Church & Culture Podcast

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discussed a recent article by Michael Hidalgo in RELEVANT titled “When Did Christians Get So Mean?” Since the pandemic, we've watched as the world seems to increasingly thrive on spewing vitriol from behind their keyboards. But more and more this behavior is coming from those who claim to be Christ followers. The concepts of grace and loving kindness seem to have gone out the window. Episode Links The Bible offers very clear counsel on the power of words and the use of our mouths. Dr. White mentioned several passages that many Christians need to keep in the forefront of their minds: “It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.”- James 3:5-6, The Message “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”- James 1:19, NIV “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”- Proverbs 10:19, NLT As mentioned earlier, a lack of grace is a significant contributor to this problem, which is ironic as grace is what makes the Christian faith so distinct from other world religions. Dr. White recently delivered a series at Mecklenburg Community Church specifically on the topic of grace titled “Christianity's Most Scandalous Idea.” You can find that series HERE. There are also two books that Dr. White suggested to listeners related to today's topic. The first is #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media written by Cass Sunstein. In this book Sunstein talks about the “daily ME,” where we now customize our social media feeds to see only the world that we want to see. Driven by insecurity, all this seems to do is increasingly cause hostility to ideas different from our own. The second book is The Bait of Satan written by John Bevere that explores how we are so eager to take offense at what others say and do. Finally, if you're interested in listening to some other Church & Culture Podcast episodes that may shed further light on this topic, be sure to check out CCP6: On Anger and CCP13: On Cancel Culture. 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a very difficult topic: when, how, and who decides whether to close a church? It doesn't matter if it's a church that's been around for decades, or a church plant only a couple years into their journey, it's never an easy decision to grapple with. But between the great resignation of pastors, the widespread denominational decline and the rapid closing of churches across the country, it's a decision that many churches are having to face. Episode Links If you're new to the podcast, you may want to check out some past episodes where the conversation has touched on some of the background issues that led to today's discussion. These are: CCP4: On Pastors and Moral Failings, CCP15: On Denominational Decline, and CCP30: On Quiet Quitting and the Church. As Dr. White said during the conversation, the heart of the people making up the church has much to do with whether the decision should be made to save a dying church. Two blogs that he wrote illustrate what it looks like to have a church community who are all-in - “Anything for the Mission” - versus one where they're completely turned inward - “Our Spiritual Pandemic of Narcissism.” Many listeners may be interested in finding out more about the decision that Mecklenburg Community Church made to close three of its Charlotte-area campuses in order to make a more strategic missional investment in its Online Campus. To read all about that story and more be sure to check out Dr. White's latest book Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age. At the end of today's conversation, Dr. White mentioned a blog that is released annually by the Church & Culture team that serves as an encouragement to pastors who may be struggling with a church that is either dying or failing to thrive. You can read the blog “The Monday After Easter” 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, their discussion was prompted by an article that Dr. White shared on the Daily Headline News on Church & Culture. The title of the article (which has since been updated) was “Babies without sex? Researchers are working on it. Ethicists are troubled” and you can read the full article HERE. This has to do with scientific research for a procedure that goes beyond IVF and is known as IVG - in vitro gametogenesis. While bioethicists are pondering whether this is going too far, for the Christian this leads to stronger implications as the very definition of what it means to be human is coming under attack. Episode Links There are two podcasts that we suggest you go back and listen to if you missed them, both related to today's topic: CCP10: On Roe vs. Wade and CCP48: On Medically Assisted Suicide. They both discuss the sanctity of human life and just how much control we should have versus what God - who created life - should have. In today's conversation, Dr. White encouraged pastors to speak out on cultural issues of the day and to have the courage to do this. Past message series given by Dr. White at Mecklenburg Community Church can all be found on the Messages by James Emery White page of Church & Culture. Once there, you'll find that all messages are arranged in categories, and we'd suggest that you check out the Culture page for series on some of the biggest topics in culture today. 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss how in today's world, it truly takes courage for parents to raise their kids in a way that honors the Christian faith. And an area of parenting where people tend to struggle the most is when it comes to whether it's okay to discipline our children. Culture has shifted toward the trend of “gentle parenting” - also known as “mindful” or “intentional” parenting. But is this the best way to go? Is it even biblical? Episode Links There were two articles that Dr. White found to be helpful for this conversation that we want to share with you: Jessica Winter, “The Harsh Realm of ‘Gentle Parenting,'” The New Yorker Magazine, online HERE. Fiona Macrae and Paul Sims, “The Spoilt Generation: Parents Who Fail to Exert Authority Breeding Youngsters with No Respect for Anyone,” DailyMail, online HERE. Additionally, there were several Scripture references that Dr. White provided that are helpful when trying to discern where the Bible lands when it comes to parenting. We'd encourage you to look at Proverbs 13:24 and 29:17, as well as Hebrews 12:5-11. Finally, Dr. White has delivered several parenting series at Mecklenburg Community Church that have always received incredibly positive feedback. You can check these out on Church & Culture, or click the message title below for more information (the series installments are listed for you as well): “Parent Traps”Discipline; Peer Pressure; Faith; Education “Parent-Child Turning Points”When They Turn Two: Time to Shape the Will; When They Turn Eight: Time to Deepen the Relationship; When They Turn Twelve: Time to Focus on Communication; When They Turn Eighteen: Time to Let Go “The Under Protective Parent”The Passive Parent; Relationships; Media; God 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.

Topics discussed include Calvinism, election, predestination, Arminianism, grace, women in ministry, and the impact of Calvinism on church dynamics. The conversation delves into theological implications, contentious issues within Calvinism, perceptions among the unchurched, and the importance of navigating theological differences with unity in Christianity.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the recent release of Starbucks' “Star Signs” in partnership with the astrology app called Sanctuary. Designed to help you figure out the perfect beverage for your astrological sign, it will also tell you your power words, give you a spring flower and color, and tell you your horoscope. What may seem like a harmless and fun gimmick from Starbucks is, in truth, dabbling in the world of the occult. Episode Links Dr. White has frequently blogged about topics related to the occult over the years - areas where people may believe something to be innocuous, but really they've crossed into the world of the occult. Here are four for you to check out: About Those Angel Numbers, The Season of the Witch, About that Horoscope App and About Those Tarot Cards. This topic has also been a part of several Church & Culture Podcast conversations. If you're interested, you can go back and listen to them: CCP45: On Superstition and God's Will CCP22: On Yoga CCP11: On Wicca Dr. White's series at Mecklenburg Community Church called “Paranormal” is a great one to listen to in order to give you a solid understanding of the world of the occult and the spiritual battle going on around us every day. Finally, today's conversation even talked about how this is a huge part of Satan's mission - to deceive people - and what this will look like at the end of time. You may be interested in the series “The Apocalypse: The Message of Revelation for Today.” 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a shocking statistic - that more than 200 million Americans are a part of the world of gaming. That's more than 60% of the U.S. population. Furthermore, the average “binge time” spent gaming has increased to five hours. This is having a profound effect, not only in the lives of children but on marriages as well. Episode Links Dr. White's newly released book is titled Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age. Among many topics covered in this book is a look at all that encompasses the digital revolution that has taken place in our culture, including gaming and the metaverse. There are several news stories posted to the Daily Headline News at Church & Culture that you may be interested in reading for more on this hot topic: Elanor Hayward, “NHS treats child gaming addicts who attack parents,” The Telegraph, March 27, 2023. Tom Hoggins, “World Health Organisation adopts 'gaming addiction' as official illness despite industry opposition,” The Telegraph, May 28, 2019. Sonja Haller, “'This game is like heroin:' Fortnite addiction sending kids to gaming rehab,” USA Today, December 9, 2018. Chris Moss, “Men and boys are in crisis, and technology is to blame,” The Telegraph, May 10, 2015. 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the results of a recent poll from the Wall Street Journal and the NORC at the University of Chicago. The title of the WSJ article reviewing the poll's findings read, “America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It.” The poll revealed a radical change in American values since it was last conducted in 1988. And much of that change has to do with a dramatic rise in individualism in the United States. Episode Links If you want to take time to dive into the poll's findings, you can read it all HERE. There were several books mentioned during today's conversation if you are interested in exploring topics related to the poll's findings. For more on the topic of today's culture as it compares to the founding of our nation, you'll be interested in reading Dr. White's book Serious Times: Making Your Life Matter in an Urgent Day. For more reading on American history Dr. White suggested reading David McCullough's work titled John Adams and Thomas Paine's “Crisis Papers.” To help give you a better understanding of a profound shift in our culture, read James Emery White's book “The Rise of the Nones: Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated.” Finally, for a picture of what our society really values you can read “The Day America Told the Truth: What People Really Believe About Everything That Really Matters” written by James Patterson and Peter Kim. We would also encourage you to go back and listen to two earlier podcasts that were brought up during today's conversation. The first is CCP2: On Ukraine, Russia and the Orthodox Church discussing how religious divides can lead to violent outcomes. And the second is CCP37: On Christian Nationalism exploring whether America really is meant to be a Christian nation. 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss whether it's okay for a Christian to get a tattoo or cosmetic surgery. Culture clings tightly to the belief that we, as individuals, have the right to determine what we do with our bodies and how we use them. But what does the Bible have to say about this topic? How much are we allowed to manipulate our bodies? Episode Links Dr. White referenced several articles from The Atlantic that have been written in recent years on tattoos. Katherine Wu wrote, “Tattoos Do Odd Things to the Immune System” discussing the body's response to ink-filled needles. Amanda Mull wrote, “Tattoos Now Have an Exit Strategy” looking at the increasing popularity of semipermanent tattoos. And finally, Adrienne Green wrote an article titled “Watching Tattoos Go From Rebellious to Mainstream” about how much culture has come to embrace the art of tattoos. Dr. White did a series at Mecklenburg Community Church called “Is it okay for a Christian to…” looking at everything from watching R-rated movies to smoking marijuana. One of the installments focused on whether it's okay for a Christian to get a tattoo or to be cremated. He also mentioned another series in today's conversation called “Seasons of Life.” The installment on the 40s explored how a fixation on anti-aging and all that we try to do to fight it tends to creep into our mindset during this decade of life. Finally, Dr. White read an excerpt from an essay written by Lore Ferguson titled, “Beautiful Beyond Our Control.” We'd definitely encourage you to read the whole thing as it's so beautifully written. 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.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss The Chosen - a multi-season series on the life of Jesus written and directed by Dallas Jenkins. The following for this series has been unprecedented, with more than 100 million people who've seen at least part of the show. So is the series biblically accurate? Does it matter whether it follows the Bible verse by verse, or could the Holy Spirit be creatively working through the series? Episode Links Dr. White wrote a blog called "Topical or Expositional" that will offer a helpful explanation to a topic that came up during today's conversation. The discussion also explored Christian film and television, and how it often changes or is shaped by culture. Dr. White brought up six movies/series (some overtly Christian and others that are more Christian-adjacent) and the cultural differences at the time of their release. For reference, those movies are: Godspell (1973) Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Passion of the Christ (2004) and The Chosen (2017). Finally, the conversation turned to how series like "The Chosen" do so much to make Jesus relatable to us. Dr. White led a series at Meck that explored a unique side of God - it is called "When God Makes Us Laugh." You can find that series 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.