The Holy Post

New Testament professor, award-winning author, and New York Times columnist Esau McCaulley joins Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn for a special year-end episode with a live studio audience. They review what happened in 2023 and offer their picks for the most important news stories of the year. Topics range from Tim Keller’s passing, the navel-gazing of American evangelicalism, and the comfort of Cracker Barrel biscuits. They offer predictions for 2024. Esau joins the audience to play three hilarious rounds of “Bluff the Listener.” And, a 57-year-old woman experiences an “adverse event” in an MRI machine.

 

Holy Post Plus
Hear the full version of “The Rise and Fall of Plinky Pete”

https://www.patreon.com/posts/95343878

 

0:00 - Sponsor - Calvin University

Register for the January Series at Calvin University today at www.calvin.edu/january-series

 

1:06 - Intro

 

2:02 - Theme Song

 

2:24 - Show Starts

 

3:30 - News of the Butt

 

8:40 - Welcome Esau!

 

11:40 - Phil’s story of 2023

 

24:16 - Kaitlyn’s story of 2023

 

37:20 - Skye’s story of 2023

 

49:50 - Esau’s story of 2023

 

1:02:36 - 2024 predictions

 

1:10:35 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order

 

1:11:43 - Sponsor - AG1 - Get your FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase, go to www.athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST

 

1:13:16 - Bluff the Listener

 

1:33:12 - End Credits



Links mentioned in news segment:

 

Why a bucolic Tennessee suburb is a hotbed of ‘Christian Nashville-ism’

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2023/11/08/nashville-suburbs-christian-nationalism/

 

The Rev. Timothy Keller, Pioneering Manhattan Evangelist, Dies at 72

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/nyregion/the-rev-tim-keller-dead.html



What’s lost when religion becomes a ‘luxury good’

https://religionnews.com/2023/07/28/whats-lost-when-religion-becomes-a-luxury-good/



Other resources:



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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: ep_597_audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

If Jesus is the reason for the season, why do most Christians celebrate Christmas at home with their families rather than at church? David Taylor, a professor of culture and theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, joins Skye to discuss the origins of Christmas in America. He says Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and Coca-Cola have done more to influence how we celebrate the birth of Jesus than gospel writers. And he explains why the Puritans who first settled in America believed Christmas was satanic. Speaking of Satan, we have an update on the Satanic Temple display in the Iowa State Capital. The Texas Supreme Court made a controversial, and confusing, ruling about abortion. And what happens when Americans say they’re more religious but they are less likely to engage in religious practices like attending a church?

 

Holy Post Plus
Getting Schooled - Saint Nicholas

https://www.patreon.com/posts/94956592

 

0:00 - Intro

 

1:29 - Show starts

 

3:57 - Theme Song

 

4:18 - Sponsor - World Relief - Visit https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ to download your family refugee guide and learn more about the Path Community

 

5:37 - Live Show Recap

 

11:14 - Satanic Statue Decapitated

 

22:01 - Texas Abortion Case

 

44:09 - Republican and Democrat attitudes towards Religion

 

56:33 - Sponsor - Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout. 

 

57:44 - Sponsor - Magic Spoon - Go to www.magicspoon.com/HOLYPOST and use code HOLYPOST to get $5 off

 

59:23 - Interview Intro

 

1:05:28 - The Puritan’s impact on Christmas

 

1:09:18 - Queen Victoria’s  impact on Christmas

 

1:17:23 - Charles Dickens impact on Christmas

 

1:26:44 - Christmas in America Today

 

1:35:36 - End Credits



Links mentioned in news segment:

 

Satanic Temple says part of display in Iowa Capitol 'destroyed beyond repair'

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/2023/12/14/satanic-temple-reports-vandalism-of-its-display-in-iowa-capitol/71925404007/

 

Religion as a Cultural and Political Identity

https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/religion-as-a-cultural-and-political

 

5 things to know about the latest abortion case in Texas

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/12/13/1218953788/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-kate-cox



Other resources:

 

https://www.wdavidotaylor.com/

 

THE LIGHT HAS COME: PRAYER CARDS FOR ADVENT, CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY

https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/the-light-has-come-prayer-cards-for-advent-christmas-and-epiphany?variant=39467432378455

 

Daily Advent Devotionals by David Taylor

https://www.wdavidotaylor.com/blog/daily-advent-devotionals

 

Why Putting Christ Back in Christmas Is Not Enough

https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2018/december/putting-christ-back-in-christmas-not-enough-nativity-americ.html



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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Week_of_Dec_18.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

The Satanic Temple has been allowed to erect a temporary display in the Iowa State Capitol, provoking some conservative evangelicals to double-down on their commitment to Christian Nationalism, and others to rethink the scope of religious liberty. Kaitlyn responds to an article accusing her, and other authors, of promoting a “loser mindset” among Christians. And are Phil and Skye conspiring with a God-hating Hollywood producer to destroy the church? Then, how do we deal with the unique pain caused by bad church experiences? Bishop Todd Hunter discusses his new book, “What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion.”

 

Holy Post Plus
Getting Schooled - Matchmaking 101

https://www.patreon.com/posts/94541030


0:00 - Intro

 

1:15 - Show starts

 

3:32 - Theme Song

 

3:54 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - Get 10% off your first month at www.FaithfulCounseling.com/HOLYPOST

 

5:03 - Rob Reiner Drama

 

23:56 - Satanic Display

 

39:43 - Does Kaitlyn have a loser mentality



52:13 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order



53:18 - Sponsor - AG1 - Get your FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase, go to www.athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST



54:54 - Interview Intro

 

1:01:17 - Dealing with church hurt

 

1:11:03 - The Kingdom of God

 

1:23:12 - How to be a faithful participant in church

 

1:32:12 - End Credits



Links mentioned in news segment:

 

Rob Reiner will release a film about Christian nationalism. It includes A LOT of evangelical talking heads and “influencers”

https://currentpub.com/2023/12/08/rob-reiner-will-release-a-film-about-christian-nationalism-and-he-has-secured-a-lot-of-evangelical-talking-heads-and-influencers/

 

Satanic displays have no place in government buildings

https://wng.org/opinions/satanic-displays-have-no-place-in-government-buildings-1702297793

 

Against the Loser Mentality

https://americanreformer.org/2023/09/against-the-loser-mentality/




Other resources:

 

What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion by Todd Hunter

https://amzn.to/47Um7P7



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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Week_of_Dec_11_-_News.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

Whether you're a parent, a youth pastor, a teacher or a young person yourself, you've probably seen all of the headlines concerning Gen Z. Rates of depression and loneliness are surging, their relationship with technology is kind of troubling, and they are leaving the church in droves. We've talked about these trends a lot on the Holy Post, but we're not alone. Tenx10 is a new collaborative discipleship initiative whose mission is to make faith matter more for this younger generation. We've partnered with Tenx10 to create this series and to hear from experts in each episode about the challenges young people and those who care about them are facing. Kaitlyn sits down with Ray Chang to wrap up the series and talk about the work of Tenx10




0:00 - Theme Song

 

0:18 - Intro

 

1:05 - What is Tenx10

 

15:21 - Tenx10 Info - Go to tenx10.org for resources on how to help the younger generation care more about faith

 

16:37 - Relational Discipleship

 

28:56 - The future of the Church

 

44:04 - End Credits



Links and Resources

 

Tenx10 - https://www.tenx10.org/

 


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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Kids_Interview_-_Ray.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

Conspiracy theories, political idolatry, church divisions, and pastoral burnout. How do we explain what’s happened to the evangelical movement in America? Tim Alberta is a political journalist and staff writer for The Atlantic. His new book, “The Power, the Glory, and the Kingdom,” looks at how evangelicalism lost its way. As an evangelical himself, Alberta says fear and greed created the conditions for extremism to take over the movement. Also this week, surprising data after the Dobbs decision shows birthrates are up in states that banned abortion, but overall abortion rates nationwide are also higher. And should we use ChatGPT to interpret the Bible? Kaitlyn’s new article says probably not.

 

Holy Post Plus
Extended Tim Alberta Interview

https://www.patreon.com/posts/94152371


0:00 - Intro

 

1:25 - Show starts

 

2:13 - Theme Song

 

2:35 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - Get 10% off your first month at www.FaithfulCounseling.com/HOLYPOST

 

3:45 - Are abortion rates increasing or decreasing 

 

26:25 - Should AI interpret Scripture

 

48:13 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout. 

 

49:25 - Sponsor - Blueland - Get 30% off your first order by going to www.blueland.com/HOLYPOST

 

50:38 - Interview Intro

 

55:20 - What made evangelicals feel under siege

 

1:06:00 - Pervasive greed

 

1:13:00 - How Trumpism is impacting the local church

 

1:30:06 - End Credits



Links mentioned in news segment:

 

Our abortion video from 2020 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvWD7ykNjCc

 

‎The Daily: Ending Roe Was Supposed to Reduce Abortions. It Didn’t. on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000636899810

 

Why Do We Want AI to Interpret Scripture?

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/december/ai-artificial-intelligence-interpret-scripture-bible.html



Other resources:

 

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta - https://amzn.to/418LPNb

 

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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Ep_594_updated.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

A number of cases are being fought in the courts right now over whether Donald Trump violated the 14th amendment and if he should be allowed on the ballot in the 2024 election. David French and Skye Jethani discuss the history of the 14th amendment, break down the current cases against Trump, and talk about the likelihood of the Supreme Court hearing the case, and what decision they might make. Then, they talk about new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and his view on how the Bible informs his politics. Have Evangelical Republicans lost their way by focusing too much on what they think the Bible says about issues and policies, and not enough on what the Bible actually says about virtues? 



0:00 - Theme Song

 

0:17 - History of the 14th amendment

 

14:00 - Current lawsuits against Trump

 

30:40 - Likelihood of the Supreme Court hearing the case

 

46:10 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order

 

47:20 - The Evangelical approach to politics

 

1:04:37- End Credits

 

Other resources:

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

 

‘MAGA Mike Johnson’ and Our Broken Christian Politics

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/opinion/maga-mike-johnson-christianity.html

https://www.holypost.com/

 

Support us and find premium content by going to

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.

Direct download: French_Friday_November_2023_audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

With a spike in antisemitism around the world since the October 7th attack in Israel and the horrible scenes of Palestinian suffering in Gaza, Jews in the U.S. are wrestling with what it really means to be pro-Israel. Phil and Skye are joined by Holy Post pundit Mike Erre to discuss a thought-provoking sermon by American Rabbi Sharon Brous. She asks, is it possible to support one’s own tribe without diminishing the human dignity of others? And how does this relate to Christian communities who feel “under siege” in America? Then, former State Department official, Todd Deatherage, shares about his 15-year effort to help Americans understand that the Israeli-Palestinian situation is not a zero-sum conflict. He says evangelicals need to stop viewing Israel as a “lucky rabbit’s foot,” and embrace a vision for biblical peacemaking in the region that is both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian.

 

Holy Post Plus
Holy Post Office - When to take a Bible verse literally vs metaphorically
https://www.patreon.com/posts/93694179/

 


0:00 - Intro

 

1:38 - Show starts

 

4:46 - Theme Song

 

5:02 - Sponsor - With God Daily

 

6:46 - Rise of anti-semitism

 

13:42 - Oppressors or Oppressees 

 

51:14 - Sponsor - Aura Frames -  Visit www.AuraFrames.com and get 30 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with the code HOLYPOST

 

52:20 - Sponsor - AG1 - Get your FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase, go to athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST

 

53:53 - Interview Intro

 

1:03:19 - American Evangelical’s relationship with Israel

 

1:14:34 - Pro Israel and Pro-Palestine

 

1:35:19 - End Credits



Links mentioned in news segment:

 

‎The Ezra Klein Show: The Sermons I Needed to Hear Right Now on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447?i=1000635157164

 

Bari Weiss’ speech at The Federalist Society

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V-kyy2zoz4




Other resources:

 

The Telos Group - https://www.telosgroup.org/

 

Voxology podcast - https://voxologypodcast.com/

 

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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Week_of_Nov_27.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

Whether you're a parent, a youth pastor, a teacher or a young person yourself, you've probably seen all of the headlines concerning Gen Z. Rates of depression and loneliness are surging, their relationship with technology is kind of troubling, and they are leaving the church in droves. We've talked about these trends a lot on the Holy Post, but we're not alone. Tenx10 is a new collaborative discipleship initiative whose mission is to make faith matter more for this younger generation. We've partnered with Tenx10 to create this series and to hear from experts in each episode about the challenges young people and those who care about them are facing. One of those experts is Tanita Maddox. Tanita is the Associate Regional Director for the Western Mountain Region for Young Life and has worked in youth ministry for the last 30 years. She wrote her doctoral thesis on sharing the gospel with Gen Z and brings a unique insight and understanding of Gen Z that has served parents, employers, and educators in their understanding of the next generation. I sat down with Tanita to find out if the kids are going to be alright.

 

Links and Resources

 

Tenx10 - https://www.tenx10.org/

 


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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Kids_-_Tanita_Maddox.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

Why do so many women find Christian organizations difficult places to work? Katelyn Beaty says the “bro code” within evangelicalism is to blame. She’s back to define the different parts of bro code and why it needs to change. Then, immigration is once again a hot political debate, and it ranked as the top issue for many white evangelicals in recent elections. Last month, a group of Holy Posters visited the Southern border to see what’s really happening, meet with church leaders on both sides, as well as border agents. Skye and Kaitlyn Schiess are joined by Old Testament scholar Carman Imes and World Relief’s Matthew Soerens to debrief their trip. Also this week—dead pet psychics and air passengers horsing around.

 


0:00 - Intro

 

1:28 - Show starts

 

3:09 - Theme Song

 

3:25 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food

Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout. 

 

4:30 - Show resumes

 

6:56 - Animal News

 

11:20 - Flight News

 

15:10 - Pet Psychics

 

27:46 - Evangelical Bro Code

 

49:12 - Sponsor - Aura Frames

From now through Black Friday and Cyber Monday visit www.AuraFrames.com

and get 40 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with the code HOLYPOST

 

50:20 - Sponsor - World Relief

Visit https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ to download your family refugee guide and learn more about the Path Community

 

51:30 - Holy Post Border Trip Debrief

 

1:29:08 - End Credits



Links mentioned in news segment:

 

Plane turns back to JFK after horse escapes on board

https://www.cnn.com/travel/horse-escapes-on-boeing-747/index.html#:~:text=A%20Boeing%20747%20en%20route,people%20familiar%20with%20the%20episode.

 

Gospel singer almost booted off Delta flight for singing new single

https://nypost.com/2023/11/13/news/gospel-singer-almost-booted-off-delta-flight-for-singing-new-single/

 

She Charges $550 for 90 Minutes and Has a Wait List of 7,600 People

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/pet-psychics-for-animals-dogs-paranormal-charge-156ec320

 

No Woman Can Crack the Evangelical Bro Code

https://katelynbeaty.substack.com/p/no-woman-can-crack-the-evangelical



Other resources:

 

Skye’s explainer video on immigration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgfp5ngxqBI&t=11s

 

The Border is a Mess. What Can Christians Do To Help?

https://www.holypost.com/post/the-border-is-a-mess-what-can-christians-do

 

The Torah is Pro-Immigrant. Nehemiah Was Not

https://www.holypost.com/post/the-torah-is-pro-immigrant-nehemiah-was-not



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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Week_of_Nov_20d.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT

Whether you're a parent, a youth pastor, a teacher or a young person yourself, you've probably seen all of the headlines concerning Gen Z. Rates of depression and loneliness are surging, their relationship with technology is kind of troubling, and they are leaving the church in droves. We've talked about these trends a lot on the Holy Post, but we're not alone. Tenx10 is a new collaborative discipleship initiative whose mission is to make faith matter more for this younger generation. We've partnered with Tenx10 to create this series and to hear from experts in each episode about the challenges young people and those who care about them are facing. One of those experts is Ryan Burge, a political scientist, pastor, and Holy Post Pundit. He is known for his deep understanding of data about religion and 60 Minutes has called him one of the "leading data analysts on religion and politics" within the United States. Over the last few years he has written several great pieces about the religious trends among Gen Z. Phil Vischer sat down with Ryan to find out if the kids are going to be alright.



Links and Resources

 

Tenx10 - https://www.tenx10.org/

 


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

 

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

 

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

 

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop



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.

 

Direct download: Ryan_Burge_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am CDT