Kristin Du Mez, New York Times best selling author and professor of History at Cal, shares her story of remaining committed to Christ despite challenges within white evangelicalism. They discuss her thoughts on Evangelicalism, what's helping her remain a Christian today, and the importance of positive connections and relationships on social media. They also explore the inspiration found in a Christian faith community and navigating disagreement respectfully.
Kristin Dumay's commitment to Christianity is rooted in her personal experiences, understanding that her relationship with God is not dependent on the actions of flawed individuals within white evangelicalism.
Dumay emphasizes the importance of engaging with differing perspectives within the church community, seeking supportive relationships, and understanding that true faith transcends mere doctrinal orthodoxy.
Deep dives
Still Following Jesus
In this podcast episode, Kristin Dumay, a New York Times best-selling author and history professor at Calvin University, discusses her commitment to Christianity despite the challenges within white evangelicalism. She shares how her faith is deeply rooted in her upbringing in the Dutch Reformed tradition and her personal experiences. Dumay reflects on a crisis moment during her graduate studies when she questioned the negative behavior of some Christians and the goodness of non-religious individuals. Ultimately, she found a sense of peace, certainty, and belonging in her faith, understanding that her relationship with God is not dependent on the actions of flawed individuals. Dumay also highlights the importance of engaging with differing perspectives within the church community and relying on her local church and the supportive relationships she has formed both online and offline. She encourages those facing criticism and navigating social media to find a balance, surround themselves with positive voices, and know that the online world is not representative of their entire faith journey.
The Challenge of Proving Faith
One of the difficulties Dumay faces as a Christian is the exhaustion of feeling the need to prove herself to other Christians. She acknowledges that she often gets dragged into situations where her faith is questioned, criticized, and misunderstood due to theological differences. However, she emphasizes that Christianity is not simply about checking doctrinal boxes or conforming to specific statements of faith. Dumay expresses frustration with the tendency to judge faith solely based on doctrinal orthodoxy and highlights the importance of looking beyond these surface-level assessments. She believes that true faith transcends mere statements, encompassing identity, praxis, and a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Christ. While the online world can be harsh, Dumay encourages those who feel isolated and criticized to seek out supportive individuals, engage in conversations with mutual respect, and remember the majority of people who appreciate and affirm their faith journey.
Finding Strength in Community
For Dumay, what helps her most in being a Christian today is the invaluable support and connections she has formed with people within her church and broader social networks. She recognizes that while social media can be a space for criticism and attacks, it has also allowed her to connect with wonderful individuals who share meaningful conversations and relationships. Dumay appreciates the encouragement, inspiration, and growth that comes from interacting with diverse perspectives and experiencing the beauty of different Christian traditions. Additionally, she emphasizes the grounding role of her local church, Church of the Servant, where she finds community, attends liturgical services, and cherishes the spiritual guidance of her pastors. Dumay acknowledges that her experience is not universal and acknowledges the difficulties some face in finding such enriching faith communities. She reminds individuals to be patient and seek out like-minded believers who can be a source of strength and support.
Navigating Disagreements within Community
Dumay discusses the importance of healthy community amidst disagreements and differences within the church. She shares her own approach, which involves surfacing and openly discussing disagreements rather than avoiding them. Dumay values authentic conversations where different perspectives can be understood, respected, and explored. She believes that honest engagement with differing views fosters mutual respect and can lead to personal growth and refinement of one's beliefs. She acknowledges that individuals have different levels of resiliency when it comes to certain issues and encourages finding communities that can hold together despite differing views. Dumay recognizes that no church community will align perfectly with an individual's beliefs and highlights the significance of focusing on the shared aspects of faith rather than allowing differences to divide.
The last five or six years have been rough for many thoughtful faithful Christians. The embrace of Trump and Trumpism, the rise of ethnic nationalism and xenophobia, conspiracy theories and abuse scandals have rocked the church. Many have walked away in disgust. Some have spoken out and paid the price and yet, rather than walking away, they have remained committed to Christ and his church. One of those people is Kristen Du Mez, a New York Times best selling author and professor of History at Calvin University. Her book, "Jesus and John Wayne" made headlines by examining how toxic masculinity and misogyny within white evangelicalism has affected American history and culture. The reaction to Du Mez's book within White Evangelicalism was swift and ugly. Skye sat down with Kristin Du Mez to hear her story and find out why, through it all, she's still following Jesus.
0:00 - Theme Song
0:29 - Intro
1:37 - How Kristin became a Christian
7:38 - Kristin's thoughts on Evangelicalism
22:04 - Sponsor - AG1 To get your FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase, go to athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST
23:33 - What's helping Kristin remain a Christian today
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