The Holy Post

We are deep into campaign season with Christians on all sides becoming increasingly anxious and vocal. Phil talks with Kaitlyn Schiess, author of “The Liturgy of Politics,” about the false narratives shaping the hearts and politics of many Christians. She identifies these “false gospels” as prosperity, patriotism, security, and supremacy—and they’re far more subtle and powerful than you might think, and they affect both sides of the partisan divide. Also this week, Jerry Falwell Jr. responds to his expulsion from Liberty U. by quoting MLK’s “Free at last...” speech. And Mike Pence quotes the Bible in his RNC speech but replaces “Jesus” with “Old Glory.” Is it the clearest example of Christian Nationalism yet?

“What Jerry Falwell Jr. Taught Me at Liberty University” by Kaitlyn Schiess: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/opinion/jerry-falwell-liberty.html

“The Liturgy of Politics” by Kaitlyn Schiess: https://www.amazon.com/Liturgy-Politics-Spiritual-Formation-Neighbor/dp/0830848304

“Vice President Mike Pence Swapped Out “Jesus” for “Old Glory” in His RNC Address”: https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/vice-president-mike-pence-swapped-out-jesus-for-old-glory-in-his-rnc-address/

Direct download: HP420.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:20am CDT

Is our vision of the ideal Christian man more like Jesus or John Wayne? Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez talks about the rise of militant masculinity within evangelicalism, how the threat of Communism in the mid twentieth-century led church leaders to deify testosterone, and why we don’t like images of a weak, crucified Jesus. Also this week, Jerry Falwell’s “pool boy” scandal, John MacArthur says abortion, gay marriage, and transgenderism should determine how Christians vote which leads Skye to explain the difference between “cosmic” and “crotch” Christianity, and Phil unpacks David French’s latest article about why your vote for president will have no impact on abortion. Plus, it’s 130 degrees in Death Valley. What does that mean?

“Do Pro-Lifers Who Reject Trump Have Blood on Their Hands?” by David French

 

https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/do-pro-lifers-who-reject-trump-have

 

“About Those Manly Evangelical Protectors” by Kristin Kobes Du Mez: https://kristindumez.com/resources/about-those-manly-evangelical-protectors/

 

“You Want Context? Jerry Falwell Jr’s Crotch Shot and Family Values Evangelicalism” by Kristin Kobes Du Mez: https://kristindumez.com/resources/you-want-context-jerry-falwell-jr-s-crotch-shot-and-family-values-evangelicalism/

Direct download: HP419.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:49pm CDT

Back in 2016, Donald Trump gave a campaign speech promising that if elected “Christianity will have power.” The Holy Post crew discusses why this message has so much appeal to some Christians today, the way fear has come to mark our faith, and what we can do to counteract the trend. After the podcast is interrupted by a tornado, Christian asks if we’re seeing signs of the apocalypse. Skye says, “No” and shares his idea for a sermon titled “How Stupid Do We Think God Is?” Plus, listener mail.

The Voting Booth

Christianity Will Have Power

Direct download: HP418_3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:42pm CDT

Everyone seems to be talking about justice—including Christians, but how we define “justice” in our society is hotly debated. Pastor and author Tim Keller has outlined 4 competing definitions of justice, and what sets Biblical justice apart from the rest. The Holy Post crew reviews Keller’s article and its implications. Liberty University has put Jerry Falwell Jr. on “indefinite leave.” Was it Falwell’s race-baiting, financial shenanigans, authoritarian leadership, or abuse of power that motivated Liberty’s board to act? Nope—it was a sexually-suggestive photo with Falwell holding alcohol. What does it say about what triggers evangelicals (and what doesn’t)? Also this week, friend of the show and host of the Vox Podcast, Mike Erre, talks with Skye about why Christians are drawn to conspiracy theories, and what motivated Skye to write his new book, “What If Jesus Was Serious?” Plus, Phil explains why he wants to live in a world where wild boar stroll into public areas with their piglets to steal things—and where naked Germans chase them.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/german-nudist-chases-wild-boar-that-stole-laptop-berlin-teufelssee

https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/a-biblical-critique-of-secular-justice-and-critical-theory/

https://thewayofimprovement.com/2020/08/07/why-did-the-liberty-university-board-of-trustees-put-jerry-falwell-jr-on-indefinite-leave/

Direct download: HP417_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:58pm CDT

Does our faith shape our politics, or is politics shaping our faith? Justin Giboney is an attorney, a political strategist, and the co-founder and president of the AND Campaign. Rather than fighting over whether we should vote red or blue, Giboney believes Christians should use their influence to push both parties toward the love and truth of Christ. He talks with Skye about why that is more necessary and more challenging than ever. Also this week, a new book explores the intersection of white evangelicalism and masculinity leading the Holy Post crew to debate who’s less masculine—Phil or Skye? Plus, a South African couple has made an award-winning gin from elephant dung. Bottoms up!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/gin-elephant-dung-south-africa

https://religionandpolitics.org/2020/07/07/the-price-of-white-evangelical-patriarchy/

 

Direct download: HP416_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:20am CDT

The church in North America has more money and resources than ever before, so why is it increasingly ineffective? Pastor and author, Jon Tyson, is back to talk about his latest book, “Beautiful Resistance: The Joy of Conviction in a Culture of Compromise.” Tyson says “mammon” is the central idol in America today, and that much of the church worships it as well. But what is mammon? And why does Tyson think prayer and fasting is a path for the church to find real power again? He also shares what happened when his entire family contracted COVID19. Also this week, the crew discusses a Twitter thread about the implications or rooting Christian mission in the Great Commission (Matthew 28) rather than creation (Genesis 1-2), and why resistance to social change is foundational to evangelical theology. Finally, what can we learn from the 10 principles of Catholic social teaching?

Links:

https://twitter.com/drantbradley/status/1285975572414423040

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/1998/10/31/10-building-blocks-catholic-social-teaching

Direct download: HP415.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:27pm CDT

There are few public thinkers the Holy Post cites more often than David French, and he’s finally here in person! (Well, in person via Zoom.) French is the Senior Editor of The Dispatch, a columnist for Time, and a pro-life conservative attorney. Although many Christians are worried about the erosion of religious liberty, French says, “We have never enjoyed more religious liberty than we do right now.” The problem is that Christians are losing cultural power, and our attempts to retain it are often doing more harm than good. He helps us understand recent Supreme Court rulings about religious liberty and LGBT rights, why conservatives who are against face masks aren’t really pro-life, and how both the Left and Right get racism wrong. French explains why he will not vote for Trump, and why evangelicals have gone from holding their noses to enthusiastic support of a president who lacks both character and competency. Plus, what is “David Frenchism” and should we be worried about it?

 

The Case for Religious Liberty is More Compelling than the Case for Christian Power - The Dispatch: 
Direct download: HP414.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:38pm CDT

Why is COVID19 disproportionately harming communities of color? Why are we willing to criticize certain things about America but not others? And what about black voices who say systemic racism isn’t real? Friend of the show, Dr. Theon Hill, is back to discuss all of this and more with Phil and Skye. Also this week: why horror movie fans are more prepared than others for the pandemic, and how “Disney princess theology” has shaped the way you read the Bible.

 

Pandemic Practice: Horror Fans and Morbidly Curious Individuals Are More Psychologically Resilient During the COVID-19 Pandemic -
Want to Be Happy? A Top Psychologist Says Stop ’Social Distancing,' and Do This Instead - Inc. -
‘More than individual sin’ - Black pastors urge evangelicals to admit systemic racism - Religion News Service -
The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
Why I Stopped Talking About Racial Reconciliation and Started Talking About White Supremacy - Inheritance -
https://www.inheritancemag.com/stories/why-i-stopped-talking-about-racial-reconciliation-and-started-talking-about-white-supremacy
The Black Church in Action Against Racism and COVID-19: A Practical and Biblical Guide to Prophetic Ministry While Protecting Health
https://www.reopeningthechurch.com/churchinactionmanualdownload 
Direct download: HP413_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am CDT

Some people spend years learning theology and studying the Bible, but experience little or no transformation in their lives. What have we gotten wrong? Dr. Jim Wilder is a neurotheologian—that means he studies theology and brain science—who says we’ve mistakingly made the gospel about knowledge when it’s actually about attachment. You don’t want to miss what he has to say about the importance of food, joy, and gratitude in spiritual formation. Also this week, how does having power—or not having it—influence our beliefs? David French says America is experiencing a religious fundamentalist revival, but it’s not Christian. And is the Holy Post guilty of being an echo chamber?

 

Episode #412
Opinion | When Antifa Hysteria Sweeps America - New York Times -
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/opinion/antifa-protests.html
Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South
by Albert J. Raboteau
America Is in the Grips of a
Fundamentalist
Revival
But it’s not Christian. - The Dispatch -
https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/america-is-in-the-grips-of-a-fundamentalist
Is Intersectionality a Religion? - Intelligencer -
Opinion | The Real American Idol and the Lives We Sacrifice to Appease It -
https://faithfullymagazine.com/real-american-idol/
Direct download: HP412_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:59am CDT

President of the Barna Group, David Kinnaman, is back to talk about the latest research on race and racism in the American church. Is the divide between black and white Christians shrinking, and is 2020 a true turning point or just an emotional release before a return to old ways of operating? Also this week, how can constellations help us understand the hysteria about Antifa? And does the evangelical emphasis on individual salvation contribute to racial resentment? Plus, an undersea bowel movement two years in the making.

 

Where do we go from here?

 
 
Direct download: HP411_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:29am CDT