Life and Books and Everything

Coming out of a consulting background, Aaron Renn is now a regular contributor to many important conversations among Christians and conservatives. In this interview, Kevin asks Aaron about the three worlds of evangelicalism and how we should think about elites. They also discuss where evangelicalism has faltered and where it has been too hard on itself. Intro & Sponsor [0:00-1:37] Guest: Aaron Renn [1:38-7:47] Rose-Colored Rural Areas [7:48-10:29] What Does Western Society Think of the Church? [10:30-23:50] Evangelical Self-Flaggellation [23:51-26:50] Do Evangelicals Lack Cultural Influence? [26:51-34:48] The Evangelical "Middle-Class Mindset" [34:49-40:24] A Call to Lay Intellectual Engagement [40:25-50:44] Sponsor 2 [50:45-51:30] Evangelicals and Elites [51:31-59:22] Constantine and "Christian Nationalism" [59:23-1:08:31] Final Plugs [1:08:32-1:10:39] The Masculinist Aaron Renn Substack The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism - Matthew Continetti The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 - George Nash "The Tinkerings of Robert Noyce" - Tom Wolfe To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World - James Davison Hunter The Mortification of Sin - edited by Aaron M. Renn

With more than 50 books and hundreds of articles, not to mention scores of edited works, Don Carson has written a lot. In this retrospective on life and books and everything, Kevin asks Dr. Carson about his father, how he sees the state of the church, and what books he especially enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) writing. From Bible commentaries to books on current events to a grammar on Greek accents, Kevin explores the why, what, and how of Don’s remarkable writing career. Timestamps: Intro and Sponsor [0:00-1:40] Guest: D.A. Carson [1:41- 5:48] Book Discussions: Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor [5:49-18:33] For the Love of God devotionals [18:34-24:48] The Gospel According to John commentary [24:49-33:58] The Gagging of God [33:59-45:55] The Intolerance of Tolerance [45:56-48:42] Sponsor 2 [48:43-49:32] Most and Least Favorite Books [49:33-56:25] How to Write Like D.A. Carson [56:26-1:02:19] Exegetical Fallacies [1:02:20-1:04:50] The Theme of Carson's Writing [1:04:51-1:09:30] What Book(s) Does the Church Need? [1:09:31-1:13:46] Books: Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson   For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word, Volume 1  For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word, Volume 2  The Gospel according to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC))  The Gagging of God  Praying with Paul Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament   The Enduring Authority of the Christian Scriptures   Exegetical Fallacies  Christ and Culture Revisited  An Introduction to the New Testament   Hermeneutics, Authority, and Canon  Collected Writings on Scripture 

Evangelicals who set down the path toward LGBTQ acceptance rarely turn around and head back in the other direction. In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin reads from the article he wrote for WORLD Opinions about why evangelicals surrender to the LGBTQ agenda.

Although Neil has a PhD in theoretical chemistry, he’s made a name for himself as an expert on Critical Race Theory (and Critical Theory more generally). Is CRT just a legal theory? Can anyone know what it really is? Is CRT just a plot by conservatives to gin up votes? Should Christians take CRT and chew the meat and spit out of the bones? Kevin and Neil answer these questions and many more. They also dive into Neil’s new book on apologetics and explore the wild world of evangelical Twitter. Timestamps: Intro and Sponsor: Crossway [0:00-2:35] Guest Introduction: Neil Shenvi [2:36-14:46] Neil's Map of Evangelical Twitter [14:47-22:27] Why Believe? [22:28-28:43] What is Apologetics For? [28:44-36:50] Sponsor 2: Westminster Seminary Press [36:51-38:02] How to Understand Critical Race Theory [38:03-1:10:06] Pastoral Responses [1:10:07-1:20:26] Books: Why Believe: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity - Neil Shenvi The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis Cold Case Christianity - J. Warner Wallace Critical Race Theory: An Introduction - Richard Delgado Is Everyone Really Equal? - Ozlem Sensoy & Robin D'Angelo God is a Black Woman - Christena Cleveland

The injunction not to judge is a necessary warning for us all, not least the religious person who can easily be tempted to look down on those who seem less religious. In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin reads from the article he wrote for Tabletalk magazine about how Matthew 7:1 is one of the most needed and most abused statements in the Bible.

After a summer break, the triumvirate is back together to talk about books and biography. Kevin and Justin highlight some of their favorite books from the past few months, and Collin talks about the Tim Keller biography (of sorts) he has coming in the months ahead. Before getting to the books, the three friends discuss the latest news regarding Matt Chandler’s leave of absence from The Village Church and what lessons there may be for all of us. Timestamps: Intro and Sponsor #1: Crossway [0:00-3:04] When Pastors Fail [3:05-27:44] Sponsor #2: Desiring God [27:45-29:39] Tim Keller's Influences [29:40-40:44] Update on Keller's Health [40:45-42:21] Justin's Summer Books [42:22-46:30 Kevin's Summer Books [46:31-53:47] Current Projects [53:48-58:20] Books: Watergate: A New History - Garrett Graff https://www.amazon.com/Watergate-History-Garrett-M-Graff/dp/1982139161/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=DP6EMZZH3P0B&keywords=garrett+graff&qid=1661821814&sprefix=garrett+graff%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-2 My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir - Clarence Thomas https://www.amazon.com/My-Grandfathers-Son-Clarence-Thomas/dp/006056556X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=OTWTNASNJCMC&keywords=my+grandfather%27s+son+clarence+thomas&qid=1661821764&sprefix=my+grandfa%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1 The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution - James Oakes https://www.amazon.com/Crooked-Path-Abolition-Antislavery-Constitution/dp/1324020199/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=5WC8DOZQJ0X5&keywords=The+Crooked+Path+to+Abolition&qid=1661821876&sprefix=the+crooked+path+to+abolition%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1 Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington - Ted Widmer https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Verge-Thirteen-Days-Washington/dp/1476739447/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2VOGULCPX61AB&keywords=13+days+to+washington&qid=1661821951&sprefix=13+days+to+washington%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1 The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789 - Robert Middlekauff https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Cause-American-Revolution-1763-1789/dp/019531588X/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=WX3FN60ZMV0K&keywords=oxford+history+of+the+united+states&qid=1661821997&sprefix=oxford+his%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-5 Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 - Gordon S. Wood https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0199832463?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wam_calw_tpbk_9&storeType=ebooks&qid=1661821997&sr=8-5 What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 - Daniel Wal

People know when their leaders no longer like them In this episode, Kevin reads from an article he wrote for WORLD reflecting on one lesson from Liz Cheney’s 37-point defeat in Wyoming’s Republican primary.

We’re in a battle whether we like it or not, but how we fight matters. In this episode, Kevin reads from the third of a series of articles for WORLD Opinions on how to think about Christianity and politics.

To ignore, minimize, or repudiate the differences between men and women is to reject our creational design. In this episode, Kevin reads from an article written for Desiring God, reasoning why we should be careful not to banish patriarchy to the ash heap of history too quickly.

There is no category called “politics” that can be safely quarantined from the category we call “religion.” In this episode, Kevin reads from the second of a series of articles for WORLD Opinions on how to think about Christianity and politics.