Topics discussed in the podcast include the role of Christians in politics, the mean-spirited culture in America, the rejection of morality and truth, the impact of social media on mental health, the decline in church attendance, the future of AI and its impact on truth, and the crisis of truth and authority.
Christians are needed more than ever to be salt and light in the midst of political turmoil and chaos.
The rejection of morality and transcendent truth, coupled with the impact of social media, is leading to a mean-spirited culture with negative effects on mental health.
Deep dives
Political Turmoil and Divisions in 2024
In the podcast episode, the host and guest discuss the political landscape for 2024, acknowledging the persistent divisions and turmoil in the wake of the previous election. They predict that the upcoming presidential election will likely exacerbate these divisions, leading to deepening distrust, divisions, and a lack of civility. The speakers highlight the palpable fear experienced by people on both sides, as the rhetoric surrounding politics becomes increasingly heated. They also note the prevalence of fear-based narratives in the media and the growing polarization between political ideologies. The overall forecast is one of continued political division and cultural tension in the coming year.
The Crisis of Meanness and Lack of Compassion
The podcast episode delves into the pervasive trend of meanness and lack of compassion in society, both inside and outside the church. The speakers reference an article by David Brooks, which explores the increasing rudeness, cruelty, and violence present in everyday interactions. They emphasize the declining levels of compassion and empathy, citing a decrease in charitable giving and a shift towards self-centeredness. They identify the absence of moral education and formation as a significant contributor to this crisis, pointing out the rejection of objective moral order and the belief that individuals are their own moral compass. The episode suggests that the consequences of this moral vacuum include radical individualism, defensiveness, mistrust, hostility, and a breakdown of relationships.
The Deepening Ideological and Theological Divides
The podcast episode highlights the deepening ideological and theological divides within the church and society. It focuses on the example of the United Methodist Church, currently undergoing a massive split over issues of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The speakers argue that these debates are more cultural than theological, driven by the prevailing cultural ethos rather than historical or biblical doctrine. They predict that these divides will continue to shape the conversations within the church, impacting various moral and theological issues. The episode emphasizes the increasing tendency to elevate cultural or ideological disputes to the level of orthodoxy, blurring the lines between theology and ideology. The forecast suggests a continued struggle between different factions and a potential erosion of historic Christian orthodoxy.
The Crisis of Trust and Declining Church Attendance
The podcast episode discusses the declining attendance in churches and the growing number of people who don't identify with any particular religion, the 'nones.' The speakers point out that the decrease in church attendance cannot be solely attributed to the rise of the 'nones' but also to a lack of trust in institutions and cultural shifts. They explore various possible reasons for the decline, including changes in habits, disillusionment with churches, ideological divisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lack of challenge and adaptation in church approaches. The episode suggests that the crisis of authority and declining trust in institutions play a significant role in the decreasing church attendance, and call on churches to awaken to the new realities and explore new methods to reach the changing mission field.
In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, Dr. White gives an overview of what will likely dominate life and culture in 2024. The headline? Christians are needed more than ever to be salt and light to cut through the turmoil and chaos.
Episode Links
First up in the conversation were politics and the political turmoil that seems to be dominating the headlines as we have entered into an election year. It's important to know how, as Christians, we are called to engage the world of government and politics. Want to know how best to do that? Check out these two C&C Podcast episodes in case you missed them or want to go back and listen to them again: CCP82: On Christians and Politics and CCP83: On Christians and Government.
They also discussed a recent article by David Brooks in The Atlantic titled “How America Got Mean.” The division in our country, much of which is sparked by fear, is leading to a mean-spirited culture. We've touched on this topic a couple of times on the podcast, so if you missed those episodes be sure to check out CCP63: On Why Christians Are So Mean and CCP6: On Anger.
There has been a shift in our culture that will intensify in the coming year - a rejection of morality and transcendent truth. We allow ourselves to serve as our own moral compass, telling us what is right and wrong. This plays out in both the impact of social media and what it's doing to our mental health (see CCP70: On Social Media and Mental Health) as well as the way we've allowed psychology to drive how we're parenting the next generation (see CCP60: On Gentle Parenting).
The conversation turned toward the state of the Church for 2024. A recent article from Christianity Today titled “United Methodists Down 7,659 Churches As Exit Window Ends” focused on the largest denominational schism in the U.S. since the civil war. Dr. White and Alexis discussed this problem plaguing several U.S. denominations in CCP15: On Denominational Decline. When you couple denominational decline with the continued rise of the “nones” (see The Rise of the Nones written by Dr. White), you find the church in a state of crisis and needing to make a significant change. Dr. White would argue that the solution is to go “hybrid.” You can read more about this topic in his book Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, which you can find on Amazon HERE.
Finally, the conversation turned to the future of A.I. and all of the implications this will have on our society. Be sure to check out a past podcast on this topic: CCP44: On Artificial Intelligence. The prevalence of A.I. is fueling the crisis of truth that we face in our culture. Check out a recent article in the New York Times titled “The Problem of Misinformation in an Era Without Trust.”
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