Faith & Clarity - Biblical Perspectives and Biblical Wisdom on News & Cultural Issues

Join Dr. Mark Turman, Executive Director of Denison Forum, for a dynamic roundtable discussion with Dr. Ryan Denison and Josh Miller. Together, they explore a range of timely topics, from the impact of the Gather25 Conference and the growing unity among Christians worldwide to the groundbreaking possibilities of quantum computing.

The conversation also highlights the rise in Bible sales, innovative ministries like the ACTS 17 Collective, and movements such as the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, which seek to bring hope and righteousness to society. Don’t miss this insightful discussion that weaves together current events and a biblical perspective to inspire faith and action.

• (01:56): Discussing the Gather 25 Conference
• (15:06): Exploring Quantum Computing
• (18:41): The Role of Technology and Faith
• (29:40): Encouraging Signs of Faith and Hope
• (47:39): Final Thoughts and Conclusion

• Subscribe to The Daily Article by Dr. Jim Denison
• Gather25 Conference
• Gather25 FAQ
• Microsoft Claims Quantum Computing Breakthrough by Creating New State of Matter - WSJ
• The ACTS 17 Collective is introducing tech leaders to Jesus
• The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship
• The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
• ACTS 17 Collective
• Joe Rogan interviews Wesley Huff, a Christian apologist
• Denison Forum (@DenisonForum) / X
• Denison Forum (@denisonforum) • Instagram photos and videos
• Denison Ministries

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Ryan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book.

Josh Miller is the Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at Denison Ministries. He is also a disciple of Jesus, husband, and father. He has been a musician, filmmaker, restaurant manager, songwriter, barista, worship leader, pastor and is still trying to figure out who the heck he is. He and his wife Deven live in Plano, TX with their two young boys. 

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Join Denison Forum’s podcast host, Dr. Mark Turman, as he engages with Dr. Steve Bezner, pastor of Houston Northwest Church, in an insightful conversation on how Christians can faithfully navigate modern culture. They discuss the tension between biblical and cultural values, the importance of community and racial reconciliation, and what it means to maintain a distinctly Christian identity. Drawing from his ministry experience and his book Your Jesus Is Too American, Dr. Bezner challenges believers to prioritize kingdom values over the American dream. The conversation also covers practical topics like financial generosity, biblical sexuality, and deepening relationships within the church and beyond. 

• (01:06): Meet Dr. Steve Bezner
• (01:37): The Unique Challenges and Opportunities in Houston
• (05:01): Promoting Unity and Collaboration Among Churches
• (07:17): Building Relationships Across Faith Lines
• (09:39): Responding to Community Needs During Disasters
• (13:45): The Role of Identity in Modern Christianity
• (17:35): The Influence of Technology and Media
• (20:04): American Individualism and Its Impact on Faith
• (22:52): Hospitality and Community Building
• (28:08): Financial Stewardship and Generosity
• (32:58): Biblical Sexuality and Cultural Challenges
• (39:50): Success, Suffering, and the Christian Life
• (46:20): Hope for the American Church
• (47:58): Upcoming Event: Christian Life Commission Advocacy Day
• (50:25): Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• Your Jesus Is Too American: Calling the Church to Reclaim Kingdom Values over the American Dream
• Christian Life Commission Advocacy Day 
• Houston Northwest Church
• Steve Bezner’s Website
• Steve Bezner on Instagram
• Steve Bezner on X
• Steve Bezner on Facebook

Steve Bezner has been the Senior Pastor of Houston Northwest Church since January 2013. His passion is to see Houston—and the world—become more like Heaven as people become more like Jesus. 

Steve loves to preach, teach, write, and speak about the Bible in a way that is easy to understand but also challenges people to live the life that God has designed for each of them.

In Houston, Steve works to foster collaboration between local churches, serving on the board of the Houston Church Planting Network (to start new churches locally) and Houston Pastors United We Stand (to foster racial reconciliation). He also works through GlocalNet to build bridges with other faiths in the city, particularly Jews and Muslims.

Steve is passionate about training other pastors. He works with World Hope Ministries International to train pastors in remote global locations, coaches planters and pastors, and teaches seminary occasionally. 

He is married to Joy and has two sons—Ben and Andrew. He holds his B.A. and M.A. from Hardin-Simmons University and his Ph.D. from Baylor University.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Join Denison Forum’s podcast host, Mark Turman, as he engages with author, pastor, and speaker Skye Jethani in a profound discussion about justice, faith, and the teachings of Jesus. They explore the theme of taking Jesus seriously, particularly in the context of the Sermon on the Mount. Skye shares insights from his book, What If Jesus Was Serious About Justice?, highlighting the biblical principles of justice and righteousness. 

The conversation covers the historical and cultural influences on American Christianity, the intersection of God's wrath and love, and the role of justice in God's plan. The episode aims to equip listeners to think biblically, live beautifully, and serve eagerly in their communities.

• (00:32): Introducing Skye Jethani and the Topic of Justice
• (01:41): Exploring the Sermon on the Mount
• (04:18): The American Church and the Concept of Justice
• (06:00): Historical Context: Revivalism and Social Justice
• (08:04): The Role of Slavery in Dividing the Church
• (12:59): Justice and Righteousness: A Biblical Perspective
• (16:50): The Interplay of Justice and Mercy
• (20:14): Personal and Social Dimensions of Faith
• (24:42): The Parable of the Prodigal Son: Cultural Perspectives
• (28:02): Understanding the Judgment of Nations
• (30:48): Disney Princess Theology
• (34:12): The Subtle Nature of Revenge
• (37:50): Active and Passive Wrath of God
• (44:58): The Intersection of God's Wrath and Love
• (49:14): Making Theology Accessible
• (50:53): Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• What If Jesus Was Serious about Justice? By Skye Jethani
• What If Jesus Was Serious about Heaven? By Skye Jethani
• If Jesus was serious . . . then our view of heaven must match his: An excerpt from "What If Jesus Was Serious about Heaven?" by Skye Jethani
• The Holy Post podcast
• More about Skye Jethani
• What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
• What is biblical righteousness?
• 
  

Skye Jethani (MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an award-winning author, former pastor, and speaker. He is cohost of the popular Holy Post podcast. Jethani has written numerous books, including the What If Jesus Was Serious? series, and served for more than a decade in numerous editorial and executive roles at Christianity Today. He also writes a daily devotional called With God Daily. He and his wife live in Wheaton, Illinois, with their three children.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Join host Mark Turman and Dr. Ryan Denison on the Denison Forum Podcast for a compelling conversation with Ross Douthat, New York Times opinion columnist and bestselling author. In this special episode, they dive into Douthat’s latest book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. Explore the dynamic relationship between faith and reason, the impact of secularization, and the crucial role of communal and institutional religious practices. Gain insight into Douthat’s personal faith journey, his critique of atheism, and his reflections on how to navigate today’s challenges to traditional Christian teachings. Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode offers thought-provoking perspectives on why religion continues to be vital in our modern world.

• (00:37): Meet Our Special Guests: Dr. Ryan Dennison and Ross Douthat
• (01:16): Discussing Ross Douthat's Latest Book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious
• (03:53): The Rise of Secularization and Its Impact
• (09:15): Religion vs. Spirituality: Understanding the Differences
• (16:55): The Rational Approach to Faith
• (44:40): Challenges in Modern Christianity
• (48:19): Ross Douthat's Personal Faith Journey
• (53:39): Final Thoughts and Encouragement

• Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious
• Ross on X
• Ross Douthat: New York Times
• Why Jesus? -Dr. Jim Denison

Ross Douthat has been a New York Times Opinion columnist since April 2009. Previously, he was a senior editor at the Atlantic. He is the author of The Deep Places; The Decadent Society; To Change the Church; Bad Religion; Privilege; and, with Reihan Salam, Grand New Party. He is the film critic for National Review. He lives with his wife and five children in New Haven, Connecticut.

Ryan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this podcast episode, Mark Turman discusses the importance of serving in the Christian faith, highlighting the work of Mercy Ships, an international ministry that provides surgical care to the world's forgotten poor. Raeanne Newquist shares her personal journey with Mercy Ships, detailing the transformative impact of their work on patients and the community. The conversation emphasizes the significance of restoring dignity and humanity to those in need, as well as the personal growth experienced by volunteers and their families.

The discussion explores the various roles available for volunteers, the unique family dynamics aboard the ships, and the spiritual impact of serving in diverse communities. Raeanne emphasizes the importance of prayer, the need for various skill sets, and the profound experiences that come from working in a global mission context.

• (00:00): The Call to Serve: Understanding Christian Service
• (06:02): Introducing Mercy Ships: A Unique Ministry
• (12:06): The Impact of Mercy Ships: Transformative Patient Stories
• (17:57): Personal Connections: How Mercy Ships Changed Lives
• (26:25): Transformative Journey with Mercy Ships
• (31:40): The Broad Scope of Service Opportunities
• (35:43): Family Life Aboard Mercy Ships
• (39:55): Commitment Levels and Volunteer Roles
• (44:00): Navigating Complexities of Service
• (48:29): Spiritual Impact and Community on Board

• Mercy Ships
• Facebook
• Instagram
• X
• YouTube

Raeanne, her husband, and 3 children joined Mercy Ships in 2019. After leaving everything behind in Southern California, they boarded the Africa Mercy in Las Palmas and made their first sail down to Dakar, Senegal for their first field service. On board, Raeanne volunteered in the communications department and later in chaplaincy. Currently, Raeanne works in the Mercy Ships U.S. Marketing department. Raeanne is the host of the New Mercies podcast, is the voice of the Mercy Minute daily radio broadcast and serves as a staff writer.

Mercy Ships, founded in 1978, operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. 

Mercy Ships bases its work from its two hospital ships, the Africa Mercy®, which went into service in 2007, and the Global Mercy® — the world’s first purpose-built civilian hospital ship—which began serving African nations in 2022.

Direct Medical - Mercy Ships provides safe, free surgeries on board its hospital ships, focusing on seven specialties: maxillofacial/head and neck surgery; reconstructive plastic surgery; pediatric orthopedic surgery; specialized pediatric surgery; general surgery; opthalmic; and women’s health. 

Education, Training, and Advocacy - Mercy Ships focuses on long-term, sustainable education and training across the surgical ecosystem, working to create lasting impact by increasing surgical capacity in host nations.

Since 1978 Mercy Ships has provided:

• 117,000+ Life-Saving Surgeries
• 541,000+ Dental Procedures
• 54,300+ Professionals trained in their area of expertise
• 2.87 million+ direct beneficiaries

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Join Dr. Mark Turman, executive director of Denison Forum, as he interviews Pedro Reyes about his extraordinary journey from Cuba to the United States, his battle with sexual addiction, and his ultimate redemption through faith. Pedro shares his heartfelt story of dealing with childhood abuse, the struggles of addiction, and how he found freedom and healing. Learn about the transformative power of grace, the importance of accountability, and how Pedro now ministers as a chaplain for the Texas Rangers. This episode offers hope and resources for those battling similar struggles and emphasizes the enduring love and commitment of Pedro's wife, Susi.

• (00:43): Meet Pedro Reyes: A Journey from Cuba to the US
• (03:07): Pedro's Early Life and Family Challenges
• (06:49): Hopes for Cuba and Ministry Efforts
• (09:51): Pedro's Struggles with Sexual Addiction
• (13:50): The Turning Point: Seeking Help and Recovery
• (16:48): Rebuilding Marriage and Family
• (22:28): Advice for Others and Church Involvement
• (35:57): Becoming a Chaplain for the Texas Rangers
• (40:28): Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• Episode Transcript (PDF)
• Covenant Eyes
• Proclaim Cuba
• What does the Bible say about pornography? Can you break free from sexual temptation?
• Fighting pornography and sexual sin: A conversation with Matt Jacobson
• Freedom Course
• Fight the New Drug

Pedro was born in Havana, Cuba. His family moved to the US in January 1960. He lived in Delaware, not knowing how to speak English as a young boy. In September 1965, his family moved to Texas. He went to high school in Dallas and attended the University of Texas in Arlington. He gave his life to Christ in college in March 1971 and graduated from college in 1974. After graduating, he joined the Campus Crusade for Christ staff, now known as CRU, and was assigned to a Junior College in Phoenix, AZ, where he met his wife. They married in May 1976 and moved to Dallas. He has 4 grown, married children and 10 grandchildren. He owns a Construction company and volunteers as a chaplain for the Texas Rangers.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode, Dr. Mark Turman sits down with Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison to explore topics ranging from biblical leadership principles, modern temptations, faith, and rationality to the geopolitical implications of Islamic eschatology. 

They discuss how to balance shepherding and equipping within the church, the importance of rational faith, and how temptation works in our lives today. Listen as they provide thought-provoking insights on how to foster a flourishing community rooted in biblical values.

• (00:27): Introducing Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison
• (02:20): Discussing Leadership and Integrity
• (08:31): Biblical Principles of Shared Power
• (11:43): Understanding Temptation and Sin
• (18:22): The Craftiness of the Devil
• (26:45): Understanding Temptation and Resistance
• (29:06): The Rationality of Faith
• (34:51): Metaphors in the Bible and Church Dynamics
• (44:27): The Mahdi and Geopolitical Implications

• Episode Transcript (PDF)
• Reflecting on the funeral of Jimmy Carter
• What does the Bible say about pornography? Can you break free from sexual temptation?
• Defeating temptation before it becomes sin
• Iran is “closer than ever” to a nuclear bomb: Why this is a global threat, and how Christians should respond
• Why does God value integrity?
• The Coming Tsunami 

Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.

Ryan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, host Mark Turman kicks off 2025 by introducing listeners to the new Culture Brief podcast. Joined by Connor Jones and Micah Tomasella, the discussion covers the objectives and format of Culture Brief, highlighting its focus on news, sports, entertainment, and technology from a biblical perspective. The trio dives into current topics like the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the tragic murder of a healthcare CEO, and the excitement surrounding NFL and college football playoffs. They examine these events' cultural and spiritual implications, offering listeners a taste of what's to come with Culture Brief.

• (00:28): Introducing the New Podcast: Culture Brief
• (01:24): Meet the Hosts: Connor and Micah
• (03:07): What to Expect from Culture Brief
• (05:13): The Format and Audience of Culture Brief
• (12:16): Diving into the First Stories
• (18:07): The Tragic Story of Brian Thompson
• (28:10): Mental Health and Spiritual Influences
• (29:33): Syria's Political Upheaval
• (31:30): Impact on the Middle East
• (35:46): Prayers and Humanitarian Efforts
• (41:12): Football Season Highlights
• (50:54): Faith in Sports
• (53:57): Conclusion and Call to Action

• Culture Brief Podcast 
• Luigi Mangione charged with murder in death of insurance CEO
• The Health Care System Is Flawed. Let’s Fix It.
• Boise State’s faith-driven journey to the College Football Playoffs
• What Travis Hunter’s Heisman win says about our culture
• Civil war in Syria escalates as rebels take Hama
• What does the Syrian conflict mean for the world?

Micah Tomasella is the Advancement Officer at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.

Conner is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman explore how Christians have lived faithfully in their cultural moment for thousands of years, how we must break free from the Sunday/Monday heresy, the importance of a personal relationship with Christ, how Christianity is a bad religion without such a personal relationship, and how the culture has created a new religion of humanism and self-affirming authenticity.

Mark discusses how we often don’t see the results of our faithfulness in our lifetime, and we must leave the results to God’s providence. Faithfulness takes patience, and, as Jim has written, “You can’t measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness.” They delve into the Protestant Reformation, how it began, and some of the key believers in the movement.

They then address the “Sunday/Monday heresy,” which refers to the view of many Christians who live as Christians on Sunday morning but have their own lives every other day of the week. Christ calls us to give every minute of our lives over to him. 

This leads them to discuss the essential part of Christianity as being in the relationship with Christ, not the religion. While religion is important, i.e., going to church, singing hymns, liturgy, etc., without the relationship, religion is an empty shell. Jim reveals a time when, as a pastor, God convicted him that while Jim loved Jesus, he wasn’t in love with Jesus. 

They then delve into what has become the overarching ideology or creed of our culture: personal authenticity. They discuss the evolution of this creed over time: how Christianity was at first important and culturally encouraged, then it became a personal hobby, then irrelevant, and now it’s considered dangerous. The culture has almost fully bought into humanism. 

They consider the implications of this creed, how nowadays everything is centered around feelings and our experience. 

Sometimes, true repentance is harder than religion. Often, having a relationship with Christ is more difficult than following an empty creed. Many issues in our culture stem from the transference of responsibility to anything and everyone but ourselves. There’s a sense in the culture now that “I” cannot be at fault; it must be the system or other people. While there are complex issues here, the gospel ultimately relies on the submission of oneself to Christ, no matter our circumstances. 

• The Coming Tsunami, Jim Denison
• The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert E. Coleman
• To Change the World, James Davison Hunter
• “The Third Great Awakening,” Christianity Today 

Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode, Mark and Jim begin by giving a personal biography of their lives and testimonies. In this, Jim explores how several key people who were faithful with their gifts helped bring him to trust in Jesus as his savior.

Jim discusses how the term theological middleman began to define his ministry calling, with a clear, strong conviction from the Lord. A large part of Denison Ministries’ niche is equipping believers to love God with all of their minds. 

We often encounter a resistance to intellectual thinking in Christianity. A common Christian sentiment in the ’60s and ’70s was: Don’t let college ruin you. Thankfully, in recent years, evangelicals have shown that we are not antagonistic to reason. John Lennox and Russell Moore are two prime examples. 

Then, Mark and Jim discuss the merits and flaws in Karl Marx’s philosophy. Many of Marx’s criticisms were accurate. Seeing the world through the lens of “class” is helpful, but only to a point, and it cannot provide a solid worldview. Later, certain philosophers in the Frankfurt School developed Critical Theory out of Marxism. This plays out in our era through Critical Race Theory, for example.

The philosophy behind Critical Theory is that if you are a part of a group that has benefited from oppression, you are also culpable to the oppression. The spread of this kind of thinking is evident, even in Texas public schools. Many, like Ibram Kendi, have now said that if we maintain the status quo, we are complicit in racism. Instead, we must be antiracist.

Mark and Jim then delve into why Critical Theory doesn’t take sin nature into account. If the oppressed become powerful, they will be just as likely to oppress others, which is exactly what happened in the Soviet Union.

All of that said, Jim then argues that systemic racism continues to exist in modern-day America and gives several, well-attested facts that point to that truth. As believers, our first questions should be of self-examination: “How am I prejudiced? How can I amend where I have hurt others?” This means personally engaging with people who aren’t like us and listening to their pains.

• Jim Denison, The Coming Tsunami
• Russell Moore, website
• Jon Lennox, website
• William Barclay, Commentary on the New Testament “Theological middleman.”
• Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist
• Richard Delgado, Jean Stefanic, Critical Race Theory: An Introduction
• Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.