Growing Up Christian

This week we’re joined by author, speaker, and Emergent Church pastor, Brian McLaren (the interview starts at 1:27:00)! His most recent book is entitled “Do I Stay Christian?: A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned,” and in it, he attempts to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity by asking some of the toughest and most common questions about their faith. Follow Brian on Twitter (@brianmclaren), visit www.brianmclaren.net for more resources and information, and pick up a copy of “Do I Stay Christian?” wherever books are sold!

…but first, we have to talk about last week. The SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade rocked the country, and there’s been little else on most people’s minds. Rather than weigh in with opinions that we’re certain aren’t unique or profound, we thought it might be helpful to walk through the history of the anti-abortion movement in America. You might be surprised to hear that there hasn’t always been so much consensus on abortion among Christians, and that it only recently became such a galvanizing social issue. Our retelling is a bit muddled, at times, so for those of you who would like a more linear, cohesive account of the history, we highly recommend an episode of Throughline, an NPR podcast, called “The Evangelical Vote (2019).”

This week, we're joined by musician and author, Aaron Lunsford! Aaron is a veteran of the Christian heavy music scene, and his band As Cities Burn was and is a favorite among people like us. He joins us to discuss his entry into the church as a teen, the ark of his career in music, and some of the weird and funny things he saw while touring the country and playing music. We had a lot of fun talking to Aaron, and would encourage you to follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@darrenstains), check out his Substack (aaronlunsford.substack.com), and find his books "Backstage: How I Almost Got Rich Playing Drums in a Christian Hardcore Band" and "ACB: Two Point Zero: Come Now Sleep ---> Hell or High Water" anywhere books are sold!

Want to get in on the conversation? Join our Discord server! You can find the link in our Instagram bio (@growingupchristianpodcast).

I think we can all agree that the online discourse around most issues has gotten pretty contentious, and it has a tendency to push us into two groups: the righteous, and the wicked. Both sides view themselves as the former, and we tend to turn every debate into a kind of litmus test for the participants. “Christians who are Christ-focused are pro-life, pro-gun, anti-big government, and they vote accordingly.” Invert those stances, and you have the typical talking points for the other side. I don’t know about you, but the pressure to fit neatly into one of two sets of boxes, at times, leaves me feeling… disenchanted and disengaged with everyone. This week’s episode is a discussion about ideology, transparency, and the ways in which the most ambitious people on social media harness that righteous fury for good, and often times, for bad. Friend of the show Jeremiah joins in the conversation, and we try our best to tackle some of the pitfalls that come with talking about topics like abortion, guns, religion, and disenfranchised people. Whether you agree or disagree with us, you’re welcome to join in the conversation on Discord. You can find the link on our Instagram page, and we’d love to hear from you!

This week, we’re joined by missionary kid and lifelong Hong Kong resident, Ian! Ian’s family moved to Hong Kong when he was only two years old, and he’s spent most of his life there. Many of us that grew up in the church remember missionary families visiting periodically to raise support. Ian has lived on the other side of that equation, and he shares some hilarious stories about visiting small town America as a kid!

But first, we’re excited to welcome back creator and Casey’s wife April Gloria, who joins us to discuss another amazing example of purity culture literature, “Marriable: Taking the Desperate Out of Dating” by Hayley and Michael DiMarco! As you might expect, it’s filled with great advice, like “don’t marry your best friend unless you’re gay,” and “nice guys really do finish last.” Bring a notepad, because you’re going to need it! Follow April Gloria on Instagram and Twitter @_aprilgloria, and if you’re not in our Discord server, yet, you can find a link on our Instagram page!

This week, we welcome back activist, influencer, and humanitarian Charles McBryde (@charlesmcbryde on IG & TikTok)! Charles spent a month and a half in Ukraine working with Mission Kharkiv, a vital NGO that is focused on providing life-saving medical treatment to those affected by the ongoing Russian invasion. Healthcare needs in places like Kharkiv go far beyond battlefield aid for soldiers. Think about this: close to 12,000,000 people have been displaced by the war. Supply chains are in disarray, medication is in short supply, and for people with chronic ailments, these disruptions represent a daily threat to their lives and wellbeing. Mission Kharkiv is dedicated to getting those vital medications and treatments into the hands of those who need them most in war torn Ukraine, and they desperately need your help. Please consider going to www.missionkharkiv.com and donating to help fund lifesaving treatment for Ukraine’s most vulnerable populations! Your gifts will go a long way towards easing the suffering of people who have been victimized by this war of aggression.

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love to hear from you! Become a member of our congregation on discord (link on our social pages). There, you can swap stories, ideas, and the funniest/most ridiculous parts of Christendom on the internet with some of the greatest people in and out of the church. And always, if you’re enjoying the show, we would love it if you could leave us a five-star review on your favorite streaming platform!

Our guest this week is musician and songwriter Kevin Klein of the alternative rock trio, Valleyheart! Kevin is a former Christian school kid whose relationship to faith has changed a lot, over the years. On June 3, Valleyheart is releasing a brand new, highly-anticipated album on Tooth & Nail records entitled “Heal My Head,” and we can’t wait to hear it! You can follow Valleyheart on Twitter and Instagram (@valleyheartma), and stream their most recent single, “Miracle,” wherever you listen to music!

Our guests this week are Ash and Scott of the fantastic podcast, Boys' Bible Study! Each week, they join their cohost Julian to discuss and critique the "best contemporary Christian movies." We talk about their upbringing in very different church environments, along with some of the best, worst, and most interesting faith-based films in existence. We had a great time with them, and we now have a long list of bizarre movies that we have to track down! Follow Boys' Bible Study on Twitter and Instagram (@boysbiblestudy), visit www.boysbiblestudy.com, and listen to their podcast each week on your favorite streaming platform!

This week, we’re joined by visual artist Jason Brammer! Jason is known for his murals, site-specific installations, distinctive paintings, and mixed media hand-painted assemblages, and over the years, he’s been commissioned by the likes of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Hulu, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Jimmy Chamberlain of The Smashing Pumpkins. Jason grew up in a Christian environment, but from an early age, he had a strong aversion to the message and atmosphere in his church and Christian school. As you might expect, not everyone was thrilled about the pushback… Jason has had a fascinating career in art and music, and we had an absolute blast talking and laughing with him about the many strange and interesting worlds he’s found himself in. We are huge fans of his artwork, and you will be, too! You can follow him on Instagram (@jasonbrammer) and Twitter (@JasonBrammerArt), and visit www.jasonbrammer.com to see his portfolio and available works!

Our guest this week is podcaster Matt Molinaro! Matt grew up the son of a strict, fundamentalist preacher, and struggled to fit in both at school, and at church. After decades of feeling different and out-of-place, he came to grips with the fact that he is a gay man, much to the dismay of his father. Matt was kind enough to share his great perspective on being true to yourself in the face of resistance from loved ones, creating boundaries for those relationships that preserve your own dignity and happiness. It was a truly insightful conversation that's bound to make you think. Matt cohosts two fantastic podcasts that you have to check out! "Ripped From the Headlines" (www.rippedheadlinespod.com) recaps everyone's favorite police drama, Law & Order, and explores the true crimes that inspired the episodes. "Cool Story" (www.buzzsprout.com/881542) discusses the Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, as well as the brand new Amazon live action show based on the books. Follow them on Instagram (@rippedheadlines & @coolstorypod) and Twitter (@RippedHealines & @CoolStoryPod1), and stream them wherever you listen to podcasts!

Our friends at Minor Threads are the absolute best when it comes to screen printing! They specialize in working with local artists, musicians, and business owners to create fantastic custom merchandise with low minimum orders. Whether you’re looking for printed apparel, embroidery, enamel pins, or other promotional items, Minor Threads can help you get your design into your customer’s hands. Visit www.minorthreadsco.com for more information, and mention Growing Up Christian for 15% off of custom print orders over $100!       

Our guest this week is comedian, podcaster, musician, and actor, Mike Valdes! Mike grew up in a Christian home in Miami, and got involved in the ministry at an early age. We discuss his missionary work translating Christian music into sign language, being a central part of a praise team at a dying church, and his eventual drift away church and into standup comedy. We had an absolute blast talking with Mike, and we can’t recommend his podcast or his standup enough! Follow Mike on Twitter (@iammikevaldes) and Instagram (@mikevaldes), and stream his show Childlike At Best wherever you listen to podcasts!

Our friends at Minor Threads are the absolute best when it comes to screen printing! They specialize in working with local artists, musicians, and business owners to create fantastic custom merchandise with low minimum orders. Whether you’re looking for printed apparel, embroidery, enamel pins, or other promotional items, Minor Threads can help you get your design into your customer’s hands. Visit www.minorthreadsco.com for more information, and mention Growing Up Christian for 15% off of custom print orders over $100!