Hot Takes on Hot Topics

After a short delay for technical issues, Casey and Benjie are back to discuss the shootings of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo. Christians tend to fall firmly in either one of two campus when it comes to police shootings. On today's pod, Casey and Benjie discuss how we can both feel empathy and compassion for communities that are disproportionately impacted by police shootings and offer tangible care and support for police officers.  It is entirely possible to desire to see reform within the policing structure that strives for more equitable treatment under the law and to love, respect, and support existing officers of the law.

Lots to talk about this week! Casey and Benjie are back to talk through the new election reform laws in Georgia, President Biden's executive action on gun control, and the report of high vaccine hesitancy among white evangelical Christians. Check it out!

According to a recent Gallup poll, fewer than 50% of Americans say they belong to any kind of house of worship. Why is this a big deal historically? What's happened to shift the dynamic so much in the last 20 years? What can young Christians do to be part of turning the tide? Check out this week's episode! Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Lots to cover this week! Casey and Benjie get back to their normal format of talking through big news stories from a Gospel-oriented lens. This week's big story is the shooting in the Asian massage parlor in Atlanta. The shooter was a member of an SBC church. Casey and Benjie talk about some of the difficulties of living out purity culture as an adult, the premeditated targeting of these businesses, and some latent misogyny in many evangelical circles that all contribute to problematic beliefs about Jesus, sex, gender roles, and the local church.

In the final episode of our deconstruction series, Casey and Benjie talk about the importance of intentionally engaging in community with other believers as you work through your deconstruction process. They both share instances in the recent past in which they have relied on others as they have worked through issues with the faith they have inherited and offer some practical advice on how to identify safe individuals in whom you can confide your doubts and struggles. 

Casey and Benjie talk all things gender roles in the church on this episode. They talk through why traditional understandings of gender roles have become such a flash point issue for young Christians, what the range of options are, and how men and women within the church can more graciously pursue their callings and walk in their giftings. Plus, the best thing Casey and Benjie saw this week leads to some self-image coaching.

This week, Casey and Benjie talk about the Bible.  Issues with the Bible come up often in deconstruction conversations. But many of our struggles with the Bible result from faulty beliefs we've absorbed from our communities and not from truth or reality. Check it out!

Casey is joined by Kendal Conner to have a deeper conversation on marriage, singleness, the church. They delve into the background of how the local church came to value the family so much, how marriage doesn't solve our deepest longings, and how both married and single people can intentionally care for one another more deeply. Kendal is on staff at Redeemer Fellowship in Kansas City. You can connect with her on Instagram @kendalconner.

Single young adults often feel marginalized in their local church communities because of the way marriage is elevated. What's a single adult to do? What can our churches do better? How can we faithfully walk with Jesus if our local faith community makes us feel "less than" for not being married? Casey and Benjie talk through their experiences, share some stories, and offer suggestions for both single people and churches to bridge the gap that exists between single young adults and some local churches.  We want to hear your deconstruction stories! Is there a subject on which you've undergone changes from what you grew up believing? Have you made the decision to walk away from faith entirely? We'd love to hear about it! Email us: metro@bcmofmemphis.com

Deconstruction is a phrase that's become increasingly common to describe the process of someone walking away from their faith. But does deconstruction of what we have been taught have to lead to completely walking away? What if the process of examining and deconstructing parts of what we have been taught led to a deeper, more intimate faith?   In this episode, Casey and Benjie talk through how deconstruction can be a positive development. They also caution on some of the pitfalls they have observed in listening to deconversion stories from prominent figures and personal friends.    Check it out!

The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris was less than a week ago. Even in such a short period of time, Casey and Benjie have seen Christians piling on criticism, attacking their character, and engaging in tons of whataboutisms. On today's episode, Casey and Benjie talk about how Christians can demonstrate submission and respect for authority figures even when we might disagree with them, from the president to your pastor. 

This week Casey and Benjie discuss how they observed MLK, Jr. Day and their different approaches to engaging in online "discussions." They also share the best thing they saw this week, which includes a few show recommendations from your resident Marvel nerd.

The storming of the Capitol last week was troubling for a number of reasons. In this episode, Casey and Benjie talk through their immediate reactions to last week's news and how Christians can respond. They discuss echo chambers, evaluating news sources, being willing to have uncomfortable conversations, the intermingling of evangelicals with white nationalists, and much more in the maiden voyage of season 2's new format.

New format. New season. We'll be in your feed again early next week.

Casey and Benjie share about what they've been learning over the last month of intentional conversations around race and faith. They share stories of conversations, personal realizations, and some insight they've gained over the last month. They also share about how Hot Takes on Hot Topics will be working over the next few months to continue the work of true racial reconciliation.

April Franklin, a student mobilization specialist with the International Mission Board, speaks with Casey about why it's important for white people not lean so much on their black friends on issues of race. She shares about her experience as the only black friend for a lot of white Christians and how that's helped her understand some things but produces some weariness in her heart. 

Jason Thomas, a former BCM director at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA and current African-American Church Mobilization Strategist shares his perspective as a black man on police and policing in America. He shares his personal perspective on growing up around police officers and contrasts that with policing practices in many cities. Jason also offers valuable insight and advice for believers who want to be a part of the solution to the underlying tensions centered on race and policing.   *Note: this was recorded prior to the death of Rayshard Brooks. 

Racial tension and the reality of racial inequity are often unspoken realities in most contexts. On today's pod we're joined by David Rogers who shares his story of coming to see the elephant in the parlor, how God has led him to engage in the conversation, and how he deals with the sometimes negative response he receives from peers.  David is a Spiritual Health Advisor with Christ Community Health and an elder at Unashamed Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

Benjie and Casey have a conversation about the current racial climate in the country, share some thoughts on steps they have taken to deepen their own empathy and understanding and introduce the next series of Hot Takes podcasts.

Dave and Jennifer Best were both serving at a local church in Dave's hometown. Dave was the youth minister and Jennifer was practicing as a counselor through the church. But things started to go sideways. Eventually, Dave resigned from the church and they moved.  But that's only the beginning of the story. Over the next 5 years, Dave and Jennifer found themselves dealing with a mix of frustration, anger, hurt, disenfranchisement, and doubt. But unlike many who find themselves reeling from church hurt, Dave and Jennifer have persisted in their faith in Jesus and are now actively involved in the life of another local church. In today's episode, Dave and Jennifer share their story of how they came through to the other side of church hurt and share advice on how you can navigate through similar experiences.

Casey Grooms lost both of her parents within a year of each other while she was a college student. In the years since, she's discovered that grief isn't a linear progression. We don't graduate to a point of just being ok somewhere down the line.  Casey shares her story of losing her parents, and how her church and some individuals in her life have served her well. She challenges us to think about how we can support people who are grieving over the long haul.

"Initially, with a cancer diagnosis, all dreams die." Leah and her husband Adrian followed God's leading to seminary to prepare for a future in ministry together. As they prepared to graduate, Adrian was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He would beat the initial diagnosis of cancer, but would later pass due to a different type of brain cancer. On today's episode, Leah shares her story of suffering through cancer with Adrian. You'll hear the highs and the lows of walking through a terminal diagnosis with a loved one and be encouraged by both Leah's faith and the support she received from her local church. 

Tiffany Hudson was living the dream. She was a campus minister in a city she loved, married, with one child and two months pregnant with a second. It began to come unraveled on a Monday morning when her husband, a youth minister at a church, was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Tiffany shares the hurt, frustration, peace, and joy she has discovered after experiencing a dark hour of suffering. You'll be encouraged by her faith and the wisdom she shares for you as you experience your own dark hour.

Ali Chambers is the pastor of Mosaic Church in Memphis, Tennessee. At our most recent Hot Takes Gathering on Faith and Politics, Ali challenged us to engage contemporary political conversations using Jesus as an example. 

At our most recent gathering on Faith and Politics, Casey Grooms shared some lessons she learned the hard way about how to have grace-filled political conversations. Casey's wisdom is timely for us because, even in the midst of coronavirus, we are still facing an upcoming national election. Our hope is that Casey's wisdom helps you find a better way forward in navigating political conversations in this season that resists the extremes of avoidance and polarization.

Benjie Shaw had just completed an ministry internship that was, by all accounts, pretty successful. He had also recently welcomed a newborn daughter to the world. On the outside, things seemed to be going well. But then his secret porn habit was discovered by his wife. He found himself in the parking lot of a Bass Pro Shop making a phone call he didn't really want to make. That call changed his life.

We're recapping our first few Hot Takes Gatherings as we launch the podcast. Nia's talk at our first gathering on Sex, Porn, and Relationships is a great way to get started! Nia is a speaker, podcaster, and author. Be sure to visit her website (www.TitaniaPaige.com), check out The Purpose in Purity Podcast, and her newly released book, Come Home. 

We've got a podcast!  Subscribe for some of our best talks over our first two #HotTakesGatherings! Be on the lookout for new, exclusive podcast content coming your way in about two weeks.