Good Faith

In this podcast, David and Curtis return from trips around the world to give us a philosophical insight on courage. From Churchill to Lord of The Rings, stories of virtue can influence our own actions when tests cross our paths. They talk about the power of narratives and how they can build moral courage and character. Both dig into their past to bring up personal models of strength that have influenced who they are today. They wrap up with a critical look at political institutions under this moral framework. SHOW NOTES: -There’s a Question My Confederate Ancestors Taught Me To Ask by David French.  In this April 26, 2020 Dispatch article, David writes about the incredibly powerful pull of tribe over truth. -After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory by Alasdair MacIntyre: Alasdair MacIntyre examines the historical and conceptual roots of the idea of virtue, diagnoses the reasons for its absence in personal and public life, and offers a tentative proposal for its recovery.  -The Literary Churchill: Author, Reader, Actor by Jonathan Rose: Rose examines Churchill’s careers as statesman and author, revealing the profound influence of literature and theater on Churchill’s personal, carefully composed grand story and on the decisions he made throughout his political life.  -Curtis’s account of Churchill's book "Savrola" is taken from Gideon Haigh’s 2014 Sydney Morning Herald article, “Winston Churchill's literary and theatrical influences” and his account of Nuremberg can be found at Nuremberg as the "City of Nazi Party Rallies." -A Hidden Life: Written and directed by Terrence Malick, this film depicts the true story of an Austrian farmer facing execution for refusing to fight for the Nazis during World War II.

What does it look like to have Christian hope in this chaotic world? As believers, we live in the “already but not yet,” which means that we are currently in the kingdom of God, though the kingdom has not reached its full expression. In other words, we are “already” in the kingdom of God, but we do “not yet” experience its full glory. In this Advent episode, David and Curtis look back at the challenging year and look for signs of the “coming Kingdom” so that listeners can “read the signs of the times”--  in a way that is both Biblical and hopeful – and live in the anticipation of God’s justice, restoration, and glory. Show Notes: -YouTube: God Bless You': Residents Welcome Ukrainian Troops As They Advance Toward Kherson -YouTube: Ukrainian woman plays violin from apartment basement in Kharkiv -World Health Organization: COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose -Forbes: How A Rock Star, A Physician-Legislator, And An Evangelical Senator Bonded To Help End The Global AIDS Pandemic: A Backstory -The Perception Gap: Americans tend to have a distorted understanding of people on the other side of the aisle.    

Jesse Wiese robbed a bank and spent eight-and-a-half years in prison. After he served his time, he experienced the challenges of reentering society.  He joined the Prison Fellowship, graduating from law school, and is now the vice president of program design and evaluation at Prison Fellowship.  Now he spends his time attempting to help fellow imprisoned people flourish after serving time in prison. In this episode, Jesse shares his remarkable journey from bank robber to attorney, while David and Curtis discuss the church’s proper spiritual approach to criminal justice, prison reform, criminal justice reform, and the difference between justice and vengeance.  Show Notes: -Visiting Prisoners in Jesus’ Day: Helping detained people was a shocking calling in the first century by David Stubbs in Christianity Today. -The Sentencing Project: The Sentencing Project advocates for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice. -Locked Out: Voices from America's Second Prison by Jesse Wiese (Editor): Interviews with former prisoners as they relate the ongoing consequences of incarceration long after their debt to society has been paid. -Matthew 25:31-40: The Scripture which includes, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” -Prison Fellowship: Founded in 1976, Prison Fellowship® exists to serve all those affected by crime and incarceration and to see lives and communities restored in and out of prison. -After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom Hardcover by Alice Marie Johnson (author), Kim Kardashian (foreword), and Nancy French (collaborator): The true story of the woman whose life sentence for non-violent drug trafficking was commuted by President Donald Trump thanks to the efforts of Kim Kardashian West. Hosts: David French and Curtis Chang Producer: Victoria Holmes

We toss around words like “conservative” and “progressive” without really understanding – or agreeing on – the meaning of these terms.   This week, David and Curtis discuss how these labels simply don’t work when applied across both theology and politics. How is the equivocation surrounding these terms misleading and therefore damaging to Christian discourse? Can politics be used as a proxy for faithfulness? If so, when? Join David and Curtis as they dive deeper into the word “progressive” and “conservative” and attempt to provide clarity on this common, important conversational terminology. Show Notes: Check out Curtis’s course on the theology of institutions, called God’s Purpose for Your Organizational Life (free to Good Faith listeners). Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org

This week David and Curtis are joined by Eric Costanzo, a Southern Baptist pastor from Tulsa, Oklahoma who has led his own congregation in the practice of welcoming refugees and immigrants in their community. Eric is also the co-author of the book “Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church”. Join us for this challenging discussion that, based on the number of times it’s mentioned in scripture (plus Jesus’ own experience as a displaced refugee), is an issue near to God’s own heart. -The Story Behind DeSantis’s Migrant Flights to Martha’s Vineyard (New York Times) -Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save the American Church by Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, and Matthew Soerens -“I Was a Stranger…” 40 Days of Scripture and Prayer - Bible App Reading Plan -Evangelical Immigration Table -Rising Village refugee initiative   Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

There is no shortage of punditry, analysis and Monday morning quarterbacking about this week’s midterm elections, including David’s own work at the Dispatch. In this podcast, however, David and Curtis try to take a slightly broader (dare we say higher?) view, to ask not only the raw political questions, but also the broader questions about what this election might be signaling for our country, our culture, and our church. What are the signs we should be paying attention to, and how should we as Christians be thinking, praying and responding to them? Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Episode 51 - Does Jesus Need an Ad Campaign? with Jason Vanderground If you watch any sports on television you may have seen one of the edgy, black & white ads from the “He Gets Us” campaign. Designed to introduce Jesus to a culture that is actually quite intrigued by him, this campaign has created both curiosity and questions. We are excited to be joined this week by one of the chief architects of the campaign, Jason Vanderground. Join us for this excellent conversation about the campaign itself, the broader theological questions at play, and even the role of advertising as a tool of evangelism.  Show Notes: -He Gets Us campaign Video Ads: -The Rebel -The Birth -Outrage -The Influencer -Dinner Party -He Gets Us campaign - About Us Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

This week David and Curtis are joined by David Skeel, one of the world’s leading experts on bankruptcy law and the Chairman of the Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico, which was responsible for helping the territory restructure and cut its public debt by 80%. David brings a unique perspective as both a legal scholar and follower of Christ, particularly around how our understanding of debt can and should image Biblical values while not being strictly prescribed by Biblical law.  -Getting Puerto Rico’s Financial House Back in Order (WSJ) - Natalie Jaresko and David Skeel  -The Law, The Gospel, and David Skeel (The Pennsylvania Gazette) -Practicing Poetry, Teaching Law - David Skeel -Poem | Hurakan Despacito, by David Skeel   Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

So how should Christians be approaching the midterm elections? Apart from the basic question of who to vote for, are there perhaps deeper questions to consider? What about the fact that 60% of Americans will have an election denier on their ballot this year? Is our democracy as unstable as a game of Jenga? Join David and Curtis for this enlightening discussion around the midterms and how we as Christians should be thinking about our role in the process. -Alexander Solzhenitsyn - Live Not by Lies -The New York Times - Democrats Aid Far-Right Candidate Against Republican Who Backed Impeachment -Five Thirty Eight - 60 Percent Of Americans Will Have An Election Denier On The Ballot This Fall -David French (The Dispatch) - Stacey Abrams Challenges the Pro-Democracy Left Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter

Anxiety is everywhere. It feels as though it is at crisis levels individually, and is also spilling over into our culture at large, particularly in the political arena. This week David and Curtis are joined by a live studio audience in Washington, DC to talk about our personal and cultural anxiety. Fortunately, they also offer some good news. Drawing upon Curtis’ upcoming book “The Anxiety Opportunity”, we learn how Christians can actually view anxiety as an opportunity to grow closer to a Savior who was constantly approached by anxious people, and who experienced very real human anxiety himself.  Show Notes: Anxiety as Opportunity for Spiritual Growth (7-session online series for small groups and individuals Sign up for David’s French Press newsletter Follow Curtis’ work at RedeemingBabel.org Produced by Kris Carter