Have western Christians become so comfortable that we no longer exercise faith? How can we renew a radical trust in God's provision and protection without abandoning our wisdom and responsibility?

In this special episode, Aaron and Andy are joined by the well-known missionary and podcaster (and long-time Pod of the Gaps fan!) Simon Guillebaud, who spent many years working in the warzone of Burundi with his wife and young family. Simon recounts the experiences and inspirations that shaped him, and reflects on the challenges and wisdom he has learned along the way in seeking to maintain a truly radical faith in our walk with God.

Resources mentioned:

• Simon's podcast "Inspired": ⁦https://simonguillebaud.com/inspired-podcast/

Andy and Aaron's appearances on Simon's podcast...

• "A Message Worth Sharing" (Andy Bannister) ⁦https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-message-worth-sharing-andy-bannister/id1564089451?i=1000661095014⁩

• "Faith Through Cancellation" (Aaron Edwards) ⁦https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-through-cancellation-aaron-edwards/id1564089451?i=1000639295085⁩

• Jaron Lanier, "Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now" (London: Vintage Books, 2018)

The assassination of the Christian apologist and debater, Charlie Kirk, has shaken western civilisation to its core. Even many who opposed his views have come to recognise that the moment had unusual significance not only for freedom of speech but also for Christian engagement in politics.

What lessons can be learned from the aftermath? Are there things we need to realise about left-wing ideology and its connection to violent change? If a winsome debater like Kirk is seen as a threat because he successfully challenged secular ideologies, what does that say about the grounds of reasonable debate going forward? Is this a moment for Christians to become quieter about the socio-political implications of Christianity, or bolder? And how should the Gospel shape our response?

Andy and Aaron deal with all this and much more in another jam-packed episode of Pod of the Gaps!

Resources ...

* Charlie's website: https://www.charliekirk.com

Rather than ask for support for Pod of the Gaps, if you'd like to support Turning Point, the organisation Charlie founded, you can do so here: https://tpusa.com

Immigration continues to be one of the most important socio-political talking points in western societies today. This is especially so in Britain, where various controversial events in recent times highlight the growing concerns of the populace.

Too often, genuine conversation about the problems of mass immigration are shut down without due reflection even on the numbers, let alone more particular issues around the influx of hugely divergent cultural norms into very different societies. The assumption that westerners cannot care about the preservation of their own peoples or cultures without incurring the charge of being racist or xenophobic only tends to make the tensions worse.

How should Christians think and speak about these issues? What does loving our migrant neighbour look like in the context of national decline? How can we reach the asylum seeker in front of us whilst questioning or critiquing current immigration policies? And with the growing profusion of British flags appearing in public spaces, what Gospel opportunities does this open up for Christians to speak about where our true identity is found? Andy and Aaron fly the flag on this issue in their usual style, seeking to tread that fine line between inspiration and cancellation for your listening enjoyment!

As modern Britain is mired in confusion over its multicultural identity, growing Islamisation, and moral decline, surprising numbers of people are re-looking to Christianity as the country's foundation.

But is Britain a Christian nation? Was it ever a Christian nation? What makes (or breaks) a Christian nation? What can churches and individuals do to work towards the Christianisation of Britain today? Is it a helpful term ... or a hindrance?

In this special episode of Pod of the Gaps recorded live at the 2025 Cedarwood Festival, Aaron and Andy discuss these questions alongside special guest David Stretton-Downes, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Why do many Christians today lose heart for evangelism? Are we fatigued by negative responses? Are we fearful of stepping outside our comfort zone? Do we overcomplicate it by listening too much to the "wisdom" of this world?

In this special live episode recorded at Cedarwood Festival, Andy and Aaron are joined by Rev. Mark Greenwood, evangelism director for Elim Pentecostal Church, to wrestle through these questions. Mark shares some of his testimony, how it continues to inspire his approach to evangelism today, and how we can think through the challenges of evangelism on a more practical level.

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When it comes to evangelism, a surprising number of Christians find themselves fearful, lethargic, confused, and out of their depth. We can find it hard to make clear connections to the Gospel, or to see the light of Christian truth in relation to the everyday interests of strangers and neighbours alike.

Is this due primarily to a lack of conversational wisdom or a lack of spiritual boldness? Andy and Aaron both spoke on the different sides of this "coin" at the 2025 Cedarwood Festival. They reflect here that what may appear to be opposing perspectives can actually be complementary, challenging us to overcome cowardice whilst making the best use of our witness, ever mindful of what God can do even in the midst of our most feeble efforts.

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What’s so special about the Sabbath? Many modern Christians don’t quite know what to do with it, and often end up practising elements of it inconsistently—or avoiding it altogether. But whatever we do (or don’t do) will have wider consequences somewhere down the line.

Should Christians keep a day dedicated to rest “unto the Lord”? What does that look like? Where does modern Sabbath-keeping (or Sabbath avoidance) go wrong? What are the wider societal implications of Sabbath-keeping within a nation? And how can families and churches navigate the challenge of hectic, chaotic work schedules—and show the world a different way, rooted in peace and faith in the Lord?

Andy and Aaron dig into these questions, reflect on some of their recent travels (some more “Sabbath-like” than others!), and explore what a thoughtful approach to Sabbath might look like today.

And get your Pod of the Gaps mug here — https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaitsCraftyCornerUK — courtesy of Andy's 12 year-old-daughter, Caitriona! Every mug bought helps keep Pod of the Gaps going :-)

Today’s culture celebrates tolerance of other faiths, but for Christians, engaging neighbours of different religions while opposing what they believe can be tough. How do we do this robustly, truthfully, and lovingly? Aaron and Andy dive into this complex issue, share personal stories—including Aaron’s recent visit to Iraq—and discuss how Christians can build meaningful bridges to those of other beliefs as a pathway to Christ. Much depends, of course, on why such bridges are built—and how much we expect them to carry.

Enjoy Pod of the Gaps? Help us keep the show going ... https://patreon.com/wkop

The book Aaron mentioned:

Austen Henry Layard, "Nineveh and its remains" - online at https://archive.org/details/ninevehanditsre03layagoog

As the UK government continues to float the "Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill" through parliament, it could have a significant impact on the freedom of Christians to homeschool their children in future. While some aspects of the bill will seem like common sense, others raise red flags over government intrusiveness into families, signalling the thin end of the wedge towards effective state control over home education.

In this episode Andy and Aaron discuss numerous questions surrounding this. What right does the government have to speak into the education of your children? What is statism, and why is it especially dangerous in a secular climate? Why is bureaucracy a particular danger in education legislation? What strategies can Christians employ to challenge state incursions with both winsomeness and integrity?

** ENJOY POD OF THE GAPS? Why support the podcast; just a small donation helps us keep making these episodes: https://soundcloud.com/wkop-podcast **

RESOURCES:

- https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909

- https://www.homeschoolnetwork.org.uk

- Christian Home Education Support Service (CHESS) ... https://chessuk.org

- https://education.christianconcern.com/home-education/

- Anthony Forsyth, Caesar and the Church (2022). https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caesar-Church-Biblical-Study-Government/dp/1934952729

- Aaron Edwards, "The Violence of Bureaucracy and the Gospel of Peace" https://brill.com/view/journals/ijpt/12/2/article-p195_4.xml

The advances in AI have skyrocketed, with more and more people beginning to make use of it in everyday life. In time, AI will have a monumental effect on society at virtually every level. As such, questions about the ethics and theology of artificial intelligence. are no longer speculative, but are right here on our doorstep.

How should Christians respond? What positives are there in AI? Where can it help relieve unnecessary burdens? Where are the increasing dangers too? As AI gets smarter, do we get dumber?

How do think theologically about AI? How does sin factor into AI? If we create AI in the image of sinful humans, are we unleashing something capable of ever greater destruction? Could AI become "self-aware" at some point? If so, how would we categorise it? Is AI capable of "good" or "bad" moral actions?

Questions truly do abound! We address many of them, and more, in this jam-packed episode of Pod of the Gaps!

**** RESOURCES MENTIONED ****

AI Tools:

* ChatGPT (from OpenAI): https://claude.ai

* Claude (from Anthropic): https://claude.ai

* Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai

* Matthew Berman, 'OpenAI's New o1 Is LYING ON PURPOSE?! (Thinking For Itself)', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZfndaO01c

* George M. Coghill, ‘Artificial Intelligence (and Christianity): Who? What? Where? When? Why? sand How?' Studies in Christian Ethic’. Studies in Christian Ethics 36.3 (2023) 604-619 (online at https://doi.org/10.1177/09539468231169462)

* Ethan Mollick, "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI" (London: WH Allen, 2024)

* Alan M. Turing, ‘Computing Machinery and Intelligence’. Mind LIX.236 (1950) 433-460

* C. R. Wiley, 'Discerning the Spirits, Part 1: When it comes to AI, nobody's home--except you" https://crwiley.substack.com/p/discerning-the-spirits-part-1