All Things

Our national conversation about Afghanistan has largely left out an acknowledgement of aid workers and Christians who have chosen to stay there, as well as in dangerous places around the globe, to offer help and hope in the midst of war, famine, and darkness. Even in the church we rarely acknowledge, support, and celebrate our brothers and sisters who lay down their lives here to go there, to serve and to stay. The truth is, though, our scriptures call us to forsake ourselves for the love of God and neighbor. Jesus really does ask us to lose our lives to find them. The earliest Christians did that. Ten out of twelve apostles were martyred and hundreds of thousands of Christians died in the first three centuries of Christianity because of wave after wave of persecution in the Roman Empire. Have we in the American church given ourselves over to the idols of safety and security? Have we justified our wealth, health, and comfort by cloaking them in spiritual wisdom and providing for our children? On this episode of All Things we look at the ways our current generation may be abandoning our call to hard things for the glory of God and the joy of all people.

The Americans Who Don’t Want to Leave Afghanistan - article on jenoshman.com

The Americans Staying in Afghanistan - another version of the article above by Jen Oshman at TGC

Together We Are Sent - sermon at Redemption Parker by Mark Oshman

The Texas Heartbeat Bill went into effect on September 1, even after abortion proponents asked the Supreme Court to block it. On August 31, abortion providers raced to complete as many surgical abortions across the state as possible, and in the past ten days pregnancy centers have seen an influx in the women they serve.

On this episode of All Things we look at the positives and negatives of this new law. Of course we rejoice that 80-90% of abortions in Texas have now been prevented. Babies have been saved and women have been spared violence. For this we rejoice! But there are some things about this law that are troublesome, and it’s not likely to remain in effect for the long haul. We have work yet to do.

In addition to talking about the law itself, we look at the flimsy foundation of Roe v. Wade. Abortion proponents frequently refer to it as “constitutional” and “settled law.” And while it’s true that the Supreme Court deemed abortion a constitutional right in 1973, you’d be hard pressed to find where exactly in the Constitution such a right exists. Further, past laws that were deemed Constitutional and settled were rightly overturned—for example slavery, and preventing women from owning property and voting. Calling a law constitutional or settled does not make it just.

Next we take a look at the reality of how harmful abortion is to women. Things like: there is a 155% increase in risk of suicide for women who’ve had abortions; more than 80% of post-abortive women say they probably would not have aborted if they hadn’t been so heavily encouraged to do so; and 57% of women who receive an abortion do so because of a recent traumatic event such as unemployment, a breakup, or falling behind on rent or mortgage.

Vulnerable women who are unexpectedly pregnant need support, not abortions. Offering abortion is one-dimensional, uncreative, traumatizing, and lazy, whereas offering pregnant women wrap-around support leads not only to her child’s future life, but also to holistic health in the mother’s life as well.

A pregnancy resource center in Colorado responded to the Texas bill this way and I wholeheartedly agree: “Alternatives believes in the humanity of the preborn and the woman. We value legislation that protects both. We believe the Texas Heartbeat Act needs to be accompanied by other legislation that works to provide women with the support for affordable childcare, access to housing, protections for pregnant students in high school and on college campuses, and equity for pregnant women in the workplace. With legal protection and resources like these, women can make choices that are based on the amount of support they have versus being backed into terminating their pregnancy as their only option.”

Again, we have work yet to do. Let’s do it.

The following resources helped in the formation of this episode:

The Pro-Life Movement Must Transcend Politics - David French

How Americans Understand Abortion - Notre Dam study in 2020

Texas Senate Bill 8

What the Texas Law Really Means for Abortion in America - Politico

Pro-lifers minister to panicked women in Texas - World

Supreme Court Ruling Ends Most Abortion in Texas - Planned Parenthood

How a Texas clinic raced to provide abortion care before law went into effect

The Supreme Court,Texas’ Heartbeat Bill, and Millennials in Church – BreakPoint This Week

The Sanctity of Human Life or the Sanctity of Court Precedents? The Single Word —Sanctity — Reveals the Great Moral Divide - Al Mohler

10 Legal Reasons to Reject Roe - USCCB

State Facts About Abortion: Texas - Guttmacher Inst.

A Web-Based Geolocated Directory of Crisis Pregnancy Centers - NCBI

CareNet Facts on Abortion

Randy Alcorn, Why Pro-Life?: Caring for the Unborn and Their Mothers

Protecting Black Life

Abortion is the Leading Cause of Death in America

While natural disasters do not discriminate, recovery efforts are much harder for certain populations than others. The recent earthquake in Haiti, followed immediately by a tropical storm—and with the backdrop of political instability caused by the President’s assassination and increased gang activity—reveal that poverty and disasters feed one another in a cycle of despair that is very difficult to break out of. A similar effect can be seen in New Orleans with Hurricane Ida. On this episode of All Things we look at how poverty makes communities more susceptible to natural disasters and how it prevents vulnerable populations from being able to recover. Because headlines like these can be paralyzing, and yet we want to alleviate suffering as Christ followers, we close by looking at meaningful ways to engage in recovery efforts both in the US and overseas.

The following links helped to inform this episode:

https://thelensnola.org/2020/03/26/data-center-report-new-orleans-demographics-make-city-more-vulnerable-to-coronavirus-spread-and-mortality/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/22/haiti-earthquake-2021-death-toll-rises-over-2-200/8235246002/

https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-louisiana-392d8001a9c69df607d9a7b5b84474fa

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2021/08/photos-aftermath-hurricane-ida/619938/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/01/hurricane-ida-aftermath-millions-louisiana-still-without-power/5678259001/

https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/2021-haiti-earthquake-and-tropical-storm-grace/

https://samaritanspurse.org/article/disaster-relief-trucks-ready-prayer-needed-as-hurricane-ida-slams-louisiana-2/

https://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/evaluating-the-best-ways-to-give-to-the-poor-guest-post-by-bruce-wydick

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/february/popular-strategies-helping-the-poor.html

https://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/how-sponsorship-works.htm

https://www.povertyinc.org

https://grist.org/article/as-the-rich-move-away-from-disaster-zones-the-poor-are-left-behind/

https://www.prb.org/resources/earthquake-magnifies-haitis-economic-and-health-challenges/

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2015/08/27/concentrated-poverty-in-new-orleans-10-years-after-katrina/

https://www.borgenmagazine.com/climate-poverty-in-haiti/

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/why-natural-disasters-are-worse-poor/580846/

It seems like homelessness in Denver is on the rise. It feels like a growing problem in big cities across the nation. To help us better understand this issue, this episode of All Things features an interview with Ben Sooy, a friend who is entrenched in work with people transitioning out of homeless in Denver at Joshua Station of Mile High Ministries. 

Ben helps us unpack the complex issue of homelessness and the many myths surrounding it. He helps us discern the differences between visible and invisible homelessness, as well as how unaffordable housing and social isolation play key roles. The interview is eye opening, as we see how directly homelessness is linked to the social structures that we are born into—in other words, the safety net of friends and family who can offer help whenever we need it. 

There’s a hesitancy in the church to help the homeless because there’s a myth that they’re homeless because of their own poor choices. But when we put homelessness under the light of Biblical teaching, we have to deal with the wrong thinking that we should only help those who deserve it. 

Ben says, we all sabotage our lives in some way. We all work against our own health and wholeness. The gospel—which is that God loved me before the foundation of the earth, saw all the ways I have sabotaged my own life and pursued me anyway—changes how we view our homeless neighbors. If God treated us the way we treat them we’d all be without hope. We naturally want to take credit for all that we have, but the apostle Paul says, “What do you have that is not from God?” (1 Cor. 4:7). 

The gospel takes away our rights to discern who deserves help and who doesn’t. Jesus is very clear that everyone, even the hated enemy, is our neighbor. Ben casts a vision of Christian friendship for us—showing up and sacrificing for others who can’t pay us back. He says we really can move from our segregated social circles and into relationships that look like Acts 2:42-47, if we are willing to obey Jesus. And Jesus says give to the one who ask you (Matt. 5:42), full stop.

This episode is deeply convicting, encouraging, and stirring. Have a listen and be moved to take the words of Christ seriously, to love your neighbor as yourself, and to move toward those who are most on the margin of society. 

Mile High Ministries

Joshua Station

Denver sweeps of unhoused people often push campers to nearby blocks while continuing a cycle of trauma - The Denverite

We in the wealthy west prize and even idolize our own abilities and productivity. When we meet new people for the first time we ask, “What do you do?” What we’re asking is, what’s your job? What are you capable of? How do you contribute to society? If we’re really honest we’re looking for how to assign that person value. If they do something important we see them as more valuable, more worthy of respect. We all fall into a trap of equating what we can do—our abilities, our productivity—with our identity and worth. The more we do, the better we feel about ourselves.

But when this kind of thinking is not corrected and it’s allowed to take its natural course, the outcome can be deadly. It’s this thinking, this idolatry of ability, that causes us to abort children with Down Syndrome, or to rationalize assisted suicide. The idol of ability is deadly.

On this episode we hear from author and speaker Vaneetha Risner. She recently published her memoir Walking Through Fire, in which she shares her story of suffering and how God has met her in it. Her story is powerful, God-honoring, and sharpening for the rest of us to hear, especially in light of our cultural idol of ability. Vaneetha contracted polio as a child in India and was diagnosed with post polio syndrome as an adult. She also bore a son, whom doctors encouraged her to abort, as they knew he would be born with a debilitating heart condition. Her son passed away as a baby, but Vaneetha speaks powerfully about the importance of his life. She shares vulnerably too about marriage, her first husband’s affair, divorce, parenting, and remarriage. Vaneetha’s life and faith are a testament to our good God and sovereign God. Listen in and be encouraged to think rightly about our bodies and our abilities, God’s love for us, and how the Christian life is one of surrender.

Visit Vaneetha’s website

Get Vaneetha’s book Walking Through Fire

Today is Opening Day for the much-awaited, much-anticipated, and first-ever postponed summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Having lived internationally, my family loves to engage the Games. On this episode we take a look at all things Olympics—from the trivial and entertaining, all the way to the controversial and concerning. We’re talking about Olympic fun facts, little known things about Tokyo, how Covid is impacting the games, the International Olympic Committee’s rush to inclusivity by allowing a biological male to compete against females in weightlifting, the focus on doping and how that affected one athlete who endured an abortion and one who chose to smoke marijuana, the beach handball bikini controversy in Norway (not the Olympics, but all over sports headlines!), and more.

This episode of All Things is lighter than most—though we do tackle some tough stuff—and I hope listening in gives you an interesting overview of the games and a sense of joining the global crowd as we cheer on our favorites in the next two weeks! Go USA!

So many links!

Because the heartbreaking topic of abortion is covered in this episode the very first link I want to share is: Abortion is Not an Unforgivable Sin

The rest the links cover the rest of the facts, trivia, and Olympic deep dives on this episode:

15 things to know about Japan at the Olympics

Interesting facts about Olympics you didn't know

10 Fun Facts About Tokyo to Celebrate the Start of the Summer Games in Japan

Tokyo Olympics hit by trifecta of discouraging news amid Covid fears

Sporting world erupts over 'disgusting' bikini bottoms scandal

Controversy continues with the 2021 Tokyo Olympics

An Abortion, a Missed Drug Test and Altered Records Add Up to Trouble

After missing Olympics, Sha'Carri Richardson teams up with Kanye West for new ad

Olympics-NZ weightlifter Hubbard to become first transgender athlete to compete at Games

21 U.S. athletes to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

A Guide to the Five New Olympic Sports

Laurel Hubbard: First transgender athlete to compete at Olympics

Japan declare state of emergency in Tokyo through Olympics due to COVID-19 surge

IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Tokyo 2020: Does Japan have Covid under control?

Critical Race Theory (CRT) has been in the news nonstop for a couple years now. The secular justice theory is making headlines most recently because of the wave of states introducing legislation to ban CRT in the classroom. How should parents navigate volatile school board meetings and contentious social media posts?

On this episode of All Things we look at five things to consider. Here is just a glimpse of all five—tune in to hear each point in greater depth and detail. First, know that parties on both sides benefit from making this a polarizing debate, based on anger and fear. But we don’t have to give way to tribalism and be exploited by this conversation turning divisive. Second, we need to acknowledge that CRT has grown in popularity because of a vacuum created by our unwillingness or inability as a nation (or church) to engage our deeply racist past and how that has adversely affected our present. Third, if you think CRT is impossible to define, you are not alone. The conversation requires patience and grace because terms are used without consensus. Even the way the segments of the church have used terms and engaged in the conversation has greatly shifted over the last 5-7 years. Why is that? Fourth, we should be so engaged with justice as described and called for in the Bible that CRT pales in comparison. Biblical justice is beautiful, worship-inducing, and able to provide healing and a future for our communities. Christians ought to pursue it with joy, tenacity, and hope. And fifth, practically speaking, all education options will fall short. Whether your child is educated in a public school, private school, or homeschool, each method has its benefits and its deficits. Do not outsource cultural and justice issues to someone else, rather engage them as you disciple your children.

In the final analysis, CRT falls short and asks too little of us, while the Scriptures call us to joyfully surrender all we have in our love for God and love for others. Unity in diversity is God’s design for the church. Are we pursuing both? Biblical justice allows Christians to offer warmth, repentance, reconciliation, and goodness to our hurting communities. It’s our path forward. May we engage.

Resources that were helpful in creating this episode:

All Things Episode 46: What is Biblical Justice? - Jen Oshman

A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Critical Theory - Timothy Keller

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just - Timothy Keller

Theology in the Raw: Race, CRT, and Evangelicalism - Dr. Ed Uszynski and Preston Sprinkle

A Christian Pastor Tells Hist Story of Rejecting the Social Justice Gospel, with Edwin Ramirez - The Alisa Childers Podcast

Episode 15: “CRT Series Part One: Response to the Culture War with Isaiah Thompson” - Southside Rabbi

Critical Race Theory: What Christians Need to Know with D. A. Horton - Christianity Today, Quick to Listen

On the Use and Abuse of Critical Race Theory in American Christianity - David French

Anthony Bradley on Twitter

IS THERE A THEOLOGICAL FAULT LINE BENEATH OUR NOSES? - Chrys Jones

Critical Race Theory - John Piper, Ask Pastor John

You Say You Want Social Justice? Review: ‘Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth’ by Thaddeus Williams - Justin Dillehay

Why Wokeness is a Christian Heresy - John Stonestreet, Breakpoint

Critical Race Theory Is Making Both Parties Flip-Flop - Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic

The Conservative Case Against Banning Critical Race Theory - Aziz Huq, Time

13 important points in the campus & K-12 ‘critical race theory’ debate - by Greg Lukianoff, Adam Goldstein, Bonnie Snyder and Ryne Weiss, Fire

Let America Be America Again - Langston Hughes

Note: Sharing a resource is not necessarily an endorsement of that resource.

Cancel culture is a pervasive cultural trend. We see it happening on both sides: conservatives are reluctant to extend grace because they think to do so compromises truth, and progressives are reluctant to extend grace because they think to do so permits injustice. Rather than seeking common ground and pursuing a compromise with dignity and care for the other side, we’d rather cancel each other, tune each other out, write one another off as demonic or crazy, or so foolish or harmful as to be beyond reach.

On this episode of All Things we explore how the Age of Self caused this cultural trend. Self actualization has made us fragile and in need of others’ affirmation. When we get the opposite, we’d rather cancel than give the benefit of the doubt, start a conversation, or question our own beliefs. In addition to looking at how we got here, this episode explores some spiritual truths and practical truths about forgiveness, such as: the very basis for the Christian faith is forgiveness, which is the opposite of canceling; forgiveness is a messy process, not a one time event; and forgiveness leads to both demonstrable physical and mental health benefits. When we acknowledge injustice, but seek to forgive rather than cancel, we extend a gift to others, but also receive the benefit ourselves.

Laying down our lives, paying a debt that was inflicted on us rather than demanding payment for it, and following in the footsteps of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, is the way forward. You and I may not be able to change cancel culture on a global or national scale, but we can change it in our own hearts and affect change in our own families, churches, and communities. Forgiveness is the way forward.

Episode resources:

The Fading of Forgiveness - Timothy Keller

The Rise of Victimhood Culture: Microaggressions, Safe Spaces, and the New Culture Wars - Bradley Campbell and Jason Manning

The Freedom of Forgiveness: Ancient Christian Wisdom on the Happiness Lab/For the Life of the World - Miroslav Volf and Laurie Santos

Cultural Counterfeits: Confronting 5 Empty Promises of Our Age and How We Were Made for So Much More - Jen Oshman

Pride month just wrapped up. Favorite children’s shows are featuring LGBTQ content. School curricula, corporate policies, and legislation are swiftly changing. Many parents wonder how to navigate conversations about all of this with their children of all ages. Of course conversations with our kids begin with conversations with ourselves. We have to ask what we really believe, on what we base our convictions, and how to pass the truth on to our children. On this episode of All Things we talk through some foundational reminders about the character and goodness of our God, his design and mercy in creation, his trustworthiness as our Maker and Savior, and his good, beautiful, and true words, which hold out life to you and me and to our children. As culture quickly changes, our God does not. We can anchor ourselves to him and share his words of life with others. He is not anxious, nor do we need be. He is sovereign and kind and able to minister to us and through us, as well as our children, and all those we love and work with and live with. In this cultural moment it’s easy to feel embarrassed, awkward, or apologetic for a Biblical sexual ethic. But the warm and hard words of Jesus have been a light in the dark forever and that’s not changing now. Christian, as you hold out grace and truth, you hold out life. Speak life to your kids, to yourself, and to those in your sphere.

Additional resources to help you navigate these conversations:

Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story by Christopher Yuan

Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry

Why does God care who I sleep with? by Sam Allberry

Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert : An English Professor's Journey into Christian Faith by Rosaria Butterfield

Born Again This Way by Rachel Gilson

God and the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker

Theology in the Raw Podcast by Preston Sprinkle

Does God Still Love Me If I’m Gay? - TGC Podcast by Sam Allberry

THE HAPPY HOUR #403: REBECCA MCLAUGHLIN - Jamie Ivey

4 ways to equip your kids to walk with friends who experience gender dysphoria - Wendy Alsup, ERLC