American Heresy

Every issue seems to reach fever-pitch for a day’s news cycle, before being replaced by something newer and “more drastic”. The American culture moves from one crisis to the next, often with no resolution, and Christians get as wrapped up in the cycle as anyone else; however, we are called to be the calm in the storm. In a special episode, Brad goes solo in peeling back the layers of Deuteronomy 1 and how similar the Israelites then are to Americans today.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the freshman Representative from New York making plenty of waves with her Green New Deal proposal, attempting to commit the Federal Government to reducing pollution through the energy grid drastically over the next 10 years. Brad and Nate look deeper into Climate Change science, discuss the pro’s of updating the electrical grid, and provide a call to action for a Christian’s responsibility in earthly stewardship.

**To Note: Brad references Rick Perry’s Congressional Confirmation as Secretary of Energy mistakenly as the EPA.**

Can a government truly be for the people, by the people, when so many rules on our election process are controlled by private organizations? This week, Brad and Nate invite John Opdycke, President of the non-profit organization Open Primaries, on the show to discuss the flaws in the current American electoral process, why reform SHOULD be difficult, and what his organization is doing to enact much-needed change.

The national spotlight turned to Virginia when a proposed abortion bill led to the unintended consequences of someone digging up racist pasts of several high-ranking officials, including Governor Ralph Northam. In this episode, Nate and Brad discuss the history of blackface in America, ask each other if our culture is too sensitive or not sensitive enough, and reveal some issues from our own past. Join the American Heresy crew as we try to find a way forward out of a racial media circus.

As the major political parties become more polarized, the Left is rallying around the cry for Universal Healthcare coverage. Championed by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Presidential Primaries, Universal Healthcare is a highly contentious debate pitting the empathy of the uninsured against the cost of coverage. In this episode, Nate and Brad are joined by Dr. Andy Henderson, CEO of Lexington Clinic, to discuss the current pitfalls of our healthcare system, review other countries’ systems, and discuss how faith could lead this debate.

Staying on the topic of online behavior, Nate and Brad take a broader look at how everyday Christians—not just our elected officials—SHOULD be living in comparison to the common behaviors of anger & yelling. What does the Bible have to say about approaching someone with accountability? Are there similar examples from our country’s past? American Heresy dives into all that to provide a call to action to all well-intended Christians to promote a more peaceful connected world.

A common phrase from 2016—as well as 1996—was “I’m not electing the Pope, I’m electing the President”. In the land of separated Church and State, it’s a consistent theme to separate one’s moral preferences from their political choices….. but should we? This week Brad and Nathan discuss the current state of “leadership” in our country, explore some Biblical perspectives, and issue some calls to action to vote with character in mind.

Christianity is a faith of peace littered with a history of warfare. What does the Bible say about weaponry and self-defense? Nathan and Brad discuss applicable verses and ultimately offer their suggestions for finding a solution to respecting Americans’ desire to bear arms with the need to stem the tide of increasing violence.

Because Americans looooove talking about Gun Control, we decided to make 2 episodes on it! American Heresy hosts Brad and Nathan discuss the state of guns in America today and the ramifications on our society and future generations.

For a country founded by the immigration of those fleeing persecution, tyranny, and disease, we can be pretty tough on (legal & illegal) immigrants. While immigration is a difficult topic these days, what would Christ say about all of this if he were here with us?