The relentless pull and pressure of partisan antagonisms and tribalism have fractured friendships, families, communities — and churches. In a time of conflict over what is good and confusion over what is true, what can church leaders do to cultivate a more faithful form of civic engagement? How can we learn to discern the call to love and justice amidst the clamor of political wars?

On our latest podcast, three wise men, as Cherie affectionately calls them, address these pressing questions. Curtis Chang, David French, and Russell Moore are each writers, scholars, and thinkers who have made courageous and insightful contributions towards a better Christian politics and we’re delighted to share their comments from an evening conversation in 2023 with you:

“Be of great hope. Because the after party is coming…It's the wedding feast of the lamb when Jesus returns to cleanse his church, made spotless. And in that moment, the restoration not of the church, but of the world at war where the swords are beaten into plowshares, the spears into pruning hooks. That's the after party that's coming. So if you know how the story ends, how can we not have great hope? - Curtis Chang

This podcast is an edited version of an evening conversation recorded in early 2023. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Curtis Chang, David French, and Russell Moore.

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:

Divided We Fall, by David French

The Courage to Stand, Facing Your Fear Without Losing Your Soul, by Russell Moore

Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel, by Russell Moore

The Storm Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home, by Russell Moore

Losing our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical Christians, by Russell Moore

The Anxiety Opportunity, by Curtis Chang

Ernest Hemmingway

The Big Sort, by Bill Bishop

Cass Sunstein

Constitution of Knowledge, by Jonathan Rauch

The Moviegoer, by Walker Percy

The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt

High Conflict, by Amanda Ripley

Related Trinity Forum Readings:

The Federalist Papers

City of God, by Augustine of Hippo