ON THIS EPISODE:

LIVING AS A CHRISTIAN DURING THE SECULAR HOLY MONTH OF "PRIDE"

It occurred to me that all religions have a calendar. The Christian calendar just recently celebrated Ascension Day and Penteost.

In our secular progressive humanist religion -- the dominant religion in America -- Pride month is starting to seem like their Advent or Passover. That recognition prompted this question: how does a Christian behave when the secular church is celebrating its holy month. I have some ideas.

REVISITING THE SBC SEX ABUSE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

The SBC should adopt a lot of what has been recommended. I have a couple words of caution on how this process should work.

A LOT MORE

On This Episode:

A DEBATE ON RACIAL INJUSTICE

The first 2/3 of the show is dedicated to covering a Gospel Coalition debate regarding the church's response to racial injustice. I'll play many sound clips, respond, and synthesize an answer.

WHO NEEDS THAT GUN?

I keep hearing this argument like it's a debate-ender. It's not. The response is practical, philosophical, and even theological.

RAPID FIRE TO FINISH

I spent almost the entire show providing details of the report regarding how the SBC has handled sexual assault/abuse allegations over the past 20 years.

It's ugly, sad, and we'll work through the entire thing together.

ON THIS EPISODE:

RHETORIC, VIOLENCE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM

We've had a spate of politically or ideologically motivated violence in the last decade or so.  I have noticed that the zeitgeist of the moment does not equally apply the standard of how much media, rhetoric, or ideas motivate this violence. I'm going to equally apply the standard and then encourage some steps on how to protect our own minds and our kids from being taken in by destructive ideas.

TERRIBLE COUNTRY SONG

In short, Kane Brown has a song out that is the prime example of romantic idolatry. I'll provide details.

JOHNNY DEPP, AMBER HEARD, AND OUR CULTURE OF RECORDING

One of the weirdest part oft he Depp-Heard saga is how much they recorded each other. That's also a habit I've seen on social media. Let me walk you through why this is a negative phenomenon.

GREAT DEBATES TO WATCH

The Gospel Coalition recently hosted debates on gun culture and wokeness. They're excellent, and I recommend them.

On This Episode:

THE BIBLE AND STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS (0-13:00)

I've seen a few memes and people trying to use the Bible to argue for student loan forgiveness. While I oppose student loan forgiveness, I most vehemently oppose twisting Scripture. That's what I want to address.

WAR ABOUT POLITICAL TACTICS INSIDE THE AMERICAN CHURCH (13:00-40:00)

I find it inexpressibly hard to take a side in an argument where people on every side are people I admire and highly regard. That's the exact position I'm in right now, though, with an argument regarding if/how Christians should engage with politics and civics. Let me walk you through the conflict, and let's decide on where we land.

WHY WE SHOULDN'T REGARD "THE AMERICAN VOTER."

I recently saw data on Roe. vs. Wade and on inflation that showed most American voters just don't know enough to provide informed opinions. So, let's stop being swayed by polls and public opinion.

On This Episode:

TIM KELLER TWEET MISSES THE MARK SORT OF BADLY

I don't presume to have anywhere near the level of wisdom and knowledge Tim Keller does. He's a role-model-from-a-distance of mine. He did recently have a tweet thread about Christians, politics, and when we divide that missed the mark badly, though. 

THE SUPREME COURT, ABORTION, AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

You've all heard what's happened. I have a lot of thoughts on the leak, the leaker, the consequences of the ruling and what happens next.

ON THIS EPISODE:

The call for the believer is to love your neighbor. But can you love your neighbor when he's constantly punching you? What if he's punching someone else? How do you love that neighbor?

Here's what I'm saying. We live in one of the most antagonistic, polarized, and oppositional moments in modern history. One side is very aggressive. It wants power, control, and its ideas to be hegemonic -- by force if necessary.

Their opposition has started fighting back with the same weapons and methods. Destruction and dissolving seem inevtiable.

Might there be a third way? Is there a way where we stop trying to destroy each other and instead agree to have some shared spaces and institutional neutrality? That's what I want to wrestle with for the first 30 minutes of the show.

After that, Jonthan Hadit recently wrote one of the best articles of the last decade about our cultural dissolution. He lays some blame on social media, and he has a great point.

On This Episode:

VIRAL VIDEO OF CHRISTIANS SINGING ON A PLANE

There's a popular video right now of a group of believers breaking out into song -- including a guitarist walking the aisle -- on a plane. I want to contrast that with a British street preacher and ask: can we sometimes be doing a a good thing but doing it in a rude and obnoxious way?

NOT SO CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN SONG

There's a popular Christian song right now that is not discernibly Christian. Let's use this occasion to train our minds to be discerning about what we consume.

BANNING BOOKS

There are accusations flying right now about elements on the Right trying to ban books. I want to give this some nuance and remind everyone where the major censorious efforts of the last few decades have come from.

WHY IS CRIME RISING?

I have 5 reasons why I think our crime rates are soaring everywhere in the country.

REVIEWING BILL MAHER'S RECENT COMEDY SPECIAL

It was decently funny. He made exactly one point I want to respond to, though.