Church & Culture Podcast

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss how just a few weeks ago YouTube celebrated its 20th anniversary. Few could have imagined that a 19-second video of a man looking at elephants at the San Diego Zoo could have led to the creation of a global media powerhouse. With 20 billion videos having been uploaded to date, we thought it was fitting to discuss the countless ways that YouTube has revolutionized media and our culture. Episode Links In today's episode, Dr. White shared a ton of facts and figures on YouTube related to its history, its growth and where it's headed in the future. Here are a collection of articles and blogs that we'd encourage you to take a look at if you're interested in learning more or finding any stats that were shared today: Wendy Lee, “YouTube turns 20 years old. How it changed TV as we know it,” Los Angeles Times. Todd Spangler, “YouTube Says It Now Hosts More Than 20 Billion Videos, Unveils New Features and Easter Eggs in 20th Birthday Celebration,” Variety. Dade Hayes, “YouTube's Revenue Will Top Disney's This Year As It Becomes “The Home For All Things Video”, Analyst Says,” Deadline. James Hardy, “Who Invented YouTube: The Visionaries Behind the Digital Revolution,” History Cooperative. Viraj Mahesh, “20 ways we're celebrating two decades of YouTube,” YouTube Official Blog. “YouTube” 1440. If you're interested in checking out YouTube's first video ever posted, you can click HERE to watch “Me at the Zoo.” And you can click HERE to check out the most-viewed videos of all time on YouTube. And then Dr. White mentioned a recent news article discussing just how much people increasingly trust their peers and the type of content that they release on social media today. You can read “Gen Z increasingly listens to peers over doctors for health advice” found in Axios HERE. Finally, Dr. White turned the conversation to the takeaways for the church, and how we need to meet people where they are at in order to share the message of Jesus with them. He wrote about this in depth in his book, Hybrid Church, which you can order from Amazon HERE. The primary way to meet people where they are in today's culture is through YouTube. If you are interested, here are some of the channels tied to Mecklenburg Community Church that he mentioned in the conversation today, including the link to the Church & Culture Podcast on YouTube if you're interested in checking us out there: Mecklenburg Community Church | @MeckChurch MecKidz Children's Ministry | @MecKidzChurch REALIFE High School Ministry | @REALIFEHSM MAXlife Middle School Ministry | @maxlifemsm7079 Meck Creative | @MeckCreative Church & Culture | @churchandculture For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.

The podcast discusses a troubling trend of church closures across the U.S., revealing that fewer Americans are attending church compared to the 1940s. Despite this, 94% of pastors remain hopeful about their congregation's future. The emotional impact of closures on congregants is profound, as they grapple with loss and cherished memories. It also highlights the community ramifications, showcasing how closed churches often provided essential services. The conversation delves into the need for innovative outreach to adapt to changing demographics.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss how for many Americans, Easter is one of the few times in the year they show a willingness to attend a church service. If they do, they'll likely hear about an empty tomb and the significance of the resurrection of Jesus thousands of years later. For many, the hope of new life in Jesus is enough to propel them to faith or to a deeper commitments to Jesus; but for others, they may be left with lingering questions that will serve as stumbling blocks to faith. Questions like: So what? How is this relevant for my life? And can I even believe this happened? So the question for the church is how are we going to answer those questions - what evidence can we offer for the resurrection of Jesus? Episode Links There are several series that Dr. White has given at Mecklenburg Community Church if you want to take a deeper dive into the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and His resurrection. These include: “The Passion,” “Risen,” “Seven Last Words of Jesus,” and “Why Believe.” And in case you did not know, past messages given by Dr. White are arranged by category at Church & Culture HERE. You'll find series on specific books of the Bible, on evangelism and apologetics, cultural topics and more. When discussing Jesus' death on the cross in today's episode, Dr. White mentioned an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association written by Dr. William D. Edwards and titled “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ.” For those interested in reading this article, you can find it HERE. “The Resurrection of the Son of God” by N.T. Wright was another resource that Dr. White discussed, and you can find his book HERE. And one more book that we'd strongly recommend is written by Dr. White himself: Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians. It offers incredibly helpful explanations of the most common questions that people have when it comes to the Christian faith. You can find it on Amazon HERE. For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.

The discussion dives into Hooters' decline and its bankruptcy, tied to shifting cultural norms around sexuality. It contrasts this with the rise of OnlyFans, where users seek intimate connections through personalized content. The podcast explores how younger generations prefer private, digital interactions over traditional venues. It also touches on the psychological impacts of parasocial relationships and addresses loneliness, underscoring the need for authentic community in today's society.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss Barna Group teaming up with the Aspen Group design firm to explore possible connections between spiritual formation and the physical spaces that we inhabit. Questions such as: What does it mean to be formed as a follower of Jesus? And can the spaces that we meet in help motivate this growth? Also, how might our physical experiences of a church relate to our worship and understanding of God? In simple terms, they were trying to determine whether it's best for churches to look “churchy.” Episode Links Daniel Silliman wrote an article in Christianity Today which sparked today's conversation. It's titled “Americans Think Church Should Look Churchy,” and Silliman said that the survey found that most people “don't like trendy, modern buildings.” Dr. White would argue that while people do indeed want to attend church in a space that is sacred, spiritual and safe, that doesn't necessarily mean they want it to look overly churchy like some of the medieval churches in Europe. He wrote a blog recently about this topic titled “Churches Looking Churchy” which you can read HERE. There's another recent blog that was written by Dr. White that was referenced in this episode. It's called “This Is Church,” where Dr. White addresses how many businesses and parachurch organizations can try to step in and supplant themselves as the church when they most definitely are not. And if the discussion of the cathedral found in Chartres, France was of interest to you, we'd encourage you to read the Church & Culture blog titled, “Chartres.” For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.

Dive into the cultural phenomenon of a certain Apple TV series that has transformed workplace dynamics into a riveting narrative. Explore themes of work/life balance, human identity, and the search for connection in a world of 'innies' and 'outies.' Unpack the psychological implications of choosing to escape emotional pain and the importance of enduring life's hardships for personal growth. The conversation invites thoughtful reflections on our relationships and the struggles of maintaining our authentic selves in an often fragmented world.

This conversation tackles the fascinating intersection of the biblical creation narrative in Genesis and scientific viewpoints. It scrutinizes human origins, contrasting the uniqueness of humanity with evolutionary theories. The absence of dinosaurs in Genesis sparks debate, with interpretations suggesting alternative representations. The discussion on Noah's flood reflects on historical skepticism and invites a localized understanding. Ultimately, the talk emphasizes how science and faith can harmoniously coexist, enriching believers' understanding of creation.

A groundbreaking NASA telescope aims to uncover the universe's origins, sparking a riveting discussion about the connection between science and faith. The conversation explores the poetic nature of Genesis, advocating for a view that harmonizes scientific and biblical narratives. With intriguing parables and interpretations, they tackle the complexities of miracles, the Big Bang theory, and the coexistence of creationism and evolution. This exploration considers whether a literal interpretation can align with modern scientific findings, inviting a deeper philosophical dialogue.

A recent survey reveals intriguing trends in American religion. While the number of people identifying as Christian has significantly dropped, the population of the religiously unaffiliated seems to have stabilized. Youth engagement is also declining, leading to concerns about the future of faith. The conversation emphasizes the need for churches to focus on evangelism and adaptation in their missions. Additionally, the findings suggest that a combination of personal testimonies with data could reshape the understanding of spiritual health in communities.

In a thought-provoking discussion, the hosts explore the alarming trend of intergenerational estrangement, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. They highlight the challenges faced by those from dysfunctional backgrounds when trying to honor the Fifth Commandment. As social media promotes 'going no contact,' they argue for reconciliation instead of avoidance. Insights into the significance of family dynamics are shared, and practical advice rooted in faith emphasizes open communication, forgiveness, and prayer to mend broken ties.