots and a bucket hat that is the wrong color.

Teenagers are the same way. That is what created the rebellion in them. We don't let them live life on their terms. Why? Not because it would damage them in any way but because of the thoughts we have about the circumstance. We think they will damage their future. When it's not your future to control.

Yet we still try to "help" and then look in shock when the other person is frustrated angry resentful and ends up doing the very opposite of what you suggest. They actively will start to sabotage your actions. All because you tried to help because of your thoughts.

No, the farthest from that point. I am saying don't help a person simply to make yourself feel better. Don't take a person's reasons to care because you want to care.

The big reason fixing other people doesn't work is because you can't change how they think.

The impact of empire has far-reaching implications for the church, the nation, and the world. Even Christians who would claim that the kingdom of heaven is the only true ultimate rule and reign can find themselves complicit in supporting and furthering the empires of our current age.

Former presidential candidate Mark Charles wanted to show a different way forward, using the political process to speak truth to power. In this thought-provoking episode, host Kaitlyn Schiess speaks with Charles about lessons learned from his political run and the ways in which trauma has had a particular impact on the white majority in this country.

With a focus on healing historical trauma and rethinking the two-party system, Charles shares a compelling vision for a more inclusive and just future. His perspectives on political reform and communal trauma are not to be missed.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how history shapes modern politics and explore ways to contribute to a more just and equitable society.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The influence of historical trauma on contemporary politics
• The damaging effects of the two-party system on American society
• Confronting and dismantling systemic white supremacist ideologies

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Mark Charles
• Check out his book co-authored with Soong-Chan Rah, Unsettling Truths
• Check out Rachel MacNair’s book, Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress

For its fifth season, hosted by Kaitlyn Schiess, The Disrupters podcast from IVP asks the question, "What does it mean to disrupt ourselves?" Join Kaitlyn as she explores the ways that Christians can prepare themselves—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally—to faithfully disrupt the church and the world. Pastors, scholars, activists, and therapists share their own experiences of formation and transformation to educate and inspire listeners who seek lasting change, both within themselves and in their communities. 

Other links

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Maila Kim, Helen Lee, Travis Albritton, and Andrew Bronson

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Production Assistant: Isis Toldson and Christine Pelliccio

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "People" by Lightmuzik

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

As an Amazon Affiliate, this channel earns commissions from qualifying purchases when you use the links above.

New York Times Bestselling author David Platt outlines why the tightly held personal and political convictions of so many Christians have become idolatry, how politics and division are fueling deconversion, and how the American Gospel hijacked so many hearts.

Show Notes

Church Leader Toolkit

Attend a Live Podcast Recording!

On The Rise Newsletter

New York Times columnist David French grew up in the Church of Christ, graduated from Lipscomb University (a school with deep roots and strong ties in the Church of Christ tradition), and shaped his political mind in the conservative Republicanism of the 1980s and 1990s. He began and built his legal career litigating institutions that threatened religious liberties, mostly of Christians. His experience serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq began a slow but sure maturation of his conservative ideals. For the last ten years, he has spoken and written more about how certain kinds of politics might corrupt the integrity and mission of Christians and the church...and how Christians, in the long run, may be the biggest threat to their own religious liberties. In this episode, Christian Chronicle CEO Erik Tryggestad and host BT Irwin ask David for his take on Christians and politics at this moment in the history of the church and the country.
Link to David French’s homepage at The New York Times

Link to David French’s latest book, Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How We Restore Our Nation

Link to news release about David French’s appointment as visiting professor at Lipscomb University’s College of Leadership and Public Service

Link to Lipscomb University College of Leadership and Public Service

Link to David French’s author page at amazon.com

Link to When Character Was King by Peggy Noonan

View the full archive of stories at christianchronicle.org

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Justin Giboney—co-founder and president of the AND Campaign—addresses the self-serving lies conservative and progressives tell themselves about issues like justice, identity politics, and critical race theory. 

Many of us would prefer to be lied to rather than confronted with a truth that complicates our preferred narrative. Yet if we are going to address the race issue faithfully, Giboney argues, “We must not only confront the lies that offend us, but also the lies that serve us.”

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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Have you felt an increasing sense of division and hostility with other Christians over politics in the last few years? You're not alone.
Political polarization is affecting many, if not most, church communities in America on some level.

So what's the best strategy for how to successfully navigate these tensions?

In this episode, we'll explore wise strategies that are both biblically and scientifically informed.

____

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Can or should Christians be involved in politics? When is it good? When it is sinful? Should our faith inform our politics?

Should christians be involved in politics? Should we let our Biblical convictions dictate how we vote? Is one party really more christian than "the other" party? Why do evangelicals like Donald Trump so much? Join us as we talk with Steven Dowling about one of the most polarizing subjects out there. 

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob and Shawn will be answering questions from our listeners. Specifically, the guys will address the role of believers in society. For example, how much should we be involved with politics? The guys will give their thoughts on this difficult topic. We will also hear Bob discuss how this impacts ministries by looking at an example from Focus on the Family. We will also hear the guys discuss the role of voting in the life of a believer. You won’t want to miss the discussion.

Should Christians get involved in politics? In the first of a two-part series, Dr. Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries joins me to talk about how Christians should think biblically about public policy. 

We're launching a new podcast! This episode is a sneak peek into Truth over Tribe. In this week's episode, Justin Giboney joins the show to discuss why Christians should be involved in politics. Justin is the Co-Founder of the AND Campaign, whose mission is to educate and organize Christians for civic and cultural engagement. Should the church be involved in politics? You'll get to listen to Justin and Keith discuss just that, plus you'll learn about the aspects of politics that are tearing our country apart. Tune in now! Subscribe to https://podcast.choosetruthovertribe.com/public/98/Truth-Over-Tribe-9f32ad1e (Truth over Tribe).

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Practical wisdom for engaging in heated conversations with compassion, truth, and empathy. Communication theorist Dr. Tim Muehlhoff joins Mike Erre and Andy to break down how Christians can honor both truth and love in our polarized world. Drawing from his book "I Beg to Differ: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Truth and Love," Tim offers a four-step approach to make our relational disagreements more fruitful—whether it's over politics, gender identity, theology, or everyday marriage struggles.

This fun and thought-provoking episode explores how modern Christians can reimagine public discourse as a form of spiritual formation, resisting the culture of outrage without compromising convictions. Filled with humor, poignant stories, and real-world scenarios, this is a must-listen for anyone striving to make Jesus beautiful in how they communicate—online and face-to-face.

Key Takeaways: • The Argument Culture – Why modern discourse has become toxic and how Christians can resist a win-at-all-costs mentality through humility and empathy. • The Power of Listening – Why Scripture calls us to listen before we speak and how it fosters compassion, understanding, and a Christlike witness. • Finding Common Ground – How affirming shared values and stories builds genuine relationships and opens doors for truth. • Discernment in Dialogue – Why rushing to "share our position" can damage relationships, and how to wisely discern the right time, place, and tone for deeper discussions. • Social Media and Faith – Why social media often fails as a medium for nuanced communication—and the dangers of outrage sharing without relational context.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Tim Muehlhoff – Professor of communication at Biola University, co-director of the Center for Marriage and Relationships, and author of "I Beg to Differ." Tim offers expert insight into how communication theory meets Christian faith in transforming the way we engage difficult conversations—with loved ones, strangers, and cultural "others."

Resources Mentioned: • I Beg to Differ by Tim Muehlhoff – Available here • Center for Marriage and Relationships – cmr.biola.edu • The Art of Relationships Podcast – Launching at Biola's Center for Marriage and Relationships • Proverbs 18:13 – "To answer before listening—that is folly and shame." • Longfellow Quote – On understanding the secret history of our enemies

Join us in rethinking what it means to have conversations that reflect Jesus' posture of grace and truth. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology on social media to dive deeper into the mission of Jesus in a divided world.

As always, we encourage and welcome discussion as we pursue truth and grace. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Explore the powerful implications of Jesus's "already but not yet" Kingdom as Mike Erre and Andy dismantle popular rapture theology and its impact on Christian political engagement and purpose. In this final installment of the Jesus & Politics series, Mike unpacks how a misunderstood end-times narrative has shaped generations of Christians to disengage from social and political action, and why reclaiming a Biblical understanding of heaven, earth, and eschatology transforms how we show up for justice, mercy, and our communities today.

Key Takeaways: • Reframing the Rapture – A deep-dive into the origins of rapture theology and why it lacks solid biblical foundation, particularly in 1 Thessalonians and Matthew 24. • The Kingdom is Here (and Also Coming) – Understanding Jesus's message as both present and future, and what that means for living as citizens of the Kingdom now. • Redeeming Political Engagement – Why following Jesus is inherently political, but cannot be reduced to partisan allegiance or single-issue voting. • Heaven Is Not the Goal – Challenging the "evacuate Earth" mentality with a renewed vision of New Creation and participating in God's restoration of all things. • The Role of the Church – From creation care to addressing systemic evil and personal transformation, we are called to embody God's Kingdom here and now.

Resources Mentioned: • Visit Vox Christian Community to join the conversation and stay informed – voxoc.com • Subversive Kingdom – subversivekingdom.com • Read: "The Patient Ferment of the Early Church" by Alan Kreider • Cornelius Plantinga's quote on evil and scalpel metaphor

Join the mission of living out the Kingdom today—with grace, humility, and purpose. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and follow us on social media for updates and conversation.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and questions: email us at hello@voxpodcast.com and connect on Facebook and Instagram.

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What does it really mean to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's? In this bold and insightful continuation of the Jesus & Politics series, Mike Erre unpacks one of the most misinterpreted passages in Christian theology. Drawing from Luke 20 and Jewish historical context, Mike reframes Jesus's response to the trap question about paying taxes—not as an endorsement of dual citizenship, but as a radical declaration that our entire identity belongs to God alone.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how Jesus subverted both political and religious expectations and how his call to wholehearted allegiance continues to challenge American Christians today. Mike and Andy explore the implications of carrying God's image and choosing to live as citizens of the Kingdom, not of any earthly empire—even when it demands radical reorientation of our identity, politics, and gospel witness.

Key Takeaways: • Reframing the "Caesar Tax" Trap – How Jesus flipped a political question into a spiritual revelation of identity and allegiance. • Image and Inscription – Understanding the profound Jewish implications behind Jesus's use of the words "image" and "inscription" in his response. • The Myth of Dual Citizenship – Why Jesus's statement isn't about balancing sacred and secular loyalties but prioritizing God's claim over our entire lives. • Politics & Identity – How Christian identity shapes political posture and why the gospel—not fear or power—should be the driving force behind civic engagement. • Peter's Call to Submission – Reconciling Jesus's radical teaching with Peter's instruction to honor authority, all in service to the gospel.

Resources Mentioned: • Luke 20:20-26 – The passage at the center of today's conversation • Jeremiah 7 – The prophetic link behind Jesus's confrontation in the temple • Genesis 1:26 – The foundation of being created in God's image • 1 Peter 2 – Exploring Christian submission for the sake of the gospel • www.voxoc.com – Sign up at the bottom to be part of the potential Vox church community coming out of this podcast • www.subversivekingdom.com – Archive of past podcasts and resources

As the idea of launching a new church community begins to take shape, we want to hear from you! If you're in Orange County and would like to be a part of what's next, head to voxoc.com and drop your email at the very bottom to stay informed. Your prayers, resources, and talents could help form a church FROM a podcast—flipping the traditional model on its head.

Stay connected by subscribing, leaving a review, and joining us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Let's keep pursuing the subversive and beautiful mission of Jesus together.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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How the American church's blend of faith and partisan politics compromises the mission of Jesus and why a new, distinctly Christ-centered political theology is desperately needed. In this foundational episode, Mike Erre and Andy unpack five key points for developing a theology of politics that resists culture war narratives and reclaims Jesus's lordship over all of life, including the public square.

Prompted by a storm of Facebook backlash to Mike's call for Christians to provide a counter-narrative to the increasingly politicized expressions of faith linked to conservative ideology, this thoughtful—and at times fiery—conversation explores how the American church often sacrifices Jesus's witness for political loyalty.

Key Takeaways: • Politics and the Image of God – Politics is not inherently evil; it's a reflection of our God-given mandate to order and care for human society. • Following Jesus is Inherently Political – Jesus's life, birth, and message directly challenged the Roman Empire, revealing that the gospel has unavoidable public implications. • Kingdom Above Country – The kingdom of God is not Republican, Democrat, Socialist, or Libertarian. It indicts all earthly systems and transcends partisanship. • Political Allegiance vs. Gospel Witness – How prioritizing political identity over Jesus leads to hostility, name-calling, and poor witness in both digital and real-life discussions. • How the Church Should Engage – Faithful political engagement flows from kingdom values: nonviolence, humility, justice, love of enemies, and self-sacrifice.

Resources Mentioned: • Luke 2 – The politically loaded birth announcement of Jesus • Revelation – As a critique of empire and prophetic call to allegiance to the slain Lamb • SubversiveKingdom.com – Mike's website and resource hub

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode to help others rethink the role of politics in our discipleship journey.

As always, we encourage and deeply value your questions and dialogue. Email us anytime at hello@voxpodcast.com, and join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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How the Sermon on the Mount radically reshapes our understanding of discipleship, power, the Church, and what it actually means to follow Jesus. In this third installment of the Sermon on the Mount Series, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford explore Matthew 5:13–16—Jesus' iconic words about being salt and light—and how these metaphors confront and correct the often diluted, political, and performative expressions of modern Christianity.

Far from being a call to performative evangelism or cute youth group slogans, "salt and light" is a commission to become a prophetic community marked by humility, weakness, and faithfulness. This episode dives deep into how Jesus takes on Israel's vocation and hands it to the unlikely crowd gathered at the mountainside—and how that redefines what it means to be Church today.

Key Takeaways: • Being "Salt of the Earth" Means Prophetic Contrast – Saltiness was about pervasive usefulness and presence, but can be utterly compromised when diluted by power, partisanship, or religiosity. • Light to the World as a Communal Witness – Not individual evangelism, but a collective embodiment of God's faithfulness in front of a watching world. • Beatitude People Are the "You" – Jesus applies Israel's covenantal vocation to a new community made up of the poor in spirit, the meek, the mourners, and the merciful. • Political Without Partisanship – A call to embrace kingdom politics rooted in service, hospitality, anti-violence, and justice—not power games or cultural domination. • Reconstructing the Church – How communities formed around the wrong metrics (platforms, celebrity, performance) have lost their saltiness, and how we might recover it.

Resources Mentioned: • Matthew 5:13-16 – Read the passage • Isaiah 51 & 60 – Prophetic background for Jesus' "light of the world" imagery • Leviticus (re: salt covenants) • Tony Campolo and Red Letter Christians – Red Letter Christians • Book of Acts – For contrasts between early Church and modern church structures • Tim Gombis – Faith Improvised Podcast

Join the journey of reimagining what the Church can and should be. Subscribe, leave a review, and join us on social media for ongoing conversations about embodying the true mission of Jesus.

As always, we encourage conversation, questions, and critique. Email us at hello@voxpodcast.com or engage with us on Instagram and Facebook.

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Throughout this entire season, we've addressed quite a few key issues to keep in mind as you enter the voting booth. As we approach voting day, today's special guest will give us a good reminder for us on how to vote justly with our Biblical Lens. Join us one more time as we talk with Jenny Yang on Just Gospel.

Guest: Jenny Yang

Jenny Yang is the Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief where she provides oversight for all advocacy initiatives and policy positions for the organization and leads the organization’s public relations efforts. In this position, she coordinates and leads the marketing, programs, and strategic engagement division teams on media relations, public engagement and brand elevation strategies. She also represents the organization’s advocacy priorities to the U.S. government and leads mobilization efforts for churches on advocacy campaigns. She has worked over a decade in refugee protection, immigration policy, and human rights and was on an active deployment roster for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Previous to World Relief, she worked at one of the largest political consulting companies in Maryland. Jenny is co-author of several titles and contributing author to three other books. Jenny was named one of the “50 Women to Watch” by Christianity Today.

Resource: Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate  - by Jenny Yang

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In most of the world today, slavery is unthinkable. Is it possible that we could ever reach that same place with abortion in America?

Just as there were once states where it was legal to own slaves and other states where it wasn't, we are now a nation deeply divided on the issue of abortion on a state-by-state level. In certain states, abortion is allowed, encouraged, and even subsidized abortion. In others, abortion is all but illegal. The history of the Church's stance on both issues, abolition and abortion, is instructive as we seek to obey Christ in a post-Roe world.

Clearly, the early Church did not like slavery. The New Testament condemns behaviors that were endemic to the slave trade. In his letter to Philemon, Paul gave broad hints that masters should free their Christian slaves. Early Christians often purchased slaves specifically to set them free.

Even so, neither the New Testament nor the early Church pushed for full abolition of slavery, for at least two reasons. First, taking a public stand would have brought even more unwanted attention to an already targeted group. Second, the ancient world offered no model to Christians for a society without slaves, so few could envision what that would look like. Though Christians saw slavery as a curse, they could not conceive of being rid of it entirely (any more than they could imagine a world rid of disease or poverty). This failure of moral imagination meant that it would be centuries before the implications of the Gospel would lead Christian rulers to take definitive steps toward abolishing slavery.

By the Middle Ages, overt slavery was rare in Europe, and Church leaders spoke out against it. Thomas Aquinas claimed that slavery might be part of the "law of nations" but was against the law of nature and therefore a sin. When, centuries later, the infamous Atlantic slave trade began, Portugal and Spain defied the decrees of four different popes to spread it in their colonies. In the English-speaking world, the rampant practice of slavery found opposition among Quakers and a rising evangelicalism that eventually ended first the slave trade, then slavery altogether.

All this means that the American theologians who defended slavery were following the culture's lead, not Church teaching. Though it took far too long for the implications of the Gospel to become clear, the teaching of both Jesus and Paul of the spiritual and moral equality of all persons meant that slavery was incompatible with Christianity, and its abolition in Christian states was only a matter of time. Eventually, because of the commitment to the worth and dignity of every human being as created in the image of God, Christians fought to end the abuse of slavery.

In contrast, the Christian position on abortion has been clear from day one. In the Didache, the earliest non-New Testament Christian work to survive, Christians are instructed "you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born." Similarly, the late first or early second century Epistle of Barnabas, a manual of ethics in this early period, says "you shall not murder a child by abortion, nor again kill it when it is born." In "A Plea for Christians," written in 177, Athenagoras of Athens wrote, "[w]e say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder …"

Similar teaching can be found in the writings of Clement of Alexandria, the pseudonymous Apocalypse of Peter, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian, and Lactantius, which takes us up to the de-criminalization of Christianity by Constantine. The teaching of the Church on abortion has been clear from the start and continued to be clear well into the 20th century.

Only recently have some claiming the name of Christ accepted abortion as morally licit, or worse, have celebrated it. Christian opposition to abortion is based on precisely the same reasoning as Christian opposition to slavery. Every human being is made in the image of God and is crowned with glory and honor, a dignity we dare not ignore. The same dehumanizing and depersonalizing claim that undergirded the idea that slaves were less worthy as human beings, and further undergirded the horrific treatment of African Americans in the Jim Crow South, is also at work in pro-abortion thinking. And yet, the same liberating power of the imago dei that broke the chains of slavery demands that we see the dignity of preborn children and work to protect them.

Slavery and the subsequent dehumanizing treatment of African Americans was evil, and that the crusade to end both was (and is) God's work. May we also recognize that dehumanizing and killing the unborn is at least as evil, and rightly abhorred.

In spring 2022, TGC released a five-part video debate series featuring prominent Christian thinkers discussing some of the most divisive issues facing the church today. On this episode, we’re featuring the fifth and final debate in our series, where Ryan Burge and Andrew Walker engage in a discussion whether evangelicals should be defined by sociology or theology. Pastor Jim Davis from Orlando Grace Church moderates this debate.

To watch videos from the debates and download free resources for further discussion with your staff or small group, visit goodfaithdebates.com

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A look at Juneteenth, Emancipation Day, and the gospel call of freedom to the captives intersect, and how those dedicated to Emancipation viewed it as the Lord’s work.

Freedom Day or Juneteenth, as it is best known, is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the United States. We are joined by Rev. Anthony Mtuaswa Johnson, Mississippi born, and Chicago bred, is an Ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister, speaker, writer, poet, producer, soldier, teacher, mentor and Elder. His sermon will share the history of this recognition of the date slavery was officially outlawed in the state of Texas and the meaning of freedom in the context of today’s time of racial reckoning and reconciliation. [Recording opens with a reading of “In the midst of a world” By Rebecca Parker, followed by a hymn of the Coleman Banks translation of the Sufi poet, Rumi. “Come, Come, Whoever You Are”.]

.

“I am free to be free and I am free to free people.”

We were thrilled to welcome guest preacher Bishop Yvette A. Flunder to the Canterbury pulpit. Preaching the day after Juneteenth was made a national holiday, Bishop Flunder encouraged us to reflect on the meaning of freedom.

This is actually the audio of a sermon that I delivered digitally for Juneteenth.  In the midst of the current movement for Black Lives and the eradication of racism these words should call those in power to better understand the truth of the world they have created, and to consider what it will take to atone for the centuries of oppressing, marginalizing and KILLiNG black of bodies.  At this point I celebrate the hell out of July 4th to remind angry white people that this is my country.  I'll never let them forget that we built this shit and that the bill is still past due! 

Join Pastor Larry as we take a break from our sermon series about The Story of Jesus to teach a special word about freedom in honor of Juneteenth.

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Pastor Phil Carr joins us today on Tell Me More as we talk about Healthy Relationships and the Why behind Juneteenth.  Is it a political issue or a discipleship issue?

So much discipleship in following Jesus happens along the way. For me, it hasn’t been a list of sermons that changed my life, or a list of places I volunteered, or even a book of the bible, but the way God moved in and through people around those things. The journey has formed me much more than any particular destination. So we are going to try to create that for you via this podcast. Hopefully it’s a place where we get to talk about things like what went into writing the sermon from this Sunday and what got cut that you wish you could have included. We’ll talk about our passions and hearts and why we are doing different things as a church. We’ll have the conversations on here that happen behind the scenes so that you can be a part of them too.

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This is a big one, y’all! Jemar and Tyler had the privilege of recording this podcast during our LIVE “Free To Be” Juneteenth Event. Our guest is the incomparable Rev. Dr. John Faison, Sr. He is no stranger to The Witness family. In fact, he recently was one of our Keynote speakers at our First National Conference “Joy and Justice”. He is the Senior Pastor of the historic Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and one of the premier voices for justice and equity in the Black Church.

Our topic today is a spin-off from his current sermon series at The Grove, entitled Not My Jesus: Reclaiming the Messiah from ‘Merica”. This is a LANDMARK podcast episode. Listen twice and digest it all, then share it with your friends!

Here is link to Dr. Faison’s most recent article in the Tennesseean entitled “A Letter to White People: Black Americans are Exhausted” https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrC3L5aEvpe5y4AzFsPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTEydGw3M2ZkBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQzAxNjNfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1593475803/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.tennessean.com%2fstory%2fopinion%2f2020%2f06%2f24%2fletter-white-people-black-americans-exhausted%2f3247279001%2f/RK=2/RS=08Y2Hfl_SAhrKnvVmIDp5YREwbI-

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What is Critical Race Theory and why are so many people talking about it?

In this episode of the Ricecast, we talk about Critical Race Theory - its definition, its shortcomings, and how we should interact with those that support it. 

Pastor Willy's Sermon from the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting:

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Ephesians 2:1-3 explains the greatest problem humanity faces on this earth. Ephesians 2:3 reveals the root cause of this problem, and how it leads to the destruction of humanity. This podcast study explains all of this from Ephesians 2:2. Before that, however, we look at a question from a reader about Critical Race Theory.

Question about Critical Race Theory

I listened to your recent discussions of Critical Race Theory, and while I agree that there might be some concerns with CRT, since the goal is to get rid of racism so that all people can live in love and unity with each other, shouldn’t we accept and embrace CRT, or at least allow it to have a voice in our schools and churches? CRT is part of an overall conversation about race relations, and is therefore a good thing. Right?

Everybody wants love and unity among all people. I completely agree that love and racial reconciliation are taught in the Bible and are godly goals.

The problem, however, is that while CRT claims to work toward unity, forgiveness, and reconciliation, it actually does the exact opposite. The reason it fails is twofold.

First, in the attempt to achieve racial reconciliation, CRT demonizes one particular race, namely, white people. Love, unity, and reconciliation can never occur when one group seeks to accuse and condemn another group. Such behavior does nothing but amplify the division and strife. Reconciliation can only occur when all parties agree that we are all equal in God’s image, and are all willing to view and treat each other in light of this equality.

But secondly, CRT does not lead to love and racial reconciliation because it seeks to achieve unity and love between the races through law, and specifically, through hedging around the law. Hedging around the law always leads to the opposite of what God wants. Let me explain what this is before I explain how CRT does this.

Law-hedging, or hedging around the law occurs when people take the commands and laws of God, and in an attempt to help people obey those divine instructions, create a secondary set of laws to keep people from breaking the primary law.

I talk about this in my sermon on Luke 6:1-5 and the Sabbath law keeping. “Don’t do work on the Sabbath” becomes don’t walk a certain distance on the Sabbath, don’t spit, don’t light a fire, and don’t rub heads of grain between your hands.

We have similar law-hedging rules today.

Don’t lust becomes don’t let women be beautiful (which is doubly sad, because the women get punished for the sins of men). If we really wanted to put up a hedge around the prohibition to lust, we should gouge out men’s eyes … as Jesus suggested (Matt 5:29).

Don’t get drunk becomes “Don’t drink.” Oh, let’s hedge that one too: “Don’t even have alcohol in your house.” But we can hedge that one too: “Don’t even have alcohol in your town. Let’s have dry town.” During the Prohibition Era, our country tried to really hedge around this one by banning all alcohol in the country. You know how well that turned out.

So that is hedging the law. And hedging around the law always results in catastrophe. It always leads to the exact opposite of what God wanted. Rather than result in love, law-hedging leads to hate.

Why? Because as soon as you build a hedge around the law in an attempt to keep the law, you are now using a standard which is not biblical to judge and condemn other people. And this standard based on human traditions leads to criticism and judgmentalism of people who may be engaging in behaviors that God is okay with, but you are not, because you use the standard of law-hedging while God uses the standard of love.

This is how hedging around the law leads to hate.

And this is exactly what happens with Critical Race Theory. CRT creates a system of laws and rules intended to “force” people to “do the work of antiracism.” I found a great article from Krista Bontrager called “The New Legalism” which explains how this works with CRT. After talking about how the Pharisees hedged around the law in the days of Jesus so that they could actually do the opposite of what the law required, Krista says that CRT advocates are doing the exact same thing today. CRT hedges around the biblical instructions against racism, not to end racism, but to do the exact opposite!

Here is a bit of what Krista writes in the article:

I have become persuaded that Social Justice and Critical Race Theory ARE the holiness codes of our cultural moment. “Doing the work” of antiracism has come to comprise the accepted values, language, and moral code—not just in our culture, but in many of our churches too.

“Social Justice Warriors” act as the new Pharisees. They are standing by watching, willing and ready to point out others’ moral shortcomings according to their human traditions—their hedge laws. The clear message: obey their “laws” or risk being cancelled. Within the church (or Christian higher ed), the sincerity of your faith may even be questioned!

This popular graphic is used all over the internet to explain the new definition of “White Supremacy.” The actions and attitudes listed here indicate what makes a person “unclean.” Ideas such as “White privilege” or “color blindness” are the new “holiness code” or “hedge laws” that are put forward to help prevent us from participating in covert racism.

But the question is: does this complex list demonstrate how I MUST live out God’s law of loving my neighbor? I would say no. Showing partiality, using slurs, or hating my neighbor in my heart because of her ethnicity would violate God’s standards of justice (Gal. 5:20). This graphic implies little more than a bunch of “hedge laws” that are intended to tell me how I must obey God’s commands. There is nothing about White privilege or White fragility in the Bible. There are no commands in Scripture about decentering Whiteness or performing the works of antiracism.

BUT many Christian leaders are talking as if there are!

I am opposed to racism. Racism is evil and must be purged from the world. Racism does the exact opposite of what God wants or desires, and in fact, has no place in the Kingdom of God, but rather belongs to the kingdom of darkness and the rule of satan. We must all work to bring love, healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation to all the people of the world.

But CRT does not accomplish this. Like the hedging-laws of the Pharisees, the laws and regulations of CRT accomplishes the opposite of what it claims. It does not bring love or reconciliation, but instead only amplifies hatred, discord, and jealousy among people, and thus, creates more racist feelings and tensions. Do not be led astray by Critical Race Theory. It does not help in creating unity. Instead, follow Jesus into love, grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. These are traits of the Kingdom of God and these are the only way to restore unity and reconciliation to this world.

This all fits with what we learn in our study of Ephesians 2:3.

How Sinful Desires Lead to Wrath (Ephesians 2:3)

Ephesians 2 is all about the primary problem that humans face in this world, which is the problem of hatred, division, strife, and racism. Humans have always suffered from religious hatred, economic hatred, racial hatred, and cultural hatred. We use this hatred to accuse, condemn, and kill one another, and we do it all in God’s name.

In Ephesians 2, Paul describes this problem, shows what Jesus did to fix it, and then invites us to apply the example of Jesus to our world so that we can live in love and unity with each other. Ephesians 2:1-3 contains Paul’s description of the problem we humans face. We have already considered Ephesians 2:1 where were learned what the great problem of humanity is and how it leads to death, and then also Ephesians 2:2, where we learned that the accuser, satan, is behind this great human problem.

Ephesians 2:3 now shows how we humans have fallen prey to the lies of the accuser, and also shows how our actions lead to the destruction of humanity.

Ephesians 2:3. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Here in Ephesians 2:3, Paul begins by saying All of us also lived among them at one time. There are no exceptions here. All means all. You, me, Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, everyone. Paul even includes himself in this. He says all of us. All of us at one time lived as the rest of the world lives, caught up in sin that leads to death (Ephesians 2:1) and under the control of the accuser, satan, which rules the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2).

Paul says next in Ephesians 2:3, that all of us were gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.

There are several things to note about these statements.

Sinful nature = Flesh

First, I am not fond of the term “sinful nature,” and it is not the best translation of the terms here that Paul wrote in the Greek. The Greek word is sarx, which is best translated as “flesh.” I argue in my Gospel Dictionary course that we do not have a “sinful nature” and should stop using that phrase. The biblical term is “flesh,” and it refers to the human tendency to use religious laws as a way to justify our violence against other human beings. It is “religious zeal carried out through religious violence.”

When Paul writes about “the flesh,” he is thinking the tendency of religious zealots to think that their faithful obedience to God’s commands (and more specifically, the manmade rules humans have constructed around God’s commands) puts them in better standing with God than others (cf. 2 Cor 10:3; Gal 2:20). This fits exactly with what we discussed above with Critical Race Theory.

Cravings = Lusts

Second, the term “cravings” could be translated as lusts. The word “lust” is a weighty theological word which reminds us of the three forms that sin takes … the lust of the eyes, the lust the flesh, and the pride of life. These are the three sins that Jesus was tempted with in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13), and are also the three sins that Eve was tempted with in the Garden (Genesis 3:6).

These cravings, or lusts, are closely related to desire, which Paul also mentions in this text.

Desire

Third, the word “desire” is a key term in Scripture, as it summarizes the basic source of all sin. As far back as Genesis 3 and Genesis 4, we see that desire led Eve to eat from the forbidden tree, and desire led Adam to imitate her actions, and desire led Cain to murder Abel (Gen 4:6-7).

I previously recorded a video about the importance of desire in understanding … pretty much everything … including sin, Scripture, and human society and culture. Watch it to learn more:

So when these three terms are properly understand, Paul is saying that all people on earth used to live according to religious zeal that led us to engage in violence against our enemies. We did this because desire caused us to want what others have and destroy those who were different from us. This is the way all of humanity lives, because we didn’t know any other way to live. Sacred violence runs the world, and we all use this sacred violence to get what we want and justify the violence we use in the process.

The end result of this sort of living is wrath. But what is wrath?

What is Wrath?

Paul says … like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

When most people read about “wrath” in the Bible, they think of the “wrath of God.” They think of God’s anger directed toward sinful human beings.

But this is not what the Bible teaches about wrath. In fact, in Scripture, wrath does not come from God at all. Most of the time, when the Bible talks about wrath, it simply uses the word “wrath” as we see here in Ephesians 2:3, without any reference to God at all. There are a couple of texts in the New Testament that do indeed use the term “wrath of God,” but I am convinced that those references are not referring to the way God really is, but instead refer to the way some religious people think about God.

I know that’s a challenging idea, but let me put it this way. There are many Christians today who teach that God hates certain types of people. You will hear some preachers say “God hates Muslims,” or “God hates homosexuals.” When you hear a pastor say such hateful things, are you to assume that since a pastor says it, this is the way God really is? No! Instead, you are to realize that some people have really bad ideas about God, and our job as followers of Jesus is to recognize pastors who preach hate are not accurately representing God the way He really is. We are to refute such false teachers as not properly showing what God is like as revealed to us in Jesus.

So in the few places where the New Testament speaks about “the wrath of God,” those texts are not correct representations of what Paul thought. Instead, in those texts where Paul writes about the wrath of God, he is quoting some bad Christian teachers from his day who wrongly believed that God was wrathful. Paul quotes these bad teachers, not because he agrees with them, but because he wants to refute them. And that is what Paul goes on to do.

It’s called Epistolary Diatribe, and Paul engages in it quite frequently. Paul quotes someone he disagrees with so that he can go on to show how they are wrong. That is what is going on when Paul writes about “the wrath of God.” Paul does not believe that God is wrathful. Paul knows that God is not. Yes, wrath exists, but it does not come from God. I will eventually have an entry in my Gospel Dictionary online course on the word “wrath” which will explain more.

So what is wrath if it is not God’s anger directed toward humans?

Wrath is the devastating and destructive consequences of sin that fall upon humanity because we sin. Wrath does not come from God; wrath comes from sin. Sin bears its own punishment with it, and Paul calls it “wrath.” When we sin, there are natural consequences that result, and these consequences destroy, hurt, harm, kill, ruin, and damage humans, animals, climate, relationships, government, culture, society, economics, and every other aspect of this world.

Wrath is a fire that destroys everything it touches, and the fire of wrath is sparked by human desire that leads to human violence.

The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand led to Word War I, which caused the mistreatment of the German people, which led to the rise of Adolph Hitler and World War II. One act of human violence led to the death and misery of millions. This is wrath. It is a contagion that starts with a spark and spreads to destroy countless lives.

Do you see why this is the greatest problem that humans face? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could end all the violence? Wouldn’t it be great if we could fulfill the desire of every beauty pageant model and achieve world peace? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could bring an end to wrath?

Ah, well, that is exactly what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. And that is exactly what Paul goes on to begin describing in Ephesians 2:4.

Summary of Ephesians 2:1-3

We humans do not function properly in our roles as God’s image on earth. Instead, we were subject to the ways of this world and to the lies of satan. This led us to sin according to our desire, resulting in our own mutually-assured destruction.

More succinctly still: Because we did not follow God in the ways of love, unity, and peace, but instead followed satan in the ways of desire, sin, and death, humanity is doomed.

Ephesians 2:1-3 has explained the greatest problem that humanity faces, which is the universal human problem of desire that leads to accusation and blame, which results in a contagion of death and violence. Most humans have absolutely no idea how to break free from all this violence. Our only solution is to have more guns and bombs than the next guy.

But Paul has a better solution. And it is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. And as Jesus showed us how to solve the problem of human violence, we as the church can show the world how to solve the problem also, which in turn, can start to bring an end to violence.

This is what Paul goes on to describe in Ephesians 2:4, where we pick up next time.

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In our last episode, Dr. Kevin Boyle joined us to help us understand how the Reagan coalition led to three decades of law and order politics taking precedence over civil rights enforcement. We also briefly discussed the war on drugs and how that tied into issues of race and the impact that it had on minorities, but that was really just a brief introduction to it.

We now pick up where we left off in that conversation, digging deeper into the problem of mass incarceration that resulted from the war on drugs first initiated by Richard Nixon, and we also begin to talk about a highly controversial topic even today – protection of minority voting rights.

As a reminder, Dr. Boyle is a professor at Northwestern University specializing in 20th century United States history. He has a particular focus on modern American social movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement (which, of course, happens to be our focus). He also has a long list of publications and honors including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Andrew Carnegie Corporation. He is the highly acclaimed author of Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and won the National Book Award for Nonfiction and many others.

Join us today as we dig deeper into the events in United States history that have shaped the racial landscape of today. We discuss the increased incentive to increase the prison population due to having criminalized American Blacks and poor Americans. Dr. Boyle also talks about voter suppression and how numerous attempts have been made over the years, especially by Republican politicians, to find creative ways of suppressing the Black vote.

Dr. Boyle stresses, however, that hope is not lost. We have seen a rise in activism and conversation, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, in recent years which indicates that people believe that change is possible.

While this unfortunately closes up my conversation with Dr. Boyle, I hope that you will join me next time as I bring on another guest who will talk to us about how Christian commitments have mobilized political resistance to racism. Be sure to invite your friends to listen in as well!

Questions for Clergy and Other Group Leaders

1. How did the economics of prisoner leasing create incentives for municipalities to arrest more people?
2. How does the reality of mass incarceration affect non-minority voting?
3. What strategies have been pursued since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to suppress non-White votes?

Show Notes:

[3:06] – Dr. Uffman returns to the conversation around the experience of the young Black man or woman at the time, referring to their experience as a triple whammy.

[4:07] – Dr. Boyle makes a connection between a local economy collapsing and illicit economy.

[6:01] – The Bill Clinton administration, as Dr. Boyle explains, took a bipartisan approach by encouraging Democrats to embrace Reagan's politics.

[7:07] – Dr. Boyle describes the language used by both parties to describe some Blacks, language such as super predators.

[8:06] – Dr. Boyle discusses how mandatory sentencing led to a vast increase in the prison population.

[10:07] – We created a profit incentive, as Dr. Uffman points out, for the arrest of people who could do manual labor, leading to the poor and Blacks being arrested because they were already criminalized by Whites.

[12:49] – Dr. Uffman reflects on how many Blacks are unfairly trapped in patterns of poverty.

[14:30] – Dr. Boyle defines what the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was and what it put into effect.

[15:55] – In the late 1990s and early 2000s, some Republicans were attempting to suppress the Black vote in sneaky ways such as limiting polling places in predominantly Black communities.

[18:17] – Dr. Boyle gives an example of the Republican party recently attempting to suppress the entire vote of Detroit in the 2020 presidential election.

[21:06] – An example is offered and described by Dr. Uffman of attempting to suppress votes by requiring an official ID or driver's license.

[22:47] – Dr. Boyle explains how gerrymandering works in different ways on a racial basis such as splitting up a Black community between two White communities.

[24:45] – Gerrymandering can actually reduce the value of a singular vote.

[27:29] – Dr. Uffman prompts Dr. Boyle to focus on hope for the future, and Dr. Boyle credits the Black Lives Matter movement as a reason to have hope.

[30:09] – Dr. Boyle reiterates that there is disagreement around the solution to the problems such as whether or not we should defund the police.

Links and Resources:

• James Forman Jr. – Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America

Connect with Dr. Craig Uffman:

• The Way of Love
  
• Facebook
  
• Twitter
  
• Craig's Messages Along the Way Podcast
  
  

More from Dr. Kevin Boyle:

• Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age

When Lambs Are Silent is a movement championing the belief that change is possible and seeking to challenge the dominate narratives in our culture. Join us as we unpack what this is all about. You can also join the conversation by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Wordpress  or Twitter. 

The music in this episode is from the Album Dissonance by Jess Jackson and Leon Shelley

As those who belong to a sovereign God who is perfectly just and merciful, we too should seek to extend justice and mercy to others. In this sermon from Psalm 82, David Platt urges us to pray in light of the injustice around us and to make certain that we address the world’s greatest need––its spiritual need––by sharing the gospel. The realities of abortion, racism, and the persecution of Christians around the world should drive us to plead for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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