Truce - History of the Christian Church

What is multi-level marketing? It turns out, it is a very popular business model that targets Christians and other people of faith. But... it is almost guaranteed to fail. Because MLM's and direct sales companies are not designed to sell a product but to sell the business itself.Joining us for this episode is Robert Fitzpatrick. He's the president of Pyramid Scheme Alert and the author of the new book “Ponzinomics: The Untold History of Multi-Level Marketing and How Direct Sales Became an American Swindle”.Also mentioned in the episode is the podcast The Dream. Season one talks in great detail about pyramid schemes. Please be aware that some of the episodes use strong language.Topics covered in this episode:What is multi-level marketing?What is a pyramid scheme?What is a Ponzi scheme?Who are Ponzi schemes named after?Who was Charles Ponzi?Is multi-level marketing the same thing as a pyramid scheme?What is the difference between a pyramid scheme and multi-level marketing and a Ponzi scheme?What is a good book about pyramid schemes?Will I lose money with multi-level marketing?Is Amway considered multi-level marketing?Is Herbalife multi-level marketing?Do pyramid schemes target Christians?Should I join an MLM?Which MLM should I join?Looking for the Amway stats we mentioned? You can find them here: https://pyramidschemealert.org/half-of-amways-products-are-retailed-really-plus-other-wacky-numbers-3/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're taking a week off from releasing a full episode of the Truce podcast, but I wanted to give you a little something to think about. Where is your media coming from? Your audio sermons? Your curriculum? Let's start a conversation! You can find the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @trucepodcast.com. God willing, there will be a new episode next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Prosperity Gospel. It goes by a lot of names. Prosperity, name it and claim it theology, The Secret, the word of faith movement... but how did it begin? Who came up with the ideas that are now spreading throughout the world? This week on the Truce Podcast we interview Brandon Kimber, director of the new film American Gospel. The film takes a deep dive into the world of the prosperity gospel, and what the gospel is in the first place. The film is 2.5 hours long, and covers a lot of ground. I recommend watching it in 2-3 chunks as a small group with discussion after each chunk. Interviews within the movie include Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, John MacArthur, Jackie Hill Perry, Costi Hinn and many others. There are many clips of famous prosperity teachers explicitly preaching in opposition to the Bible, including Benny Hinn, Joel Osteel, Victoria Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, and Bill Johnson of Bethel Church. Discussed within the episode:What is the prosperity gospel?Who founded the prosperity gospel movement?Who is Phineus Quimby?How did Phineus Quimby influence Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science religion?Who is E.W. Kenyon and how did he shape our modern blend of New Thought and biblical living?What is the Christian gospel?How do I get to heaven?What happens if God doesn't heal me?The episode also features a number of gospel presentations that are at about 10 words each. Here are some of them, thanks to First Baptist Church of Jackson, WY. Jesus' resurrection reconciles holy God and sinful people who believe.Faith in Jesus is enough to be forgiven and received.Faith in Jesus is enough to be forgiven and transformed. God's gift of reconciliation offered to humanity.Jesus' resurrection reconciles holy God and sinful people who believe.Christ died so that we might live!God's righteous wrath shall be averted pleading Christ's death alone.Choose God’s grace through Jesus or default to God’s punishment.The truth about God's plan of salvation for believers Acceptance of undeserved blessings & atonement for yesterday, today, and forever.Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection affords opportunity for a positive eternity for all who are willing to accept it.Individuals can have peace with God through Jesus’ atoning death.He died on the cross for my sins even though I constantly fall short. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we talk with Mark Galli, editor in chief of Christianity Today about leadership. Are we all called to lead or are just some of us? Does that mean we don’t have to lead if we’re not gifted in that way?We’re also joined by Paul Wingfield of the One Man and His Wilderness podcast.Our main Bible verse comes from Romans 12:3-8.Things we explore in this episode:* Are all Christians supposed to lead?* Are all Christians leaders?* How should Christians lead?* All members of Christ’s body have different gifts.* What are the gifts of the spirit?* Servant leadership* How to lead in your church* Why do so many Christian leaders fail?The Truce podcast is a listener supported show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it okay to fail? Are we okay with failure in the Christian church? Even mainstream churches frequently link financial and business success with God's blessing. If we're not rich and don't have a big following, does that mean that God doesn't love us?This week on the Truce Podcast we sit down once again with Andrew Schwab, lead singer of Project 86 and host of the Pioneers Podcast to discuss failure. He shares with us the difficulties his band faced with their album Truthless Heroes and Atlantic Records. Andrew is also the author of the books "Fame is Infamy", "Tin Soldiers", and "It's All Downhill from Here". In this episode we explore:* Is it okay to fail?* How should Christians handle failure?* How do I know if I'm a success?* Does our reliance on success distract from the mission of the church?* Does God love me for who I am or do I have to work for it?* How can failure be used as a weapon?* How do I move on from a failure?In this episode, we are also joined by Roy Browning of the Business Acumen Podcast. He helps us to look at the numbers of this podcast. Is it a success or a failure? Roy is the owner of JMC Brands. https://jmcbrands.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are so many temptations for people who create media. We are constantly targeted by scams, encouraged to brag about ourselves, and told we could always be doing better. Those pressures are shaping the modern church. For better or worse.This week on the Truce Podcast we are joined by Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and the Pioneer's Podcast to explore the odd temptations facing modern Christianity. Andrew is also the author of the books "Fame is Infamy", "The Tin Soldiers", "It's All Downhill from Here".Truce is a listener supported show. Visit our website at www.trucepodcast.com to donate. Please spread the word about the show and post a review of it on iTunes. We'll discuss:* How is technology shaping the modern church?* How do Christians deal with failure?* How do people make money on social media and Instagram?* Should my church podcast its sermons?* Are we creating new popes with our celebrity Christians?* Is it okay for Christians to be famous? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author Michelle DeRusha (Katrina and Martin Luther, True You) gave up media for six weeks. She did it for Lent, the time of year right before Easter when some Christians give something up in order to draw closer to God. In this episode of the Truce Podcast we hear from her about her experience, and from you, our listeners about your experience with the Truce Podcast Media Time Out. If you would like access to the PDF version of the Media Time Out, subscribe to our email update list (I won't sell your data, and emails are few and far between). The link will be emailed to you for free. If you like the Truce Podcast, please leave us a rating on your favorite podcasting app.Topics Covered:What is a media fast?Who is Michelle DeRusha?What are people's personal stories about fasting?What is media bias?How do we decode bias in our media?Is NPR bias?Is cable news bias?Is Fox News bias?In our next episode we'll hear from Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and the Pioneers Podcast about the difficulties of being famous in the Christian world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're surrounded by media. All the time. On our phones, the television, radio... even music at the supermarket. When was the last time you enjoyed the silence?This week on the Truce Podcast, we're going to take a break from media. No TV, radio, music, social media, movies... none of it. We're doing it for a few different reasons:*To demonstrate to ourselves that we don't need our phones as much as we think we do.*To refocus our attention on God.*To see how our media is shaping us. We're going to study the bias and marketing that comes at us through our media.*Our series on the influencer economy will make a lot more sense if you are aware of the messaging that targets you every day.You can call this a media fast. But the Bible has a lot of specific requirements for fasting. So, let's just call this a “time out”. If you'd like to join along, sign up for our email updates list and you'll be emailed a link to our free PDF version of the curriculum. Feel free to make as many copies as you like! Why do a media fast?Because denying ourselves of something can illustrate to us our own reliance on it.It gives us a great opportunity to talk with our friends about our convictions.Unlike a traditional fast, you should be talking with your friends and family about this challenge. Hopefully, together, you can come up with solutions to better deal with all of the messaging coming at you. Once you're done with the media time out, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And record a voice memo on your smart phone about your experience and email it to us. We may use it on the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New episodes of the Truce Podcast are coming soon! Our special guests will include Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and The Pioneers Podcast, author Michelle DeRusha, and Robert Fitzpatrick from Pyramid Scheme Alert. We're exploring how Christians are marketed to and how sometimes makes us fall into some pretty dark traps.Subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify. www.trucepodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In World War II the world was in chaos. Men shooting other men. The old world of horses and bayonets collided with machine guns and tanks. In the midst of the madness, thousands of men left their trenches on Christmas and met their neighbors. It was a spontaneous gathering of brothers. We in the Christian church can learn a lot from them.Truce is a listener supported show. Click here to help.Our Bible readings were performed by Jasen Banks from the Word x the World podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices