Thinking Christian with Drs. James Spencer and Ashish Varma

How did we get here? From the Enlightenment to the rise of Postmodernism, the landscape of what we believe about God has shifted beneath our feet. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with renowned theologian Dr. Roger E. Olson (Emeritus Professor at Baylor University) to map out the fascinating—and often turbulent—history of modern theology.

They explore the tension between tradition and the "modern mind," discussing how giants like Schleiermacher, Barth, and Bonhoeffer navigated a world that was rapidly deconstructing old certainties. Whether you're a theology nerd or just trying to understand the intellectual roots of your own faith, this conversation provides a vital compass for the journey.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Modern" Dilemma: What happens when theology tries to accommodate the demands of the Enlightenment?

• Reconstruction to Deconstruction: Understanding the shift from building grand systems of thought to the skepticism of the 21st century.

• The Giants of the Faith: Why figures like Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer still matter for your walk with Christ today.

• The Evangelical Response: How believers can engage with modern ideas without losing the core of the Gospel.

• Finding Your Place: How understanding the history of ideas helps you situate your own beliefs in a chaotic world.

Join us for a deep dive into the ideas that shaped the modern church and discover how to think Christianly in an era of reconstruction and deconstruction.

Go deeper: The Reformation

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In a world that demands instant results, we’ve found a thousand new ways to numb the pain of existence. Join Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Benjamin Matthew for the final installment of our series as they tackle the normalization of "quick-fix" drugs—from anabolic steroids and TRT in the fitness world to the rise of GLP-1s like Ozempic.

We explore the dangerous trade-offs of modern biohacking and why the Christian life calls us to lean into the "friction" of reality rather than anesthetizing ourselves against it. If you've ever felt the pressure to "optimize" your body at the expense of your soul, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Normalization of Performance Enhancers: Why younger generations are turning to steroids and TRT for social media clout.

• The "Numbing" Culture: How we use substances to avoid the "existential sniffles" and the discomfort of growth.

• The GLP-1 Wave: Examining the psychological and spiritual implications of the newest drug trends.

• Sanctification vs. Optimization: Why the Christian walk requires "grit" and "friction" that a pill or injection can’t provide.

• Working Toward Your Own Dismissal: A challenge to leaders and counselors to build structures that help people find freedom, not just temporary relief.

Don’t miss this deep dive into how we can bear faithful witness in a culture that wants to edit out every struggle.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are we asking therapy to do something it was never designed to do? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Benjamin Matthew take a provocative look at the "Counseling Industry" and its role in a collapsed culture.

While therapy is a vital tool for clinical challenges, Dr. Benjamin Matthew shares the growing trend of counselors feeling like "paid friends" for people who are simply missing the basic structures of a healthy life. We dive into why the clinical office is a great place to meet a need, but a terrible place to sustain a soul.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Paid Friend" Phenomenon: Why many people are seeking professional therapy for problems that used to be solved by a neighbor or a church small group.

• Clinical vs. Ontological Needs: Distinguishing between psychological disorders and the deeper "existential sniffles" caused by isolation.

• The Limits of the Couch: Why a one-hour weekly session cannot provide the resources to sustain a person’s entire sense of meaning.

• A Collapsed Culture: How the breakdown of local communities has forced the mental health industry to become a "catch-all" for human loneliness.

• Returning to the Body: Why the church must step up to provide the "house" of support so that therapy can return to its intended clinical focus.

If you’ve ever wondered why therapy feels like a temporary fix or why our culture is more "counseled" yet more anxious than ever, this conversation is a must-listen.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Loneliness isn't just a "feeling"—it’s a structural crisis. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Benjamin Matthew take a hard look at the "Epidemic of Loneliness" and why our modern way of life is practically designed to keep us isolated.

Building on the "Embodied Leg" of our mental health stool, we explore how the transition from a "physical" world to a "convenience" world has stripped away the natural friction that used to bring us together. It’s time to move past the "on-demand" lifestyle and rediscover why being a member of the Body of Christ requires more than just a Wi-Fi connection.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Surgeon General’s Warning: Why loneliness is now considered a greater public health threat than many physiological diseases.

• The "Convenience" Trap: How Amazon, Netflix, and DoorDash have unintentionally removed the "small talk" and community interactions that ground our sanity.

• Structural Loneliness: Understanding that we haven’t just become lonely; we’ve built a society that makes it the default setting.

• The Church as a "Third Space": Why the local church is the essential alternative to the isolation of the home and the transactional nature of the workplace.

• Ancient Truths for Modern Deficiencies: Moving beyond the "search for relief" and leaning into the grit of real-world relationships.

If you’ve ever felt "lonely in a crowded room" or wondered why life feels increasingly disconnected, this conversation offers a roadmap back to the communal life we were created for.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

 

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation!

#ThinkingChristian #LonelinessEpidemic #CommunityOverConvenience #MentalHealth #ChristianLiving #TheLocalChurch #AuthenticConnection #FaithAndScience

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In an era of digital convenience and "on-demand" spirituality, have we lost something vital by staying home? Join Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ben Mathew as they explore the "Embodied Leg" of the mental health stool.

This episode dives into the "Deaths of Despair" phenomenon and how the simple act of being physically present in a local church community serves as a powerful buffer against anxiety and isolation. We’re moving beyond abstract beliefs and looking at the tangible, physical habits that ground us when the world feels overwhelming.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Blue Laws" Connection: How the loss of a shared day of rest contributed to a rise in "deaths of despair."

• Digital vs. Embodied Faith: Why watching a sermon at 1.5x speed can't replace the "friction" and beauty of being with real people.

• The Power of Ritual: How the physical acts of communion, singing, and gathering provide "symbolic handles" to navigate life’s challenges.

• The Church as a Physical Manifestation: Why the local church is the essential "body" we need to inhabit for true human flourishing.

• Building Grit through Presence: Why showing up when you don't feel like it is exactly what builds spiritual and emotional resilience.

Whether you're struggling with a sense of isolation or looking for a deeper way to engage with your faith, this conversation reminds us that we were made to be present.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hundreds of churches once bombed and burned to the ground are not only standing again but thriving in Sudan and South Sudan. Hear stories of pastors who experienced intense persecution and how their faith sustained them.

Resources:

• Learn more about the Church Reconstruction Program in South Sudan

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/construction/celebrating-over-500-new-churches-in-south-sudan/

• To hear more about Ryan’s time in Sudan listen to Serving in Uncertainty: The War in Sudan

https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/podcast/serving-in-uncertainty-the-war-in-sudan

• Listen to “Plane Hijacked in Africa: The Pilot’s Story Part 1 and 2” to hear the inspirational story of one of our ministry pilots who chose to fully entrust his life to Jesus even while his plane was being hijacked.

SamaritansPurse.org/Listen

Show Notes:

This week, Kristy reflects on more than 20 years of church growth in Sudan and South Sudan following a two decades long period of civil war. Starting in the 1980s, as the government attempted to eliminate Christianity, Sudanese soldiers would come into villages, burning churches and arresting and torturing pastors.

Even in the face of intense persecution these pastors maintained their faith in God.

Rev. James Lagos Alexander, an archbishop in Sudan, was just a young pastor when the war broke out. He soon found himself in jail—not for a crime but for preaching the Gospel. His church was later bulldozed on Christmas Eve. Even as he was crying out to the Lord, Samaritan’s Purse was preparing to start a program that would eventually rebuild more than 500 destroyed churches and train new pastors for each one that was martyred during the war.

“There's many ways for us to give up, but we say we will not give up. If we die, we die, but we must preach the Gospel in season and out of season.” – Rev. James Lagos Alexander

Though they had been jailed, beaten, and persecuted for their faith they were joyful and relentless in sharing the Gospel. Kristy shared a verse from Colossians on suffering for Christ’s sake.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church.” - Colossians 1:24 (NASB)

Ryan Boyette, who worked with Samaritan’s Purse in Sudan during the Church Reconstruction Program, was inspired by the immense faith he saw on display as he heard the stories of what these people had endured.

“They had been beaten down over generations and decades of war and targeted attacks, but the construction of these churches has allowed that hope to remain. It’s a symbol that Christ is there and He loves this church and He loves these people.” – Ryan Boyette

Today, more than 20 years after the Church Reconstruction Program began, these churches are not only standing, but thriving! Many have expanded into other villages and use their buildings throughout the week for schools, adult education programs, orphanages, and shelters for people displaced by conflict.

“Instead of worshiping under the trees, now we have a place. We felt like the wall of Jerusalem has been rebuilt. We felt that God has come back home. We felt that our identity has been restored. What the enemy has taken from us, now God has brought it back again.” – Rev. James Lagos Alexander

Their testimonies are an incredible reminder that out of hardship can come amazing growth. Kristy encourages listeners that God's plans can be so different than our own, but we have to trust that His ways are higher than ours, and He works all things together for the good of those who love Him.

If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.

 

 

 

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In a culture obsessed with "happiness hacks" and immediate emotional relief, what if our sadness isn't a glitch, but a proper response to reality?

In this follow-up episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ben Mathew (Professor of Counselor Education at CIU) tackle the heart of the existential crisis. They move beyond the "social leg" of mental health to explore the "existential leg"—the shared process of meaning-making in a world that often feels like running into the wind.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Rationality of Sadness: Why feeling existential dread and deep frustration is a "proper response" to the systems and brokenness around us.

• The "Neurosurgeon" vs. the "Glass of Water": Identifying why we often rush to clinical experts when what we truly lack is a durable community "house" of support.

• Lament as Language: Following the example of Christ on the cross and the Psalmists to give a voice to our heartache without being "chastised" or "condemned."

• Anchoring Against Despair: How the local church acts as a "buttress of truth," helping us find a non-anxious presence even when our bank accounts are zero or life feels overwhelming.

• Shared Meaning: Why meaning is best solidified not in isolation, but within the "community of saints."

Stop trying to shortcut the healing and join us for a conversation about sitting in the tension, voicing the lament, and finding the grace to keep running.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever been in the middle of a busy, successful season only to be hit by a sudden, creeping feeling that none of it matters? You aren’t alone. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Benjamin Matthew (Professor of Counselor Education at CIU) dive deep into the "existential leg" of the mental health stool.

Dr. Mathew joins us from the middle of a literal storm to discuss the figurative storms of the soul—those moments when we feel like we are "running into the wind" without a sense of purpose. We explore why "existential dread" is often a rational response to a broken world and how the local church should serve as the primary "house" of support before we ever reach for clinical intervention.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Running into the Wind" Analogy: Understanding the baseline anxiety that seeps into our work and daily lives.

• Angry at Existence: How to navigate feelings of bitterness toward God or life itself.

• The Power of Lament: Why we need to stop "shortcutting" to the fix and start making space for groaning and frustration.

• The Church as Triage: Why general community support is the "glass of water" we often need before calling a "neurosurgeon."

• Shared Meaning: How the "pillar and buttress of truth" helps us avoid despair.

If you’ve been feeling the weight of the world or questioning your impact, tune in for a conversation that re-centers our story within the greater narrative of God's work.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are we living in a "Truman Show" world? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Benjamin Matthew (Professor of Counselor Education) dive into the "Social Leg" of their three-legged stool model for mental health.

Together, they explore how our modern, technology-driven society has distorted our sense of community and identity. They discuss the "Causal Link" between the rise of smartphones and the most anxious generation in history, citing the research of Jonathan Haidt.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The "Buddy" vs. The "Challenger": Why social media algorithms give us the "buddies" we want but rob us of the "critics" we need to grow.

• Value Collapse: How we’ve replaced real human connection with simplified metrics like likes, followers, and shares.

• The "Truman Show" Reality: Why flourishing requires more than just a job and a neighborly "hello"—it requires deep, embodied presence.

• The Church as a Solution: Why shifting from a "consumer" mindset to a "communal" identity in the Body of Christ is essential for restoring dignity and hope.

Stop viewing the church as a voluntary Sunday activity and start seeing it as the essential constraint where your best life is lived. 

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Is mental health just "all in your head," or is there something deeper happening within our physical design? In the premiere of this series, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Dr. Benjamin Matthew, Professor of Counselor Education, to introduce a revolutionary way of looking at well-being: The Three-Legged Stool of Mental Health.

We’re moving past the "quick-fix" culture to explore how our bodies, our stories, and our faith are inextricably linked. If you've ever felt like your spiritual life and your physical struggles were at odds, this episode provides the roadmap to wholeness you’ve been looking for.

In this episode, we tackle:

• The Three-Legged Stool: An introduction to the Embodied, Social, and Existential legs that support human flourishing.

• The "Embodied" Leg: Why we cannot ignore the biological reality of our brains and bodies when discussing faith and psyche.

• A "High View" of Scripture & Science: How to honor the authority of the Bible while embracing the insights of neurobiology and psychology.

• The Problem with "Just Pray More": Why reducing mental health to a purely spiritual "check-list" can actually hinder true healing.

• Created for Flourishing: Understanding mental health not just as the absence of illness, but as moving toward the "abundant life" God intended.

Stop viewing your mental health through a single lens. Start understanding how God designed the whole person to function, heal, and thrive.

Go deeper: Faith and Mental Health

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.