Podcasts about american christianity

Janice Rosser Allen is CEO and President of International Cooperating Ministries (ICM), the global ministry founded by her father, Dois Rosser, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. She has served on ICM's Board of Directors since 1986 and has led the organization as CEO since 2008. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Duke University, Janice worked in clinical and academic oncology nursing before God called her into full-time ministry with ICM. Widowed at 51, she is an ordained elder, author of God in the Crossroads, and she's passionate about empowering indigenous Christian leaders worldwide.00:00 — Introduction: How ICM Is Growing the Global Church06:07 — Albert Schweitzer's Missionary Legacy and Radical Faith08:09 — Indigenous Missions: Why Local Church Leaders Matter11:46 — Cooperating with local, indigenous leadership in missions16:12 — How Technology Is Transforming Christian Missions18:07 — How Mission Organizations Vet Trusted Partners22:07 — What the Global Church Can Teach Western Christians29:37 — Powerful Mission Stories from Vietnam and Rwanda34:31 — American Christianity vs. the Global Church41:41 — Church Growth in Iran, Nepal, and Other Restricted Nations45:54 — Why Christianity Is Growing in Thailand47:03 — Prosperity Gospel and Persecution: Challenges Facing the Global Church50:08 — Building local churches with local workers and materials51:20 — Are Short-Term Mission Trips Helping or Hurting?56:56 — How You Can Support Indigenous MissionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 4194 │ August 2, 2026 God takes no pleasure in anyone's death. He said it in Ezekiel — the harshest book in the Old Testament. That is not the God most people were taught. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings continue the heart of God series with a deep read of Ezekiel 18 and 33 — the most scathing indictment in the Old Testament, written to a people practicing human sacrifice in the temple, where God nonetheless declares He takes no pleasure in anyone's death and pleads with them to repent and live — using it to dismantle the wrathful-God framing most American Christianity has inherited and replace it with the New Covenant reality that God is not disappointed in you because He has no illusion about you, and that His vow to write His law on your heart places the entire weight of the obligation on Him, not on your willpower or your performance. The episode moves through the distinction between transgression and iniquity, the definition of the kingdom as wherever the King is and the extension of His rule, the ecclesia as the Roman governance model Jesus deliberately inverted, the difference between mercy and grace to help, and Brad's practical framework for prayer — subordinating your list to His list, confessing the things that are actually bothering you, then going quiet so He can work. The episode closes with Brad's observation that God declares a thing in heaven and waits for someone on earth to receive and agree with it, because dominion on earth requires two witnesses — and every listener who comes into agreement with what God says about them becomes the amen that allows it to be established. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What is the difference between transgression and iniquity — and why does Brad argue that understanding the distinction between crossing a known boundary and carrying an internal twist toward sin changes how you approach confession, repentance, and the mercy that God freely promises in the same breath as His harshest judgment? What is the unshakable kingdom — and why does God shaking both heaven and earth in Hebrews 12 represent not punishment but the removal of everything temporal so that what He created, which is eternal, can remain and be fully revealed? What is the difference between mercy and grace to help — and why does Brad argue that most people stop at mercy, the forgiveness for when you have screwed up, without ever receiving the grace to help, which is the supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit that means you do not have to keep needing mercy for the same thing again? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. DOWNLOADS Community Sovereignty Framework: click here AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479  

In this episode, John gets into the current state of American Christianity and its troubling alignment with political power, particularly within the MAGA movement. He reflects on the 48% of Gen Z who feel alienated from the church due to its support of Trump, revealing the hypocrisy of evangelical leaders who prioritize political gain over spiritual integrity. John critiques the disconnect between Jesus' teachings and the actions of modern Christian nationalists, emphasizing the importance of compassion, care for the marginalized, and true Christian values. Then, he welcomes Jamie Jackson, a former aide in the Obama and Biden administrations, to discuss the internal turmoil within the DNC, including questions surrounding Chairman Ken Martin's leadership and the party's fundraising struggles. They explore the implications of a decentralized fundraising approach where individual candidates, like Senator John Ossoff, are thriving while the DNC finds itself in debt. Next, John welcomes Jesse Wegman, a member of the New York Times editorial board and author of the enlightening new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, John and Jesse delve into the life of James Wilson, a pivotal yet largely forgotten figure in the founding of American democracy. They explore Wilson's remarkable contributions, including his role in drafting the Constitution and coining the phrase "We the People," which encapsulates the essence of popular sovereignty. And finally, he welcomes the insightful Rhonda Hansom and the ever-charismatic Keith Price for a lively discussion that ranges from the latest in Broadway to the political circus surrounding Mitch McConnell's health. Rhonda shares her wild travel saga after American Airlines canceled her flights, leading to a humorous blame game that includes Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham. The trio dives into the implications of McConnell's mysterious absence from public life and Governor Andy Beshear's bold demand for accountability. They also tackle the absurdity of political theater, the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities, and the cultural relevance of theater adaptations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does faithful Christian engagement in politics actually look like? In this episode, Loren talks with Justin Giboney, co-founder and president of the AND Campaign, to discuss his book Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around. Drawing lessons from the Black Church during the Civil Rights Movement, Giboney argues that Christians today have much to learn about integrity, public witness, moral imagination, and resisting the temptation to sacrifice biblical principles for political victories. The conversation also examines moral imagination, the role of institutions, gerrymandering, Christian public witness, and why the Civil Rights Movement remains one of the clearest examples of faithful political engagement in American history. Rather than offering partisan solutions, Giboney challenges Christians to recover a distinctly Christian approach to civic life that reflects the character of Jesus. Together they explore: What the Civil Rights Movement teaches Christians today Moral imagination and faithful public witness Why good causes don't justify unethical means The danger of making political opponents irredeemable Self-purification, spiritual formation, and Christian activism How Christians can engage politics without embracing tribalism Why justice and the gospel belong together   Justin E. Giboney (JD, Vanderbilt University) is the cofounder and president of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization focused on raising civic literacy, promoting civic pluralism, and equipping Christians to engage politics with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. An ordained minister, attorney, and political strategist, Giboney has been featured in publications such as the New York Times and Christianity Today and is the coauthor of the book Compassion (&) Conviction. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and three sons.   Mentioned Resources:

Episode 4189 │ July 26, 2026 Is trust a choice or a fruit? You cannot trust someone unless you're convinced they love you. Most Christians have never settled that about God. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings open with the single question that reframes everything: is trust a choice or a fruit — and Brad's answer, that trust is a fruit grown only in a relationship where you are convinced the other person loves you and seeks your highest good at all times, dismantles the entire Old Covenant performance framework that most American Christianity is still running on and replaces it with the New Covenant reality that God has no illusions about you, was never disappointed in you, and is not running a self-improvement program but a conforming-to-the-image-of-His-Son program that He promised to finish. The episode moves through Peter, James, and John as three distinct relational postures toward Christ — the director, the beloved, the warrior — and their presence at the Mount of Transfiguration as preparation not for doctrine but for vision; the two storms on the Sea of Galilee as a live diagnostic of what you actually believe about the heart of God; the definition of humility as simple agreement with God rather than self-deprecation; and Brad's definition of repentance as returning to the highest place from which you have fallen, not groveling at the bottom of it. The episode closes on Hebrews 12 — fixing your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross — and Brad's closing prayer that God would give every listener a vision of how He actually sees them, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he, and the greatest transformation available is not discipline but the tractor beam of God's presence pulling you toward who He already knows you to be. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  Is trust a choice or a fruit — and why does Brad argue that you cannot manufacture trust toward God through willpower or decision-making, only receive it as a fruit grown in a relationship where you are genuinely convinced He loves you and seeks your highest good at all times, even on your worst day? What does the tone of voice you insert into Jesus saying "O you of little faith" reveal about what you actually believe about the heart of God — and why does Hebrews 1 make the good cop/bad cop reading of the Old versus New Testament theologically impossible? What is the difference between an Old Covenant response to sin and a New Covenant response — and why does Brad argue that going to God with your failure, asking Him what happened and inviting Him to fix it, produces transformation that decades of self-improvement, discipline, and performance never could? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comHow did “biblical manhood” become so tied to aggression, politics, and power? Kristin Kobes Du Mez, professor of history at Calvin University and author of Jesus and John Wayne, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain how white evangelical ideas about masculinity helped shape American Christianity and American politics. Du Mez traces the rise of rugged Christian manhood through culture, Cold War politics, the Religious Right, Ronald Reagan, fear of feminism and secularism, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and the culture war machinery that turns complicated issues into loyalty tests. She also connects masculine power to institutional self-protection, including the Southern Baptist Convention's response to women in leadership and sexual abuse reform. This conversation is not just about men. It is about how gender, theology, fear, capitalism, and political power worked together to shape modern white evangelicalism, and why America's 250th raises urgent questions about religious liberty and democracy.Guest BioKristin Kobes Du Mez, PhD, is a historian, New York Times bestselling author, and professor of history at Calvin University. Her work focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, politics, and American evangelicalism. She is the author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, A New Gospel for Women, and the forthcoming Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made. She is also a Senior Democracy Fellow with PRRI. In this conversation, Du Mez helps explain how white evangelical ideas about masculinity, femininity, fear, family, politics, and power shaped the modern church and the country around it.Book MentionedJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du MezBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781631499050Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made by Kristin Kobes Du MezBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781324090977Relevant Links & ResourcesKristin Kobes Du Mez Official WebsiteURL: https://kristindumez.com/ Support Sarah Stankorb's work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comWill Wright, Political Host: Will@faithfulpolitics.comFollow Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast

Who was Jonathan Edwards? What is Jonathan Edwards most known for? What impact did Jonathan Edwards have on early American Christianity?

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat happens when Christianity becomes a tool for defending racial hierarchy? Robert P. Jones, founder and president of PRRI and author of White Too Long, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy, and the forthcoming Backslide, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to examine how white Christianity shaped slavery, segregation, public memory, and American democracy. Jones traces the story through his own Southern Baptist family history, the denominational splits over slavery, the religious defense of the Confederacy, lynching, the Lost Cause, segregation academies, and the long refusal of many white Christians to fully repent of white supremacy. The conversation also looks at why terms like “white Christian” and “white evangelical” are uncomfortable but necessary, and how racial identity still shapes religious and political behavior. This episode asks a hard question: if Christians once used the Bible to justify slavery and Jim Crow, what are Christians being asked to confront now?Guest BioRobert P. Jones, PhD, is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute, known as PRRI, and a New York Times bestselling author. His work examines the intersection of religion, race, politics, democracy, and American identity. He is the author of The End of White Christian America, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, and the forthcoming Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy. His research and writing connect directly to this episode's focus on white Christianity, slavery, segregation, Christian nationalism, public memory, and the future of democracy.Book MentionedBackslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy by Robert P. JonesBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/56272/9781250431134The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy  by Robert P. JonesBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781668009529Relevant Links & ResourcesPRRI - Robert P. JonesURL: https://prri.org/staff/robert-p-jones-ph-d/ Support Sarah Stankorb's work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comWill Wright, Political Host: Will@faithfulpolitics.comFollow Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast

This powerful exploration of Psalm 130 takes us into the raw reality of what it means to cry out to God from the depths of our lives. We're confronted with an uncomfortable truth that many of us need to hear: faith isn't about removing our circumstances, but about learning to walk well through them. The message challenges the prosperity gospel mentality that dominates much of American Christianity, reminding us that the New Testament calls us not to constant comfort, but to endurance and faithful suffering. The psalmist's cry from the depths isn't just ancient poetry—it's a roadmap for when life strips away everything we've built and leaves us face-to-face with our desperate need for God. We learn that the depths reveal what comfort conceals, that pain exposes what we actually trust, and that unexpected circumstances bring unexpected reactions. The question becomes intensely personal: when pressure hits, where do we run? Do we run to relationships, accomplishments, or vices to soothe ourselves, or do we run to the Lord? The profound insight that 'whatever you soothe with, you will serve' cuts to the heart of our spiritual condition. This isn't about judgment but about honest self-examination. The passage teaches us that intimacy with God often begins in the depths, not on the mountaintop, and that we must learn to replace our thoughts with His thoughts by immersing ourselves in His Word.

Clip of the Week-"Church Matters: Campmeeting" Board Number One As Camp Meeting approaches, Bro. Jeff Price takes a closer look at the history, purpose, and spiritual significance of one of the most important traditions in the life of the church. From its origins in early American Christianity to its role in strengthening fellowship, unity, and worship among God's people today, this episode serves as both an encouragement and a call to intentional preparation. Bro. Jeff discusses how each believer contributes to the atmosphere of Camp Meeting through worship, testimonies, prayer, and daily conduct, reminding us that this gathering is far more than a social event. It's an opportunity to build up the kingdom of God together. Whether you're a longtime attendee or preparing to experience Camp Meeting in a fresh way, this episode will inspire you to come with purpose, pray with expectation, and engage wholeheartedly in what God desires to accomplish among His people. – Board Number One  

Preaching: Ben ConachanDuring the long stretch of the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the mysteries of Christ: incarnation, atonement, resurrection. The remainder of the year, Ordinary Time, turns to the generations of every day saints, the Jesus-followers who keep pushing the Divine Story forward. In an age where American Christianity seems to have lost the plot, we can turn to the stories and examples of mystics and poets, women and outsiders who have kept the way of Jesus alive in times ancient and modern. This series will explore pairs of saints whose lives and writings inspire us to keep moving forward today.This week, our series closes with Mary and James Cone—a pregnant teenager in an occupied country, and a Black theologian raised under Jim Crow—who, two thousand years apart, tell the same story: that God sides with the oppressed, not with the powerful. Her song has been banned by governments who understood exactly what it meant, and his witness insists we see the cross as God in solidarity with the marginalized.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comHow did Christianity become so deeply woven into the American story? Matthew Avery Sutton, professor of history at Washington State University and author of Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain why American Christianity and American history cannot be told as separate stories. Sutton traces Christianity's influence from Columbus, Spanish Catholic missions, Jamestown, Puritans, Quakers, Catholics, enslaved Muslims, Indigenous nations, and the First Amendment to revivalism, slavery, abolition, apocalyptic evangelicalism, and Christian nationalism. He argues that disestablishment did not remove religion from public life. Instead, it created a competitive religious marketplace where churches had to persuade, organize, innovate, and grow. The conversation also challenges both oversimplified “Christian nation” claims and overly clean secular founding myths. This episode helps listeners see America's 250th as a moment for humility, honesty, and a fuller reckoning with the faiths that shaped the country.Guest BioMatthew Avery Sutton is a historian of American religion and politics at Washington State University. His work examines how Christianity, evangelicalism, revivalism, missions, apocalyptic belief, and political power have shaped American public life. He is the author of Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity, American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, Double Crossed: The Missionaries Who Spied for the United States During the Second World War, and Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America. In this conversation, Sutton helps frame the Church and State 250 series by showing how Christianity has been both a force for power and reform throughout American history.Book MentionedChosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity by Matthew Avery SuttonBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781541646339American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism by Matthew Avery SuttonBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780674975439Relevant Links & ResourcesMatthew Avery Sutton Faculty ProfileURL: https://history.wsu.edu/faculty/wsu-profile/sutton/ Support Sarah Stankorb's work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comWill Wright, Political Host: Will@faithfulpolitics.comFollow Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast

Send us Fan MailNEW EPISODE: This is where our conversation takes an even deeper turn.Caleb shares the story of his personal confrontation with Christian nationalism—how an invitation to participate with Turning Point USA forced him to take a much closer look at the movement and the version of Christianity it was promoting. That investigation eventually led him to write his remarkable book, Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor.We also explore the rich biblical imagery behind the title. In Scripture, Leviathan represents the mysterious forces of chaos that only God can ultimately tame. Caleb uses that ancient symbol as a powerful metaphor for Christian nationalism itself—a force fueled by fear, political idolatry, and cultural anxiety over demographic change, political marginalization, and the perceived loss of traditional values.But this isn't simply a critique. It's an invitation to faithful engagement. Caleb challenges us to respond not with condemnation but with empathy, courageous conversations, genuine listening, and radical hospitality.For anyone struggling to relate to friends or family who have been drawn into the MAGA movement or Christian nationalism, Caleb offers thoughtful, practical wisdom that I believe you'll find both hopeful and deeply challenging. Listen to Part 1 - From Neo-Nazi to Lead  Pastor: Caleb Campbell's Extraordinary JourneySHOW NOTES - including links to Caleb's book and the When the Wolves Came PodcastSupport the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you!Ken's Substack PageThe Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

How has media shaped the American church over the past 250 years? From newspapers and radio to television, social media, and artificial intelligence, Pastor Jeremiah Riner and Pastor Aaron Edens explore the blessings, challenges, and lasting impact of technology on Christianity in America. Join us as we reflect on the past, evaluate the present, and consider how the church can faithfully navigate the future.

Preaching: Mike RothDuring the long stretch of the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the mysteries of Christ: incarnation, atonement, resurrection. The remainder of the year, Ordinary Time, turns to the generations of every day saints, the Jesus-followers who keep pushing the Divine Story forward. In an age where American Christianity seems to have lost the plot, we can turn to the stories and examples of mystics and poets, women and outsiders who have kept the way of Jesus alive in times ancient and modern. This series will explore pairs of saints whose lives and writings inspire us to keep moving forward today.This week, Mike turns to two women six centuries apart—the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich and the poet Anne Sexton—who each embodied the work of feminism in their writing. From Julian's vision of Jesus as a nursing mother to Sexton's poems on grief, addiction, and an irreverent, card-playing God, both found their own language using the experience of women to illuminate the Divine.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

Send us Fan Mail“When we were yet without strength… Christ died for the ungodly.” That single line in Romans 5:6 is either a warm religious slogan or a wrecking ball for how we talk about salvation and assurance. We take it as Paul meant it: a clear statement that the ground of our confidence is Christ's atoning work, not our ability, not our spiritual ambition, and not a story we tell ourselves about the day we “decided” to believe.We slow down on the phrase “without strength” and connect it to total inability and human depravity. Not “as bad as you can be,” but unable to do what is required to be justified before God. From there we challenge common decisionism in American Christianity, including the habit of saying we “accepted Jesus,” as if the sinner is the initiator and God is the responder. We also call out man-made conversion formulas and altar-call culture when they replace biblical categories like justification, reconciliation, regeneration, and sovereign grace with techniques that can produce emotion without new birth.Then we turn to the pastoral question: what do you say when someone asks how to be saved? Romans 5:6 pushes us to tell the truth about helplessness and to point people where salvation is actually possible, because with man it is impossible. We also unpack “in due time” as God's appointed timing, showing why the initiative in salvation belongs to God from start to finish and why that is the only foundation strong enough for real assurance.If this sharpened or challenged you, subscribe for more, share the episode with a friend who cares about Romans and the doctrine of salvation, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Theologian JD Hall on the corrupting lie of Christian Zionism. J.D. Hall is a Christian commentator, author of the best-selling book Hyphenated Heresy, and a leading voice on issues of faith, culture, and free speech. Known for his unapologetic defense of biblical orthodoxy and criticism of institutional corruption within the church, Hall built a large following through his work with Pulpit & Pen and Protestia. He now writes daily at Insight to Incite and NXR, where he covers religion, politics, and current events from a distinctly Christian perspective. Paid partnerships: American Financing: NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 800-685-5696 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/Tucker. Brooklyn Bedding: Get 30% off site wide with promo code TUCKER at https://brooklynbedding.com Vulnerable People Project: Stand with Christians in the land where Christianity began, go to SaveWestBankChristians.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preaching: Ben ConachanDuring the long stretch of the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the mysteries of Christ: incarnation, atonement, resurrection. The remainder of the year, Ordinary Time, turns to the generations of every day saints, the Jesus-followers who keep pushing the Divine Story forward. In an age where American Christianity seems to have lost the plot, we can turn to the stories and examples of mystics and poets, women and outsiders who have kept the way of Jesus alive in times ancient and modern. This series will explore pairs of saints whose lives and writings inspire us to keep moving forward today.This week, we turn to two mystics—Meister Eckhart and Bruno Barnhart—who challenge the idea that God is somewhere "out there" and invite us instead to discover God as the very ground of our being. It's a vision of faith less about searching for the Divine and more about coming home, and learning to grow up into the kind of secure, mature love that makes us capable of real connection.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Melba Schofield Stefanie and Dr Craig Thayer, Dr Paul Hall, and Ron Greer Comedy, Courage, and the Cost of Discipleship in America Today Guest, Conservative Comedian: Brad Stine! Friends,, Tonight we have special guest, Brad Stine, God's Comic! Brad Stine pulls no punches as he takes on cancel culture, political correctness, and the upside-down logic of modern America. With his signature blend of righteous outrage and razor-sharp wit, Stine challenges the cultural gatekeepers, defends free speech, and dares audiences to laugh at what we're all thinking but too afraid to say. Recorded live in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by Honest Fox Media, this unapologetically honest performance hits hot-button topics like identity politics, free speech, race, gender, COVID mandates, and America's spiritual crisis—all rooted in Stine's deep convictions as a conservative Christian.  Whether he's dissecting the absurdity of word policing or poking fun at generational fragility, Brad reminds us that comedy is meant to provoke, unite, and most of all—set us free. This is more than a comedy show. It's a call to courage. It's truth wrapped in laughter. It's a reminder that freedom isn't free—and sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is laugh. Laugh hard. Speak truth. And above all—laugh while it's still legal!  Don't Miss Brad Stine- God has a message just for you… Check out more of Brad Stine's work on his website: https://bradstine.com/ Don't forget to follow Brad Stine's Podcast: Brad Stine Has Issues on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/c/bradstinehasissues Faith, Family, and a Night of Bold Conversation In this episode of Raising Expectations, Pastor Joe Schofield opens the program by welcoming listeners and reminding them that the show is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ, the belief that Christ answers the deepest questions of life, and the desire to help people raise their expectations from “good to better to best together.” He introduces the full team: Melba Schofield, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Dr. Paul Hall, and Ron Greer, each presented as part of a faith-centered family of believers committed to truth, grace, encouragement, and Christian witness. Introducing Brad Stine, “God's Comic” The guest for the hour is conservative comedian Brad Stine, described as a nationally known performer whose comedy takes on cancel culture, political correctness, free speech, identity, gender, COVID mandates, race, politics, and America's spiritual crisis. Pastor Joe notes that Brad has been called “God's Comic” and recalls meeting him personally in church settings where his humor and ministry made a strong impression. The show then plays an extended clip of Brad's stand-up, giving listeners a sense of his rapid-fire style, cultural commentary, sarcasm, and willingness to confront controversial subjects directly. Laughing at the Language of Cultural Confusion In the comedy clip, Brad takes on modern identity politics, pronouns, cancel culture, and the way language is used to redefine reality. He jokes about being a man “the old-fashioned way,” being Christian, being white, and being conservative, while arguing that people are often manipulated through changing definitions. He uses examples such as “super spreader,” “peaceful protest,” “insurrection,” “domestic terrorist,” and “safe for democracy” to make the point that whoever controls language can control public perception. His larger message is that people must learn to “laugh while it's legal” and call out what he sees as cultural absurdity. Conserving Common Sense Brad explains in the clip that being conservative does not necessarily mean being loyal to a political party. He says he wants to conserve the original intent of the Constitution, history, wisdom, and common sense. He criticizes elites and billionaires who, in his view, tell ordinary people how to live while promoting climate policies that he finds hypocritical or impractical. His jokes about cows, flatulence, windmills, fossil fuels, and miniature cow-powered turbines use absurdity to make a broader point about energy, environmental policy, and what he sees as the loss of practical reasoning. From Stand-Up Comedy to Ministry After the clip, Brad joins the conversation and explains how he began as a stand-up comic in nightclubs while maintaining his Christian convictions. He says he avoided profanity and sexual material because he wanted to compete at the highest level without compromising his faith. Over time, he felt drawn beyond entertainment into ministry. Comedy, he says, became the “flavor” or delivery system for a deeper message about culture, freedom, faith, discipleship, and America's need to remember what made it free and spiritually grounded. A Missionary to America Brad describes himself as a “missionary to America.” He says he loves the country without worshiping it, believes America is historically significant and uniquely free, and feels responsible for defending both religious liberty and the Christian foundations that shaped the nation. He argues that cultural Marxism, progressive ideology, secular religion, and spiritual deception are working to weaken the West from within. For Brad, comedy is not merely entertainment; it is a way to confront what he sees as lies, hypocrisy, and spiritual compromise. Christianity Versus Discipleship One of the strongest themes of the conversation is Brad's distinction between being a “Christian” in name and being a true disciple. He says many American churchgoers treat Christianity as a label rather than a costly calling. Salvation, he explains, is free because of Christ's work, but discipleship costs everything. Brad argues that believers in America often have not had to suffer for their faith in the way believers do in places such as Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Myanmar, India, North Korea, China, and other countries where persecution is real and visible. The Cost of Truth The team discusses suffering, boldness, and the willingness to speak truth even when it causes offense. Brad says truth is supposed to offend when it exposes what is false, because conviction is meant to lead people toward repentance and freedom. Dr. Paul Hall connects this to Scripture, especially the idea that Christ's suffering was central to salvation and that believers should not be surprised when following Christ also involves suffering. Brad and the hosts agree that American churches often avoid this message because it is uncomfortable, but they see it as essential to authentic faith. Comedy as a Gift Given Back to God Dr. Craig Thayer comments on Brad's ability to take cultural untruths and expose them through humor. Brad responds by reflecting on the meaning of a spiritual gift. A gift, he says, is not something a person earned or created; it is something given. Because of that, no one should brag about it or treat it as a personal trophy. The only faithful response is to give the gift back to God so it can be used for His purposes. Brad says his comedy, communication style, and boldness are not superior to anyone else's gifts, but they are the specific tools God entrusted to him. Inspiring Others to Speak Brad says people often thank him for being brave or for saying what they were thinking but were afraid to say. While he appreciates that encouragement, he also tells listeners that inspiration should lead to action. If his boldness inspires someone, then that person should “go forth and do likewise” in the territory God has assigned them. He stresses that every believer has a “Nineveh,” a specific area of responsibility where they are called to speak, serve, and obey. The Church as a Place of Refreshing and Sending Brad also challenges the idea that church is mainly where nonbelievers should be brought to get saved. He says the church is where believers should be strengthened, refreshed, and equipped so they can go into the marketplace and share the gospel. This leads to a broader critique of what he sees as shallow American Christianity, where church attendance can replace actual discipleship, courage, and public witness. For Brad, the church must train believers to carry truth into the world, not merely gather comfortably inside church walls. Speaking Truth With Love and Boldness Stefanie Thayer shares a recent personal experience about having a difficult conversation with someone who was unchurched and surprisingly open to spiritual truth. She reflects that people outside the church may sometimes be more receptive than those shaped by denominational comfort or religious assumptions. Brad agrees that love without truth is not truly love. The conversation emphasizes that Christians are called to speak boldly, but with purpose, conviction, and obedience, not with cruelty or arrogance. Dangerous Times and a Willingness to Keep Going Brad acknowledges that his kind of comedy and ministry can come with real risk. He speaks about opposition, threats, and the possibility that the cultural climate may become more hostile toward Christians and conservatives. Still, he says he intends to keep speaking. The hosts respond by affirming their prayers for Brad, his family, and his ministry. Brad says he has seen growing interest from churches, conservative groups, GOP events, and ministries that now recognize the importance of the warnings he has been giving for decades. Closing With Prayer, Gratitude, and Raised Expectations The episode closes with Pastor Joe thanking Brad for his time, courage, and ministry. Brad directs listeners to BradStine.com, mentions his podcast Brad Stine Has Issues, and says he is available for comedy events, church services, men's events, apologetics, marriage conferences, and other ministry settings. Pastor Joe and the team promise to keep him in prayer and close the program by reminding listeners to keep raising expectations in their homes, hearts, faith, families, and future.

In this episode, Ben Norquist and Brian Miller make the case that American Christians have become a placeless, rootless people and that we are shaped by inherited land stories. That our land is exceptional. That property is something to wall off. That the ground exists to be taken and turned into wealth. We dig into where these stories came from, how they affect our faith, and why it matters that Scripture opens with God calling place good. We talk about how to read the place you actually live, whose stories get monuments and whose get erased, and what better land stories, ones shaped more like Jesus, might look like.Dr. Ben Norquist is a writer, researcher, and communications strategist whose work explores how Christian understandings of land shape mora/l imagination and public life. He serves with the Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice, engaging American Christians on questions of theology, justice, and the realities in Palestine. He is co-author of Every Somewhere Sacred: Rescuing a Theology of Place in the American Imagination (InterVarsity Press, 2026).Brian Miller (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is professor of sociology at Wheaton College and regularly teaches about and publishes on Christian residential and cultural patterns. His books include Sanctifying Suburbia: How the Suburbs Becamethe Promised Land for American Evangelicals and Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures, coauthored with Robert Brenneman.Ben & Brian's Book:Every Somewhere SacredConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Melba Schofield, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Dr. Paul Hall, and Ron Greer Comedy, Courage, and the Cost of Discipleship in America Today Guest, Conservative Comedian: Brad Stine! Friends,, Tonight we have special guest, Brad Stine, God's Comic! Brad Stine pulls no punches as he takes on cancel culture, political correctness, and the upside-down logic of modern America. With his signature blend of righteous outrage and razor-sharp wit, Stine challenges the cultural gatekeepers, defends free speech, and dares audiences to laugh at what we're all thinking but too afraid to say. Recorded live in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by Honest Fox Media, this unapologetically honest performance hits hot-button topics like identity politics, free speech, race, gender, COVID mandates, and America's spiritual crisis—all rooted in Stine's deep convictions as a conservative Christian.  Whether he's dissecting the absurdity of word policing or poking fun at generational fragility, Brad reminds us that comedy is meant to provoke, unite, and most of all—set us free. This is more than a comedy show. It's a call to courage. It's truth wrapped in laughter. It's a reminder that freedom isn't free—and sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is laugh. Laugh hard. Speak truth. And above all—laugh while it's still legal!  Don't Miss Brad Stine- God has a message just for you… Check out more of Brad Stine's work on his website: https://bradstine.com/ Don't forget to follow Brad Stine's Podcast: Brad Stine Has Issues on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/c/bradstinehasissues Faith, Family, and a Night of Bold Conversation In this episode of Raising Expectations, Pastor Joe Schofield opens the program by welcoming listeners and reminding them that the show is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ, the belief that Christ answers the deepest questions of life, and the desire to help people raise their expectations from “good to better to best together.” He introduces the full team: Melba Schofield, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Dr. Paul Hall, and Ron Greer, each presented as part of a faith-centered family of believers committed to truth, grace, encouragement, and Christian witness. Introducing Brad Stine, “God's Comic” The guest for the hour is conservative comedian Brad Stine, described as a nationally known performer whose comedy takes on cancel culture, political correctness, free speech, identity, gender, COVID mandates, race, politics, and America's spiritual crisis. Pastor Joe notes that Brad has been called “God's Comic” and recalls meeting him personally in church settings where his humor and ministry made a strong impression. The show then plays an extended clip of Brad's stand-up, giving listeners a sense of his rapid-fire style, cultural commentary, sarcasm, and willingness to confront controversial subjects directly. Laughing at the Language of Cultural Confusion In the comedy clip, Brad takes on modern identity politics, pronouns, cancel culture, and the way language is used to redefine reality. He jokes about being a man “the old-fashioned way,” being Christian, being white, and being conservative, while arguing that people are often manipulated through changing definitions. He uses examples such as “super spreader,” “peaceful protest,” “insurrection,” “domestic terrorist,” and “safe for democracy” to make the point that whoever controls language can control public perception. His larger message is that people must learn to “laugh while it's legal” and call out what he sees as cultural absurdity. Conserving Common Sense Brad explains in the clip that being conservative does not necessarily mean being loyal to a political party. He says he wants to conserve the original intent of the Constitution, history, wisdom, and common sense. He criticizes elites and billionaires who, in his view, tell ordinary people how to live while promoting climate policies that he finds hypocritical or impractical. His jokes about cows, flatulence, windmills, fossil fuels, and miniature cow-powered turbines use absurdity to make a broader point about energy, environmental policy, and what he sees as the loss of practical reasoning. From Stand-Up Comedy to Ministry After the clip, Brad joins the conversation and explains how he began as a stand-up comic in nightclubs while maintaining his Christian convictions. He says he avoided profanity and sexual material because he wanted to compete at the highest level without compromising his faith. Over time, he felt drawn beyond entertainment into ministry. Comedy, he says, became the “flavor” or delivery system for a deeper message about culture, freedom, faith, discipleship, and America's need to remember what made it free and spiritually grounded. A Missionary to America Brad describes himself as a “missionary to America.” He says he loves the country without worshiping it, believes America is historically significant and uniquely free, and feels responsible for defending both religious liberty and the Christian foundations that shaped the nation. He argues that cultural Marxism, progressive ideology, secular religion, and spiritual deception are working to weaken the West from within. For Brad, comedy is not merely entertainment; it is a way to confront what he sees as lies, hypocrisy, and spiritual compromise. Christianity Versus Discipleship One of the strongest themes of the conversation is Brad's distinction between being a “Christian” in name and being a true disciple. He says many American churchgoers treat Christianity as a label rather than a costly calling. Salvation, he explains, is free because of Christ's work, but discipleship costs everything. Brad argues that believers in America often have not had to suffer for their faith in the way believers do in places such as Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Myanmar, India, North Korea, China, and other countries where persecution is real and visible. The Cost of Truth The team discusses suffering, boldness, and the willingness to speak truth even when it causes offense. Brad says truth is supposed to offend when it exposes what is false, because conviction is meant to lead people toward repentance and freedom. Dr. Paul Hall connects this to Scripture, especially the idea that Christ's suffering was central to salvation and that believers should not be surprised when following Christ also involves suffering. Brad and the hosts agree that American churches often avoid this message because it is uncomfortable, but they see it as essential to authentic faith. Comedy as a Gift Given Back to God Dr. Craig Thayer comments on Brad's ability to take cultural untruths and expose them through humor. Brad responds by reflecting on the meaning of a spiritual gift. A gift, he says, is not something a person earned or created; it is something given. Because of that, no one should brag about it or treat it as a personal trophy. The only faithful response is to give the gift back to God so it can be used for His purposes. Brad says his comedy, communication style, and boldness are not superior to anyone else's gifts, but they are the specific tools God entrusted to him. Inspiring Others to Speak Brad says people often thank him for being brave or for saying what they were thinking but were afraid to say. While he appreciates that encouragement, he also tells listeners that inspiration should lead to action. If his boldness inspires someone, then that person should “go forth and do likewise” in the territory God has assigned them. He stresses that every believer has a “Nineveh,” a specific area of responsibility where they are called to speak, serve, and obey. The Church as a Place of Refreshing and Sending Brad also challenges the idea that church is mainly where nonbelievers should be brought to get saved. He says the church is where believers should be strengthened, refreshed, and equipped so they can go into the marketplace and share the gospel. This leads to a broader critique of what he sees as shallow American Christianity, where church attendance can replace actual discipleship, courage, and public witness. For Brad, the church must train believers to carry truth into the world, not merely gather comfortably inside church walls. Speaking Truth With Love and Boldness Stefanie Thayer shares a recent personal experience about having a difficult conversation with someone who was unchurched and surprisingly open to spiritual truth. She reflects that people outside the church may sometimes be more receptive than those shaped by denominational comfort or religious assumptions. Brad agrees that love without truth is not truly love. The conversation emphasizes that Christians are called to speak boldly, but with purpose, conviction, and obedience, not with cruelty or arrogance. Dangerous Times and a Willingness to Keep Going Brad acknowledges that his kind of comedy and ministry can come with real risk. He speaks about opposition, threats, and the possibility that the cultural climate may become more hostile toward Christians and conservatives. Still, he says he intends to keep speaking. The hosts respond by affirming their prayers for Brad, his family, and his ministry. Brad says he has seen growing interest from churches, conservative groups, GOP events, and ministries that now recognize the importance of the warnings he has been giving for decades. Closing With Prayer, Gratitude, and Raised Expectations The episode closes with Pastor Joe thanking Brad for his time, courage, and ministry. Brad directs listeners to BradStine.com, mentions his podcast Brad Stine Has Issues, and says he is available for comedy events, church services, men's events, apologetics, marriage conferences, and other ministry settings. Pastor Joe and the team promise to keep him in prayer and close the program by reminding listeners to keep raising expectations in their homes, hearts, faith, families, and future.

1. Early in his sermon, Tim said “American Christianity has largely sentimentalized the New Testament; but you can't do that with the Old Testament.”What do you think it means to “sentimentalize the NT?” How prominent is that in your experience of Christianity? How aware of it have you been or are you now?What things can you recognize and identify as impacts or outcomes of that sentimentalizing? How have those things impacted you and your life of faith?2. The phrase “the Canaanites” acts almost as a shorthand representation for the many smaller kingdoms that operated in the region at the time. These kingdoms operated in the mode of something Brueggemann called the “Royal Consciousness: a culture of domination, consumption, and social control where the few live extravagantly…at the cost of many.”Common objects of worship in these cultures were Baal & Asherah. Baal was the rain and storm god, while Asherah was believed to have power over childbirth and family concerns. The Israelites, as noted in Judges 3:7, don't last long before they lapse into servitude of these two gods.In the cultural & historical contexts of Judges, Baal & Asherah could be understood as objects that were worshipped in attempts to avoid the threats of chaos & barrenness. These two themes have shown up repeatedly in our study of the first Old Testament books.Where, in our own modern cultural context, do you see the same perpetual specters of chaos & barrenness? What does each look like in 2026's America?How do people today try to escape these modern iterations of chaos &/or barrenness? To what extent do you see that dynamic at play within our world today?To what extent is that dynamic at play in you and your life? What things do you pursue as hopeful saviors from these timeless threats? Where do you tend to (consciously or unconsciously) look for rescue or safety in the face of them?3. Tim described a pattern that is present in Judges; it's a cycle that starts with loss of memory resulting in ideological capture.Where can you identify these first parts of the pattern in a more contemporary context?After reviewing the full cycle, how relatable or resonant does this pattern seem today? Does it hold true? Where might you call out additional nuance or variation?Tim said that though this pattern is often referred to as the “sin cycle,” it is, instead, a Redemption Cycle. He added that “failure is the engine of every redemption story.”What do you think about this framing? Where does it hold up? Where might you feel curious about gaps?How might you conceive of yourself within its stages, especially in light of the things you identified in question 2 as places you may turn for safety in the face of chaos and/or barrenness?

What if one of the most important political symbols in American evangelicalism isn't a campaign slogan, a policy platform, or a charismatic preacher, but a worship song? In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with Religion News Service journalist Bob Smietana about his reporting on the unexpected political life of Chris Tomlin's worship anthem "How Great Is Our God." Over the past several years, the song has appeared everywhere from the Capitol Riots to ReAwaken America rallies and Sean Feucht events, to the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Yet unlike overtly political songs such as "God Bless the USA," "How Great Is Our God" contains no explicit political message at all. So why has it become such a powerful soundtrack for conservative Christian activism? Drawing on his reporting for NPR's All Things Considered, and Payne's God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music, Smietana and Payne discuss the rise of “Christian Nashville-ism," the fusion of the worship music industry, suburban evangelical culture, celebrity influence, and political identity. Nashville's Christian music machine has produced a soundtrack so ubiquitous that it now functions as a kind of sacred common language across American Christianity. In an era of political polarization, worship songs provide emotional resonance, spiritual legitimacy, and a sense of collective identity that can easily travel into political spaces. Together, Payne and Smietana explore how contemporary worship music became one of the most influential forms of religious formation in American life. They discuss the rise of Chris Tomlin and the Passion movement, the mainstreaming of charismatic worship practices, the growing overlap between worship culture and conservative politics, and the role of suburban megachurches in shaping modern evangelical identity. The conversation also examines how Christian nationalism often operates less through overt ideology than through atmosphere, familiarity, nostalgia, and music. Why do songs matter so much in political movements? What happens when worship becomes a form of cultural power? And why has a seemingly apolitical worship song become one of the defining sounds of conservative evangelical America? In this episode: Why "How Great Is Our God" has become a fixture at conservative political events The relationship between worship music and conservative activism Nashville's role as a center of evangelical cultural power Chris Tomlin, the Passion movement, and the mainstreaming of charismatic worship How worship music became the dominant language of American Protestantism Charlie Kirk, Sean Feucht, and the politics of sacred music The rise of suburban megachurch culture and its political influence Why contemporary worship songs often succeed where political slogans fail "Comfort food Christian nationalism" and the power of familiarity The overlap between MAGA politics, evangelical identity, and worship culture Links: Bob Smietana's NPR article: “Why an Apolitical Worship Song Has Become Popular With Conservative Activists” Adam Perez: ““It's Your Breath in Our Lungs”: Sean Feucht's Praise and Worship Music Protests and the Theological Problem of Pandemic Response in the U.S.” Worship Leader Research Leah Payne's God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music Bob Smietana Official Website Bob Smietana at Religion News Service Bob Smietana's book, Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why It Matters: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preaching: Mike RothDuring the long stretch of the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the mysteries of Christ: incarnation, atonement, resurrection. The remainder of the year, Ordinary Time, turns to the generations of every day saints, the Jesus-followers who keep pushing the Divine Story forward. In an age where American Christianity seems to have lost the plot, we can turn to the stories and examples of mystics and poets, women and outsiders who have kept the way of Jesus alive in times ancient and modern. This series will explore pairs of saints whose lives and writings inspire us to keep moving forward today.This week, Mike draws on the 12th-century abbess Hildegard of Bingen and contemporary Franciscan theologian Ilia Delio to make a case that science and Christian faith aren't enemies—they never were—and that evolution, consciousness, and cosmic convergence can deepen rather than threaten the ancient mysteries of incarnation, Trinity, and atonement.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

Faith, power, and politics have become deeply intertwined in our culture, leaving many Christians asking hard questions:  Is this what following Jesus is meant to look like? And how do we stay faithful when the way of Jesus seems so different from the voices claiming to speak for him? In this episode, Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen welcome Rev. Rob Schenck back to the podcast for an honest conversation about power, discipleship, and the state of American Christianity. Together, they explore the difference between the way of Jesus and the pursuit of control, the cost of discipleship, and why humility, grief, and love matter more than ever. If you've felt confused, discouraged, or unsettled by the intersection of faith and politics, we hope this conversation offers both perspective and hope as we consider what it means to follow Jesus in a complicated time. About the Allender Center Podcast: For over a decade, the Allender Center Podcast has offered honest, thoughtful conversations about the deep work of healing and transformation. Hosted by Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv, this weekly podcast explores the complexities of trauma, abuse recovery, story, relationships, and spiritual formation. Through questions submitted by listeners, stories, interviews, and conversations, we engage the deep places of heartache and hope that are rarely addressed so candidly in our culture today. Join the Allender Center Podcast to uncover meaningful perspectives and support for your path to healing and growth. At the Allender Center, we value thoughtful dialogue across a wide range of voices, stories, and lived experiences. In that spirit, our podcast features guests and hosts who may hold differing perspectives. The perspectives shared on this podcast by guests and hosts reflect their own experiences and viewpoints and do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or endorsements of the Allender Center and/or The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Stream each episode, plus find transcripts, additional resources, and more at: theallendercenter.org/podcast To become a supporter of the Allender Center Podcast, visit: https://theallendercenter.org/2025/11/podcast-support/

This week we bring you a conversation between Eric Cohen, president and CEO of Tikvah, and the former vice-president of the United States, Mike Pence. The conversation was recorded before a live audience at the Fund for American Studies, and we are grateful to our friends at TFAS for the invitation and for the work they do: forming young leaders in the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and honorable leadership, and sending them out to advance the cause of a free society in their communities and around the world. The conversation opens where so much American reflection on these questions begins, with George Washington's letters to the Jews of Newport and Savannah—the promise of religious liberty on the one hand, and the vision of America as a providential, almost-chosen nation on the other. Those two ideas do not sit together easily, and Cohen and the vice-president think together about what they mean and how they relate: the biblical sources of the founding, the place of Scripture in American education, the case for school choice and the renewal of the universities, and the meaning of federalism in the conservative project. At the heart of this conversation is a fascinating discussion about American expressions of Christianity. Cohen, speaking as a religious Jew, believes that the strengthening of American Christianity is the surest hope for American renewal, and he also warns that a strain of anti-Semitism now gathering strength on the political right would turn that Christianity to perverse ends. To these comments Vice-President Pence adds his reflections about religious culture, and together, Cohen and Pence arrive at a description of a Hebraic Christianity and a Hebraic America—a country that understands the Hebrew Bible not as an atavistic relic, but as the foundation it has in fact always been. This episode of The Tikvah Podcast is generously sponsored by Jessica and PJ Heyer. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Tikvah Podcast, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle. Visit tikvah.org/circle to learn more and join.

Truth has never been determined by popularity. Beliefs are constantly being redefined and cultural opinions shift from one generation to the next, many people are asking an important question: Where should we look for truth? The pressure to conform has never been greater. What happens when faith and culture collide? How do believers stay rooted in Scripture while navigating difficult conversations surrounding morality, identity, truth, and the future of the Church?Examine the foundations of your faith, think critically about the influences shaping modern Christianity, and consider what it means to remain anchored in God's Word in an increasingly uncertain world. At the end of the day, culture will continue to change, but God's Word never will. As believers, our foundation cannot be public opinion, political movements, or the spirit of the age. It must be Jesus Christ and the truth revealed in Scripture. The question is not whether the Bible aligns with culture, but whether our lives align with the Bible.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Driscoll is one of the most documented bullies in modern American Christianity — so why do people keep following him? In this conversation, Amy Hawk and I dig into the pattern: from the collapse of Mars Hill Church to his current Trinity Church in Arizona, and the lawsuit he's now filed against a pastor who walked away. We play the clips and let Driscoll speak for himself — the pulpit rants, the "biblical manhood" that looks a lot more like intimidation than discipleship. Then we ask the harder question: what is it about this brand of domineering, fear-based leadership that still draws crowds, builds platforms, and gets a national stage? We look at the documented behavior, hold it up against the character Scripture actually calls for in a leader, and try to understand why so many Christians mistake cruelty for courage — and control for conviction. If you've ever sat under a leader like this, or watched someone you love get pulled in, this one's for you.

America has produced some of the most influential religious movements in modern history. But what happens when charismatic leaders claim new revelation, unique authority, or exclusive access to God's truth?

America has produced some of the most influential religious movements in modern history. But what happens when charismatic leaders claim new revelation, unique authority, or exclusive access to God's truth?

Can you keep sinning and still go to heaven? Is it okay to support a friend who just told you she had an abortion? How do you honor a parent who says they're a Christian but doesn't live like one? These are the kinds of questions most people are afraid to ask out loud.In this Fire Away Q&A service, Pastor Brian and Pastor Brandon sit on stage together and answer the questions our congregation texts in live. No script, no preselected questions, no editing. Just real pastoral answers to the things people are actually wrestling with.Pastor Brandon opens with the apologetic question: how do you reach a family member who loves history but is on the fence about the gospel? He points to the historical credibility of the gospel accounts, especially the witness of the women at the resurrection in a culture that did not value women's testimony, 1 Corinthians 15 where Paul says you could still go talk to people who saw the risen Jesus, the work of scholars like Wes Huff and Lee Strobel, and the wild improbability of the disciples inventing a story they would die violent deaths to defend.The conversation gets harder fast with the abortion question. Pastor Brian and Pastor Brandon walk slowly through what it means to love someone who has done something Scripture calls sin without endorsing the sin. Be available. Play the long relational game. Pray that one day God uses you to point them not just to the gravity of what they have done, but to the cross that has already paid for it.On honoring a parent who says they are a Christian but does not live like one, Pastor Brian unpacks the difference between obey and honor, why honor has to transcend even decades of disappointment, why dishonor is just drinking poison and hoping the other person dies, and why the deeper question may not be "how do I confront this person" but "does this person actually need to be born again?"They tackle tattoos (mostly a conscience question for New Testament believers, not the Old Testament Canaanite context many people assume), the best advice for newlyweds (Pastor Brian's encouragement to pray together out loud regularly, and Pastor Brandon's reminder to find a community of other young couples who love Jesus), and they close with one of the most asked questions in modern American Christianity. If I keep sinning, can I lose my salvation?Pastor Brian's answer here is worth the whole service. You did not behave your way into salvation, and you cannot behave your way out of it. But do not play games with God either. The reason you are saved is to be sanctified. If your sin is bothering you, lean into that conviction. A bruised reed Jesus will not break, and a smoldering wick of faith he will not put out (Isaiah 42:3).If you have ever had real questions about heaven, sin, family, marriage, or doubt that nobody around you was answering, this teaching is for you. Skip to the chapter that sounds most like your story, or watch the whole thing.

Preaching: Ben ConachanDuring the long stretch of the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the mysteries of Christ: incarnation, atonement, resurrection. The remainder of the year, Ordinary Time, turns to the generations of every day saints, the Jesus-followers who keep pushing the Divine Story forward. In an age where American Christianity seems to have lost the plot, we can turn to the stories and examples of mystics and poets, women and outsiders who have kept the way of Jesus alive in times ancient and modern. This series will explore pairs of saints whose lives and writings inspire us to keep moving forward today.This week, St. Francis and Wendell Berry guide us into a different kind of Christian imagination—one where creation isn't a backdrop to human salvation but belongs to it, and where learning to love the world around us turns out to be some of the most ancient and most human work there is.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

20 Minute Takes is back with a new episode featuring Kristin Lee. She's the author of the recently released book: We Mend with Gold: An Immigrant Daughter's Reckoning with American Christianity. In this conversation, she and Nikki Toyama-Szeto discuss the experience of Asian American Christians and how an exilic spirituality informs how Asian American communities can show up today.You can learn more about Kristin and her work here.Follow her on Instagram or Threads.20 Minute Takes is a production of Christians for Social ActionHosted by Nikki Toyama-Szeto Produced by David de LeonEditing and Mixing by Wiloza MediaMusic by Andre Henry

In this interview, host Mike Slater sits down with classicist and author Spencer Klavan to explore the origins of American Christianity and the cultural forces that shaped its early development. They discuss how theology, politics, and history intersected in the formation of American religious identity. The conversation challenges common assumptions and uncovers surprising layers of influence behind one of America's most defining traditions.

In this interview, host Mike Slater sits down with classicist and author Spencer Klavan to explore the origins of American Christianity and the cultural forces that shaped its early development. They discuss how theology, politics, and history intersected in the formation of American religious identity. The conversation challenges common assumptions and uncovers surprising layers of influence behind one of America's most defining traditions.

How does a nation build a cult of personality so powerful that it survives for generations? In this episode, I'm joined by Jonathan Cheng, China bureau chief and former Korea bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, to discuss his forthcoming nonfiction book Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult. The book explores one of the most fascinating and unsettling political transformations of the modern era: how the arrival of American Christianity in Korea may have helped shape the quasi-religious cult surrounding Kim Il Sung and the ruling Kim dynasty. This conversation examines history, religion, propaganda, authoritarianism, and the unique political mythology that continues to define North Korea today.

"America was designed to destroy baptism" is a famous quote from Dr. Steven Paulson and his appearance on the Thinking Fellows live show in 2017. Caleb and Scott are joined by Dan van Voorhis to examine the truth behind Dr. Paulson's statement. Together, they explore the rejection of infant baptism in American Protestantism and how this shift has often turned faith and knowledge into meritorious works within Protestant theology. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman

Pastor Jonathan Shelley of Stedfast Baptist Church joins Stew Peters to rip the mask off the Zionist Jewish takeover of Baptist churches and the heretical Israel-worship that's infected American Christianity.

What do non-denominational and Pentecostal churches have in common — and why are they the only two categories of American Christianity consistently growing right now? Brian From digs into new data that points to something deeper than style or structure: a widespread hunger for experiential, Spirit-filled faith in an age where everything feels artificial. Then: Christian nationalism is becoming a household term, and Brian makes the case that the real danger isn't patriotism — it's when Jesus gets used as a lever for political power rather than worshiped as King. A practical word on evangelism that might actually help: forget the clipboard approach and start asking better questions. Three lighter stories — a woman in Alabama who shot her husband for being annoying, a donor who paid off student loans at commencement, and data showing high-powered dads are finally spending more time with their kids. The doctrine of perseverance unpacked: why you'll still be a Christian tomorrow, and it has nothing to do with your strength. And a genuinely clarifying look at what "pray without ceasing" actually means — hint, it's less about bowing your head and more about living in constant communion. Happy birthday, Carrie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Dorrien came to organizing the hard way — canvassing for McGovern in Alma, Michigan in 1972, where people didn't just oppose the candidate, they despised him, and where two doorstep encounters came close enough to violence that he learned the hard way to pair up. He didn't come out of that thinking he'd found his calling. What he found instead was Michael Harrington at a Harvard Divinity School lecture two years later — corduroy jacket, blue work shirt, gently correcting his own introduction — and joined DSOC on the spot. This week's session gave us Gary's full origin story as an organizer: from the McGovern campaign to the Albany years where he co-founded a DSOC chapter, led Central American solidarity work through C-SPACE, and discovered firsthand the cultural chasm between two wings of the left that could barely stand to share a building. Then Aaron took over and introduced three extraordinary guests — Joe Strife,Colleen Wessel-McCoy, and Carolyn Baker — who brought the history of the National Welfare Rights Organization, Beulah Sanders, and the General Baker Institute directly into the room, and turned the question of who should lead into a live theological reckoning. Carolyn did the interview sitting on her mother's childhood porch steps in Dallas, recording oral history from a woman who is still organizing through dementia, which tells you everything you need to know about where this tradition lives and who carries it. If you haven't joined yet, come find us at www.HomebrewedClasses.com — donation-based, including zero. You get Gary's full lecture series, Aaron's supplemental interviews with scholars and organizers, curated readings, discussion guides, and the online community. Next week: James Cone with Charlene Sinclair.  You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Previous Episodes with Gary or Aaron ⁠the Niebuhr You Thought You Knew⁠ ⁠What Would a New Abolition Be? Gary Dorrien on the Black Social Gospel, Ida B. Wells & Reverdy Ransom⁠ ⁠Social Ethics for This Moment⁠ ⁠What God Do They Worship In There? The Black Social Gospel and the Crisis of American Christianity⁠ ⁠Theological Ethics & Liberal Protestantism⁠ ⁠James Cone and the Emergence of Black Theology⁠ ⁠The Future of Faith & Justice ⁠ ⁠Theology for Action⁠ ⁠The Sacred, The Political, and Why We're All Vulnerable⁠ Come keep thinking with us — ⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp 2026⁠⁠ This is exactly what we will be sitting with at ⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp this October 8–10 in Kansas City⁠⁠. Our theme this year is the God-podcalypse. Cornell West is coming. So are a lot of your favorite theologians and podcasters and six hundred of your soon-to-be-favorite people. We are going to think together about what it means to be a people of faith in catastrophic times — without deodorizing the catastrophe, and without giving despair the last word. Don't wait. → ⁠⁠TheologyBeer.Camp⁠ JOIN ⁠⁠⁠THE CLASS - Theology for Troublemakers: Christian Social Ethics from the Margins⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This 6-week online course, led by Dr. Gary Dorrien and Dr. Aaron Stauffer, recovers the radical tradition of Christian social ethics — from Reverdy Ransom and Reinhold Niebuhr to James Cone and the Welfare Rights Movement — and asks what faithfulness demands of us right now. Weekly lectures, live Q&A conversations, guest lecturers, and an online community included.

Kim Song Ju, the man who would become Kim Il Sung, was born to devout Presbyterian parents. Billy Graham's wife was born to christian missionaries in China and went to high school in Pyongyang. American protestants once spread the gospel in northwest Korea and found fertile ground for their gospel message. Kim listened, learned, and used those teachings to shape a cult of personality that rules North Korea to this day.On this episode of Angry Planet I'm joined by Wall Street Journal China bureau chief Jonathan Cheng to talk about his new book Korean Messiah. Cheng's work is an exploration of the origins of North Korea and Kim's deep ties to American Christianity.ShareAngry Planet as dress rehearsalBilly Graham in the Hermit Kingdom19th century Protestant missionaries in KoreaPresbyterians in the untamed northwestUntangling the history of a self-made godkingThe Kim Song Ju nativityWomen without namesAttending church during the Fire and Fury periodThe Soviet eraLeading from beyond the graveKim bombs his first public appearanceBuy Korean MessiahSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderated a discussion with Jonathan Cheng on how the surprising ties between the Kim dynasty and American Christianity shaped North Korea's leadership, and how power, belief, and narrative intersect in the hermit kingdom, influencing dynamics in Northeast Asia and the broader international landscape.

Message by Chris Brown on May 2, 2026. Have you ever noticed it's much easier to call yourself a Christian than to actually live like a follower of Christ? Today we'll look at one of the biggest reasons why, and how it's become a major stumbling block in American Christianity. The topic of willingly laying down our rights for others is a tough one to swallow, but Jesus will show why it is necessary, and how to do it. Video available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/fYAbFdiPnKs?si=5_0563krHmjcB3vn - Live Notes available at https://churchlinkfeeds.blob.core.windows.net/notes/38370/note-266185.html

In this wide-ranging conversation, Georgetown Professor Joshua Mitchell explains why America remains a deeply Hebraic, covenantal nation — and why the current culture war is best understood as a distorted continuation of the Reformation.From the Plato-Aristotle divide to Luther's turn to history, from Tocqueville's warnings to the spiritual economy of stain and redemption, Mitchell offers a profound diagnosis of where American Christianity stands today. Watch until the end for a hopeful (yet challenging) path forward.CHAPTERS(00:00 Introduction & The Article That Sparked a National Conversation)(04:20 The Great Schism: Plato vs Aristotle & East vs West)(11:45 Why the Catholic Church Chose Aristotle — And Its Consequences)(18:50 The Reformation: Luther's Historical Dialectic vs Calvin's Covenantal Path)(27:15 America as a New Israel — The Hebraic Soul of the Nation)(35:40 Identity Politics as Deformed Puritanism)(44:10 Evangelicals, Conservatives & the Path Forward for Reformation Christians)  JOSHUA MITCHELL LINKS:

What's up, family?! Join us for this Flashback Friday Episode on Christian Nationalism. We think given the times, this episode is very relevant even all these years later. Please don't forget to tap in with us on Patreon.com/SouthsideRabbi for all of your favorite bonus content, special episodes, Discord access, early releases and other great resources! Original Description: We have some important questions to discuss this episode! Namely, has the civic religion of American Christianity become a worthless replica of the original? Does the Big Bicep Curling Machine really give you Schwarzenegger-sized biceps in 15 minutes? Is the English language superior to Spanish? Does "success cover a multitude of sins?" Rock with us and dig through the Scriptures to find out!

Mike Madrid (Author of The Latino Century) joins Host Ron Steslow to examine America's growing crisis of purpose and how that crisis is showing up across politics, technology, corruption, religion, and war They begin with Justice Clarence Thomas's recent speech on the Declaration of Independence, natural rights, progressivism, and the proper role of government. From there, they turn to Palantir CEO Alex Karp's vision of a “technological republic,” Silicon Valley's moral obligations to national defense, and the dangerous temptation to sacrifice individual rights in the name of preserving the West. Next, they examine the normalization of corruption, from tariff refund profiteering and market manipulation to political betting and the broader cultural shift toward “get yours before the system collapses.” Then they discuss President Trump's clash with Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran, the use of religious language to justify military action, and the battle inside American Christianity over nationalism, moral authority, and political power. In Politicology+, they discuss Virginia as the latest front in America's redistricting wars and what it reveals about the deeper rot in our politics.  POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don't miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow this week's panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/madrid_mike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The specter of Christian nationalism, and discussion of American Christianity more broadly, has risen to the cultural forefront in recent months. Hegseth and Wilson advocate for a Protestant vision of America in the halls of the military. The majority-Catholic Supreme Court receives both praise and criticism for its handling of religious freedom and gay rights cases. The Trump administration (which has several prominent Catholic members, including the vice president) and the Vatican's rocky relations famously came to a head just weeks ago when the president criticized the pope for opposing the war in Iran. And the rising star of Presbyterian seminarian and staunch progressive James Talarico in Texas has opened new conversations about Christian politics, including debates and divisions among other prominent Christians about how to receive him. In the background of all these recent examples is the ongoing debate about whether American Christianity is undergoing a revival — that is, whether a country that has long been on a decades-long shift away from Christianity is suddenly re-embracing faith.Our nation has a long tradition with Christianity. However, it also has a long tradition of keeping Christianity (or any religion) outside of our government. For a lot of Americans who believe in the principled separation of church and state, Christian nationalism has become a primary concern — particularly among secular or non-Christian Americans. The prominence of Christianity in U.S. politics, and in right-wing politics in particular, is intimidating. That's especially true when the precepts that underlie Christian political activity aren't well understood, and when a wide variety of people claim to be working from the same religious principles but disagree on fundamental issues like abortion and welfare and marriage and immigration. But not all Christian political activity is, in fact, Christian nationalism. Much of it is actually normal political activity, simply based on an underlying Christian worldview — no different from political activity that's based on a secular worldview, or a Muslim worldview, or a Jewish one. In fact, the term Christian nationalism is often ill defined, even among those who use it for themselves — sometimes used as a call for total Christian control of the government and sometimes used simply to describe political figures who speak publicly about their faith.Ad-free podcasts are here!To unlock the rest of this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast Written by: Audrey Moorehead and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an attempt to make churches more attractive and relevant, over the decades, many pastors effectively stopped preaching and teaching the contents of the Bible, and this has resulted in a significant decrease in basic Bible literacy among Christians across all denominations. Thirty years ago today, a diverse group of leaders and theologians met in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to address this and other challenges, and they produced an important document called The Cambridge Declaration. This program features audio from the 1996 meeting featuring R.C. Sproul, James M. Boice, David Wells, Michael Horton, Gene Veith, W. Robert Godfrey, and others.SHOW NOTESBooksHere We Stand, 2026 edition, Jim Boice & Ben Sasse (editors)No Place for Truth, David WellsGod in the Wasteland, David WellsReaching Out Without Dumbing Down, Marva DawnPeculiar Speech, Peculiar Speech, William WillimonChristless Christianity, Michael HortonThe Christian Mind, Harry BlamiresChristianity & Liberalism, J. Gresham MachenCreed or Chaos? by Dorothy Sayers — FREEArticlesThe Cambridge Declaration (also via PDF download here)Background to The Cambridge Declaration, WikipediaThe Story of Us, Shane RosenthalThe Megachurch Century, Shane RosenthalThe Tower of Babel, Shane RosenthalThe Mormonization of American Christianity, Shane RosenthalFinding Christ in All of Scripture (PDF), Shane RosenthalLiberalism or Christianity?, J. Gresham MachenThe Importance of Christian Scholarship, by J. Gresham MachenTheologically, This Country is in a State of Utter Chaos, Dorothy SayersWhy Johnny Can't Preach, T. David GordonAudioThe Living Church, WHI #317 with Ervin DugganDoctrine, Worship & Life, WHI #323 with Jim BoiceCatechesis, Preaching & Vocation, WHI #317 with Gene VeithThe Courage to Be Protestant, WHI #913 with David WellsGrounded in the Gospel, WHI #986 with J.I. PackerYouth Ministry in Crisis, WHI 1204 with Christian Smith & othersA Debate with Robert Schuller, WHI # 103You Foolish Galatians! WHI #140 includes Shane's street interviewsAn Interview with R.C. Sproul, WHI #909The Preached Word, WHI 972 with William WillimonJacob's Ladder, Humble Skeptic #63Christian Narcissism, Humble Skeptic #67 with J.I. Packer & othersThe Effect of Media & Technology, Humble Skeptic #30VideoBen Sasse on Uncommon Knowledge with Peter RobinsonBen Sasse on Interesting Times with Ross DouthatBen Sasse on Life Cancer & The Gospel, with Mike HortonWe Need Your Help!Consider supporting The Humble Skeptic podcast by making a one-time gift or upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack ($5.95 per month, $59 per year). Use the button below for more information about giving options. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

It's Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass on Tax day! Also, apparently, the day the Vice President told the Pope to stop doing theology. Diana Butler Bass joined me for what was supposed to be a casual religion news roundup and turned into something I didn't entirely expect — a full-on church history seminar about what happens when empire tries to silence the gospel and why it never actually works. We started where everyone started this week: JD Vance, a newly minted Catholic who received what sounds like the Peter Thiel E-Z Pass lane through RCIA, publicly suggesting that the Pope — the Pope — should think more carefully before opining about theology. The same Pope who then responded to a Pentagon threat referencing the Avignon papacy by giving an even stronger anti-war speech. We talked about Trump's Easter posts, the Jesus meme, the "I thought I was a doctor" explanation, and the remarkable spectacle of evangelicals — evangelicals — saying the president might be demon-possessed. But Diana being Diana, she kept pulling the historical threads, and we ended up somewhere genuinely useful: the long story of how American Christianity split the sacred from the secular, why that split is breaking down, what it means for a congregation trying to figure out what to do with the 250th anniversary of a nation that's currently threatening popes and bombing people on Easter Sunday, and why Whitehead's image of the flickering Galilean vision might be the most honest thing you can say right now about where hope lives. We didn't ruin anything. The ruining is, as Diana noted, already adequately covered. Want to hangout with us in person?! ⁠⁠Join 600+ Listeners, 30 theologians, & 30 God-Pods at Theology Beer Camp 2026 this October 8-10 in Kansas City!⁠⁠⁠⁠ This conversation was originally for our Substack members, but we're sharing a portion with all of you – join us at The Process This or The Cottage to catch future episodes live!  Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America's most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. a Few Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp How the Lectionary Kept Me Christian Two Books, One Night: Finding Beauty in What We Can't Control Religious Liberty & Violence – Unpacking the First 100 Days of Trump 2.0 The Interlocking Crises of Religion & Democracy Faith in a Toxic Public Square The Resurrection of Jesus 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age ⁠You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Theology for Troublemakers: Christian Social Ethics from the Margins⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The injustices we face are immense — but they are not unique. Previous generations confronted the same powers with theological conviction and strategic brilliance. The question is whether we'll learn from them. This 6-week online course, led by Dr. Gary Dorrien and Dr. Aaron Stauffer, recovers the radical tradition of Christian social ethics — from Reverdy Ransom and Reinhold Niebuhr to James Cone and the Welfare Rights Movement — and asks what faithfulness demands of us right now. Weekly lectures, live Q&A conversations, guest lecturers, and an online community included.

In this part 2 episode of Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager, Dennis shares his personal story of growth and evolution. He reflects on his childhood experiences, including a traumatic event that sparked his preoccupation with good and evil. Dennis also discusses his intellectual curiosity, questioning the notion that his generation was the wisest, and his exploration of different faiths. He shares how his experiences led him to become a defender of American Christianity and a believer in the specialness of the United States. This episode is a thought-provoking journey into Dennis's life, revealing his journey towards moral clarity and his ongoing quest for understanding. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.