How do you engage with culture? Are you aware of how culture is shaping your sensibilities about meaning, power, morality, religion, and aesthetics? Do you blindly reject everything in the culture so that you can remain separate from the world or do you blindly accept everything so that you remain relevant? My guest today is Read more about 480 Interpreting Your World (Justin Bailey)[…]
Today we are addressing Progressive Christianity. To be clear, we are not talking about politics, though they often go hand in hand. Progressive Christianity is an outgrowth of liberal Christianity, which accepted the modernist ethos of the Enlightenment and merged it with Christianity. Likewise Progressive Christianity brings the assumptions and moral commitments of postmodernism to Read more about 448 What’s Wrong with Progressive Christianity? (Mike Winger)[…]
Tribalism is a major problem in our society today. If we’re honest, tribalism is a major problem in Christianity today. If I’m really honest, I have to admit that tribalism is a major problem in me today. Do you feel it too? Are you tempted to blow your ideological, theological, or political enemies out of Read more about 441 Tribalism in Times Like These[…]
We live in a challenging and draining time. The stock market is at a record high while many small businesses have closed permanently and those that remain are stymied by short staffing. Inflation is on the rise, supply shortages abound, and real-estate prices have skyrocketed. Additionally, societal problems continue to plague us from mass shootings Read more about Salt & Light[…]
Who are you and why does your life matter? These two piercing questions get to the heart of your identity. Our society in the West has increasingly embraced an internally discovered identity on the basis of individual passions. Such expressive individualism is exciting to live out, especially if those around you push back, however, the Read more about 398 Why Christianity 11: Christian Identity (Jerry Wierwille)[…]
Today in our fourth and final part of our series on postmodernism Pastor Jacob Ballard explains four key guidelines for cross-cultural ministry. Always change the language, but never change the message Exchange meta-narrative for personal narrative or community narrative Exchange certainty for humility, clues, hints, and mysteries Exchange absolutist morality for personal accountability and communal Read more about 373 Postmodernism 4: Cross-Cultural Conversations[…]
Today, in part three of our series on postmodernism we ask the question, “How is postmodernism affecting our world today?” Pastor Jacob Ballard explains how narrative, experience, community, and subjective truth are key ways that postmodern-minded people go about making sense of reality. Then he shows how movements like Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights Read more about 372 Postmodernism 3: Postmodernism’s Effect Today (Jacob Ballard)[…]
In our last episode, Pastor Jacob Ballard explained what worldviews are. Today he covers the two major worldviews: modernism and postmodernism. Although many today still approach life from a modernist mindset, postmodernism is here in increasing force. What are we as bible-believing Christians to do about this? The first step is to become aware of Read more about 371 Postmodernism 2: Modernism vs. Postmodernism (Jacob Ballard)[…]
Have you noticed the shifts happening all around us in our culture? Skepticism of traditional institutions from the government to the media to churches is at an all time high, while increasingly we’re told to discover our authentic self and live it out courageously. Universal truth claims sound like power grabs while individual personal truths Read more about 370 Postmodernism 1: Worldview (Jacob Ballard)[…]
Have you noticed the shrill tone that permeates public discourse in our time? It seems like everyone is on a hairpin trigger ready to rage and vent at their ideological enemies. What is a Christian to do? Should we stand up for our beliefs, morals, and politics? Should we disengage from conversation about controversial issues? Read more about 369 Civil Discourse (Peter Miano)[…]
A woman driving on a bridge spots a man standing on the edge, getting ready to jump. Pulling over, she jumps out of the car and shouts, “Stop!” The man turns and says, “Why should I?” The lady asks, “Are you religious?” “Yes,” the man replies. “Me too. Are you Christian?” she asks. “Yes.” Walking Read more about The Power of Unity in a Polarized Time[…]
Over the last few months, our society has focused a great deal on racism, especially with respect to African Americans. Although our present issue is complex and polarizing, what the Bible teaches on this subject is straightforward and clear. Let us begin with creation itself. Genesis 1:12, 20, 2512 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants Read more about The Bible vs. Racism[…]
We’re delving into a topic rife with controversy, polarization, and intense emotion. We’re asking the question, how should bible-based Christians respond to the Black Lives Matter movement. No doubt, some of you will answer that we should all be out marching in full support while others think BLM is itself racist and should be resisted. Read more about 358 A Christian Perspective on Black Lives Matter (Russell Brown)[…]
This is part four of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class. Francis of Assisi allegedly said, “Preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.” Sadly, many of us have taken this way of thinking as an excuse to remain silent. However, as Anderson points out, the scriptures specifically call us to open Read more about 318 Building Relational Credibility (Josh Anderson)[…]
This is part three of Joshua Anderson’s Announcing the Kingdom evangelism class. In the previous teaching we learned what evangelism is not as well as some ineffective methods to avoid. Today, we’ll hear about what evangelism is and one key to sharing your faith more effectively. Anderson also explains the history of how our culture Read more about 317 What Evangelism Is (Josh Anderson)[…]
Last Saturday while I was attending a Christian festival in Ohio, a 21 year-old man entered a Walmart in El Paso, TX and murdered 22 people, injuring 24 more, making it the 7th deadliest shooting in modern US history. What’s so crazy about this, is that walking into a huge store like Walmart and shooting Read more about Interview 54 Beating Guns (Shane Claiborne and Mike Martin)[…]
Our culture longs for authenticity. We’re tired of fakers and phonies who say one thing and do another. People should just be true to themselves and have the courage to flout tradition when it holds them back from genuine self-expression. However, this mentality results in major individual and social problems from sexually transmitted diseases to Read more about 153 Be You — Colossians 3 (Sean Finnegan)[…]
Kenneth LaPrade lives in El Paso, Texas, on the border between the United States and Mexico. His wife is Mexican and many of the folks in his house church are from Mexico. In such a context, immigration is always a touchy subject, but lately some Christians have baptized certain political rhetoric and presented it as Read more about Interview 42 Christian Solidarity vs. Polarizing Politics (Kenneth Laprade)[…]
Have you ever been in a corn maze? The reason they work is because you can only see right in front of you. If you had a live drone feed, you could easily orient yourself and find the way out. This is the benefit of history. We live in a postmodern culture, but it’s hard Read more about 147 Apologetics Conference: 5 Metanarratives and Failed Promises[…]
How should we think through the different major religions of our time? Are they all the same? What are their differences? In this presentation, philosopher of religion, Dale Tuggy, works through key questions that can help us differentiate and distinguish religions from each other. In the second half of his talk, he invites the audience Read more about 146 Apologetics Conference: 4 Are All Religions the Same? (Dale Tuggy)[…]
How do you know the difference between what’s right and wrong? Do morals have an absolute source or does society determine them? In this talk, Kenny Willenburg explains the classic moral argument as well as how we can use this approach to “turn the tables” when people object to Christianity on moral grounds. I’ve also Read more about 145 Apologetics Conference 3: Moral Argument (Kenny Willenburg)[…]
In the second presentation of this Apologetics Conference, we delve into a comparison of three major time periods: (1) the age of authority, (2) the age of reason, and (3) the age of authenticity. We look at how people practiced their faith in each as well as what criticisms apologists answered. For our post-modern time, Read more about 144 Apologetics Conference 2: A Strategy to Reach Our Postmodern World (Sean Finnegan)[…]
Today we are starting something new. I’m very excited to present to you in its entirety, the apologetics conference held in Paducah, KY last June. We’ve got a great line up of speakers for you including Jerry Wierwille, myself, Kenny Willenburg, Dale Tuggy, Kegan Chandler, and John Truitt. It was a wonderful time of meeting Read more about 143 Apologetics Conference 1: The Problem of Privatization (Jerry Wierwille)[…]
Last weekend I participated in an apologetics conference at John and Lisa Truitts’ home in Paducah, Kentucky. It was a wonderful time of meeting people and working together to figure out ways of reaching the millennial generation with the gospel. As it turned out, a great majority of the presentations focused on understanding the post-modern Read more about 2018 Apologetics Conference[…]
Last weekend I presented at Restoration Fellowship’s 27th annual Theological Conference. Here’s an edited version of my presentation with the slides added in. To get the full paper, click here. Biblical Somatology: How the Bible’s View of the Body Cures Social Ills and Unleashes Human Flourishing Between the apathy and reductionism of those who think Read more about Biblical Somatology[…]
Biblical Somatology How the Bible’s View of the Body Cures Social Ills and Unleashes Human Flourishing Sean Finnegan (Restitutio.org) Presented May 6, 2018 27th Theological Conference Sponsored by Restoration Fellowship Introduction Between the apathy and reductionism of those who think our biological bodies don’t matter, and the vanity and superficiality of the celebrity culture that Read more about Biblical Somatology[…]
This is part six in our series on responding to your questions and comments. In light of our killing series, we considered whether Christians should kill the old, the young, enemies, or criminals, however we never addressed the morality of God killing. Brian asked: Can I expect a subsequent episode where you discuss a sort Read more about Off Script 47: Is God’s Violence in the Bible Wrong? (Q&A)[…]
This is part five in our series on responding to your questions and comments. In this Q & A episode, we address two commenters who responded to Off Script 34: Killing the Unborn (A Christian View of Abortion). Dan Fitzsimmons responds to Candace who inquired why Dan would vote against capital punishment but not against Read more about Off Script 46: Should Christians Outlaw Abortion? (Q&A)[…]
This is part three in our series on responding to your questions and comments. In Off Script 28: Seeking a Christian View on Refugees and Immigrants, we concluded on the basis of several scriptures in the Old Testament as well as the Great Commission that Christians should welcome refugees into their countries. In response to Read more about Off Script 44: Should We Ban Muslim Immigrants? (Q&A)[…]
Welcome to our series answering your questions and responding to some of your comments. We’ve been saving these up and over the next few weeks, we’ll address a number of them. We’ve decided to do these in individual episodes, so if you’re not interested in the topic, you can just skip it and listen to Read more about Off Script 42: Hillary Clinton, a Dead Moose, and Christians Discussing Politics (Q&A)[…]
Mary Willson, director of women’s initiatives for the Gospel Coalition, wrestles with a couple of the Old Testament texts that critics use to show that God hates women, including Deuteronomy 21.10-14 and Numbers 5.11-31. First she looks at how we perceive these ancient scriptures from the perspective of our own culture, then she shows how Read more about 133 Is God a Misogynist? (Mary Willson)[…]
This is part two of our discussion about Charles Mathewes’ Washington Post article, “White Christianity is in big trouble. And it’s its own biggest threat.” Check out part one here. In this episode we consider gun control, immigration, the death penalty, and treatment of the poor in an effort to understand and respond to evangelicalism’s Read more about Off Script 41: Guns, Immigrants, and White Evangelicals[…]
This lecture covers the two main types of criticisms leveled against Christianity during the Enlightenment period: biblical and philosophical. In addition you’ll see how some Christians dug their heals in and worked hard to defend their faith while others gave ground but reinterpreted Christianity in a way that would not only survive the criticisms but Read more about 129 Losing Faith (Five Hundred 13)[…]
While scrolling through Facebook, I came across Charles Mathewes’ Washington Post article, “White Christianity is in big trouble. And it’s its own biggest threat.” At first reading, I was infuriated at what I felt were unfair criticisms, but after I thought about it, I realized what an opportunity this article presented. It collects together no Read more about Off Script 40: Roy Moore, Gay Wedding Cakes, and White Evangelicals[…]
Several significant sexual harassment cases have come to light in the last few months. Now a whole range of behaviors have come under scrutiny as women (and some men) have felt emboldened to make public their experiences. In this episode we even out our Off Script panel with one more female voice, Terri Crowder, to Read more about Off Script 39: Sexual Harassment, A Christian Response[…]
Is war ever justified? If so, can Christians participate in killing? In this episode we delve into a sensitive and controversial subject to figure out what the bible has to teach us about how we should treat our enemies. Our aim here is not be provocative, but faithful to what our lord taught us. Here Read more about Off Script 38: Killing in War: A Christian View of Violence[…]
Determining the validity of capital punishment is a complex task, especially when approached from a Christian perspective. To arrive at a biblically informed decision we need to consider both the Old and New Testaments, giving special attention to the nuanced understanding the Apostle Paul gave in Romans 13. Furthermore, in America we have quite a Read more about Off Script 37: Killing Criminals: A Christian View of Capital Punishment[…]
Is it ever right to end someone’s life early? If so, under what conditions? In this episode we turn to the bible to sort out a Christian position on euthanasia. Drawing on the inherent dignity God has invested in each person by making us in his image and the fact that God claims sovereignty over Read more about Off Script 36: Killing the Suffering: A Christian View of Euthanasia[…]
On average, 121 people commit suicide per day in America. It is now the tenth leading cause of death in this country. In this episode we discuss this phenomenon and seek to understand what the bible can teach us about this subject. In addition, we wrestle with a number of hard questions about suicide such Read more about Off Script 35: Killing Yourself: A Christian View of Suicide[…]
Last week we looked at stewarding your body. In this episode we focus on a phenomenon that has been growing over the last couple of decades–tattoos and piercings. What was once seen among sailors, bikers, and soldiers is now rampant among celebrities, athletes, and countless others. What’s a Christian to do? Should we go with Read more about Off Script 32: Stewarding Your Image (Can Christians Get Tattoos?)[…]
What role does doubt play in your life? Do you think of it as something to push aside and ignore or do you pursue your doubts to get answers? In this episode we examine the role of doubt for Christians, avoiding both extremes of refusing to engage with doubt as well as obsessing on it. Read more about Off Script 29: Dealing with Doubt[…]
On January 27, 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order 13769, called “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” in which he banned immigration from seven countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. This unpopular order caused much controversy throughout the US and led to significant litigation, delaying it’s Read more about Off Script 28: Seeking a Christian View on Refugees and Immigrants[…]
What is true freedom? We tend to think of freedom as the lack of restrictions so that we can do whatever we want. However, I want to make the case that freedoms is not the lack of boundaries, but finding the right ones to enable us to be our best for God. After God liberated Read more about Podcast 72: Free as a Fish on Land (Sean Finnegan)[…]
Let’s say you are sharing your faith with a friend and they say to you, “Well, I’m glad that Christianity works for you, but it sounds like no fun to me.” How would you respond? Is Christianity no more than a set of restrictions we set on our lives like a straitjacket? Listen in to Read more about Off Script 22: Christianity Is Lame[…]
Halloween comes from the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain when the Celts believed the boundary between our world and the spirit world grew thin, allowing spirits, fairies, and disembodied souls to enter our realm. Consequently, they employed several strategies to appease and misdirect these nefarious ghosts from messing with them. However, in our secular age, Read more about Off Script 15: Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?[…]
Horror movies inspire fear, causing our hearts to beat faster and our adrenaline to flow. Their monsters, murder, and jump scares have won them a dedicated following. In this episode, we discuss whether Christians have any business watching horror movies. We talk about where to draw the line and what exactly is problematic about this Read more about Off Script 14: Should Christians Watch Horror Movies?[…]
Unbelievers often criticize Christianity because of how it takes away personal freedoms. If I agree to follow Jesus, then I can no longer do as I please; I’m no longer free. Christians limit sex to marriage. They don’t party. Their book won’t let them express themselves without worrying about “corrupt communication.” I’m sure you’ve come Read more about Does Christianity Limit Personal Freedom?[…]
Who determines truth? Is there such a thing as objective truth or are all claims subjective in nature? Join Rose Rider, Daniel Fitzsimmons, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about relativism before bringing in a biblical perspective to help you think through this critical issue.
Should Christians be patriotic? How patriotic should we be? Join Daniel Fitzsimmons, Rose Rider, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss issues related to patriotism and stake out a Christian perspective based on the example of Jesus and his earliest followers.
Is consumerism a force for good or ill in our society today? How should Christians think about the ubiquity of advertising, our innate desire for novelty, and the allure of finding a deal? For this episode Ruth Finnegan joins in with Daniel Fitzsimmons, Rose Rider, and Sean Finnegan to consider the pros and cons of Read more about Off Script 6: Consumerism[…]
Is scientific knowledge superior to all other forms of knowledge? How should Christians balance faith and reason? Join Rose Rider, Daniel Fitzsimmons, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss science and religion in an effort to describe and deconstruct the naive notion that science has all the answers. Read a detailed article on Scientism here.
Is the world getting better and better over time or worse and worse? Listen in to Rose Rider, Daniel Fitzsimmons, and Sean Finnegan as they discuss how our culture thinks about progress in order to help you understand the hidden forces at work. After discussing and deconstructing the idea of progress, they offer a helpful Read more about Off Script 4: Progress[…]
This is part 6 of a series of posts called, “Identifying and Subverting Cultural Narratives.” Consumerism capitalizes on the thrill of buying something new even when you don’t need it. In order to keep people buying, advertisers craft penetrating messages to inspire dissatisfaction or fear that buying their product or service can assuage. Consumers must Read more about Consumerism[…]
Join Sean Finnegan, Dan Fitzsimmons, and Rose Rider for some interesting cultural analysis. We begin by looking at how the ethic of tolerance works in our culture before deconstructing it and providing a Christian point of view. Though many times tolerance can be a force for good, sometimes people use it as a stick to Read more about Off Script 3: Tolerance[…]
This is part 5 of a series of posts called, “Identifying and Subverting Cultural Narratives.” Scientism is the idea that the kind of knowledge gained from the scientific method is superior to all other means of acquiring knowledge if there are any other legitimate means. Scientism exalts empirical data and analysis over intuition, logic, emotion, Read more about Scientism[…]
Daniel Fitzsimmons and I probe the culture by discussing one of the most influential hidden philosophies of life in our culture today–hyper-individualism. In a nut shell, hyper-individualism is a two step process: search within your heart to discover your deepest longings realize your dreams over against any external resistance This mindset has benefits and detriments Read more about Off Script 2: Hyper-Individualism[…]
This is part 4 of a series of posts called, “Identifying and Subverting Cultural Narratives.” Over the course of time, humanity has made incredible progress. Slavery was once a widespread and accepted institution, but it is almost universally outlawed today. Workers’ rights, including child labor and equal opportunity employment, have made great strides in the Read more about Progressivism[…]
In what ways is the culture putting a filter over your eyes? How is our world rewriting your script, adjusting your plausibility intuitions? For our first ever “Off Script” episode, I’m joined by two cohosts, Dan Fitzsimmons and Rose Rider, to discuss how our culture influences our lives as well as how to share the Read more about Off Script 1: Seeing the Filter[…]
This is part 3 of a series of posts called, “Identifying and Subverting Cultural Narratives.” Tolerance is the idea that everyone should have the freedom to be themselves. You shouldn’t try to change people or hold them to your standards. You certainly shouldn’t push your religion on others. Religion is a private matter, so proselytizing Read more about Tolerance[…]
This is part 2 of a series of posts called, “Identifying and Subverting Cultural Narratives.” Read part one here. In my last post, “Seeing the Filter,” I considered how the culture is constantly nudging our sense of normal, scripting and re-scripting what we think will make us safe and happy. The world puts filters over Read more about Hyper-Individualism[…]
This is part 1 of a series of posts called, “Identifying and Subverting Cultural Narratives.” Last week I learned how to surf at Jacksonville Beach in Florida. While I was in the ocean, I constantly battled the waves pushing me towards the beach and the undertow pulling me back towards the sea. However, it was Read more about Seeing the Filter[…]