City on a Hill

Join us as we discuss the ever-challenging obligation of having a good attitude when it comes to paying taxes!

Key verses today were:

Matthew 22:15-22 is the classic text about what Jesus thinks about taxes.

Romans 13 addresses taxes and governmental authority.

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

What to keep in mind when you pay taxes:

Taxes are for the common good. They are part of your doing good to your city. Jeremiah 29:7.

Not paying your taxes is NOT an effective way of political protest.

Paying taxes is one of the ways you submit to God. You can trust him for the things your tax money is used for that you don't agree with.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

This Easter more Christians will gather to celebrate the risen King Jesus than ever before! Those worship services will, among other things, be political statements that Jesus is the true king.

NOTES:

Key verses today were:

Revelation 21:5 -7 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Ephesians 1:19-23 According to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

Three impacts the resurrection should have on you and your politics:

Don't Fear!

Your future does NOT depend on who you elect. You already have a great, powerful, and good king!

Jesus will not be "used" by other politicians for their ends.

No spiritual power nor any political power can stop the resurrected king!

Christus Victor is a perspective on the atonement that is too often overlooked. You can read more about it here.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we talk about what will happen if we continue to allow certainty to substitute for truth.

NOTES:

If we have learned anything in recent decades, it is that we should not roll out heavy-handed political movements that recklessly toss around God-and-country clichés and scare off our secular neighbors. Our goal is not to grab power and impose our views. Instead, we should act through principled persuasion and responsible participation.

Chuck Colson

Our key verses were:

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

Three results of desiring certainty at the expense of truth:

Uncritical confirmation bias

We all look for confirmation for what we already believe.

Unfounded moral conviction

We will have more conviction than is warranted because it comes to us with certainty.

Misplaced group identity

We will sort into tribes based on levels of certainty

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we talk about the implications of what it means to be secular as the church approaches the public square. We are greatly helped by James K. A. Smith's book, How Not to be Secular.

NOTES:

In addition to the Smith book, you can read the original Charles Taylor's book, A Secular Age. Another we found helpful was Collin Hansen's book, Our Secular Age.

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

Taylor's definition of secular: Taylor’s notion of the secular as an age of contested belief, where religious belief is no longer axiomatic. It’s possible to imagine not believing in God.

The church can be secular without even realizing it.

Christians must learn to interact with a secular public square without becoming secular themselves.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we consider the question, Is Christian Nationalism a noble lie? While I'm sure none of our listeners would ever consider lying, it sometimes happens in ways you don't think about.

NOTES:

Definition -- In Plato's The Republic, a noble lie is a myth or a lie knowingly propagated by an elite to maintain social harmony.[1]

Aeric talked about Socrates. Scott thought he was talking about So-Crates from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. We thought they needed a shout-out.

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

Why would someone tell this story?

Unifying: is it a story that would unite people?

Morality: We know America must be moral to function.

Power: If this country was a Christian country, it makes sense that Christians should exercise power to keep in on course.

Privilege: If this country was a Christian country, Christians were and should still be privileged.

Human Flourishing: We really do believe that being rightly related to God is the key to human flourishing and we really do want that for our country.

Putting an adjective (noble) in front of a lie doesn't make it okay.

We cannot expect to get God's ends by dishonest means.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we consider Jesus walking on water. The disciples either trusted Jesus or were fearful. They didn't have many options in between. When you look at our world do you see a storm? What will it take for you to trust Jesus instead of fear the storm?

NOTES:

You can find the gospel retelling of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:22–33.

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

Beware of Christian ministries who solicit support or funds by whipping up fear. They are doing the work of the storm not the work of Jesus.

Find counselors who increase your courage rather than increase your fear.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we talk about American Exceptionalism. America is exceptional. If the reasons for that exceptionalism bleed into a divine mandate or blessing, it reflects confusion about what the City on a Hill is all about.

NOTES:

Some helpful links:

https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/commentary/why-american-exceptionalism-different-other-countries-nationalisms

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism

https://www.pewresearch.org/2006/05/09/the-problem-of-american-exceptionalism/

RECAP/TAKEAWAYS:

The definition of American Exceptionalism is important. America is exceptional because of our system, our people, our natural resources, and probably many other reasons -- Not because it was endowed by Christian founders with Christian principles which gave it favored status with God.

American Exceptionalism is different than nationalism. See our previous episodes on nationalism:

Nationalism as an Ideology

Christian Nationalism Part 1

Christian Nationalism Part 2

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, Aeric brings his Great Conversations reading to City on a Hill! Is stoicism a viable ideology for Christians?

NOTES:

Epictetus is a Stoic philosopher whose ideas are very, very common today.

Epictetus quotes:

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will. ”

“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems”

“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.”

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”

RECAP & TAKEAWAYS:

Stoicism may be helpful for an individual who is facing adversity but it fails when you have any kind of team or community.

Like modern liberalism, stoicism focuses on the individual and defines freedom as individual expression and the absence of external constraints.

Love and community depend on constraints.

Stoicism, like so many ideologies we have examined, fails to account for enough of reality to be a viable ideology to live by.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we extrapolate from Aeric's C-SPAN addiction. Before the House of Representatives elected a speaker (which was also a spectacle) C-SPAN operated in the House without House rules. They did not have a fixed camera. We gave some thought to how this might change the government itself as well as our perception of it.

NOTES:

Key Bible verses today were Philippians 4:8-9 and Mark 12:29-31.

RECAP & TAKEAWAYS:

We need to discern when we are watching to learn or discover and when we are seeking to be entertained.

When a camera is on it changes reality. Authenticity can be performed for the camera.

If legislators began to perform for the camera it would change their ability to do their job.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),

In this episode, we remind listeners to pray and not to complain about their government leaders. In fact, praying for them might be a good New Year's Resolution, if you are into that kind of thing!

NOTES:

Our key Bible verses were 1 Timothy 2:1-4: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Other verses we included were:

Romans 13:1-5

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Colossians 4:2-4

Philippians 4:5-7

RECAP & TAKEAWAYS:

Why: Because the Bible tells us to. Because we have a great high priest. Because it is good for the leaders. Because it is good for you.

Who: Find out who the leaders are in your city, county, state, and country.

When: Set a time. Aeric has a recurring event in his calendar to remind him to pray.

Where: Find a regular place. Aeric’s trigger event for reading his Bible is starting to brew his coffee in the morning. His trigger event for prayer is driving to work. That first drive is the "where" of prayer.

What: Pray for decisions that leaders make so that you will have a peaceful and quiet life. Pray that each one has wisdom. Pray that you can submit. Pray for mercy and grace. Pray for their salvation.

GET IN TOUCH:

We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].

MUSIC:

Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing

Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE),