A Texas megachurch is facing criticism after a viral TikTok video showed a rehearsal of its Christmas production with drummers flying over the crowd on wires. The church says it’s simply offering its best to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Critics say it’s an extravagant violation of Jesus’ humble spirit. Who’s right? New data says Americans are far more isolated and lonely than ever before, and it’s not because of Covid. Is the church the solution or part of the problem? And a researcher offers three surprising explanations for why the decline of religion in the U.S. didn’t start until the 1990s. Then, Old Testament scholar Carmen Imes answers questions about the book of Exodus. Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? What does it really mean to take God’s name in vain? And how do all of the details about the tabernacle apply to Christians today?

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News Segment 0:00 - Intro 2:49 - Megachurch Christmas production 21:12 - Loneliness 39:01- Why Americans are leaving their churches Sponsors 53:29 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling Get 10% off your first month at faithfulcounseling.com/holypost

54:35 - Sponsor: Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology Visit www.biola.edu/talbot for more information and to apply today.

Interview with Carmen Imes BibleProject Classroom on Exodus - https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/exodus-overview/

Carmen Imes - https://twitter.com/carmenjoyimes

55:42 - Interview intro 57:16 - Why Exodus is important 58:55 - Pharoah’s heart being hardened 1:03:58 - Taking the Lord’s name in vain 1:10:54 - Tabernacle 1:19:05 - Golden calf story 1:26:05 - BibleProject Exodus course

Links mentioned in news segment: Holy Post 529: Rapture Anxiety and Why Analog Discipleship is Better with Jay Y. Kim - https://www.holypost.com/post/episode-529-rapture-anxiety-why-analog-discipleship-is-better-with-jay-y-kim

“Texas Megachurch responds to backlash over opulent Christmas show” (Houston Chronicle) - https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-megachurch-tiktok-17616329.php

“Americans are choosing to be alone. Here’s why we should reverse that” (Washington Post) - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/23/americans-alone-thanksgiving-friends/

“Why Americans are leaving their churches” (Religion News Service) - https://religionnews.com/2022/12/01/why-americans-are-leaving-their-churches/

Other resources: “Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters” by Carmen Joy Imes - https://amzn.to/3uQbKKp

Carmen Imes on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CarmenJoyImesPhD

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