Church & Culture Podcast

In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, the discussion emphasizes a Christ-centered perspective over political affiliations. It highlights the importance of maintaining Christian loyalty amidst political authority. The podcast explores early Christians' challenges under Roman rule, urging prayer for leaders regardless of their actions. A focus on the divine establishment of authorities and the need for a higher allegiance in times of conflict underscores the essential role of prayer for wise governance and unity in challenging political climates.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the growing cultural force of social media influencers. Given what these influencers can make for simply sharing their opinions through their social media platform of choice, it's led many young people from Gen Z and Gen Alpha to aspire to become influencers themselves - a goal that a very minuscule percentage will attain. It's also interesting to note how willing people are to take the advice of influencers who, quite frankly, sometimes know very little about what they are even promoting. Episode Links Today's discussion was prompted by a Pew Research article titled “Who U.S. Adults Follow on TikTok,” revealing that users in the United States follow pop culture and entertainment personalities at a far greater rate than politicians or news organizations. And as mentioned earlier, young people today are increasingly saying they want to follow in the footsteps of social media influencers to become internet stars themselves. We'd encourage you to check out these articles to read more about that: Jacob Dirnhuber, “Children Turn Backs on Traditional Careers in Favour of Internet Fame, Study Finds,” The Sun. Tanith Carey, “Can Social Media School Make Your 16-Year-Old a Star?” The Telegraph. They also discussed how pastors and clergy are losing their influence on culture as more and more people have witnessed moral failings of pastors. This was discussed in CCP4: On Pastors and Moral Failings and CCP31: On Celebrity Pastors. Finally, when Alexis asked what the church could do to increase its reach and influence, Dr. White stressed the urgency for churches to have a stronger presence online - meeting culture where they are at in the world in which they live. You can read more about this in his book Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age. 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 intriguing history of Halloween, where ancient harvest festivities merge with Christian traditions. Discover how trick-or-treating evolved and how the holiday transformed post-World War II. Explore the deeper meanings behind costumes and the commercialization of Halloween, which has shifted perceptions among various communities. Learn how Christians can embrace the season's fun while honoring its rich cultural roots. This lively discussion invites a thoughtful consideration of Halloween's true significance.

The conversation dives into the intriguing reasons behind the numerous Bible translations available today. It addresses common concerns about the fidelity of translations to original texts. A notable discussion focuses on the impact of the King James Version in modern worship and beliefs. The episode also distinguishes between translations and paraphrases, highlighting their roles in comprehension. Recommendations for further reading delve into the nuances and complexities of interpreting scripture, emphasizing the importance of diverse translations for deeper understanding.

A fascinating look at how cultural Christianity is rising even as people identify as religiously unaffiliated. There’s a surprising appreciation for Christian symbols among many who don't actively practice faith. The conversation dives into reflections from notable atheists on the social value of these traditions. Balancing modern practices with worship's rich history is explored, along with the ongoing search for community beyond traditional churches. Ultimately, it highlights how core Christian values can influence culture amid shifting spiritual landscapes.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a recent statement made by the Surgeon General that parenting is now considered a health hazard. He said that stress, loneliness and financial woes are so acute as to limit the ability of parents to function in every day life. To be sure, there are some new parenting dynamics today that parents haven't had to face before. So how can parents navigate these challenges and come out on the other side intact? Episode Links There is pressure on today's parents to provide everything for their children - Dr. White mentioned the term “intensive parenting.” There are several articles that have talked about the impact this is having on parents, and we'd suggest you take a look at those: Julie Jargon, “Parenting Is Hazardous to Your Health, the Surgeon General Warns,” The Wall Street Journal, August 28, 2024. Clair Cain Miller, “Today's Parents: ‘Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind',” The New York Times, September 16, 2024. “Surgeon General Says Parenting is Horrible For Your Health,” The Skimm, August 29, 2024. Even those outside of the U.S. have a consistent opinion that while the U.S. is an incredible land of opportunity, it is not a good place to raise children, with a lot of the problems stemming from the overprotectiveness of American parents. This was the subject of an article from The Atlantic that Alexis mentioned titled, “Why Parents Struggle So Much in the World's Richest Country.” She also mentioned a book written by Jonathan Haidt titled, The Anxious Generation. One of the most difficult challenges facing parents today is the impact the online world is having on our children, and particularly social media. It's led to a culture of comparison for parents, and increased levels of anxiety for both parents and their children. The impact of social media was discussed in a past podcast, CCP25: On “Doing” Social Media. Social media has also been a contributing factor in the loss of childhood. This was discussed at length on the podcast in episode CCP43: On American Girl Dolls and the Disappearance of Childhood. There are several series that Dr. White has delivered at Mecklenburg Community Church on parenting. You can find those messages in .mp3 and .pdf formats on the Church & Culture website at the following links: “Parent Traps,” “The Under Protective Parent,” and “Parent-Child Turning Points.” Finally, finances play a big role in some of the stress that parents face when raising children today. For many Millennials and those in Generation Z, these concerns are fueling a desire to not have children to begin with. You can check out the article “Almost 1 in 4 millennials and Gen Z-ers say they won't have kids due to finances” from CBS News 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they continue last week's conversation on why people get divorced. If you missed the previous episode, we encourage you to go back and listen to that first. You can access that podcast HERE. In today's episode, we turn to what the Bible has to say about divorce and remarriage. Jesus essentially delivered a bombshell in His teaching on this as He took on the easy divorce culture of His day. Episode Links As mentioned last week, what kicked off this conversation was a USA Today article exploring the current divorce rates in the United States. We'd encourage you to take a look at the article's findings if you haven't done so already. Dr. White also mentioned a book written by Dr. Willard Harley called His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage that noted the importance of love and respect within marriage. You can find that book on Amazon HERE. Dr. White also discussed the need for the church to teach regularly on marriage, grounding people in a solid understanding of the Bible's view on the sanctity of holy matrimony. If you need help developing a marriage series at your church, you may be interested in checking out the following series given by Dr. White at Mecklenburg Community Church on this topic: Marriage Hacks Don't Do Stupid: Marriage Edition The Lies We Believe About Marriage Holy Matrimony Marriage Mentoring And the Two Shall Be Done 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a recent USA Today article exploring the current divorce rates in the United States. The stats seem to vary based on state, religious affiliation, race, sexual orientation, occupation… even the number of times that someone has been married. They also noted that divorce rates tend to peak around the 5th year of marriage, and then again around the 15th to 20th year of marriage. Dr. White weighs in on why people get divorced. Episode Links Dr. White noted that a big shift happens in people's mindset when the romance fades and reality sets in. This was actually an installment of a series that he gave at Mecklenburg Community Church called “Marriage Mentoring.” You can find that entire series HERE. Another factor that can play a big role surrounds marking the dawn of the 30s. Another series that you may be interested in looking at is called “Seasons of Life,” and in particular the installment called “30s - The Age of Second Thoughts.” A final series that Dr. White delivered at Meck and which he mentioned in today's episode is called “The Lies We Believe About Marriage.” You can find that series HERE. Finally, Dr. White wrote a blog about how couples cohabiting before marriage can actually increase the rate of divorce, and why this is something that the church needs to teach on more often. Be sure to read “The Importance of Knowing Why and Casting Vision.” 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.

Blake Lively, a leading actress known for her roles in popular films and series, joins a thought-provoking discussion on the backlash surrounding the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 'It Ends With Us.' They examine how the film's portrayal of domestic violence has been criticized for romanticizing abuse. Key topics include the church's role in addressing these issues, the often-overlooked complexities women face in abusive relationships, and the importance of community support and empathy for victims.

Dr. James Emery White, a speaker and author focusing on faith and culture, joins co-host Alexis Drye to tackle the provocative topic of profanity in Christian circles. They explore the shifting attitudes in evangelicalism towards strong language, reflecting broader societal trends. Delving into the historical and cultural significance of swearing, they discuss its moral implications and the importance of context. The conversation highlights the balance between authenticity and respect in church settings, challenging norms in today’s linguistic landscape.