Truce - History of the Christian Church

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastThe myth of the American cowboy features a lone man who makes his fortune on the open plains. He doesn't need the government, and he doesn't need some big corporation telling him what to do. But that myth is far from the reality in the west. Many cowboys worked for large corporate cattle operations. And when those operations were in danger, he relied on the government for help.The Johnson County War started when the Homestead Act of 1862 brought new people to central Wyoming. The area just west of the Big Horn Mountains had been free-range grassland where anyone could let their cattle run free. The large cattle operations loved this setup because it saved them an immense amount of money and infrastructure. The new homesteads threatened their empires because they divided up the land and restricted their access. So the Wyoming Stock Growers Association banded together to send a message: get off our land. They send a murder squad to Johnson County, Wyoming to scare the people of Buffalo with a series of brutal murders.What followed was one of the darkest chapters in Wyoming history. Where big businesses murdered with impunity, aided by the governor and sitting president.Helpful links: The Jim Gatchell Museum in Buffalo, WY The TA Ranch (where the siege took place) Book used for research: Wyoming Range War by John W. Davis Discussion Questions: What role did the Homestead Act play in stirring up trouble in central Wyoming? Is there a character in the story that you identify with? Is there any part of you that sympathizes with the WSGA? How does this story challenge your concept of the American cowboy? What role does the government have in protecting an industry? How do you feel about the government's failure to punish the invaders? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastWhat do you think of when you picture a cowboy? A rugged, handsome individual? A lover? Someone who doesn't need the government's help? Evangelicalism has long pushed this as the ideal model for the Christian man. What is the impact of that set of ideas?John Wayne and Ronald Reagan have both become popular figures in American men's ministries. Their names come up often, they both played cowboys in Hollywood. But they are unlikely heroes. Both men were divorced. Wayne wasn't an evangelical, and Reagan had once been a democrat. But both men were instrumental in whipping up anti-communist sentiment in the US, building credibility with a religion focused on individualism.You can draw a line from them straight to former president Donald J. Trump. All three had questionable public morals but were seen as strong, uncompromising figures. They are seen in many men's books as the epitome of masculinity. That idea, though, comes in contrast with Jesus' own words about turning the other cheek, forgiving our enemies, and loving our enemies.In this episode, Chris talks with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of "Jesus and John Wayne: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation".Discussion Questions What do you think of when you picture a cowboy? How have you heard cowboys, soldiers, and fighters discussed in evangelical circles? What books have you read that stressed the importance of tough men? What do you picture when you think of a Christian man? How has that been shaped? What do you picture when you think of a Christian woman? How has that been shaped? What is your idea of Jesus like? Is He a warrior, a gentle savior, or both? Can you see the link between the cowboy image and Donald Trump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastChristians throughout history have responded to politics in different ways. In our modern era, it can seem like Christianity and Republican politics are one and the same. But what do we do when the Bible clashes with our political party? What if our economic model leaves no room for the poor?Author and theologian Kaitlyn Schiess joins us to talk about her book, "The Liturgy of Politics", as well as how we can heal as a church.Discussion Questions How have you seen politics and Christianity mixing in the US? Is there are healthy way for Christians to engage in politics? How have your politics informed your ideas of the poor? Do you think that all poor people are lazy? How can your local church reach out to people who look/speak/act differently that you do? How have you see Kaitlyn's four false gospels play out in your life and church? Prosperity Patriotism Security Supremacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastDo systems really keep minorities down? Even asking the questions sound socialistic to some. But we need to go through our society to root out systems that breed inequality. But how? Sometimes discussions of racism can make us feel helplessly lost.That's why I called in an expert.Jemar Tisby is a Christian speaker, author of “The Color of Compromise” and “How to Fight Racism”. He's also an important voice in modern America. Even if you don't agree with everything he writes in his books, it's important to hear what he's saying here. What are the systems that separate black and white people? How can we learn to grieve as a people, as a local church, and as a community?Discussion Questions: How can you organize an event at your church (online) to discuss the history of racism in your church, community, schools, and hearts? Have you ever stopped to do a racial autobiography? (my questions, not Jemar's) When was the first time you met someone of a different race? What did your parents teach you, consciously or unconsciously, about race? Have you ever used a racial slur? Why? How did you feel about it then? How do you feel about it now? What is the power of those words? Have you ever been afraid of someone from another race? Why? When? Do you regularly come in contact with people of a different race? How do you feel when you see a police officer? Why might someone else have a different reaction? How did you come to feel that way? Are there distinct, racially divided neighborhoods in your area? How did they get there? Do you ever go to a different neighborhood? Why or why not? Are discussions of race inherently socialistic? Are discussions of class inherently socialistic? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastSome of the most common feedback I heard about season 3 of Truce is that I didn't give the Christian America camp enough time to back their opinion. In this mini-episode, I discuss my reason for leaving people like David Barton of Wall Builders off of the show.I also play a short clip from Gregg L. Frazer who was on our Christian America episodes. His book is "The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastAt the 2019 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Los Angeles, I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Richard Land. Dr. Land is a man of the company line who mixes Republican thought with Christianity. At this interview, Dr. Land said (off mic) that the reason this generation struggles so much is that we are unwilling to see the issues of our time as black and white. Good vs. Evil.I disagree. I think the opportunity our generation has is that we can finally think of this complex world as complex.This mini-episode is just one of several meant to help sum up season 3 of Truce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastA few months ago I produced two episodes about the Christian roots of American labor unions. And... a bunch of people stopped listening to the show. It turns out that many American Christians are conservative and, therefore, anti-union.This mini-episode is the counterbalance to that series. Here we discuss the inefficient practices at General Motors in the 1980s. It was an era where GM slipped from holding over 40% of the market share to 17%. What happened? It's a story of unions, gasoline, and the reasons we treat labor well.Resources used: “Rude Awakening: The Rise Fall and Struggle for Recovery of General Motors” by Maryann Keller "Crash Course" by Paul Ingrassia Discussion Questions: Do you have a bias for or against labor unions? Who do you know who is or was in a union? What is their work ethic? The labor unions in GM in the 1980s were inefficient. Does that make all labor unions inefficient? Does specialization in factories help or hurt in the long run? Do you have a bias for employers or employees? Do you work as unto Christ in your own job? What is the Christian way to work? To employ someone? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastSeason three of Truce has been all about how the rise of communism in Russia impacted the Christian Church. As we approach the end of the season, I want to highlight some of the important takeaways.One of them is that communism can be used as a scapegoat. That is used by some people to get the public to hate or disregard something they don't like. That could be the COVID crisis or Black Lives Matter.Our guest today is Jemar Tisby. He's the author of the New York Times Bestseller "The Color of Compromise" and "How to Fight Racism". He's also a frequent voice on the Pass The Mic Podcast. You can access his Substack email list here.Helpful links: Article about the Wyoming Health Department official who resigned due to his denial of COVID 19. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastMAGA folks look back on the history of the United States and see a golden era: the 1950s. When religion was in the public eye, television and movies were clean, and father came home from work with dinner hot on the table. The trouble is that this vision of the 1950s only existed in our imaginations or if we chose to ignore the world around us. The 1950s were an era of great upheaval, with public monuments to religion being erected at the same time as heavy censorship, McCarthyism, wars, racism, and sexism.For the next few weeks we'll be revisiting themes from season three of Truce to pull out some important takeaway. Takeaway 1: Think Deeper About the Past.Helpful links: The trailer for Secrets of Jonathan Sperry Chris' interview with director Rich Christiano Discussion Questions: What do you think of when you think of the 1950s? When is it okay to remember just part of history, and when do we need to consider the whole picture? What era do people who wear MAGA hats want to return to? In other words, when was America greater than it is now? When you think of your own childhood, what comes to mind? Do world or social issues play into that? How is nostalgia a helpful tool? How can nostalgia shape our memory of the past? Is there an era you wish to return to? What can we do to create a fuller picture of the past when we retell it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastThe January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol demonstrated the dangers of extreme Christian nationalism. When we allow our ideas about God and His protection to overrun the Bible, we get into serious trouble. Now, many Christians are questioning their faith. Why does the Jesus of the Bible look so different from us and our country?In this episode, Chris discusses our strange relationship with the United States. We love it when it affirms us, but we don't know what to do when the US behaves in an evil manner. How do we unify the Church in an era of division?Helpful Discussion Questions: How have you seen the United States tied to Christianity? What do you think people mean when they say the US is a Christian nation? When have you seen the US behave in a Christian manner? When have you seen it wander from Christian principles? Do you follow the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount, or an economic Jesus? How can you love people in your local church who believe different things about Jesus than you do? Helpful links: You can learn more about the Virginia Law Codes in Rebecca Cox Richardson's book "How the South Won the Civil War". In the episode, I reference that the US provided rebels in Afghanistan with copies of the Koran and VHS bootlegs of the movie "Rambo". You can learn about that in Steve Coll's book, "Ghost Wars" pages 90 and 194-197. Learn about John Adam's day of fasting The Treaty of Tripoli More about Dalton Trumbo "Trumbo" movie trailer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices