Earlier this year, Gregory Thompson and Duke Kwon released their book “Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair,” in which they make a biblical argument for the American church’s responsibility to repay the debts inflicted upon black communities by systemic racism and white supremacy. In this moment of political division and evangelical panic over Critical Race Theory, it’s not surprising that responses to the book have been polarized. One of the most negative and widely read reviews came from theologian Kevin DeYoung who said “Reparations” is “clearly not shaped by the gospel.” Thompson and Kwon then wrote a lengthy and detailed response to DeYoung’s review. (Links to both are posted below.) In this episode, Thompson talks to Skye about the debate, criticism of his book, and what the white evangelical response to racism reveals about its theology, mission, and blind spots. Phil and Christian then join Skye to discuss Thompson’s interview, and Christian shares a personal story to remind us all that change is possible.

“Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair” - https://amzn.to/3jUMMov 

Kevin DeYoung Review - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/reparations-a-critical-theological-review/

Review Response 1 - https://thefrontporch.org/2021/07/sanctifying-the-status-quo-a-response-to-reverend-kevin-deyoung/

Review Response 2 - https://thefrontporch.org/2021/07/distinctively-christian-an-additional-response-to-reverend-kevin-deyoung/

Other resources referenced:

"The Sum of Us" - https://amzn.to/3tqEY0V 

https://religionnews.com/2021/07/12/dont-believe-in-systemic-racism-lets-talk-about-the-sexual-revolution-charlottesville-robert-e-lee/

(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.)

When news broke that the new president of the SBC lifted portions of his message from the previous SBC president’s sermon without attribution, #Sermongate erupted. The Holy Post crew unpacks the controversy, why so many pastors either outsource their sermon prep or plagiarize, and why the pressure to preach may be harming the church. Then, in a dramatic reversal, new data from Pew says mainline churches are growing while evangelical churches are shrinking. Have evangelicals been burned by their own critique that mainline churches don’t take the Bible seriously? Then, author and advocate Mary DeMuth explains the history of sexual abuse in the church, why cover ups are now so common, how we can respond more redemptively, and the best ways to prevent abuse in the first place. Plus—good news! Scientists say we have a back-up breathing option if our lungs fail.

https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-say-mammals-can-breathe-through-their-butts-in-emergencies/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/us/sermongate-plagiarism-litton-greear.html

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/

https://religionnews.com/2021/07/08/survey-white-mainline-protestants-outnumber-white-evangelicals/

https://www.prri.org/research/2020-census-of-american-religion/

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/

https://twitter.com/SkyeJethani/status/1410335364116627465

Resources from Mary DeMuth:

"We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis": https://amzn.to/3tugZOv  

https://www.wetoo.org/resources/

https://www.wetoo.org/survivors/21days/

https://www.netgrace.org/

A Church Called Tov: https://amzn.to/38Q55F4

(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.)

Calvin University history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Skye Jethani to discuss her bestselling book, "Jesus & John Wayne." In this episode, they look at the rise of Donald Trump among white evangelicals and how their response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol mirrors reactions to scandals involving celebrity church leaders. Du Mez also responds to criticism of her book, and where we might find hope for the future of American evangelicalism.

Part 1 - Authoritarian Pastors and the Authoritarian President
Part 2 - Insurrection and Sex Scandals (17:22)
Part 3 - Christian Media and the Marketplace (27:42)
Part 4 - Responses and Criticism (40:32)
Part 5 - Done and Undone (52:59)

Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation: https://amzn.to/3l6mkH

(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.)

This 4th of July, Hobby Lobby took out a controversial full page newspaper ad featuring quotes, or mis-quotes, from America’s founders about being a Christian nation. An editorial from Robert P. Jones says July 4th is a time to decide what we believe more—the Declaration of Independence that says all people are created equal, or the European doctrine of discovery which enshrined white supremacy? And David French asks what it really means to be a patriot and love our country well as Christians.
Then, Karen Swallow Prior is back on the show to talk about a recent address she gave to the Evangelical Press Association about Christian publishing’s addiction to celebrity and lack of integrity. But who’s really to blame—Christian book publishers, or Christian book consumers? All of that, plus is Spiderman & the Pope the best MCU team up yet?

https://news.yahoo.com/pope-francis-meets-spider-man-130000577.html

https://www.hobbylobby.com/about-us/holiday-messages?modal=one+nation+under+god

https://www.scarymommy.com/stop-shopping-hobby-lobby-now/

https://religionnews.com/2021/07/02/lets-celebrate-this-fourth-of-july-without-the-myth-of-white-christian-innocence/

https://www.relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/the-american-conservative-does-the-unthinkable-and-defends-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves-as-good-actually/

https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/how-do-christian-patriots-love-their

Patreon Bonus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53681162

Calvin University history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Skye Jethani to discuss her bestselling book, “Jesus & John Wayne.” In this episode, they examine why white evangelicalism left behind some of its militant rhetoric after the Cold War ended in the early 1990s to embrace a kinder, gentler approach epitomized by the Promise Keepers movement, and how an aggressive vision of Christian masculinity returned after September 11, 2001. Plus, why an emphasis on racial reconciliation ultimately doomed Promise Keepers, and how other ministries learned to avoid any talk about race or justice.

Part 1 - Promise Keepers and Therapeutic Christianity
Part 2 - Servant Leaders and Racial Reconciliation (15:36)
Part 3 - Purity Culture and Fragile Masculinity (32:47)
Part 4 - 9/11 and the Neo-Calvinists (48:38)

Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation: https://amzn.to/3l6mkH

(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.)

Phil, Christian, and Skye do a deep dive into George Packer’s recent article in the Atlantic called “How America Fractured into 4 Parts.” Packer argues that Americans no longer agree on the country’s purpose, values, history, or meaning. Is he right? And how do Packer’s 4 Americas map onto the church? Then, Skye interviews Kyle Strobel about his new book “Where Prayer Becomes Real.” Obviously, the book is about prayer but it’s also about something even deeper and more foundational to our faith—honesty. It’s vital for our transformation but in short supply in many churches. Plus, scientists say the earth has a pulse. Did God design the earth to destroy life every 27.5 million years? That sets the Holy Post crew down a path into theology, the problem of evil, and why ferrets are bad pets.

Where Prayer Becomes Real: https://amzn.to/3njNRs2 

(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.)

Calvin University history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Skye Jethani to continue discussing her bestselling book, "Jesus & John Wayne." In this episode, they discuss how evangelicalism fought to maintain traditional authority structures in the home and society, except when those authority structures didn't fit their own political interests which ultimately led to the rise of the Religious Right.   

Part 1 - Feminism and Family Values (2:18)
Part 2 - Reconstructionism and the Religious Right (29:13)

Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation: https://amzn.to/3l6mkH

(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.)