The Holy Post

Is the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan the right policy? And will abandoning the country ultimately cost more American lives than staying? And who's really to blame for the mess that's unfolding? Skye talks with David French about these issues and more in this special bonus interview. French is the senior editor of The Dispatch, an attorney, the author of numerous books, and an Iraq War veteran. This bonus episode features the first half of Skye's hour long conversation with David French. The full 60 minute interview is available exclusively for Holy Post patreon supporters.

Full Interview with David French: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55322869

The Dispatch: https://thedispatch.com

Three stages of recent events in Afghanistan [2:26] Moral obligation to Afghans left behind [3:42] https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/when-never-again-becomes-again-and

Response to refugee resettlement objections [8:53] Afghan armies and US military support [16:26] https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/when-the-strongest-tribe-leaves https://www.amazon.com/Strongest-Tribe-Politics-Endgame-Iraq/dp/0812978668

Effect of US withdrawal on future US military credibility [21:12] Who's really to blame? [26:21]

With religious believers among the most likely to downplay the seriousness of both the pandemic and climate change, a recent article claims secular people and atheists are now more empathic and moral than conservative Christians. But is the problem really that evangelicals are less moral, or that they're more easily deceived? Then, Matthew Soerens from World Relief talks about the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan. What dangers do the thousands of Afghans who helped the American military face as the Taliban takes back the country, and what obligation does the U.S. have to help them? While evangelicals remain widely opposed to welcoming refugees, will they make an exception for those who risked their lives to help American troops? Plus, a strike at Nabisco threatens the country's Oreo supply, launching Phil into a rant about cookie varieties and late stage capitalism.

Patreon Bonus with David French: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55322869

News Segment:

Nabisco strike and Phil's rant about cookie varieties [4:22] https://www.today.com/food/workers-us-nabisco-bakeries-are-strike-t228753

Afghanistan, Haiti, wildfires, floods, heatwaves and droughts [19:12]

Christian's history with Afghanistan

[20:40] Current situation in Afghanistan [24:40]

Are Christians less empathic and moral, or simply more easily deceived? (Discussion of article below) [32:50] https://www.salon.com/2021/08/21/staunch-atheists-show-higher-morals-than-the-proudly-pious-from-the-pandemic-to-climate-change/

Interview with Matthew Soerens: "Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate" - https://www.amazon.com/Welcoming-Stranger-Justice-Compassion-Immigration/dp/0830833595

Interview Start [56:00]

Talking with church leaders about Afghanistan crisis [58:00]

Overview of current situation and America's history/promises in Afghanistan [59:24]

Responding to the rhetoric that opposes welcoming refugees [1:08:20] https://twitter.com/cortessteve/status/1427839604376444929?

lang=en Evangelical Immigration Table - Statement to President Biden [1:12:34]

https://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/evangelical-leaders-insist-the-biden-administration-stand-with-afghan-allies/

Practical ways to support [1:14:22]

https://worldrelief.org/

Ongoing crisis - DREAMers and DACA program [1:17:01] https://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/advocacy/

The United Nations World Happiness Report is out, and it says the United States is still behind the world's happiest countries. Can we learn anything from them, or does America's diversity mean perpetual conflict? Then, pastor and author Mandy Smith says Western culture has warped our understanding of what it means to be a Christian by focusing too much on knowledge and power. The antidote? Embracing Jesus' call to childlike faith. Also this week—covid skeptics have some explaining to do because last year life expectancy in the US dropped the most since WWII—and it wasn't because of murder hornets. Plus, a woman sues McDonald's for tempting her to break her Lenten fast. News Segment: Woman sues McDonald's after burger ad compelled her to break Lent fast [2:55] https://nypost.com/2021/08/06/woman-sues-mcdonalds-after-burger-ad-made-her-break-her-lent-fast/ COVID-19 caused U.S. life expectancy to drop 1.5 years [09:38] https://time.com/6082192/covid-19-us-life-expectancy-drop/ White evangelical COVID-19 vaccine acceptance has jumped 11 points since March [09:38] https://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/nation/study-white-evangelical-covid-19-vaccine-acceptance-has-jumped-11-points-since-march/ UN report on global happiness [21:47] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/03/21/americans-are-unhappiest-theyve-ever-been-un-report-finds-an-epidemic-addictions-could-be-blame/ https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2021/ Interview with Mandy Smith:

Unfettered: Imagining a Childlike Faith beyond the Baggage of Western Culture - https://amzn.to/3nhS6o7

Interview Start [48:06] How is Western civilization in a tailspin? [49:56] An antidote for two false ways of engaging faith [52:35] Qualities of a childlike faith [56:01] Wholistic faith and childlikeness [57:29] Humility & honesty within disorder [01:00:37] Error in overreacting to rationality of Western culture [01:05:21] Story about dancing, healing, and releasing control [01:10:31] Reconciling the call to maturity with a childlike faith [01:19:59] Other resources mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hiPIEqDMq2yobve2PyTH7?si=4ab2ce3ebf7d4bbb

(The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Phil's Facebook page erupted after the recent episode about reparations—leading the Holy Post gang to ask about the limits of evangelical theology, and how American individualism has shaped our understanding of liberty, economics, and even theology. Then, a prayer service in Portland became a brawl between Proud Boys and Antifa involving paintball guns. Is it a harbinger of more conflicts to come? And a new survey finds Americans are far more confident than Brits they could triumph in a fight against a lion, a chimpanzee, and even an elephant. Then, Skye talks to Kara Powell, the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, about her latest book, "3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager." Based on extensive research, Powell explains the unique challenges young people face today, and how parents and churches can engage them with empathy while creating the right conditions for them to grow in faith.

PATREON BONUS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54764019 News Segment: Animal News: What animals could you beat in a fight? [3:16]

• https://today.yougov.com/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2021/05/13/lions-and-tigers-and-bears-what-animal-would-win-f
• https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2021/05/21/which-animals-could-britons-beat-fight

Proud Boys and Antifa clash at Portland prayer service [13:25]

• https://nypost.com/2021/08/08/pr oud-boys-antifa-clash-at-portland-prayer-service/

Reparations, institutional responsibility, and responses on Phil's Facebook page [19:10] Anthony Bradley - Twitter thread on collective sin [20:49]

• https://twitter.com/drantbradley/status/1419002457527627783
• https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-467-reparations-the-review-the-response-with-gregory-thompson

Individualism and collectivism [27:55]

• https://freakonomics.com/podcast/american-culture-1/
• https://freakonomics.com/podcast/american-culture-2/
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/16/us-is-growing-more-unequal-thats-harmful-fixable/
• https://abc7chicago.com/life-expectancy-black-lives-shorter-chicagoans-blacks-in-chicago/10794226/

Interview with Kara Powell: 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager (special link for Holy Post listeners) - https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/3-big-questions/holypostInterview Start [50:28] Recap of research leading to latest book [51:41]

• https://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Faith-Everyday-Ideas-Lasting/dp/0310329329/
• https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Young-Essential-Strategies-Discover/dp/0801019257/

Qualities of an empathetic church [53:54] Three big questions (Identity, Belonging, Purpose) [59:41] Question 1: Identity [1:02:53] Role of technology [1:07:27] Question 2: Belonging [1:12:06] Mistakes for churches to avoid [1:16:16] Questions to spark more questions [1:22:06] Essential qualities for churches to shepherd young people [1:24:28]Other resources mentioned:

• https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Parents-Helping-Teenagers-Adults/dp/0801019265
• https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-466-sermongate-stats-sexual-abuse-with-mary-demuth

It seems like everyone is talking about the new podcast from Christianity Today, "The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill" about the famed Seattle megachurch and its controversial pastor, Mark Driscoll. The creator of the podcast, Mike Cosper, talks to Skye about the complicated reality of Mars Hill, and what the rest of the evangelical church can learn from its story. Also this week, scientists discover a parasite that could make you live for 200 years, keep you perpetually young, and make you popular. But there's a catch. A woman lets God take the wheel, literally. The Creation Museum in Kentucky thinks rebuilding the Tower of Babel in the key to racial harmony. And Phil's confused about an Olympic team's decision to wear shorts rather than the mandated bikini bottoms. Is it a victory for conservative or progressive values?

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/05/ant-tapeworm/618919/

https://jalopnik.com/woman-crashes-into-multiple-cars-and-a-house-at-120-mph-1847319454

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-extract-15000-year-old-viruses-tibetan-glacier-180978287/

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/july/tower-of-babel-ark-encounter-ky-ken-ham-answers-genesis.html

https://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/sports/norways-handball-team-has-been-fined-because-they-didnt-want-to-play-in-bikinis/

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/

Patreon Bonus Segment: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-interview-54513169

Earlier this year, Gregory Thompson and Duke Kwon released their book "Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair," in which they make a biblical argument for the American church's responsibility to repay the debts inflicted upon black communities by systemic racism and white supremacy. In this moment of political division and evangelical panic over Critical Race Theory, it's not surprising that responses to the book have been polarized. One of the most negative and widely read reviews came from theologian Kevin DeYoung who said "Reparations" is "clearly not shaped by the gospel." Thompson and Kwon then wrote a lengthy and detailed response to DeYoung's review. (Links to both are posted below.) In this episode, Thompson talks to Skye about the debate, criticism of his book, and what the white evangelical response to racism reveals about its theology, mission, and blind spots. Phil and Christian then join Skye to discuss Thompson's interview, and Christian shares a personal story to remind us all that change is possible.

"Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair" - https://amzn.to/3jUMMov

Kevin DeYoung Review - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/reparations-a-critical-theological-review/

Review Response 1 - https://thefrontporch.org/2021/07/sanctifying-the-status-quo-a-response-to-reverend-kevin-deyoung/

Review Response 2 - https://thefrontporch.org/2021/07/distinctively-christian-an-additional-response-to-reverend-kevin-deyoung/

Other resources referenced:

"The Sum of Us" - https://amzn.to/3tqEY0V

https://religionnews.com/2021/07/12/dont-believe-in-systemic-racism-lets-talk-about-the-sexual-revolution-charlottesville-robert-e-lee/

(The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

When news broke that the new president of the SBC lifted portions of his message from the previous SBC president's sermon without attribution, #Sermongate erupted. The Holy Post crew unpacks the controversy, why so many pastors either outsource their sermon prep or plagiarize, and why the pressure to preach may be harming the church. Then, in a dramatic reversal, new data from Pew says mainline churches are growing while evangelical churches are shrinking. Have evangelicals been burned by their own critique that mainline churches don't take the Bible seriously? Then, author and advocate Mary DeMuth explains the history of sexual abuse in the church, why cover ups are now so common, how we can respond more redemptively, and the best ways to prevent abuse in the first place. Plus—good news! Scientists say we have a back-up breathing option if our lungs fail.

https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-say-mammals-can-breathe-through-their-butts-in-emergencies/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/us/sermongate-plagiarism-litton-greear.html

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/

https://religionnews.com/2021/07/08/survey-white-mainline-protestants-outnumber-white-evangelicals/

https://www.prri.org/research/2020-census-of-american-religion/

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/

https://twitter.com/SkyeJethani/status/1410335364116627465

Resources from Mary DeMuth:

"We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis": https://amzn.to/3tugZOv

https://www.wetoo.org/resources/

https://www.wetoo.org/survivors/21days/

https://www.netgrace.org/

A Church Called Tov: https://amzn.to/38Q55F4

(The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Calvin University history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Skye Jethani to discuss her bestselling book, "Jesus & John Wayne." In this episode, they look at the rise of Donald Trump among white evangelicals and how their response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol mirrors reactions to scandals involving celebrity church leaders. Du Mez also responds to criticism of her book, and where we might find hope for the future of American evangelicalism.

Part 1 - Authoritarian Pastors and the Authoritarian President Part 2 - Insurrection and Sex Scandals (17:22) Part 3 - Christian Media and the Marketplace (27:42) Part 4 - Responses and Criticism (40:32) Part 5 - Done and Undone (52:59)

Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation: https://amzn.to/3l6mkH

(The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

This 4th of July, Hobby Lobby took out a controversial full page newspaper ad featuring quotes, or mis-quotes, from America's founders about being a Christian nation. An editorial from Robert P. Jones says July 4th is a time to decide what we believe more—the Declaration of Independence that says all people are created equal, or the European doctrine of discovery which enshrined white supremacy? And David French asks what it really means to be a patriot and love our country well as Christians. Then, Karen Swallow Prior is back on the show to talk about a recent address she gave to the Evangelical Press Association about Christian publishing's addiction to celebrity and lack of integrity. But who's really to blame—Christian book publishers, or Christian book consumers? All of that, plus is Spiderman & the Pope the best MCU team up yet?

https://news.yahoo.com/pope-francis-meets-spider-man-130000577.html

https://www.hobbylobby.com/about-us/holiday-messages?modal=one+nation+under+god

https://www.scarymommy.com/stop-shopping-hobby-lobby-now/

https://religionnews.com/2021/07/02/lets-celebrate-this-fourth-of-july-without-the-myth-of-white-christian-innocence/

https://www.relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/the-american-conservative-does-the-unthinkable-and-defends-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves-as-good-actually/

https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/how-do-christian-patriots-love-their

Patreon Bonus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53681162

Calvin University history professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Skye Jethani to discuss her bestselling book, "Jesus & John Wayne." In this episode, they examine why white evangelicalism left behind some of its militant rhetoric after the Cold War ended in the early 1990s to embrace a kinder, gentler approach epitomized by the Promise Keepers movement, and how an aggressive vision of Christian masculinity returned after September 11, 2001. Plus, why an emphasis on racial reconciliation ultimately doomed Promise Keepers, and how other ministries learned to avoid any talk about race or justice.

Part 1 - Promise Keepers and Therapeutic Christianity Part 2 - Servant Leaders and Racial Reconciliation (15:36) Part 3 - Purity Culture and Fragile Masculinity (32:47) Part 4 - 9/11 and the Neo-Calvinists (48:38)

Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation: https://amzn.to/3l6mkH

(The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)