578: How America Got Mean & Why We Misread the Bible with John Walton

In a new article in The Atlantic, David Brooks asks how America became so mean. He says moral formation used to be a key part of social, religious, and educational structures in the country, but after World War II communal virtues were abandoned for an individualistic and therapeutic model. Simply put, we stopped teaching people how to be good. But what’s missing from Brooks’ solution? A popular preacher says he won’t watch The Chosen because it violates the Second Commandment prohibiting any images of God. Is he right? Then, Dr. John Walton is back to discuss his new book, “Wisdom for Faithful Reading.” He explains why relying on the Holy Spirit isn’t enough when engaging the Bible, and why he believes the American church isn’t facing a crisis of biblical illiteracy but a crisis of biblical interpretation. Also this week—snakes are falling from the sky in Texas.

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0:00 - Intro

 

2:11 - Show Starts

 

4:32 - Theme Song

 

4:56 - Sponsor - Caldera Labs

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6:35 - Animal News

 

18:07 - The Chosen and the 2nd commandment

 

30:29 - How America Got Mean

 

53:55 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling

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56:18 - Interview Intro

John Walton

 

59:10 - Faithfully reading Scripture

 

1:05:39 - Hermeneutical literacy 

 

1:14:43 - Difference between referencing and affirming

 

1:31:08 - End Credits

Links mentioned in news segment:

 

A Woman Was Attacked by a Snake That Fell From the Sky. Then a Hawk Dived In

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/09/us/texas-woman-snake-hawk-sky.html

 

Author, preacher Voddie Baucham says he won't watch 'The Chosen,' cites Second Commandment

https://www.christianpost.com/news/voddie-baucham-says-he-wont-watch-the-chosen.html

 

HOW AMERICA GOT MEAN

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/09/us-culture-moral-education-formation/674765/

Other resources:

 

Our latest explainer video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9sBIcrblS4

 

Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation by John Walton 

https://amzn.to/3YIl40X

 

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