In this sixth episode of the special eight-episode series called ‘Politics discerned differently,’ Dr. Mark Turman discusses the importance of being salt and light for Christ in uncivil times and navigating the political season. He is joined by Carmen LaBerge and Patrick Miller, who share their insights on echo chambers, media consumption, and the role of Christians as cultural missionaries. They emphasize the need to engage in diverse conversations, listen to different perspectives, and represent Christ in every interaction. They also challenge the idea of winning in the culture and highlight the importance of suffering and serving as missionaries in a broken world. 

In this conversation, Patrick and Carmen discuss the tension and frustration that some Christians in America feel about their role in society. They explore the idea of Christians as outsiders and the historical context of America as a new Jerusalem. They emphasize the need for a complex understanding of American history and the importance of recognizing that Christians have been outsiders at various points in history. 

They also discuss the concepts of majority rule and minority rights, and how Christians should navigate being in the majority or minority position. The conversation then shifts to the topic of extremism and the vulnerability of Christians to becoming radicalized. They encourage Christians to be curious, open-minded, and willing to admit when they don't know or have changed their minds. They also remind Christians to focus on the kingdom of God and to engage in local communities to make a real difference.

• (04:20): Understanding Echo Chambers
• (07:05): Breaking Out of Echo Chambers
• (11:28): Engaging with Different Viewpoints
• (14:38): Navigating Media Bias
• (21:44): Being Cultural Missionaries
• (25:11): Redefining Winning in the Culture
• (27:06): Embracing Suffering and Serving
• (31:22): The tension between insiders and outsiders in America
• (34:51): Navigating majority rule and minority rights as Christians
• (45:25): The temptation of extremism and the importance of truth
• (53:22): Admitting uncertainty and embracing growth
• (59:00): Focusing on local communities and the kingdom of God

Episode Transcript (PDF)

Related Denison Forum podcasts: 

• An invitation to “The After Party”: Reframing Christian engagement in politics with David French and Curtis Chang
• Should Christians pursue power? A conversation with David French
• Why must Christians be civil in uncivil times?
• Losing Our Religion: A conversation with Russell Moore
• Truth over tribe: A conversation with Patrick Miller

Related Denison Forum articles and resources: 

• Respectfully, I Disagree by Dr. Jim Denison - Audiobook
• Do you need a social media fast? Experts share healthy media diet tips
• Election 2024: Discern politics differently
• How should Christians vote?
• The Coming Tsunami
• The lost art of civility • Denison Forum
• How can Christians respond redemptively to election turmoil?

Other trusted resources: 

• Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation
• Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America: Moore, Russell
• The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics - Redeeming Babel
• Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant
• Speak the Truth: How to Bring God Back into Every Conversation
• Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture
• Truth Over Tribe
• Carmen LaBerge’s Website
• Mornings with Carmen LaBerge
• Your Party Will Not Win This Election - Christianity Today
• Kingdom of Rage by Elizabeth Neumann
• The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

Carmen LaBerge is a Christian author, speaker and radio host equipping Christians to get off the sidelines and into the cultural conversations of the day. Her weekday show is Mornings with Carmen on the Faith Radio Network and Carmen engages with audiences via CarmenLaBerge.com. With clever candor, Carmen is a distinctively Christian voice in today's cultural conversations and she has influence with a wide variety of audiences. As both a theologian and everyday communicator, Carmen takes large complex subjects and helps readers and listeners develop the mind of Christ on the matters of the day. She addresses everything from foreign affairs to affairs of the heart, politics to parenting, reconnecting the eternal with the everyday. She holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Florida and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. She resides on a farm west of Nashville with her husband, Jim, where they raise kids, cows, and chickens and cultivate fruit trees, laughter and a very good life.

Patrick Miller is a pastor and cultural commentator who writes about politics, culture, and technology, contributing articles to Christianity Today, Newsweek, The Gospel Coalition, and other publications. His podcast, Truth Over Tribe, is one of Apple's top news commentary podcasts, featuring interviews with leading Christian thinkers, writers, and scholars. He's the co-author of Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant and Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture. Patrick received a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and pastors a politically diverse church, The Crossing. He and his wife, Emily, have two 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.