Despite the obvious anti-Christian trajectory of Western society, a growing number of influencers are beginning to see the moral and cultural benefits of Christianity. It could even be said that Christianity is becoming "cool" again!

But is there a danger that people misunderstand Christianity by merely seeing its general moral value? Are such people merely becoming inoculated to true Christianity, ignoring the parts they don't like? How did Christian nations like Britain come about? What might it take to bring them about again? How can churches respond well to this strange cultural moment?

Join Aaron and Andy for another long-awaited episode of Pod of the Gaps!

Follow Andy and Aaron on Substack:

www.andybannister.net

http://thatgoodfight.substack.com

They say "you are what you read!" We read all sorts of things in life but rarely do we think all that much about reading as we struggle to keep up with the many words and authors that cross our path.

In this special episode, Andy and Aaron met up in Oxford to talk about the books they've been reading of late, and how these books relate to life, the universe, and everything. They discuss numerous things, from reading Tolkien's letters whilst walking through Magdalen College, to books by atheist comedians, to Wind in the Willows!

Somehow they still manage to talk about numerous themes relating to church, politics, secularism, beauty, culture, apologetics, and the kingdom of God. They even manage to get interrupted mid-episode by the cast of an outdoor Shakespeare play ... enjoy!

Given the fractious political climate of the last decade, and the lack of consistently good candidates and policies on offer, it's understandable that many Christians might be unsure of who to vote for, or even whether to vote at all! But even if there may be no perfect party on offer, Christians have a duty to be salt and light in whatever way they can. What principles ought to guide the way we think, pray, and act out our political responsibilities in a democratic society?

How can our vote help the common good within our culture over the long haul? What are the key issues and policies to think about relative to the public expression of Christian values? Why are British people often reticent to talk about who they vote for? Why do some Christians become more active in proclaiming their chosen political party than proclaiming Christ? And most importantly, who are Aaron and Andy voting for, and why...? All will be revealed in this special episode of Pod of the Gaps...

RESOURCES:

- https://christianconcern.com/resource/vote-pray-and-think-christianly-about-the-election/

- Pod of the Gaps Episode 59: 'Should the Church Get Out of Politics?' https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rtyjLb9UOYtBA237OvjD1

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Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: www.patreon.com/wkop

Punishment is an easily avoidable topic for modern Christians. We tend to leave it for the “experts” beyond the Church. But what if the increasing injustice in criminal prosecution and punishment in wider society infiltrates our thinking as Christians? Does our squeamishness over things like the death penalty mean we become squeamish about the Bible too? What does it mean, for example, that the God of grace is also a God of justice who punishes evildoing? If we see the death penalty as always “barbaric”, what does that do to our understanding of Christ’s penal substitution at the Cross? What Biblical wisdom is there for those seeking greater justice in society when penalties have been too harshly (or too leniently) applied?

In this packed episode of Pod of the Gaps, Andy and Aaron dive into this complex topic with their usual mix of wit and wisdom, banter and the Bible.

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Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: www.patreon.com/wkop

Over the last decade and a half, the pervasive use of smartphones has become the norm across the western world. Yet we’re still unaware of the precise long-term consequences. For those brought up without smartphones (or without the internet!) we may not even be in a position to know the full extent of the most negative effects upon child development and socialisation.

As politicians consider banning smartphones from schools, is there also some drastic reflection the Church needs to do too? How can Christians encourage parents to make wise choices to help their children thrive against the technological tide? If, as some authors suggest, smartphones have made children more anxious and lonely, how might Christians show them a better way?

RESOURCES:

- Jonathan Haidt, "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" (Penguin, 2024)

- Rod Liddle, ‘Kids and Smartphones: An Inconvenient Truth’, The Spectator (24th Feb 2024)

- Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You (Crossway, 2017)

- Anthony Esolen, 10 Ways To Destroy the Imagination of Your Child (ISI Books, 2013)

Many Christians are naïve about the ways Islam has gained much ground within western society in recent years, influencing numerous spheres of culture, politics, and law. The vision of Islamic beliefs ruling all spheres of society (‘Islamism’) may not be adopted by all western Muslims, but it is a belief entirely consistent with Islamic tradition.

Where Muslims are often very bullish about defending their values and public symbols, Christians often happily give away such cultural ground, fearing the accusation of ‘Islamophobia’. What are the implications of allowing elements of Shariah Law to be imposed within western societies today? What can Christians draw upon to think through and respond to these challenges with love, confidence, and clarity?

In this special episode in our mini-series on Islam, Andy and Aaron are joined by Tim Dieppe (Christian Concern), a regular media commentator on Christianity and Islam in British public life, to talk through these important issues.

LOVE POD OF THE GAPS? PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING US ...

Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: www.patreon.com/wkop

RESOURCES:

- Tim Dieppe, “What’s Wrong With Islamic Finance?” (2018) https://christianconcern.com/resource/whats-wrong-islamic-finance/

- Christian Concern resources on Islam. https://christianconcern.com/ccissues/islam/

- Andy Bannister, “Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?” (2021)

- Rodney Stark, “God’s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades” (2010)

- Raymond Ibrahim, “Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam” (2022)

More and more Christians in western society today see the ever-increasing need to reach Muslims with the Gospel. The problem is: how? In this special episode, Aaron is joined by Bob of Speaker’s Corner to talk through challenges, strategies, and related issues that come with taking seriously the Muslim mission field before us.

Bob is known especially for his confrontational mode of engagement in such mission, which some Christians disagree with. Is this because we’re overly influenced by “middle class churchianity”? In what ways can a more direct approach be more fruitful in reaching Muslims today?

How does our wider progressive political culture affect our ability to challenge the beliefs of Muslims publically? What are the risks involved, and how can we navigate them with both wisdom and courage?

All this and more, on this jam-packed episode of Pod of the Gaps.

Useful Links:

- https://www.youtube.com/@SocoFilms

- 'Dawa Clowns Interrupting Conversation' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eodk1A7x14&t=973s

- https://twitter.com/btbsoco

- Andy Bannister, "Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?" (London: IVP, 2021)

We've come to expect the politically correct and increasingly “woke” posture of many of the Church of England’s official statements and policies in recent years. Recent announcements on issues such as race, Islam, sexuality, and even evangelism, showcase a desire to “play nice” with the secular and multicultural political establishment rather than offering a genuinely prophetic voice.

But is the CofE’s descent into ever more progressive viewpoints is inevitable? What about those who seek to reform Anglicanism from within, restoring its evangelical roots? Is there a case for disestablishing the Church of England altogether? What would we lose (or gain) if we did?

Andy (a reluctant Anglican) and Aaron (a Methodist exile) dive into this entirely non-controversial topic with the usual mix of wit, wisdom, and insight.

RESOURCES ETC MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

* CofE Press Release: https://bit.ly/48XQiEF

* CofE "Healing, Repair and Justice" report (see clause 32): https://bit.ly/49Pnj7u

* Justin Welby's Ramadan video: https://bit.ly/3PjxqJt

* ChatGPT's attempt at impersonating the Archbishop of Canterbury: https://bit.ly/4c9ZkBt

* Michael Hampson, "Last Rites: The End of the Church of England " (Granta, 2006)

* Ben Merkle, "The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great" (Thomas Nelson. 2009)

What are Christians supposed to do about the erosion of the Christian foundations of Western culture? Sometimes evangelicals have reacted by retreating from the call to be salt and light in the world, withdrawing into a narrow vision for the Gospel which limits its wider societal impact.

But isn't trying to change the world something that liberals tend to focus on? Does working for social change risk watering down the gospel? Should we be seeking a new version of “Christendom” today, or is this too unrealistic an aim for the modern Church?

Andy and Aaron explore all this ground, as well as thinking about what we can learn from evangelical missionaries who brought Christianity to other cultures.

Please Help ...

Pod of the Gaps needs your help to keep going! If you enjoy our adventures in culture and theology, please consider a small monthly tip to keep us recording: https://www.patreon.com/wkop

Resources Related to this Episode ...

Janet & Geoff Benge, "Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar" (YWAM Publishing)

Corrie Ten Boom, "The Hiding Place" (Tyndale House Publishing)

Week after week, year after year, churches spend inordinate amounts of time producing, presenting, and discussing sermons. Yet sermons are far less influential upon the average Christian’s life, faith, and beliefs than ever before. Why? The loss of pulpit authority? The loss of creativity in communication? The encroaching pressure of secular beliefs? The rise of podcasts and other digital media?

Many wonder whether “the sermon” is past its sell-by date. But what if the lacklustre impact of preaching has as much to do with cultural assimilation and theological erosion as unimaginative communication? Aaron and Andy dig into all these questions and more!