Host Curtis Chang and regular guest David French discuss what young Christians need to be formed for thriving. In this far ranging conversation, they explore negative partisanship, the fruits of the spirit, the revival at Asbury, and how Christians should best interact with the world through politics. Also, Curtis describes how anxiety is a surprising underlying cause of the political acrimony and divisiveness that plagues our culture today. This special Good Faith podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, a higher education association of more than 185 Christian institutions around the world. SHOW NOTES: Pre-order Curtis Chang's upcoming book, The Anxiety Opportunity.  Learn more about the theology of institutions via this online video course from Redeeming Babel Asbury Professor: We’re Witnessing a ‘Surprising Work of God’ (from Christianity Today)  More in Common: The Hidden Tribes Project Jonathan Haidt on the “Rider and the Elephant”  

Peter Wehner’s former office was the White House.  He served in the Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush administrations, as Deputy Director of Speechwriting and later Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives for President George W. Bush. Now, he’s a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and a contributing editor for The Atlantic.  He’s been in the halls of power, and he writes for publications of prominence.  So why has Peter been in exile?  In this powerful episode, Curtis talks to his old friend about what it’s like to have a role in the unfolding drama of American history, to believe your most important moments are in the past, and to walk out one’s faith in complicated times. Show Notes: Global Giving - Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund: Two powerful earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria early Monday morning, killing more than 19,000 people and injuring thousands more. People are trapped and homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure have been destroyed under layers of rubble. Your donation to the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund will provide emergency relief and fuel long-term recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria. Project Hope - Save Lives in Turkey and Communities in Crisis: Devastating earthquakes in Turkey (Türkiye) and Syria have left tens of thousands of families in desperate need of medical help and basic supplies. Our emergency response team is on the ground and working quickly to save as many lives as possible. Died: Steve Hayner, Former President of InterVarsity and Columbia Seminary, Christianity Today: This is a death notice for Steve Hayner, “one of the baby-boomer generation's most influential evangelical leaders, has died. He was known for his presidency at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and later at Columbia Theological Seminary.” Remembering Steve Hayner, InterVarsity: This reflection from Intervarsity about their former president states, “Steve became president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in 1988, near the end of a turbulent decade in which InterVarsity had five presidents. “Steve brought pastoral care, healing and hope to a community that had undergone much trauma,” said Alec Hill, Steve’s successor and InterVarsity’s current president.” "Painting As a Pastime" by Winston S. Churchill; “The perfect antidote to his 'Black Dog', a depression that blighted his working life, Churchill took to painting with gusto. Picking up a paintbrush for the first time at the age of forty, Winston Churchill found in painting a passion that was to remain his constant companion. This glorious essay exudes his compulsion for a hobby that allowed him peace during his dark days, and richly rewarded a nation with a treasure trove of work.” “President Donald Trump?  Just Say No,” by Peter Wehner: This 2015 article describes Pete’s unwillingness to embrace the new GOP candidate who would ultimately become President of the United States. “The GOP and the Birther Trap,” by Peter Wehner: This 2011 Wall Street Journal article describes Wehner’s take on a fringe conspiracy theory that was then front and center in American politics: the claim that President Barack Obama might not be a natural-born American citizen. “Why I Will Never Vote for Donald Trump,” by Peter Wehner.  This 2016 New York Times explains why Pete did not find Donald J. Trump suitable for the Oval Office. Creating Beauty in Exile: Mark Labberton: Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Seminary, reflects on the themes of exile in scripture and what it means to live a “faithful exilic life” in a culture shaped by fear and violence. Exile: A Conversation with N. T. Wright, Edited by James M. Scott, by N. T. Wright; According to N. T. Wright, the controlling narrative that shaped the thinking of Jesus and Paul is this: “Israel had grievously sinned against Yahweh and suffered the judgment of exile from its land. But even though Israel had returned, the majority of Jews of the second temple era regarded themselves in paradoxical exile under Roman rule and still awaiting their full restoration. It was this crisis of exile that reached its climax and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ.” Makoto Fujimura on Faith and Art by Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus: “Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of the New York Times as ‘a small rebellion against the quickening of time.’ Robert Kushner, in the mid 90’s, has written on Fujimura’s art in Art in America this way: ‘The idea of forging a new kind of art, about hope, healing, redemption, refuge, while maintaining visual sophistication and intellectual integrity is a growing movement, one which finds Makoto Fujimura’s work at the vanguard.’” The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch: Disinformation. Trolling. Conspiracies. Social media pile-ons. Campus intolerance. On the surface, these recent additions to our daily vocabulary appear to have little in common. But together, they are driving an epistemic crisis: a multi-front challenge to America's ability to distinguish fact from fiction and elevate truth above falsehood.      

New technology seems to be revolutionizing our world on a daily basis.  ChatGPT — which has been used by more than a million people — might replace internet search engines and possibly your job.  How should Christians deal with these machines that can communicate facts, create business plans, and do homework at the push of a button? On this week’s episode of the Good Faith podcast, Curtis sits down with his friend, bestselling author Andy Crouch, to discuss how technology can enhance our lives or possibly deform us. They describe how technology paints as a false vision of human flourishing—and encourage Christians to fight back.  SHOW NOTES: ChatGPT: In December 2022, Jeremy Howard, an artificial intelligence researcher, introduced an online chatbot called ChatGPT. Joe Rogan Interviews Steve Jobs (Artificial Intelligence): Hosted by a fake version of Joe Rogan, this podcast attempts to bring the late Steve Jobs’ voice using artificial intelligence. “The meandering, near-20 minute fake interview was both surreal and occasionally funny,” writes Kyle Barr. The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World by Andy Crouch; The bestselling author Andy Crouch shows how we have been seduced by a false vision of human flourishing—and how each of us can fight back. 

In life, we have moments in which opportunities present the possibility of dramatic change.  Dr. Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College, calls these instances “hinge moments,” since a hinge can either shut or close a door leading to very different pathways in our lives.   This episode of the Good Faith podcast is actually one of these “hinge moments” for co-hosts David French and Curtis Chang, as David transitions to his new job at the New York Times.  What will happen to the podcast? (Spoiler alert: it will go on!) In this powerful episode, Dr. Lindsay joins his old friends David and Curtis to talk about his book, “Hinge Moments: Making the Most of Life's Transitions” and gives practical advice which applies to the podcasters and to all experiencing change that alters the course of our lives.  SHOW NOTES: Hinge Moments: Making the Most of Life's Transitions by Dr. Michael Lindsay: In this book, Lindsay shares faith-based stories of success and failure from his 10-year study of 550 PLATINUM leaders. He has charted seven phases of transition, providing both practical and spiritual insights for making the most of each stage. In uncertain and tumultuous times, there is no better advantage than wisdom gained early. Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer: This story by the VeggieTales creator is about dreaming big and working hard, of spectacular success and breathtaking failure, of shouted questions, and, at long last, whispered answers. Sometimes God can use the death of a dream to point us toward true success.

Show Notes: A New Chapter in Millennial Church Attendance: “Patterns of attendance among younger generations can be especially important—and perplexing—for pastors to understand, in their own church and at large. Barna Group has studied the intersection of faith and culture for nearly four decades, with an emphasis on generational trends. This article explores recent data to help church leaders ground themselves in the present reality of church attendance across generations—especially Millennials—in 2022.” The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein: “Richard Rothstein argues with exacting precision and fascinating insight how segregation in America—the incessant kind that continues to dog our major cities and has contributed to so much recent social strife—is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state, and federal levels.” The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul: “Ellul offers a penetrating analysis of our technological civilization, showing how technology—which began innocuously enough as a servant of humankind—threatens to overthrow humanity itself in its ongoing creation of an environment that meets its own ends.” Nancy French’s entertainment suggestion tweet thread: “In the French house, David and I love to watch series. Frequently, people ask what good shows we've watched, so I thought I'd start a list (and I'll keep adding to it) of some of the binge-worthy TV we've enjoyed.” Fasting: The Ancient Practices  by Scot McKnight: “Christianity has traditionally been at odds with the human body. At times in the history of the church, Christians have viewed the body and physical desires as the enemy. Now, Scot McKnight, best-selling author of The Jesus Creed , reconnects the spiritual and the physical in the ancient discipline of fasting.”

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