With the Dobbs decision earlier this year, the Supreme Court sent the issue of abortion back to the states, and divisions are opening up within the pro-life movement about what comes next. A very vocal faction calling themselves "abortion abolitionists" are arguing for a complete ban on abortion in all cases, including where the life of the mother is at risk, and the criminal prosecution of women who have them. David French and Skye Jethani examine the abolitionists' arguments, explore why they are gaining popularity among Christians, and why they will actually fail to create the culture of life we want. Plus, French and Jethani engage in unrestrained nerdery as they discuss season one of "The Rings of Power."

00:00 - Intro
00:24 - Abortion abolitionists
56:02 - Nerd corner
Resources mentioned:
“Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice” by Francis J. Beckwith - https://amzn.to/3WbiYF6

“How Americans Understand Abortion: A Comprehensive Interview Study of Abortion Attitudes in the U.S.” by Tricia C. Bruce - https://news.nd.edu/news/national-abortion-study-finds-out-of-touch-labels-knowledge-gaps-appetite-for-moral-discussion/

David French: https://twitter.com/DavidAFrench

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliatecommissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Research finds many Americans are opposed to the gospel because they view Christians as hypocrites, but a new $100 million ad campaign hopes to reintroduce Jesus to the country. But does Jesus really have a PR problem, or does the church have a discipleship problem? Then, culture war issues are fracturing evangelical colleges into 5 distinct groups. What does it mean for the future of the church?

Phil talks to pastor and podcaster Mike Erre about how to think biblically about the culture wars. Does the New Testament call the church to have power over the culture, how did Jesus influence others, and what about the presence of real evil in the world? Mike shares his 3 principles for Christians and the culture war. Plus, the Dutch are giving guns to robots. What could possibly go wrong?

Patreon Bonus: Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess: Halloween History 101 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/73778907/

News Segment
0:00 - Intro
1:52 - Robots with guns
8:22 - Ad campaign for Jesus
27:56 - Evangelical colleges and culture war issues50:04 - Sponsor: Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology
Visit www.biola.edu/talbot for more information and to apply today.

Interview with Mike Erre
Voxology podcast: https://voxologypodcast.com

51:20 - Guest intro
55:22 - Culture warring intro
56:53 - The role of the church in the world
1:09:36 - Providing a counter narrative
1:26:00 - Culture warring vs. the way of Jesus in culture

1:28:06 - Credits

Links from news segment:“The Netherlands Has Deployed NATO’s First Killer Robot Ground Vehicles” (Vice) - https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpax3/the-netherlands-has-deployed-natos-first-killer-robot-ground-vehicles“

Oakland Cops Hope to Arm Robots with Lethal Shotguns” (The Intercept) - https://theintercept.com/2022/10/17/police-robot-gun-oakland/“

A $100 million ad campaign wants to fix Jesus’ image. His followers remain a problem.” (Religion News Service) - https://religionnews.com/2022/10/10/a-100-million-ad-campaign-wants-to-fix-jesuss-image-his-followers-remain-a-problem/

“The Five Emerging Factions in Evangelical Higher Education” (Patheos) - https://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2022/04/the-five-emerging-factions-in-evangelical-higher-education/

Links from interview:"American Evangelicals: Embattled and Thriving" by Christian Smith

Crazy: 10 years of podcasts, 1 song (by Phil Vischer) -
https://youtu.be/Tkgong0GcO0

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Everyone is suddenly talking about Christian nationalism. Some on the political right are embracing the label, while others on the political left are condemning it. Bart Barber, the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was interviewed on 60 Minutes this week to explain why Christian nationalism is fundamentally anti-Baptist. But Al Mohler, another influential SBC leader, is less eager to condemn Christian nationalism and takes a more nuanced view. Mohler also says any Christian who doesn’t vote for the Republican Party is being “unfaithful to God.” The Holy Post crew unpacks his argument. 

Then, Skye interviews Georgetown professor, Paul D. Miller, about his new book, “The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism.” Miller defines Christian nationalism historically, and explains why it is both anti-American and anti-Christian. Plus—When you give a pig a beer...

Bonus Patreon Interview with Paul D. Miller: Ukraine & Nuclear Armageddon - https://www.patreon.com/posts/73474701/

0:00 - Sponsor: The Veritas Forum podcast

Listen to The Veritas Forum podcast to engage your heart and mind around the ideas that shape your life. Find it at https://apple.co/3T82prk

News Segment

00:44 - Intro

2:39 - Phil’s animation adventures

7:53 - Animal News

12:09 - SBC leaders on Christian nationalism

42:07 - Sponsor: Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology

Visit www.biola.edu/talbot for more information and to apply today.

Interview with Paul D. Miller

“The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism” - https://amzn.to/3gi48we

43:24 - Interview intro

44:57 - Paul’s background

47:59 - What is Christian nationalism?

49:42 - Critique of Christian nationalism

54:18 - Christian nationalism then and now

1:03:11 - Race and Christian nationalism

1:11:05 - Nationalism vs nationality

1:12:57 - Advice for spiritual leaders

1:17:29 - Credits

Links from news segment:

“Feral pig pinches multiple six-packs of beer and runs riot at Pilbara camp sites” - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-09/beer-swilling-swine/4946072

Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber on Trump, abortion, sex abuse in the church and more (CBS) - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/southern-baptist-convention-president-bart-barber-60-minutes-2022-10-09/

“The Guardrails” (The Run-Up podcast) - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/podcasts/run-up-trump-evangelical-republican.html

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Research now shows that people who constantly consume the news are three times more likely to hold incorrect perspectives than those who only consume news occasionally. How did the news business shift from reporting to distorting? Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss a new article that blames comedian Jon Stewart and The Daily Show for unintentionally transforming the media into a “subscription-based narrative production” business.

Then, Skye talks to journalist Bonnie Kristian about her book, “Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community.” She explains the economic and cultural forces that have warped journalism, and strategies that can help us avoid being misinformed. Also this week, Focus on the Family defends Christopher Columbus, and Phil reports on his latest Twitter skirmishes involving abortion and trans vegetables.

Bonus Patreon Interview with Bonnie Kristian: Three steps against conspiracism - https://www.patreon.com/posts/73183372/

News Segment
0:00 - Intro
4:11 - Phil's Twitter skirmishes
21:39 - Columbus Day
32:52 - Narratives in media

Sponsor
51:45 - Sponsor: Biola University's Talbot School of Theology
Visit www.biola.edu/talbot for more information and to apply today.

Interview with Bonnie Kristian
"Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community" - https://amzn.to/3MpJ2bc

55:03 - Journalism over the past decade
57:23 - Knowledge crisis on the right and the left
1:00:13 - The perception gap
1:03:44 - Profit-driven news
1:09:18 - Social media and news
1:14:53 - Cancel culture
1:22:15 - Navigating media engagement
1:29:07 - Episode credits

Articles from news segment:

"Go Ahead and Celebrate Christopher Columbus, Who Sought to Tell the New World About Jesus Christ" by Paul Batura (Focus on the Family's Daily Citizen) - https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/go-ahead-and-celebrate-christopher-columbus-who-sought-to-tell-the-new-world-about-jesus-christ/

"How Stewart Made Tucker" by Jon Askonas (The New Atlantis) - https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/how-stewart-made-tucker

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Were you an evangelical kid in the 1970s, 80s, or 90s? Then you may be suffering from the lingering affects of “rapture anxiety.” Why did rapture theology feature so prominently in the American church, where did it come from, and why does it seem so bizarre to Christians today? Then, Russell Moore has a new article on the heresy of Christian Nationalism accusing it of doing to conservatives what the Social Gospel did to progressives a century ago.

Skye then talks to Silicon Valley pastor, Jay Y. Kim, about his book “Analog Christian: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age.” Kim says social media is designed to produce the opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit in us, and argues we need to “linger longer” in non-digital, incarnate spaces and relationships to combat its affects. Plus, don’t take a raccoon into a bar, and one tough Turkish toddler.

Bonus Patreon Interview with Jay Y. Kim - https://www.patreon.com/posts/72887200

News Segment
00:00 - Intro
2:08- Animal news
9:39 - Rapture anxiety
25:08 - Russell Moore on Christian nationalism

Interview with Jay Y. Kim
“Analog Christian: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age” - https://amzn.to/3e3vaXk

39:51 - Interview intro
43:04 - Technology and cigarette analogy
46:41 - Spiritual formation in Silicon Valley
51:18 - Are mediums really neutral?
56:20 - Love vs. self-centric despair
1:06:04 - Lingering longer

Links from news segment:
“Woman who brought raccoon to North Dakota bar is charged” (ABC News) - https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/woman-brought-raccoon-north-dakota-bar-charged-90326390

“Toddler Bites Snake to Death after It Sunk Its Fangs into Her Lip” (Newsweek) - https://www.newsweek.com/toddler-snake-bite-kills-snake-1733553

“For some Christians, ‘rapture anxiety’ can take a lifetime to heal” (CNN) - https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/27/us/rapture-anxiety-evangelical-exvangelical-christianity-cec/index.html

“Christian Nationalism Cannot Save the World” by Russell Moore (Moore to the Point newsletter) - https://christianitytoday.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=0224cd598e48c5041c7947fd5cb20d53.10884&s=c0745eb8366dc94946b6b980d936ad22

Resources from interview:
“Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” by Jonathan Haidt (The Atlantic) - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/

“When Church Became Theatre: The Transformation of Evangelical Architecture and Worship in Nineteenth-Century America” by Jeanne Halgren Kilde - https://amzn.to/3Rzr9Yn

“Analog Church: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age” by Jay Y. Kim - https://amzn.to/3SAqHu9

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

David French is in studio with Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer for a special edition of French Friday. First, they discuss new survey results showing most evangelicals hold shockingly heretical beliefs about the nature of Jesus, but they are absolutely clear about sexual ethics. What does it mean for evangelicalism to make doctrine optional and sexual purity essential?

Then, comments from leading conservative voices appear to contradict core conservative values. Can conservatism still be defined, or has it deteriorated into a reactionary movement to “own the libs” and nothing more? Plus, David and Skye nerd-out about the new Amazon series, “The Rings of Power.”

0:00 - Intro

1:55 - Is evangelicalism about Jesus or sexual ethics?

26:24 - Can conservatism be defined?

57:57 - Nerd corner

Links and resources mentioned: The Dispatch - https://thedispatch.com

“Evangelicals Decenter Jesus” by David French (The Atlantic Newsletter) - https://newsletters.theatlantic.com/the-third-rail/632df352c5c055002255fa9f/us-evangelical-christian-republican/

“The American right’s future involves waging a ‘religious battle’ against the left, leaders say at a conservative conference” (NBC) - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/american-rights-future-involves-waging-religious-battle-left-leaders-s-rcna48961

Fuller Youth Institute - https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/stickyfaith

“The Evangelical Question in the History of American Religion” by Kirsten Sanders (The Hedgehog Review) - https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/the-use-and-abuse-of-history/articles/the-evangelical-question-in-the-history-of-american-religion

Holy Post episode 526 (includes discussion of above article) - https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-526-was-the-constitution-divinely-inspired-with-kaitlyn-schiess

National Conservatism: A Statement of Principles - https://nationalconservatism.org/national-conservatism-a-statement-of-principles/

“How Do Christians Fit Into the Two-Party System? They Don’t” by Tim Keller, 2018 (NYT) - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/opinion/sunday/christians-politics-belief.html

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

A court has ruled that a Christian-owned business is not required to pay for health insurance that includes drugs to prevent HIV. Is the ruling a victory for religious liberty, or a case of Christians unfairly imposing their beliefs on others? In an effort to “bring God back into public schools" Taxes now requires schools to display “In God We Trust” signs. But what happens when the sign is in Arabic? Southern governors are shipping undocumented immigrants North. But is their goal to actually solve the immigration crisis, or are they using vulnerable people for a partisan stunt? Then, pastor and culture-watcher Mark Sayers is back to talk about his new book, “A Non-Anxious Presence.” He says we’ve entered a new cultural era riddled with anxiety and uncertainty that Christian leaders relying on the previous era’s models are not equipped to handle. Drawing from Friedman’s family-systems theory, Sayers argues we must learn to patiently resist the unhealthy people in our communities, endure sabotage, and fundamentally rethink our definitions of success. Plus, annual awards for hilarious scientific achievements.

Patreon Bonus: Christian Asks...Do we actually know what happens the moment we die? https://www.patreon.com/posts/72258893/

News Segment
0:00 - Intro
2:52 - Bizarre scientific awards
11:04 - Religious freedom and health insurance coverage
23:13 - Public Christian symbols
38:39 - Southern governors sending migrants north

Sponsor
58:23 - Sponsor: Abide

Get 25% off a premium Abide subscription by texting “holypost” to 22433

Interview with Mark Sayers
“A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders” - https://amzn.to/3f3wRnO

Mark Sayers - https://www.marksayers.co

1:00:18 - Mark Sayers intro
1:02:49 - Anxiety in a gray zone
1:06:26 - Friedman’s systems theory and culture
1:08:35 - How leaders can bring health
1:15:39 - Comfort and escapism
1:22:22 - Leading with God’s presence
1:27:42 - Credits

Articles referenced in news segment:
Ig Nobel prize winners - https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/constipation-s-effect-on-scorpion-sex-garners-biology-ig-nobel-70504

“A Texas Judge Just Took Religious ‘Freedom’ Too Far” (Bloomberg) - https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-09-14/texas-prep-drug-ruling-in-braidwood-case-should-be-overturned?

“Southern governor sending migrants north face a crisis of faith” by Jonathan Merritt (Religion News Service) - https://religionnews.com/2022/09/16/southern-governors-sending-migrants-north-face-a-crisis-of-faith/

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, was foreseeable and preventable. Did white evangelicalism's anti-government attitude contribute to the catastrophe? Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson has yet another take on the evangelical infatuation with Trump. Do we need any more? And a recent article by theologian Kirsten Sanders says we’ve entered a new era of evangelicalism where online influencers are shaping the movement more than pastors or institutions. Then, Skye and Kaitlyn discuss the belief held by some American Christians that the Constitution was inspired by God. Where did this view come from? Why is it dangerous? And why is it finding new popularity today? Plus, Phil plops a headline.

News Segment
0:00 - Intro
4:54 - News of the Butt headline
6:10 - Jackson water crisis
17:52 - Another article on evangelicalism and Trump?

Sponsor
54:22 - Sponsor: Abide
Get 25% off a premium Abide subscription by texting “holypost” to 22433

Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess
55:40 - Getting Schooled intro
57:57 - Divine inspiration of the Constitution - overview
1:15:24 - Dangers of holding this view
1:22:54 - Resources

Resources from Getting Schooled:
“We the Fallen People” by Robert Tracy McKenzie - https://amzn.to/3qzgkuf

“The Bible in Politics” by Richard Bauckham - https://amzn.to/3U1zQgF

“Every Leaf, Line, and Letter” edited by Timothy Larsen - https://amzn.to/3U9M7ja

Articles mentioned:
“Jackson water crisis deepens as state deploys National Guard” - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/09/01/jackson-mississippi-water-crisis/

“Trump should fill Christians with rage. How come he doesn’t?” by Michael Gerson (The Washington Post) -
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/01/michael-gerson-evangelical-christian-maga-democracy/

“The Evangelical Question in the History of American Religion” by Kirsten Sanders (The Hedgehog Review) - https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/the-use-and-abuse-of-history/articles/the-evangelical-question-in-the-history-of-american-religion

Join us on Patreon for more episodes of Getting Schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess and other great bonus content!

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Bible is one of God’s most important gifts to his people. Through it we discover who he is and become equipped to follow him in the world. But rather than a source of unity, for many Christians the Bible is a point of conflict and division—especially when we fail to recognize the difference between the Bible and our cultural interpretation of the Bible. My guest today, Lanre Williams-Ayedun, says one of best ways to overcome this danger is by engaging our sisters and brothers from other parts of the global church. When we listen to how they read the Scriptures, it can both illuminate things we’ve never seen before and make us more humble about our own grasp of God’s word

“Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church” by Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, and Matthew Soerens - https://amzn.to/3RyObjc

Interview with Lanre Williams-Ayedun

0:00 - Intro
2:32 - Engaging Scripture globally
11:47 - Learning from the global church
18:50 - Celebrity pastors outside U.S.
22:31 - Engaging outside your context
26:58 - Scripture and cultural lenses
30:57 - Scripture and justice

Sponsor
35:09 - Sponsor - World Relief
Join the Path: https://worldrelief.org/holypost/

Debrief with Matthew Soerens
37:06 - Diverse voices speaking into Scripture
45:17 - Healthy skepticism of cultural lenses
48:33 - Other resources

53:21 - Credits

Resources mentioned:
“Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity” by Robert Chao Romero - https://amzn.to/3x4D0WR
“Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope” by Esau McCaulley - https://amzn.to/3QsZVSC

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.